C/O 2026 Senior will win New Car: MEAD Motivates Seniors to Commit and Complete College

Former recipient, Rondreka Pitts 1st time sitting in her car at Istrouma High School Commencement Exercises.

High school seniors today face decisions far more complex than the ones they imagined on their very first day of Kindergarten. At the very moment they should be preparing to step confidently into their futures, many are forced to choose between pursuing higher education or joining the workforce just to make ends meet. That choice—made out of necessity—can limit the opportunities available to them for the rest of their lives. The MEAD Program exists to change that.

As a nonprofit initiative of The Ministry of Love of Baton Rouge, Inc., the MEAD Program is powered by generous, tax-deductible support from corporations and individuals who believe in investing in tomorrow’s leaders. Each year, MEAD provides life-shaping motivation, nurtures excellence, strengthens spiritual grounding, and—most importantly—removes barriers that hold students back. One exceptional graduating senior is awarded a brand-new car, expanding their access to colleges they may have never considered simply because transportation wasn’t guaranteed. This is more than a reward. It is a gateway to opportunity.

The winning student’s essay will be read publicly at commencement by Dr. Bridget Steib, President of the MEAD Program, honoring the student’s achievement and inspiring their peers and community.

East Feliciana High School in Jackson, Louisiana, proudly joined the 2025–2026 MEAD cohort in August 2025. Its commencement ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2026, with the venue to be announced by the East Feliciana Parish School Board. The need for programs like MEAD has never been more urgent. According to the U.S. Department of Labor:

• 66.4% of high school graduates are not enrolled in college.

• 37.6% are enrolled full-time in college and still must work to support themselves.

• And an overwhelming 76% of part-time college students are working—most in full-time jobs that leave little room for academic success. These numbers reveal a truth we cannot ignore: students aren’t lacking ambition—they’re lacking opportunity. The MEAD Program helps restore that opportunity, one student at a time.

Visit www.MEAD2WIN.com for more information about our program.