PUBLISHED ON April 30, 2026

A Living History Lesson:Jerry Hernandez Visits U.S. History Classes

Mrs. Katie Hernandez Krajcer’s U.S. History and Advanced Placement U.S. History students recently had the opportunity to experience history beyond the textbook.

Jerry Hernandez, a United States Marine Corps veteran and Mrs. Krajcer’s father, visited campus to speak with students about his service in the Vietnam War.

Mr. Hernandez served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 for a period of 13 months. During his time overseas, he worked as a translator and also served on patrols, giving him firsthand experience in both communication and combat operations.

During his presentation, Mr. Hernandez shared insights into the geographical challenges of fighting in the jungles of Vietnam, explaining how terrain and climate impacted military strategy and daily life for soldiers. He also discussed the guerrilla warfare tactics used by the North Vietnamese Army, helping students better understand the complexity of the conflict.

Beyond military strategy and logistics, Mr. Hernandez shared personal stories about serving his country. These stories brought humanity and depth to the historical events students have been studying in class.

Hearing directly from a veteran who lived through this pivotal period in American history allowed students to connect classroom lessons to real-world experiences. It was a powerful reminder that history is not just dates and documents. It's the lived experiences of courageous individuals.

We are grateful to Mr. Hernandez for his service and for sharing his story with our students.

Recommended Posts

By Jamie Hanzo June 8, 2026
Presenting Our Gift to the Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center 💗💚 In April, Mrs. Benson personally invited our students to the Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center to present our Pink Month earnings to their leadership team. Walking into the Cancer Center with Mrs. Benson was a powerful experience for our students. It was more than just delivering a check. It was an opportunity to represent the heart of the Chapelle community and to see firsthand the impact of their efforts. Sharing that moment with the leadership team made the months of preparation and fundraising even more meaningful. Throughout Pink Month, our students worked tirelessly to raise funds in creative and spirited ways. They sold pink socks, the official Pink Month t-shirt, donuts, and pink lemonade, along with organizing other campus initiatives to support the cause. They also took time to write heartfelt notes and prayers of healing to oncology patients — messages that Mrs. Benson and her team truly loved and appreciated. Being able to stand together and formally present our donation was a beautiful reminder that small acts of generosity can come together to create something powerful. It was a proud day for our students and a reflection of Chapelle’s commitment to faith, compassion, and service. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to support the patients and programs at the Gayle & Tom Benson Cancer Center and proud of our Chipmunks for living out our mission in such a meaningful way.
By Jamie Hanzo June 8, 2026
Summer Soirée 💚🍷🎻 We had the joy of celebrating our New Parents at our annual Summer Soirée at The Crossing, officially welcoming them into the Chapelle Family! 💚 The evening was filled with warm conversations, laughter, and the excitement of a new chapter beginning. It was the perfect opportunity for Chapelle’s Administration to personally meet our newest families and for parents to begin forming connections with the families of their daughters’ future classmates. Events like the Summer Soirée are a special reminder that Chapelle is more than a school — it is a community rooted in faith, friendship, and support. Watching new relationships begin to grow is always one of our favorite parts of the summer.  We are so grateful to all who joined us and helped make the evening so meaningful. We hope our newest Chipmunk families are enjoying a wonderful summer, and we cannot wait to welcome everyone to campus in August!
By Jamie Hanzo June 3, 2026
Founder & President, Special Olympics College Club at UL Lafayette Chapelle is proud to spotlight Marissa Rinderle ’24, who is already making an incredible impact during her time at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Marissa is the Founder and President of the Special Olympics College Club at UL Lafayette, a student-run organization dedicated to creating meaningful connections between college students and individuals with disabilities through athletics and campus events. “I actually founded the club after Special Olympics Louisiana reached out to me in hopes of expanding the college club program,” Marissa shared. “Rachel Meariman ’23 and I collaborated to get it all started!” The Special Olympics College Club at UL provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to connect with college students through various athletic events. The mission is simple yet powerful: to promote inclusion on the UL campus through sports, friendship, and the celebration of all abilities. Marissa’s passion for inclusion is deeply rooted in her involvement with the UL LIFE Program, which is designed to give individuals with disabilities the opportunity to experience college life while furthering their education and life skills. “The LIFE Program has encouraged and prepared me to begin Special Olympics UL,” she said. In addition to leading the Special Olympics College Club, Marissa also serves as Vice President of the Kinesiology Professional Association, demonstrating her continued commitment to leadership and service. At Chapelle, Marissa served as a Student Ambassador, a role she credits with helping her grow as a communicator and leader. “Being an ambassador enhanced my communication and leadership skills, preparing me for the various roles I now have in college,” she shared. Marissa exemplifies the Chapelle mission by leading with compassion, courage, and a heart for service. We are so proud of the difference she is making and can’t wait to see how she continues to inspire inclusion and build community. Congratulations, Marissa! Your Chapelle family is cheering you on!
By Jamie Hanzo May 29, 2026
Celebrating Excellence at the Spring Athletic Awards 💚🌸 Chapelle Athletics proudly honored our spring student-athletes at this year’s Spring Athletic Awards Banquet. The evening celebrated dedication, perseverance, teamwork, and academic excellence across Bowling, Golf, Tennis, Track & Field, Flag Football, and Softball. Team Awards Track & Field Most Improved: Nikita Molaison Academic Award: Allyson Dardar Golf Most Improved: Egan Guidroz Academic Award: Miley Perkins Flag Football Most Improved: Olivia Atkins Academic Award: Allyson Dardar Tennis Most Improved: Ava Landry Academic Award: Ava Landry Softball Most Improved: Ava Martinez Academic Award: Kamryn DiMaggio Bowling Most Improved: Alexandra Young Academic Award: Alexandra Young These awards recognize athletes who showed tremendous growth throughout the season while maintaining a strong commitment to their studies. LHSAA Academic All-State Composite Team Each year, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association selects the All-Academic Composite Team for each sport. This prestigious recognition is awarded to seniors across all classifications and divisions who maintain the highest Grade Point Average among athletes during their academic career while participating in varsity athletics for two or more consecutive seasons. (Students must earn an unweighted 4.0 GPA with no B’s on any report card.) Bowling: Alexandra Young Tennis: Ava Landry We are incredibly proud of these student-athletes for their exceptional dedication in the classroom and in competition. LHSAA All-Academic Scholar Athlete Program This award is presented for outstanding academic achievement by seniors maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5000 or higher during their academic career while participating in varsity high school athletics. Tennis: Blythe Bonnaffons Track & Field: Allie Mixon Softball: Kelsie Schmidt These athletes exemplify what it means to balance academic excellence with athletic commitment. The Linda Munn Award A meaningful highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Linda Munn Award. This award is given to student-athletes who exemplify sportsmanship and teamwork. They are kind and well-rounded, care deeply about representing their school and team in the best possible light, and display the utmost school pride. The award is named in honor of Ms. Linda Munn, who served as a teacher and coach at Chapelle for over three decades. Ms. Munn embodied these same qualities throughout her distinguished career and remains deeply loved and respected by the entire Chapelle family. We were honored to invite Ms. Munn on stage to help present the awards. Linda Munn Award Recipients: Bowling : Taylor Bourdonnay Golf : Elise Nelson Tennis : Blythe Bonnaffons Track & Field : Saige McReynolds Flag Football : Macey Lane Softball : Kelsie Schmidt
By Jamie Hanzo May 29, 2026
Celebrating Excellence at the Winter Athletics Awards 💚❄️ Chapelle Athletics proudly celebrated the accomplishments of our winter student-athletes at this year’s Winter Athletics Awards ceremony. The evening honored not only athletic achievement, but also dedication, perseverance, leadership, and academic excellence. Team Awards: Soccer Varsity Most Improved: Sophia Stevens Varsity Academic Award: Allie LeSieur Powerlifting Varsity Most Improved: Adamarise Melare Varsity Academic Award: Isabella Arboneaux Basketball JV & Varsity Most Improved: Karoline Roche Varsity Academic Award: Penelope Haley These student-athletes demonstrated tremendous growth throughout the season while balancing the demands of competition and academics. LHSAA All-Academic Scholar Athlete Program We are especially proud to recognize several seniors who were honored through the LHSAA All-Academic Scholar Athlete Program. This award is presented for outstanding academic achievement to seniors who have competed for two or more consecutive seasons and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5000 or higher within their sports division during their academic career while participating in varsity athletics. Soccer: Gabriella Saia Basketball: Jena Gaudet Kelsie Schmidt Penelope Haley Powerlifting: Victoria Frey Isabella Arboneaux Ella Growl Isabella Holt These student-athletes exemplify what it means to compete at a high level while excelling in the classroom. The Linda Munn Award One of the most meaningful moments of the evening was the presentation of the Linda Munn Award. This award is given to student-athletes who exemplify sportsmanship and teamwork. They are kind and well-rounded, care deeply about representing their school and team in the best possible light, and display the utmost school pride. The award is named in honor of Ms. Linda Munn, who served as a teacher and coach at Chapelle for over three decades. Ms. Munn embodied these same characteristics throughout her distinguished career and is deeply loved and respected by the entire Chapelle family. We were honored to invite Ms. Munn on stage to help present the awards. Linda Munn Award Recipients: Soccer : Allie LeSieur Basketball : Penelope Haley Powerlifting : Kathleen Sunseri
By Jamie Hanzo May 21, 2026
New Principal of St. Louis King of France School We are proud to spotlight Shannon Landaiche Culotta, Class of 1993, who has been named the new Principal of St. Louis King of France School. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience and success as both an educator and administrator. She currently serves as the Assistant Principal at St. Angela Merici Catholic School, where she continues to demonstrate strong leadership rooted in faith and academic excellence. Reflecting on her time at Chapelle, Shannon shared: “During my time at Archbishop Chapelle High School, my Catholic faith truly deepened and strengthened the values that guide me today. Chapelle not only provided me with leadership opportunities that helped me grow in confidence, but it also rooted me in the value and mission of Catholic education—something that continues to guide me now as a Catholic school administrator.”  We are incredibly proud of Shannon’s accomplishments and grateful to see a Chapelle alumna continuing the mission of Catholic education. Congratulations on this exciting new chapter!
By Jamie Hanzo May 14, 2026
Lights, Camera, Creativity! 🎬 Our Reading Lab students recently stepped into the roles of writers, directors, and producers as they created their own movie pitches inspired by what they have been learning in class. Blending their understanding of author’s purpose and genres of writing, students developed original movie concepts that reflected specific themes, tones, and writing styles. From persuasive dramas to imaginative adventures, each pitch demonstrated how literary elements shape storytelling across different formats. The project required students to craft a compelling movie summary and design a creative movie poster to bring their vision to life. The results were impressive, showcasing not only their comprehension of literary concepts but also their creativity and collaboration skills. By transforming reading strategies into cinematic storytelling, our students proved that strong literacy skills can shine on any stage — even the big screen!
By Jacyln Gilmore May 14, 2026
Class of 2026 Valedictorians We are proud to celebrate the three Valedictorians of the Class of 2026: Alexandra Elizabeth Daigre, Anita Ning Shan Li, and Emma Mong-Ai Tran! Over the past five years at Chapelle, these remarkable young women have demonstrated exceptional dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence. Their commitment to striving for their very best has earned them the distinguished title of Valedictorian.  We are incredibly proud of Alexandra, Anita, and Emma, and we have no doubt that they will continue to accomplish extraordinary things as they begin their college journeys and step confidently into the future. 💚
More Posts