Sugar 'n Spice Dance School honored Laci for their 2007 Dance Revue.  The following presentation was made:


As many of you are aware, on August 14th of last year, the Sugar'n Spice family was hit very hard with the loss of a student.   Laci Taquino, at the age of 15, passed away unexpectedly and we were at a loss as to how to handle the situation.  Not only was she a long term dance student, she was also the child of one of our teachers.  We had all watched Laci grow up to be the beautiful and talented young lady that she was at the time of her death.  We did not want her specialness to go with her.  The faculty made a decision at the beginning of the dance year to look for a student who embodied all the characteristics that made Laci the girl that she was.  Sugar 'n Spice decided that each year we would recognize one high school age dancer who best represents the things we loved about Laci.  We looked for a student who was a joy to teach, a quiet and unassuming student who was dedicated to dance and  to her studies, a student who was always willing to go the extra mile or take her place at the back of the line if that is what the team needed her to do.  We looked for the student that we could always depend on to give her best effort, never complain, and just do what was needed to get the dance done.  With that in mind, the Laci Taquino Memorial Award was created and is being presented tonight to the student that we feel best represents all the wonderful things that Laci was.  Our decision had already been made when we also just happened to learn that Laci had a favorite older dancer that she admired and looked up to and always wanted to dance like.  Just as God had a hand in Laci's death because he must have needed a dancer and cheerleader in heaven, God had a hand in our decision making.  Without knowing, we chose Laci's idol as the recipient of the 1st  Annual Laci Taquino Memorial Award winner and would like to present that award to Zoe Acosta.  The award is being presented by Ms. Ashley and Ms. Wanda.


The Select Class (Laci's class) performed a lyrical to "If Heaven" by Andy Griggs in Laci's memory.  Dancers were Zoe Acosta, Kelli Braquet, Brittany Broussard, Brooke Colarelli, Tiffany McZeal, Megan Montz, & Kayla Ortego.
"If Heaven" can be viewed under the Audio/Video Section of this site.

Laci's number one passion was Dance.  Words can not express the thankfulness we have in our hearts for Ms. Ashley and the girls in the Select Class who worked so hard on this dance for Laci.  Each one of them, along with her "Nana" Danielle,  inspired Laci to become the dancer she was.   

We will never see Laci's dream of graduating from Dance, but because of your thoughtfulness and compassion, she received her well deserved recognition.

To the Sugar 'n Spice Faculty and students we thank you for remembering, Laci.

Congratulations to the following recipients:

Zoe Acosta  - 2007

Emily Suire - 2008

Ashley LeVasseur - 2009

Lori Braquet - 2010

Marie Sanford - 2011

The 2006-2007 CHS Cheerleading Squad recognized Laci in many special ways.  The following is from a letter we received from the squad.

     Laci, our shining star has left an indelible mark on all of our lives.  In her honor, the Laci Taquino Memorial Award will be presented to a 10th grade cheerleader at the banquet.

    Laci's sweet example of purity, gentleness, loyalty, truthfulness, and genuine friendship are qualities we all strive for.  She was always willing to give 200% at every practice, she loved everyone and always wanted everyone to get along.  Laci never had anything negative to say.  We believe this is what it means to be a true cheerleader.  When selecting this year's recipient, we asked the girls to remember Laci and her true strength of character and personality.

Congratulations to the following recipients:

Morgan Barcant 2006-2007

Leslie Overton 2007-2008

Erin Dupree 2008-2009

Courtney Branson 2009-2010

Courtney Breaux 2010-2011

Milton Elementary/Middle School honors Laci by giving the following award in her memory each year.

      In the spring of 2004, the Milton Oustanding Cheerleader Award was established to honor an extraordinary young lady who displayed such devotion, friendship, gentleness, kindness, and loyalty to others.  Laci Michelle Taquino was the first recipient of this award.  Laci was the true meaning of all that is good and honorable.  On August 14, 2006, Laci left this Earth to spend eternity among the angels.   That evening a special memorial service was held to honor her incredible life, share our favorite memories, and find comfort among family and friends.  It was on this day that the Milton Outstanding Cheerleading Award was renamed to the Laci Taquino Outstanding Cheerleading Award.  This award will ensure that her legacy will live on forever as she will always remain in our hearts.

In loving memory
11:00 PM Apr. 4 2011 | Comments

P.C. Piazza/ppiazza@theadvertiser.com Lisa Taquino shows the photo of “her hero” daughter Laci Taquino 15 before LGMC stages a flag-raising ceremony in support of April as National Donate Life Month. Six of Laci’s organs were donated to save lives.

Bruce Brown
Lisa Taquino's daughter Laci had just turned 15 in 2006. She was a JV cheerleader at Comeaux where both Lisa and husband Chad had been students and was looking forward to life's challenges.

Like most eager teenagers Laci got her driver's license. Unlike many though she also signed up to be an organ donor.

One month later Laci was gone but her donated organs helped to extend the lives of six recipients so her legacy lives on in others.

"When Laci told me she was thinking about becoming a donor I told her there was plenty of time to decide that" Lisa Taquino said. "The drivers' ed people had brought up the idea. She was a very responsible mature girl.

"I told her I didn't make that decision until I'd had children. But she had a godchild and said 'This might help Stevie.' It was so responsible of her."

Taquino shared her story on Monday at Lafayette General Medical Center during flag-raising ceremonies in support of south Louisiana donors and their families as part of National Donate Life Month.

Donate Life Louisiana LOPA (Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency) and LGMC are partnering with Flags Across America and Donate Life America to spread the word about organ donation. Every donor hospital transplant center and recovery agency is urged to fly the Donate Life flag this month.

"Lafayette General Medical Center is honored to fly this flag in support of National Donate Life Month" said LGMC CEO David Callecod. "By raising awareness within our community we can perhaps help save the life of someone in need.

"This small act of recognition and awareness is in honor of all organ and tissue donors and recipients."

"It's not something you talk about much with your children" said Lisa Taquino. "When Laci was declared brain dead if we had made the decisions (on donation) on our own without knowing her wishes it would have been so difficult.

"But it was providential. I knew she had thought this through. We could live with ourselves. Everything happened within 24 hours."

Lexi Taquino turned 16 on Sunday a student in the gifted program at Lafayette High. She remembers her older sister Laci and like the rest of the family honors her legacy.

"Lexi is a donor and she volunteers with LOPA" Lisa Taquino said. "We felt it was good for her to get out from under Laci's shadow at Comeaux.

"There's not a day that goes by that Laci's name doesn't come up. It still hurts to hear her name or talk about her but her memory lives on. You can see the spark in Lexi's eyes when she talks about her. One of her goals is to keep her name alive.

"At one point Lexi was talking about becoming a lawyer but after this she has talked about entering the medical field."

Lisa Taquino has begun sharing her story with students in talks at schools. It is a cathartic experience for the mother whose eyes still tear up at the mention of Laci's name. "I wanted to wait until I could do it justice" she said. "I want to be strong."