Miss Southern High 2017/2018

Miss Southern High Kaela Moore 2017/2018

Parents: Van Moore and Regina Moore Van Moore is an alumnus of Southern Lab (Class of 1985)

I have attended Southern Lab for 14 years. It was in the pre-kindergarten that I became a member of the Lab family. Over the years, I have received numerous academic awards for being on the Director’s List with a 4.0 or above grade point average. In just the fifth grade, I earned a perfect score in the mathematics portion of the iLeap, and I was awarded an iPad by the school. I have also earned membership into the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). I am a recipient of the 2017-2018 Greater Baton Rouge State Fair scholarship which was presented to me by Mayor Sharon Weston Broome. I recently placed first in English IV in District Rally and will advance to state next month. I currently have an overall grade point average of a 4.3 and an ACT score of a 27.

During my time at Southern Lab, I have participated in sports such as volleyball, track, soccer, and cheerleading. I have also participated in clubs such as Junior Beta, Senior Beta, Key Club, History Club, and the Natural Hair Club. In addition, I am also the editor-in-chief of the yearbook staff. My favorite activity, though, would have to be the History Club because of the countless number of community service projects we have done.

I have been the secretary/treasurer of the History Club for five years, and this year I became the secretary of the Natural Hair Club and editor-in-chief of the yearbook staff. With the History Club, I have gained numerous community service hours since its founding five years ago. I have participated in community service projects such as bagging lunch for the homeless, painting the fence at Magnolia Mound Plantation, giving away turkeys for Thanksgiving, passing out candy to children at Boo at the Zoo for Halloween, helping with Pat’s Coats for Kids, etc. My favorite service project, though, would have to be the time when our club helped give away toys to families in need for Christmas because we were able to bring smiles to children’s faces at such a cheerful time of year. I have a passion for helping others, whether it is through community service or not, and for caring for and embracing my natural hair. Helping others gives me a feeling like no other--the feeling of giving back. My natural hair gives me a sense of pride in displaying the beauty of my roots.

Southern Lab has had a major impact on my life thus far. For 14 years, it has been one of the constant factors that I could rely on. It is something I know all too well. Southern Lab became my second home somewhere along the way. It is where I met teachers and coaches who saw something in me at a young age. It is where I made friendships that will last a lifetime and memories that will never fade away.

I would tell incoming students that Southern Lab is a family-oriented school. You should get ready for everyone to know your name because you will be seeing them a lot due to our school’s small size. Sports are very popular, especially among students. Our school has a long tradition of sports excellence that we strive to uphold and to top that off, we have recently achieved the status of being an “A+” school.

As for as my interaction with Southern University, I attended the Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp, a two week residential camp, when Southern University hosted it a few years ago. I was fortunate enough to attend a brunch held by Miss Southern Felise Thompson-Doyle this year for high school queens. I have been a dual enrollment student at Southern since my junior year, and by the end of this semester, I will have obtained 27 credit hours. My current grade point average at Southern is a 3.833.

To be a Southern Lab kitten, you have to understand what it means to be a student-athlete. Being a student always comes first. However, as athletes, we also strive for those all important state championships to add to our large collection which is why, as a Southern Lab kitten, you also have to understand the importance of the wordsupport. Here at Southern Lab we try to support everyone as much as we can because we are a family. Many people have already graduated from this school, but they always come back to support, no matter how long it has been since they walked these halls

My plans after high school are to attend Southeastern Louisiana University, starting in summer 2018, as a nursing major. I then plan on continuing my education on the graduate level and earning my master’s. As an official alumnus of Southern Lab, I plan on giving back as much as I can and coming back to support my Lab family.

My experience as a Southern Lab kitten is something that I will never forget. It will always have a piece of my heart. Southern Lab laid a foundation for me that I am appreciative of to this day. People I have come in contact with here have made a difference either directly or indirectly in my life, and for that I am forever grateful. Green and gold will always run through my veins because I am Southern Lab.