Each year, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association awards 64 scholarships to worthy Louisiana high school graduates to provide assistance in furthering their education and training. One student is selected from each parish by the Sheriff of that parish.

After a thorough review of all applications received, Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal selected Nate Bracy, a recent graduate of Franklinton High School, as the recipient of the $500 scholarship.

Bracy has demonstrated scholarship and leadership throughout his high school career, maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average. He was selected to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference and Boys’ State as a representative of Franklinton High School. Additionally, he is a member of the Beta Club, the National Honor Society and Interact. Bracy received academic honors in Algebra, Algebra II, Geometry, English, English II, English III and United States History, all the while taking dual enrollment classes at Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana Tech. He was a three-year recipient of the Taylor Scholar Award.

Bracy intends to continue his education at Southeastern, where he plans to major in civil engineering and pursue a career in the construction industry.

In addition to his academic achievements, Bracy also demonstrated athletic leadership. As a member of the Demons baseball team, he was awarded First Team All-District honors and the Mrs. Jewel Tageant award.

Bracy, whose father is a Bogalusa police officer and whose mother is a school counselor, endured significant hardship in 2016 when the family home flooded with five feet of water. This created difficult financial circumstances for the family, but working together as a family unit, they persevered and slowly rebuilt their lives.

“It is such an honor for me to present this scholarship to such a worthy young man,” Seal said. “Nate has demonstrated character and leadership which will be benchmarks for his future achievements. Washington Parish is fortunate to be able to claim him as a native son. I salute him as one of Washington Parish’s finest.”