Life Achievement Award

 
“LYS has had a legacy of leadership on the LSU campus in July. As a member of the LSU staff, I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to participate in the program in 2015. What I learned is that not only is LYS about leadership, LYS is about love, lesson and legacy. Students are immersed in a 5-day life changing curriculum that teaches, empowers and calls them to action as young leaders. As the 2015 Life Achievement Award recipient, I found myself humbled by the years of dedication that hundreds of volunteers have put into the legacy of LYS, building today’s youth for tomorrow’s world. LYS is changing the world one student at a time and is what our state should be providing for our youth every day in every school. Thank you LYS for sharing it all with me.”
— Angela Guillory, Greek Life, LSU
 

Award recipients

 

  • 1988 – Verna Landrieu, community activist, New Orleans

  • 1989 – Dale Brown, former Coach, LSU Basketball

  • 1990 – Mary Ellen Armitage (d), former Mayor, Folsom

  • 1991 – Virginia Budd, former President, La Association of Teachers

  • 1992 – Pat Taylor (d), President, Taylor Oil

  • 1993 – Rev. Thomas E. Chambers, President, Holy Cross College

  • 1994 – Corre Stegall, former President, National Kappa Delta Sorority

  • 1995 – James Moffet, CEO, Freeport-McMoran, Inc

  • 1996 – Frank A. France, Founder, Kehoe-France School – Camp

  • 1997 – Mari Ann Callais, Educator, Jefferson

  • 1998 – Fr. Gary Schexnayder, former Pastor, St. Edmund’s Church

  • 1999 – Barbara Stott, Teacher, Riverdale High School

  • 2000 – Dan Jurek, Vice Principal, St. Thomas Moore High School

  • 2001 – Adren Wilson, Children’s Defense Fund

  • 2002 – D’Ann Morris, Office of the Chancellor, Louisiana State University

  • 2003 – Randy Gurie, Assoc. Dean of Students, Louisiana State University

  • 2004 – Charles Jumonville, Diocese of Baton Rouge

  • 2005 – Patricia Neal, Educational Coordinator, La Dept of Education

  • 2006 – Drew Lehmann, Executive Director, Prevention with PRIDE

  • 2007 – Collis Temple, Founder, BREC Sports Academy

  • 2008 – Dr. Nghana Lewis, Professor, Tulane University, New Orleans **

  • 2009 – Zac Burson, Mentoring Coordinator, Bossier Parish Schools

  • 2010 – Barbara Jo Pease, Co-Founder, Louisiana Youth Seminar

  • 2011 – Sen. Mike Michot, Louisiana State Senator, District 23

  • 2012 – Richard Zuschlag, CEO Acadian Ambulance

  • 2013 – Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne

  • 2014 – Jerry Reaux

  • 2015 – Angela Guillory, Greek Life, Louisiana State University

  • 2016 – Anne Hindrichs, McMain's Children's Development Center

  • 2017 – Patrick Dobard, CEO New Schools for New Orleans

  • 2018 – Dean Madeleine Landrieu, Loyola University of New Orleans College of Law

  • 2019 – Loren Carriere, Executive Director, Hope for Opelousas

  • 2020 & 2021 – LYS Webinar held in place of the in-person seminar due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

  • 2022 – Norma Jane Sabiston (d), Former LYS Staffer, Delegate and Board Member, Lifelong Political Advisor

  • 2023 – David St. Romain, Music Artist and Community Advocate

  • 2024 - Senator John Breaux

    (Titles are at time of Award)

About Roddy Richard

Life Achievement Award

• In 1987, the Louisiana Youth Seminar Board of Directors established the Roddy Richard Life Achievement Award in honor of one of our own LYS staffers – Roddy Richard.  Roddy came to LYS from Teurlings Catholic High and joined the staff in 1983 as a junior counselor, moving to counselor in 1985. 

• Roddy was an exceptional young person, whose life was taken in a tragic accident.  To celebrate the life of Roddy and to memioralize his spirit, LYS created this Life Achievement Award.  This award recognizes outstanding individuals whose character and purpose in life have lessened the burden of others and made this a better place for their fellow man.

• Senator Robert Kennedy said, shortly before he died, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal or sets to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustices, he sends forth a ripple of hope.”  Those ripples of hope which began during Roddy’s life will now ripple for future generations, for as we know, the deeds of just and good men never die. 

• The real tragedy in life is what dies inside a man while he lives.  It is not when we die that is important for we surely all will die.  It is what we do while alive here on earth that gives meaning to our very existence. 

• The young Roddy Richard lives on in the minds and hearts of LYS and through the recipients of the Roddy Richard Life Achievement Award.