Former Plaquemine resident receives 'Ernest J. Gaines Student Award'

Elisabeth Grass, the 12 year old daughter of Bill Grass, formerly of Plaquemine and now living in Baton Rouge, recently received two scholastic honors.

Last semester, Elisabeth was named “Female Student of the Year” in her grade at LSU Lab School.  This January, she received the “Ernest J. Gaines Student Award” for her literary excellence in a student competition among over 550 students.

Mr. Gaines, a native of New Roads, is an internationally known and revered author and is Professor Emeritus at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Elisabeth received the award and a monetary gift and had the privilege of meeting Mr. Gaines at a ceremony and reception held at the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge.  The award is a project of the Baton Rouge Foundation.

Elisabeth and her three younger siblings all attend the LSU Lab School and are the grandchildren of Henry and Arlene Grass of Plaquemine.