Monica Mancuso is Rotary Citizen of the Year

Monica Mancuso, Ph.D., was named the Morgan City Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year at its annual banquet Thursday at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City.

The Morgan City Rotary Club awarded Mancuso with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award. A Paul Harris Fellow is recognized as having service to the community. A contribution of $1,000 is given to the foundation in her name, which will be spent on humanitarian efforts around the world.

“Dr. Mancuso has a great passion for Morgan City and its growth. She and her team with St. Mary Excel continue to work on improving the city of Morgan City and town of Berwick,” said Carrie Stansbury, incoming Rotary president. "In addition to making sure St. Mary Excel has been accountable to the citizens of our community, she was also a wonderful teacher, principal and administrator within the St. Mary Parish school system.”

Mancuso was a tireless educational professional for over 35 years working for the St. Mary Parish School Board and Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux serving in the role of teacher, principal, and supervisor of instruction.

She is a founding member of St. Mary Excel, a nonprofit organization with the mission of economic diversification for educational and cultural advancement of the area. She has served as president for four years and as executive director the last two years.

She has also served as advisory board member for Ochsner St. Mary.

She holds bachelor degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a masters- level degree from Nicholls State University and a doctor of philosophy degree from LSU.

Mancuso has been recognized as a St. Mary Parish Teacher and Principal of the Year, Louisiana Earth Science Teacher of the Year, U.S. Environmental Prot-ection Recognition Awardee, and Community Foundation of Acadiana, St. Mary Parish Affiliate, Role Model.

She is married to Bart and is the parent of four children, Frances, Mary, Andrew and Luke, and is the grandmother of 12.

Richard “Ricky” Romaire was named Rotarian of the Year. In addition to his service to the organization, he helps support all programs of the organization, both financially and in attendance.

The Morgan City Scholarship recipient, Janaa Coulon, is a Morgan City High School graduate and plans to attend Nicholls in the fall, majoring in biology with the goal of becoming a dentist.

Coulon will receive $1,000 for four years while maintaining a 3.0 average.

Cherie Laiche, assistant district governor, installed the Morgan City Rotary Club officers for the 2022-23 year. This year’s theme for Rotary International is “Imagine Rotary.”

Installed in new positions are: Carrie Stansbury, president; Drake Stansbury, vice president, secretary; Emily Berry, treasurer, Scott Melancon, treasurer; Tim Hebert, sergeant of arms; William “Bill” Cefalu, president elect; and Jo Anne Bergeron, Pam Daniels, Jakob Dworaczyk, Jim Firmin and Richard “Ricky” Romaire, directors.

“We want to thank the previous board, in particular, Jakob that led Morgan City Rotary Club for the two years during COVID, a particularly challenging time,”
Carrie Stansbury said. “We want to continue our annual Pancake Breakfast, Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas program and China project with possibly some added programing on the environment.

“Congrats to Dr. Mancuso, Ricky Romaire and Janaa Coulon. Our goal into the future is that all be Citizens of the Year!”