LAPLACE — With a score of 32 on the September ACT, St. Charles Catholic High School junior Kaira Tamplain of LaPlace recently joined the exclusive 30+ Club, but for her, this achievement is just one of many.

Since the beginning of her high school career, Tamplain has been a role model for other students through her accountability, generosity and dedication to excellence in the classroom and in the community.

The night before she took the ACT, Tamplain got home late because she was busy filming SCC’s Friday night football game. Since fall 2016, she has served as a football manager for the Comets, attending practices and games and capturing the best plays on camera.

“I usually go to school, then to football practice, then to church in Metairie,” Tamplain said. “With studying added in, it gets pretty hectic sometimes, but it all pays off.”

Coach Frank Monica said he enjoys having Tamplain as part of the team and praised her strength of character.

“Her pleasant demeanor makes her nice to be around,” Monica said. “What really stands out is her accountability. She’s always there at practice, and she’s done a great job with our film work as well.

“I didn’t know she was a 30+ scholar, but I can sense it because she has all the qualities.”

Outside of football, Tamplain enjoys practicing her faith daily and participating in Alpha, an outreach program at her church.

Tamplain said she started serving at church as soon as she turned 12 and was declared old enough to volunteer. She works in the nursery on Tuesday nights and acts as a role model to younger children at Vacation Bible School each summer.

According to Tamplain, her faith is a guiding light, inspiring her to succeed.

“God is always an inspiration to me,” she said. “I do what I can to forward his Kingdom, and of course I want to make my parents proud, too.”

Her goal of being the first of her siblings to finish college is another major motivation.

Though she is nearly two years from starting college, Tamplain already has ambitions to become a pediatric nurse practitioner, a position that will allow her to continue working with children.

She’s considering attending college at Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette or Tulane University.

With a course load packed with dual enrollment and advanced placement classes, Tramplain is on track to graduate from college early.

In addition to maintaining over a 4.0 GPA, Tamplain participates in French Club, Science Club and has volunteered at the Special Olympics through Beta Club. She said she’s not done taking the ACT and has an ultimate goal of achieving a 35 or, if possible, a perfect score of 36.

Tamplain’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed by her instructors.

Christine Creppel, Tamplain’s dual enrollment French II teacher, described her as “a very conscientious young woman who is driven to soar academically.”

Biology teacher Tina Jeandron said Tamplain pushes herself to work hard and has no difficulty confiding in others.

“She is very self-motivated, and she has higher expectations for herself than what others have for her,” Jeandron said. “She’s very compassionate and she really makes personal connections with people. We’re very proud of her.”

— By Brooke Robichaux