Good grades lead to new wheels
<p>Nicole Danner, 18, gets familiar with the 2010 Ford Focus she won Wednesday after being selected out of six finalists in the Tom Addis car giveaway. Danner, a senior at Lake City High, was a representative of the top 10 percent of students for academic achievement from six local high schools.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Nicole Danner couldn't believe it. The Lake City High School senior smiled and shook Wednesday morning as reality set in. "I'm in shock," Danner said.
COEUR d'ALENE - Nicole Danner couldn't believe it.
The Lake City High School senior smiled and shook Wednesday morning as reality set in.
"I'm in shock," Danner said.
Tom Addis, owner of Tom Addis Dodge and Tom Addis Lake City Ford in Coeur d'Alene, had just called Danner's name in a lottery drawing that earned her a 2010 Ford Focus.
The annual car giveaway, in its 12th year, gives students in the top 10 percent of their class at six area high schools - Timberlake, Lakeland, Lake City, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy - the chance to start life after graduation with a new set of wheels.
Addis said it's one of the most satisfying things they do at Tom Addis Automotive Group.
Addis' message to all 125 qualifying students who gathered for the drawing in the Lake City High School auditorium: Have fun.
He told them to be responsible, but to laugh and enjoy themselves.
"You're only young once. You'll go through so many changes in your life, marriage and parenthood and all these things you do, but truly, these years are some of the best years of your life," Addis said.
He introduced his daughter, Sara Colbert, who coordinates the giveaway.
"I've got kids in school, and I know how hard you work. The choices that you make to get where you are, serve you in so many ways, not just to get great grades, but it's going to serve you for the rest of your life," Colbert said.
While anxiously waiting to find out which of them would go home with the vehicle, Post Falls High School senior Brianna Whitman said it's always good to encourage students to raise the academic bar for themselves.
"I think it's really nice of them to donate a car. They're kind of expensive, especially now that the economy is a little down," Whitman said.
To make it into the top 10 percent, the lottery-eligible students have at least a 3.75 grade point average, said Lake City Principal John Brumley.
"Not a lot of people are willing to step up and talk about what's good about schools and reward kids for what they do. Tom Addis is not like that," Brumley said. "Tom has been a real leader in our community, a real advocate for our kids."
With a crowd of students, Addis, Colbert and media looking on, Danner took a quick spin around the parking lot in her new car, and gave the ride two thumbs up.
The red, four-door Focus retails for $19,860 and includes Sync, a handsfree communication and entertainment developed by Ford and Microsoft.
Tom Addis will pay the sales tax, leaving Danner responsible for the insurance, and some income taxes come April 15.
After graduation, Danner will be heading to Provo to attend Brigham Young University.
"I'm leaving for the summer semester," Danner said.
She's excited to be able to hand her parents back the keys to their Subaru that she's been driving, and have her own car.