49 recent high school graduates were eligible for the drawing.
(New Orleans – (May 21, 2026) – 17-year-old Benjamin Vu, who graduated from The Willow School today, won this year's Stay in School Car Giveaway. Vu, who plans to study Electrical Engineering at LSU walked away with a 2026 Toyota Corolla LE for being one of 49 NOLA Public School (NOLA-PS) students to have perfect attendance in their senior year of high school. He was randomly selected via a raffle.
"Every single day coming up to this raffle, I always said to my dad, 'I'm going to order it', and it was only up to this day, I thought I was gonna lose, but I'm glad I kept that belief in my heart, and it kind of made it come true," said Vu. "I'm glad I have this opportunity, so that my parents don't have to work more and spend more money on me."
This is the 20th year in a row, NOLA-PS and Premier Automotive Group awarded a brand-new car, courtesy of Toyota of New Orleans, to a recent high school graduate with perfect attendance. To date, more than 750 students have participated in this annual event.
"On behalf of NOLA-PS, I'd like to thank Troy Duhon, the Premier Automotive family, and all our sponsors for their generous partnership for nearly two decades," said NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Fateama Fulmore. "This annual event is a highlight for our seniors with perfect attendance records, and the chance to win a brand-new car is a remarkable way to honor their dedication to learning. Their consistent presence in the classroom reflects an outstanding work ethic and commitment. We celebrate each one of these students for their achievements."
The 49 finalists were invited to Toyota of New Orleans for the final drawing on Thursday, May 21. All students with perfect attendance were eligible for monetary donations and swag bags with $100 gift cards provided by Troy Duhon, founder and president of Premier Automotive, along with in-kind donations to upgrade vehicle features courtesy of All-Star Electric and Mobile-One Auto Sound.
"What made our 20th year so special is to have five who didn't miss a day of school their entire high school year, and three special needs students that didn't miss their senior year," said Troy Duhon, founder and president of Premier Automotive. "It's important to instill the importance of commitment in these students' lives. It truly determines your success in life."
"Achieving perfect attendance is a remarkable accomplishment," said Leila Eames, President of the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). "The dedication and commitment shown by all 49 students and their families are deeply inspiring, and it's a solid steppingstone for their future success in school and beyond."
During the event, school board members Leila Eames, Olin Parker, Gabriela Biro, and KaTrina Chantelle Griffin announced the board would personally contribute $3,105 to help cover the taxes and registration fees for the vehicle giveaway, as well as the first year of car insurance.
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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 66 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Fateama S. Fulmore.
For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.
About Premier Automotive & Toyota of New Orleans: Toyota of New Orleans is part of the Premier Automotive family of dealerships. Premier Automotive was established in 1995 as a Toyota dealership located in the heart of New Orleans. Since then, we have expanded our reach and now have over 30 locations across California, Kansas, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Mississippi, and Georgia. The organization was founded by Troy Duhon, who had dreamt of becoming a car dealer. We strive to help others achieve their dreams as well by offering opportunities for talented individuals to become leaders in our dealerships. We encourage them to seek a greater purpose in life beyond financial gain.
Our commitment to excellence has led to our recognition as one of the country's fastest-growing automotive groups by Automotive News, with sales exceeding $1 billion. More importantly, our partnership with Giving Hope has inspired our company's growth by allowing us to help others in need through our Profit for a Purpose program. At Premier Automotive, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service to our customers, fostering leadership and personal growth in our employees, and making a positive impact in our communities.
For more information, visit www.premierautomotive.com. Follow Toyota of New Orleans on Facebook (@ToyotaOfNewOrleans) and Instagram (@toyotaofneworleans_).