Anthony Charles Amadeo III, a resident of Arabi, Louisiana (St. Bernard Parish), and an 8th-grade student at Jesuit High School, New Orleans, Louisiana, was named The 2024 State of Louisiana’s Statewide 8th Grade Student of the Year for Catholic Schools. He competed against other archdiocese students of Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Houma-Thibodaux, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Shreveport for this statewide title. Anthony received his title on March 22, 2024, at the Notre Dame Seminary on South Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans. He initially captured Jesuit’s recognition of student of the year, then The Archdiocese of New Orleans title of student of the year, and then went on to the statewide competition to earn the State title. The annual Catholic School Student of the Year competition involved student submission of a portfolio of accomplishments, a writing sample, and an interview with a panel of unbiased judges. In addition to academic achievement, students were evaluated in the following categories: leadership in their schools, extracurricular activities, church parish, and the greater community. Service, discipleship, and citizenship in their school, church and community and other Awards, Honors, and Accolades. Anthony is currently maintaining a 4.0 GPA while being very involved in both his school and community. At Our Lady of Prompt Succor (OLPS) he graduated 7th grade as the Valedictorian, Student Body President, and was voted captain of the multiple sports he participated in. Anthony received the highest honor multiple times being awarded the Christian Leadership Award and Patriot Awards. Anthony was involved in numerous clubs such as Beta Club, yearbook, and photography and served as an ambassador for prospective students. Additionally, while being a student of OLPS and remains, and has carried over to Jesuit, Anthony is an altar server, participating in multiple masses per month. Currently Anthony has played 8th grade football on the offensive line, wrestled for the Blue Jays, Participates in Marine Corp Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp, and is very active in student life at Jesuit. He serves as a class representative on Jesuit’s Student Council, as an 8th grader, and will serve on the Student Council again as a 9th grader.
Anthony serves the greater community currently as a BSA Star Scout and Patrol Leader, of Troop 11. Anthony has earned over 80 of the 139 possible merit badges. As a scout, these boys and girls learn, earn, and participate in various service projects near and far. Anthony is most proud of his recent accomplishment, leading, with the help of many people involved, to reach the self-set goal of raising over $100,000 for the Make-A-Wish program. This was done by collecting Santa letters. In the past, he has partnered with Macy’s, and last year, he even found another sponsor to help support these efforts for these children. The mottos he lives by is: “Put more into the world than you take out of it,” and
Anthony also won this prestigious award and state title as a 5th-grade student at Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Chalmette, Louisiana. These titles of student of the year at the state level are only awarded for grades 5, 8, and 12th. Anthony states that he has learned: “By serving others, you serve the Lord and yourself.” Of course, Anthony knew that AMDG (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam, Latin for “For the greater glory of God” and the motto of the Society of Jesus), but it was through his service to others and servient leadership that his understanding and realization of the meaning was fully understood.
In Anthony’s studies at Jesuit, there are many quotes from Saint Ignatius of Loyola he has learned. Two of these stick out and have made a growing impression on Anthony. “Go forth and set the world on fire. Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God. Love is shown more in deeds than in words. God freely created us so that we might know, love, and serve him in this life and be happy with him forever” and “Pray as if God will take care of all; act as if all is up to you.” These two simple but impactful statements are what drives Anthony. His strives to live by: “Put more into the world than you take out” and “Leave everything better than you found it,” reflect his commitment to pursuing God’s glory by becoming a man for others. Anthony is humbled to be recognized as The State of Louisiana’s 8th Grade Statewide Student of the Year for Catholic Schools. It is through this recognition and his countless efforts that others are served, others are called to serve, and continued positivity is delivered daily, and the world is left a little bit better than the day before. Often it only takes a smile to fix someone’s day, you never know what is going on with other people and their struggles, and the impact you may have by a small act.
