By Josh Beavers
A large group of Webster Parish students traveled to Baton Rouge over the weekend to participate in the annual Louisiana State Literary Rally on the campus of LSU.
“We are so very proud of all of our Webster Parish students who traveled to Baton Rouge this weekend and participated in the State Literary Rally at LSU,” Superintendent of Schools Johnny Rowland said. “A big thank you to our school sponsors for traveling with the group and making this happen. Josh Beavers (Lakeside), Amy and Kerry Phillips (North Webster High School), Mandy Patterson (Minden), Susan Willis and Christy Johnson (Doyline). We are now anxiously awaiting the results.”
High School Rally is an academic tradition that began in 1909 at LSU. In its first year, contests included both academic and athletic events. High school students could compete in events such as English composition, debate, speech, chorus, spelling, obstacle courses, and even potato-sack races.
According to the 1910 University Bulletin, the first High School Rally proved “such a success in every way and met with such hearty response from the principals, the teachers, and the pupils of the high schools” that LSU President Thomas Boyd created a permanent organization to continue the event.
High School Rally has since evolved into the Louisiana High School Rally Association that offers ten district rallies held at universities throughout the state, and a single State Rally hosted at LSU.
For over a century, LSU has hosted State Rally with the goal of providing Louisiana high school students the opportunity to showcase their academic and performance abilities in fair and friendly competitions. With more than 70 academic and performance events, there are many opportunities for students to compete. In recent years, more than 4,000 students from over 350 schools have participated in State Rally after advancing from their District Rally.
