A Varnado High School sophomore was recognized Monday during the meeting of the Washington Parish Council.

LaDarrick Smith was recently the recipient of the “National Youth Leadership Award” at a forum in Washington, D.C. He is also a member of the Washington Parish Youth Against Drugs Coalition and serves as the youth sector representative for the Washington Parish Coalition on Human Services.

Parish President Richard “Ned” Thomas read the proclamation during Monday’s council meeting, and recognized both Smith and his family in attendance. Smith is the son of Debra and Eric Smith of Angie.

The complete text of the proclamation is as follows:

“Whereas, LaDarrick Smith, the son of Debra and Eric Smith of Angie, Louisiana and a sophomore student at Varnado High School received the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA’s) prestigious National Youth Leadership Award at the 2019 Annual national Leadership Forum of CADCA in Washington, D.C; and

“Whereas, LaDarrick is a member of the Washington Parish Youth Against Drugs Coalition which is affiliated with ADAPT, Inc; and

“Whereas, LaDarrick serves as the youth sector representative for the Washington Parish Coalition on Human Services; and

“Whereas, LaDarrick is a member of CADCA’s National Youth Leadership Initiative Training of the Trainers program; and

“Whereas, through the above, LaDarrick strives to educate youth on the harmful effects of substance abuse and has been actively involved in training youth to be proactive members of their community; and

“Whereas, LaDarrick’s efforts results in his being honored with the National Youth Leadership Award and being given an all expense paid trip to the CADCA Forum in Washington, D.C. where he addressed more than 3,000 attendees from across the nation, receiving a standing ovation as well as special recognition from Major General Arthur Dean, the Chairman and CEO of CADCA.

“Now therefore, the Washington Parish President and the Washington Parish Council hereby honors and congratulates LaDarrick Smith upon receiving this esteemed national award and extends sincere gratitude and appreciation for his service in his community.

“In testimony whereof, Washington Parish President, Richard N. Thomas Jr., and the Washington Parish Council Chairman, Chris Workman, have hereunto set their hand and caused the seal of the Parish of Washington to be affixed this 25th day of March 2019.”