Manual High School students are hearing a valuable lesson about the importance of becoming an organ donor today.

1968 Manual High School graduate Percy Baker is sharing his experience about being the recipient of an organ donor.

In February of this year Baker underwent a heart transplant at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

Baker says too many people die because there are not enough organ donors.

He said, "It's about five-thousand people that are waiting for an organ donor. There are a lot of African Americans particularly cause there is a low donor rate. And that's one of the things that I want to champion is to encourage our own people to understand the importance of organ donorship because it's a better match if its of your own ethnicity."

Former Manual High School student Natasha Logan died in February from an asthma attack. She donated three of her organs to try and help save others. She was remembered by the school during the assembly.

"A young person such as these can give a kidney to a sister or brother so you know just to illustrate the total importance of all of it and particularly the awareness of being very healthy," said Baker.

Baker's message resonated with some of the students.

Freshman Deontay Malone said, "I think it would be a good cause. It would help save peoples' lives. There's a lot of people who need organs."

Sophomore Lauren Nelson added, "I had just gotten my license two weeks ago and my friends kept telling me you need to become an organ donor. I didn't really know what an organ donor was so I went and asked my mom. She told me and I was like I have to be an organ donor."