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Dutchtown History to Fund Scholarship *** Authro's Family Story Presents More Than Century of Education

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By CHRISTINE ARCENEAUX

Dutchtown history to fund scholarship *** Authro's family story presents more than century of education

PRAIRIEVILLE A scholarship fund designated for Dutchtown High School students serves as a way to honor the past and preserve the future.

It (the scholarship) helps to perpetuate the memory of the school and emphasize the communitys commitment to education, Dutchtown Principal Conrad Braud said.

Creator Harriet Babin Miller agrees. She hopes the Babin Family Scholarship Fund, created from the proceeds of her book on the Dutchtown school and community, will go to a deserving graduate at Dutchtown High School. Babin created the fund in honor of the long list of family educators who taught more than 100 years in the Dutchtown School system.

Millers third cousin Brenden Simoneaux teaches at the school today and was just named a National Certified Teacher.

This annual award will include recognition of leadership ability by selecting a graduate who has taken initiative in school activities and/or organizations that contribute to an improved quality of life for the greater community, Miller said.

Dutchtown High School seniors will be eligible for the $500 scholarship in the spring.

The initial buzz, however, was not over the scholarship but Millers book. Titled Dutchtown School: History and Community 1858- 1966, Miller wrote the book as part of the dedication of the new school in 2002. The 150-page book chronicles the schools progression and includes a history of the Dutchtown schools, significant dates and milestones, old photographs, notes and quotes and a history of the Dutchtown community.

Millers interest in writing a book on Dutchtown High School began years ago. The outline, she said, was already created in her head.

I feel like I was destined to write this, Miller said.

My family would gather on the front porch and the conversation would always get around to education somehow because they were all teachers. So I knew the history well.

Miller also knew the history of the first semiprivate school in the area. The school, which predated public schools, was built on her great-grandfather Valentin Babins property in 1858.

Miller still owns the land.

That was a big motivating factor for me, Miller said.

It took Miller more than 16 months to research and write the book, although she did have help from friends such as Delia Phillips, who Miller said went around for one year trying to get people in several old photographs identified.

Shes still getting phone calls, Miller laughed.

Assistant Superintendent Donald Songy created a complete list of all Ascension Parish superintendents from 1852 to 1966 by helping Miller sort through old Ascension Parish School Board records. Prior to the book, the School Board had no master list of school superintendents.

History gets lost when its not summarized and organized, Miller said, adding that most of her time was spent locating historical information for her book.

By the time she was finished, Miller had interviewed more than 75 people and cited 113 sources.

To date, she has sold more than 650 copies.

Proceeds from the book were used to create the scholarship fund.

To be eligible for the scholarship, the student must be chosen by the Selection and Review Committee, a committee formed to oversee candidate selection. Candidates will be chosen based on scholastic ability, good citizenship, leadership skills and community service.

The student must also be accepted by an accredited college or university.

The Selection and Review Committee is appointed by the principal and composed of a Dutchtown High School faculty member, a donor designee and a member of the Dutchtown community. A Baton Rouge Area Foundation representative will serve as adviser.

According to their Web site, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation is a nonprofit organization that forms partnerships with philanthropists, nonprofit organizations and other community leaders to ensure that our community can exceed any challenge, and that our residents have every opportunity to succeed.

According to Baton Rouge Area Foundation program officer Rachel Sayes, students have until April 1 to submit scholarship applications, which can be found by logging on to http:// www.braf.org.

The scholarship will be awarded in May during Dutchtown High Schools graduation or Honors Day celebration.

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of Dutchtown School: History and Community 1858-1966 can purchase the book at the Book Rack in Prairieville or the Book Cottage in Gonzales.

I purchased one of the first copies, which she signed, and its sitting on the coffee table in my living room, Songy said. Its much more interesting if you know the people and I know some of the people. Its something everyone who lives here should read.

Miller hopes to expand the scholarship program with proceeds from future book sales.

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

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