The 28 recent high school graduates with perfect attendance records gathered in the Toyota of New Orleans showroom and waited with bated breath.
Names were pulled from a basket and the group was whittled down to 10. Then to five. Then down to the final two.
Mcailen Davis, center, who just graduated from The Willow School, gets a huge hug from his mom, Kim, moments after finding out he won a 2023 Toyota Corolla LE on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. Davis was among 28 high school graduates with perfect attendance records. Names of the students were randomly drawn from a basket by Troy Duhon, founder and owner of Premiere Automotive in New Orleans, who donated the car. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
The suspense level grew. Finally, the last name was read aloud.
Macailen Davis of the Willow School jumped into the air and then hugged his mom. He would drive home from the event in a new white, 2023 Toyota Corolla LE.
For the last 17 years, Premiere Automotive Group has given a car to a New Orleans public school senior with perfect attendance as part of its "Stay in School" program.
“Parents, we all know that a child who does not miss a day of school is unbelievable because that shows they are willing to persevere,” said Troy Duhon, founder and owner of Premiere Automotive.
“This is no small feat, y'all. This is a really big deal,” NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Avis Williams added, noting that some of the students had perfect attendance for all four years of their high school careers.
Macailen will put the new wheels to good use driving to LSU in Baton Rouge, where he plans to study finance.
Kim Conner-Davis, his mother, said that her son's attendance record was particularly meaningful given his struggle when they moved to New Orleans from Illinois about 10 years ago. He struggled to adjust to the city and did not want to attend school.
“But we supported him, his teachers supported him, we had a village and now Macailen is here today,” she said.
As she told that story, Macailen sat in the front seat of his new car, a wide grin covering his face. A salesman demonstrated the vehicle's stereo system by playing a clip of DJ Khaled’s “All I Do is Win.”
“I’m still taking it in, somebody’s got to pinch me or something,” Macailen said.
Orleans Parish School Board President Olin Parker said members of the School Board contributed $2,000 for the winner to help cover taxes and fees associated with new car ownership.
In addition to The Willow School, students on hand at Tuesday's event represented Abramson Sci Academy, Edna Karr, The Living School, Rosenwald Collegiate Academy, and Warren Easton High School.