Hard Work of St. Jude School Community Leads to Blue Ribbon Award

The St. Jude the Apostle School in Baton Rouge students and faculty roared with "Cougar pride" when they learned they are a repeat Blue Ribbon Award winning school.

St. Jude was nominated by the Council for American Private Education (CAPE) for the 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award. The U.S. Department of Education has recognized the school as meeting the criteria for designation as an exemplary high performing school. 

The achievement was celebrated when the announcement was made before students and faculty on Sept. 30. 

The first time St. Jude School won the Blue Ribbon Award was 2020, according to St. Jude Principal Michelle Gardiner. St. Jude and St.  Dominic School, New Orleans, were the only two Catholic schools in Louisiana nominated for the award for 2025. 

This was also only the second time for St. Jude to apply for the award. Once a school receives a blue ribbon, they are not eligible to receive another one for another five years, which essentially makes this "back-to-back honors" for St. Jude.

The award was kept a secret until the announcement was made at a special assembly.

"The excitement was immeasurable," said Gardiner. "The lights were out and music was playing and we had beach balls bouncing around in the gym and then we played 'bluesical chairs;’ they did the Cha Cha Slide dance with blue clappers. It ended with blue confetti poppers going everywhere.

"It was, as one of the kids described to her parents, 'the best day ever!'"

Gardiner said she is proud of the effort the students, staff, and parents put into being a Blue Ribbon quality school.

Father Trey Nelson, pastor of St. Jude Church, expressed his appreciation of the hard work of the St. Jude community.

"The Blue Ribbon process is a very arduous process. It not only involves the faculty, but it involves parents, volunteers, students, all of us, in terms of what we feel makes our school unique. It's not about being better than other schools, but what makes us unique and how we fulfill our mission. To me the Blue Ribbon is validation of our school's fidelity to its mission of forming the whole person."

Dr. Pattie Davis, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, was also present to congratulate the St. Jude community.

"We are so proud of St. Jude the Apostle School for being one of only two schools in Louisiana to receive the prestigious Blue Ribbon nomination from the Council for American Private Education," Davis said. "St. Jude is among just 54 private schools across the nation to be honored with this distinction. On behalf of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Father Trey Nelson, Principal Michelle Gardiner, the faculty and staff, and the families of St. Jude.

"This outstanding accomplishment reflects the dedication, faith, and teamwork of the entire St. Jude community," she said.