East Baton Rouge Parish School System Superintendent Charlotte D. Placide presented the Superintendent’s Ambassador Award during the November 16, 2006 School Board meeting to McKinley Middle Magnet student, Monisha Freeman. The Superintendent’s Ambassador Award recognizes exemplary personal characteristics of East Baton Rouge students as demonstrated by their self-initiated community service and outreach efforts.

One major goal of this award is to promote character development among our youth. This award has been created to highlight the actions of our students who are exemplars of good character, and who otherwise would not receive recognition, in the hopes that doing so will influence their peers in a positive manner.

Monisha Freeman is the first recipient of this award for her “Nickel for the Needy” Fund Drive, which was featured on WAFB Channel 9 on Friday, November 3, 2006. This drive solicited funds for the homeless and the poor to buy blankets and pillows. Monisha also raised money for Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Miss Freeman is the daughter of Larry and Yolanda Freeman. She sings in her church choir as well as the East Baton Rouge All Parish Choir, and she is also a member of the Girl Scouts. Her goal is to become a doctor and own her own hospital. The Superintendent’s Ambassador Award will be given when merited.