Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUEast Ascension High School seniors stampede into the water for the annual Pond Jump at on Tuesday. More than 300 students make the leap in the pond, which is located across the street from the school.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUPatrick "P-Rat" Theriot, 18, left, is pushed into the water by fellow senior Dakota Walters, 18, during the annual senior Pond Jump onTuesday at East Ascension High School in Gonzales. Students wore various costumes for the annual event, which is held after seniors complete their final exam.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUSenior Robinson Almeida, 18, bottom right, is the first to hit the water during the annual East Ascension High School senior Pond Jump at East Ascension High School.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUWilbert Gilley, center, hangs onto a whale float while swimming in the annual senior Pond Jump on Tuesday at East Ascension High School. Students wore life vests, held on to floats and used various flotation devices to make it across the pond.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUSenior Leora Farlough, 17, gasps for breath after hauling out of the water following the annual senior Pond Jump on Tuesday at East Ascension High School in Gonzales. It took less than 30 minutes for the seniors to make their way across the pond, which is located across the street from the school.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUEast Ascension High School seniors lead the charge into the water for the annual Pond Jump on Tuesday. The tradition of jumping in the pond across the street from the school started in the late 1960s, but stoped sometime in the 1970s and was reborn in the late 1990s. More than 90 percent of the 378-member class made the leap after completing final exams.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUFreshman John Schlup, 14, center, is thrown into the water by brother and graduating senior Micah Schlup, 18, during the annual senior Pond Jump at East Ascension High School. After seniors take the plunge, it's a tradition to seek out younger friends and relatives to toss in the pond.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUMatt Paschal, top left, Alexis Navarrete, bottom left and Chris Sanchez, center, as Spiderman, leap into the water onTuesday for the annual East Ascension High School Pond Jump.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUJordan Gautreau, 15, center, is tossed into the water by Nick Payton, 19, right, following the annual senior Pond Jump on Tuesday morning at East Ascension High School in Gonzales.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUSarah Antill, Blair Ballard and Macy Louviere, from left, hit the water for the annual East Ascension High School senior Pond Jump on Tuesday.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUJackie Schlup, left, wades out of the water after jumping in with her sons Micah Schlup, 18, center, and John Schlup, 14, right, during the annual senior Pond Jump on Tuesday at East Ascension High School. Micah, a graduating senior, threw his freshman brother John in after swimming across the pond with his mother.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUCameron Rozier, 18, crawls out of the pond during the annual senior pond jump at East Ascension High School on Tuesday.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUNational Day of Prayer service heldSonny Wahl, Andrea Gollop and Scott Bledsoe, from left, sing during Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez's National Day of Prayer Luncheon May 3 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center Trademart building.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUHousehold of Faith Pastor Scott Bledsoe talks during Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez's National Day of Prayer Luncheon on May 3 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. The service included singing, prayers and a jambalaya lunch.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUAscension Parish President Tommy Martinez, right, prays with his wife Theresa during the National Day of Prayer Luncheon at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUAscension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley leads the 2012 National Day of Prayer luncheon on May 3 in Gonzales. Event organizer Tracy Marquette said more than 200 people attended the luncheon and another 100 took part in a breakfast held that morning in Donaldsonville. The Donaldsonville prayer breakfast was hosted by Mayor Leroy Sullivan, she said.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUNational Day of Prayer Rosie Sweetser leads attendees in song during Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez's National Day of Prayer Luncheon at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales on Thursday.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUFlash floodingA truck rolls through a flooded section of Burnside Avenue near the intersection with Airline Highway in Gonzales as a thunderstorm swept through the region Wednesday.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUSt. Mark fair adds car showConnie Mason peers at the insides of classic cars during the second Light Lane Festival at St. Mark Catholic Church in Gonzales on Saturday. The festival, which included carnival rides, food and music, added a car show this year.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUChad Dupuy, right, lifts up his son Kyler Dupuy, 5, to look over the interior of a vintage vehicle during the Light Lane Festival's car show on Saturday at St. Mark Catholic Church in Gonzales.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUVeteran and American Legion Post 557 Commander Henry Smith, left, bangs his gavel to conclude a building rededication ceremony for American Legion Post 557 in Gonzales on Saturday.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUVeteran James Colbert, of American Legion Post 505, center, dons his cap with fellow veterans during a building rededication ceremony for American Legion Post 557 in Gonzales on Saturday. Several veterans from Baton Rouge's Post 505 showed up in support of Gonzales' Post 557, both historically being African-American American Legions.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAULarry Smith, left, sings the national anthem while veteran and American Legion Post 557 commander Henry Smith, right, salutes during a building rededication ceremony at American Legion Post 557 on Saturday.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUBernard Gilbert, of Houston, grabs a steer by the horns during the Gonzales Black Rodeo's steer wrestling event Saturday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. Some proceeds from the event were donated to the Court Appointed Special Advocates program.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUDontrae Davis, 5, right, saddles up with his father, Don Davis, center, before the Gonzales Black Rodeo on Saturday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUDonald Goodman leaps off his horse in the steer wrestling event during the Gonzales Black RodeoSaturday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUKevin Ransom, 14; Damia Decuir, 11; and Trevante Williams, 10; from left, prepare to ride with their grandfather Luke Decuir, 67, of Erwinville, right, in the Gonzales Black Rodeo Saturday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. Luke Decuir recorded one of the fastest times in the calf roping event.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUWinston Reliford, 14, competes in junior breakaway roping Saturday during the Gonzales Black Rodeo at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. The rodeo was produced by K&L Productions LLC.

Advocate staff photo by ADAM LAUA.D. Davis wrestles a steer to the ground during the Gonzales Black Rodeo Saturday in Gonzales