West Bank celebrates Education, Employment & Empowerment
Published 12:06 am Wednesday, August 10, 2016
- Hillary Bossier, right, stands with his wife, Myrtle.
EDGARD — Edgard and the greater West Bank community celebrated its past while keeping an eye on the future during the third annual Education, Employment and Empowerment Festival held at West St. John Elementary.
St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom, far right, presents a proclamation honoring Rudolph Dinvaut to his daughters, from left, Bonnie Dinvaut, Billie Dinvaut-Duncan and Bridget Dinvaut.
Retired educator Grace Cook said the event provided a great opportunity for the community to come together for a positive cause.
Christine Roybiskie said the event and venue were great.
“I also had an opportunity to serve people, which I most enjoy,” Roybiskie said.
Gary Watson chaired this event, with Dr. Joy Banner serving as moderator and Yish Edwards serving as floor manager.
One of the event’s highlights included a Tribute to Honorees, which included Hillary Bossier and the late Rudolph “Prof” Dinvaut. Organizers said each was recognized for their athletic accomplishments and their “loving, caring spirits as benefactors and entrepreneurs.”
Bossier is a Grambling State University’s Legends Sports Hall of Fame member, former educator and coach at Second Ward High School and minor league pitcher in the New York Mets organization.
He became an instructional supervisor for the St. John the Baptist Parish School District in 1977 and retired in 1987.
A native of Edgard and longtime resident of Reserve, Dinvaut died in 2009. He was a United States Army Veteran, retired coach and principal.
Dinvaut served as head coach at Second Ward High School (now West St. John High) in football, basketball and track from 1956 to 1978 and became principal of West St. John High School in 1979. Coach Dinvaut was inducted into Southern University’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, and the West St. John High School football stadium was renamed in his honor in 2001.
Because of his dedication and love of sports, Dinvaut established The Rudolph George Dinvaut Athletic Foundation in 2004.
Edgard native Terry Robiskie, offensive coordinator with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, provided a video testimony on how Dinvaut impacted his life.
Parish President Natalie Robottom presented a proclamation highlighting their contributions and the West St. John Stakeholders presented a plaque.
The festivities culminated with the distribution of school supplies, door prizes and recognition of special guests, with kudos being extended to Assessor Whitney Joseph for a job well done on the eve of his retirement.
White Beans, hot dogs and jambalaya were served, and children were treated to face painting, balloon animals and delicious jammers.
The event opened with prayer, followed by a welcome of attendees, a statement of purpose with an explanation of the layout and special guests being acknowledged. Attendees were invited to visit various booths and receive information on career paths, represented by professionals in education, law, medicine, journalism, industry, culinary art, faith based organizations, plantations, the movie industry and more.
Attendees also had an opportunity to join the “2016 Summer Health Challenge.” They were given an enrollee health form, where each person selected three areas they agreed to monitor personally.
Participants could also register to vote in this upcoming Presidential Election.
