RESERVE — From the time he was very young, Riverside Academy senior Mason Scioneaux took inspiration from his parents, Chris and Karen Scioneaux of Vacherie, and made it his priority to excel in school as a path to a bright future.

Scioneaux is humble, never bragging about his accomplishments, even though he’s maintained a 4.7 GPA while balancing dual enrollment college courses, leadership positions in sports and extracurricular activities and service to Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Vacherie.

He said his family has been the greatest support system in his life, always advocating for education to reach his fullest potential.

After hearing how his father dropped out of college due to the hardships associated with working nights to pay his way through school, Scioneaux set a goal to secure a scholarship to better his chance of success and lessen the financial burden on his parents.

Though Scioneaux said his No. 1 priority is academics, he’s also excelled in sports. In addition to being captain of the Rebels varsity football team, he also participates in track and field and was a two-year member of the golf team.

“It was a tough transition freshman year, going from the middle school football team to playing varsity,” Scioneaux said.

“By the time you come home from practice and eat dinner, you’re not starting homework until after 8. You only have a small window from about 8 to 10:30 to work on everything and still get seven hours of sleep.”

Maintaining a healthy sleep schedule is a key to success, Scioneaux said, noting it’s important for him as an athlete to take care of his body by staying well rested.

RA offensive line coach Joe Trosclair said Scioneaux is a great student athlete.

“He takes academics seriously, and he’s been a great main offensive lineman,” Trosclair said. “He’s someone everyone should strive to be like.”

Scioneaux said becoming captain of the football team is one of his most meaningful accomplishments, along with being elected president of student council.

He is also vice president of RA’s political science club, an organization he founded with a friend to educate fellow students about politics in Washington and Baton Rouge, a participant in literary rally and a longtime member of Beta Club.

Outside of school, he reads articles about politics and sports in his spare time and puts many hours into serving his church and furthering his Catholic faith. He’s been an altar server since fourth grade and spends at least three weekends each month reading scripture to congregations.

Scioneaux is also a member of the Knights of Columbus youth group in Vacherie, through which he participates in service projects and fundraisers.

“We put flags in cemeteries in honor of Veteran’s Day and sometimes we do landscaping and yard work,” Scioneaux said.

He also participates in an annual chicken dinner fundraiser to raise money for St. James Arc, an organization that benefits individuals with mental disabilities.

Over the past year, Scioneaux has toured a dozen universities across the south to decide where to start his college career.

With ambitions to study journalism in undergrad with minors in business and political science before tackling law school, Scioneaux has narrowed his options to Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Mississippi and University of Louisiana at Monroe.

His final decision will be determined by scholarship offers. With an ACT composite score of 33, 15 college credit hours from last year and a course load of nine dual enrollment credits this year, Scioneaux will enter college as a sophomore, allowing him to graduate a year early and pursue a graduate degree.

Teachers respect Scioneaux, and he said Coy Boe, his French teacher of three years, has been a huge influence on his education.

“Mason is a high-achieving student, and I am privileged to have taught him French II and French III honors, and now he is a student in French IV honors,” Boe said. “He isn’t afraid to attempt speaking French in a conversational setting, and he is truly a joy to teach.”

— By Brooke Robichaux