St. Mary’s School of Natchitoches has announced the 2018 Mr. and Miss SMH. They are Jeremy Patrick Friedel and Elizabeth Kate deVargas. They were both selected by the high school to represent the best of the St. Mary’s student body.
Mr. Jeremy Patrick Friedel is the son of Trent Gerard and Laura Marie Friedel, grandson of Sandra and Gary Champagne and Diana and John Friedel and brother of Jessica and Garrison Friedel. At St. Mary’s, he has played football for the past four years, track for four years, basketball for three and tennis for one year. He is involved with FBLA, the Beta Club and the National Honor Society. His favorite subject at school is science, as he wants to study chemistry in college. He would like to go to either medical or nursing school. Outside of school, he was president of the LEO Club this year and was a volunteer at the Special Olympics hosted at NSU. After graduating from St. Mary’s, he will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. According to Jeremy, the title of Mr. SMH gives him an opportunity to brag on his school and talk to others about how great it is.
Miss Elizabeth Kate deVargas is the daughter of Richard Emile and Amy Beth deVargas, granddaughter of Connie and Mike Whitford and Richard and Janelle deVargas and sister of William deVargas. At St. Mary’s, she has been a cheerleader for three years and as co-captain her senior year. She was vice president of the FCA and Pro-Life, secretary of the Beta Club and member of the National Honor Society and FBLA. Her favorite subject is English, as she has an interest in writing, particularly in fiction writing. Outside of school, she’s involved with the LEO Club. After graduating from St. Mary’s, Elizabeth plans to attend Louisiana Tech University. The title of Miss SMH is a huge honor for Elizabeth and being a representative of the school means a lot to her.
Mr. and Miss SMH are outstanding scholars, athletes and leaders. They are thoroughly involved and represent St. Mary’s Catholic School by their virtues of integrity, courage, compassion, service and humility, both inside and outside of school. They encourage others by all they say and do. They are not afraid to stand up for what is right, no matter the consequences. Mr. and Miss SMH are not just students that are well liked and easy to get along with. These honors are earned through what they have given back to their peers and school. They have given back over all of high school and have invested much of their time into the institution.
Part of the honor of being Mr. and Miss SMH is to crown the Blessed Mother Mary during the May Crowning Mass, which will be Friday, May 4 at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church. A long-standing tradition of St. Mary’s, students in kindergarten – 12th grade will participate, with senior boys leading the group carrying a statue of Mary.