MORGAN CITY — A Franklin sugar cane farmer and Franklin teacher were  among seven honorees the St. Mary Parish Foundation considers as 2018 role models.

Sugar cane farmer Mark Chauvin and Hanson Memorial High School educator Roye Pontiff were feted with the honor during the foundation’s banquet on Friday. 

The organization’s board also honored two of its founders,  Lafayette residents Alice and William Pecoraro, formerly of Morgan City, as Leaders in Philanthropy. 

The Pecoraros, together with a former attorney, the late Al Lippman; retired Teche Federal Bank Chairman Patrick Little of  New Iberia, and Franklin accountant Marshall Guidry,  brainstormed the idea of the St. Mary Parish Foundation of Excellence,  in part to help nonprofit organizations, churches and schools across St. Mary Parish.

The organization, now affiliated with the Community Foundation of Acadiana,  recognizes people who have made significant contributions of their resources and time, as one of the ways it raises money for their mission.

Chauvin is the CEO of Bayou Sale Cane Co. Inc, harvesting sugar cane in Centerville since 1990. He has volunteered his time for more 20 years with Farm Bureau, where he served as the organization’s president for 20 years, and is currently a member of their board of directors.

Chauvin is also a member of the American Sugarcane League and a member of the Church of the Assumption ,where he serves in the Knights of Columbus.

In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized as a role model,” Chauvin said.

“I didn’t know much about the organization but now I’m ready to brag about this great endeavor. This is good work,” he said. 

Pontiff is a teacher and coach at Hanson Memorial High School, which is also her alma mater.  A long-time resident of Franklin, she has served as a catechist, campus minister and director of the Touch service program at HMHS.

She has coached basketball, cross country, softball, track and even a little football at Hanson since 1980.  Currently, she coaches track and cross country and  also teaches physical education.

“There are so many people that deserve to be singled out for such an honor as this,” Pontiff said.

“This award is also for everyone who exudes a true joy in serving others. You’re making this world a better place, and I thank you,” she said. 

Alice and Bill Pecoraro held the initial fundraising to establish the foundation in their home in Morgan City 10 years ago.

“Currently, we’re looking to hire a nonprofit organization who will help us explore economic diversification in our parish,” she said. 

Also honored as role models by the organization were Jonathan Scully and Mason Carbonell, the owners of Pelican Contractors in Berwick, and Morgan City residents Nancy Boudreaux, a member of the board of directors of St. Mary Outreach, Lauren Hebert, an accountant, and Danika Foley, news director of KWBJ TV22,  St. Mary Parish’s full-time television station. 

Scully and  Carbonell opened Pelican Contractors of La. in April 2016. However, four months later they put their business on hold to rescue Baton Rouge residents who were impacted by the August 2016 flooding after a slow-moving  system dumped more than 20 inches of rain over a three-day period in parts of East Baton Rouge and other parishes nearby. 

The men raised money and brought food to many flood victims. They also participated in the Sheltered Home Program to help demo and rebuild homes in the Baton Rouge area.