A True Bearcat

Lincoln Parish High School Student of the Year Jason Willis has always enjoyed the process of learning new information and improving his knowledge in the classroom.

Putting in the work to make top grades and earn academic accolades like National Merit Scholarship semifinalist doesn’t really feel like work to Willis because “I’m having fun while I’m doing it,” he said.

The Ruston High School senior was Middle School Student of the Year during his time at Ruston Junior High School, and this time he said he’s aiming to go further and take home the honor at the regional and state levels.

His principal, Dan Gressett, thinks he can do it.

“You couldn’t ask for more out of him,” Gressett said of Willis. “He’s involved, makes outstanding grades, just a good ambassador for Ruston High School. It wasn’t surprising to me at all that he was Student of the Year, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he wins state.”

Despite the high goal, Willis said it was the distinction of being Ruston High’s Student of the Year that meant the most to him personally.

“The appreciation that I have for this school and what it’s done for me, to be able to represent it out of all my peers who I thought were very qualified was the coolest part,” he said.

Willis demonstrated his commitment to RHS when he chose to remain in town and live with his sister for his senior year rather than joining his parents in their move to Natchitoches, where his father was appointed to pastor a church.

“I didn’t want to say goodbye to all my friends,” he said. “And especially now, doing the Student of the Year process and getting to know the staff better, I really enjoy the staff here. Maybe it’s a little presumptuous to call us friends, but I think we might be friends.”

Living without his parents this school year has been tough, Willis said. The close-knit family can’t have the casual, everyday conversations and interactions they were used to having.

But the experience has also given him a useful preview into college life.

“I’ve had to grow more independence and more of a self-motor as far as getting things done and getting myself to meet deadlines,” he said. Willis is no stranger to deadlines. He currently

Willis is no stranger to deadlines. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the Chatterbox, the RHS student newspaper.

In fact, Willis has continued a particular streak of Lincoln Parish High School Students of the Year to not only come from RHS but to have been active Future Business Leaders of America members and Chatterbox editors.

After Joanna Ham, Amanda Meng and Hana Le, Willis becomes the fourth straight to check all those boxes.

Willis took home first-place honors at the 2021 state FBLA meet in Business Communication.

Though he doesn’t plan to enter the business sphere, he said his Chatterbox experience is nonetheless valuable.

“I’m directing a staff of writers,” he said. “Regardless of what field I’m in, if I end up in an oversight position, that could be helpful.”

He’s not yet sure what career field that’ll be. The senior has already been accepted to LSU and Southern Methodist University and is awaiting a decision from Duke and Vanderbilt as well.

His interests in a potential major are widespread: sports journalism, psychology or constitutional law.

Willis said he’s very active in patrolling for all the latest sports news on Twitter and fan forums and wants to be “the first one to see it.” He served as sports editor for the Chatterbox before taking over the paper’s reins.

Meanwhile, psychology simply struck him as “really cool” after taking a class on the subject.

“Putting a name and explanation to the things that we do that don’t necessarily make sense on a surface level, I think that’s really cool,” he said.

Constitutional law pertains to his desire to potentially go into public service, though probably not via an elected position, Willis said.

He had the opportunity last year to serve on a “steering committee” with the Louisiana Department of Education to help form the new social studies standards for the state, which are still being hotly debated.

“I appreciated being involved in it because it was like a firsthand experience in democracy on a small scale,” he said. “Working with the committee gave me a greater understanding of what patriotism means as a we came to a consensus (about the standards).

“And the public comments gave me a deeper understanding of the root of conflict in our country — the misunderstandings that lead to those kinds of things.”

Regardless of where he ends up and what he studies, Willis values collaboration among peers and sees the value in everyone’s perspective.

“Every day in class, someone will say something that I never would have considered or thought of, and that came from their own personal experience and knowledge, which is completely separate from mine,” he said.

“Everyone has something to bring to the table.”