Top grades add up to Fiesta
<p>SHAWN GUST/Press Katie Walter, a Coeur d'Alene Charter academy student, checks out the 2012 Ford Fiesta that she won Tuesday in the annual Tom Addis giveaway.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - Katie Waltar won't need to drive her parents' van to school anymore.
Not when she has a 2012 Ford Fiesta to call her own.
And it was free.
The senior at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy won the new car courtesy of Tom Addis, owner of Lake City Ford, through a program that honors the area's top students.
"Excited, mostly just shocked," Waltar said shortly after her name was drawn to receive the silver four-door during a Tuesday afternoon presentation at Lake City High School. "I wasn't expecting this at all."
About 115 students from six high schools - LCHS, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Timberlake, Lakeland and Charter - gathered in the auditorium for a 15-minute ceremony. One student was selected from each school via a drawing to be a finalist.
It came down to D.J. Sutton of CHS and Waltar.
The daughter of Doug and Susan Waltar of Post Falls said she doesn't have a car.
"I drive my parents' van," she said.
It was the 13th year of the car giveaway to reward students who excel academically. Those gathered Tuesday were among the top 10 percent from the six schools.
Sara Colbert, manager at Lake City Ford, said it's a "celebration of accomplishment."
Students should be rewarded for making the right choices, stepping up, and working hard.
"This is a way to inspire kids," Colbert said.
Deanne Clifford, LCHS principal, said Tom Addis has long been a great supporter of school, and Tuesday's car gift was another example of his generosity.
"I can't say enough about how appreciative we are and the kids are," she said.
Clifford said the students who qualified for the drawing are "the best and the brightest."
The car is a great reward to recognize their efforts.
"These kids are intrinsically motivated," she said.
Waltar plans to attends Whitworth University in Spokane. She'll live on campus, so she wasn't sure how she'll be using her new Fiesta. She does know she's thrilled it's hers.
"I love it," she said.
The 2012 Ford Fiesta is valued at $18,000 and gets around 35 miles per gallon. Lake City Ford will pay all licensing costs for Waltar.
"I drove it over," Colbert said. "They're great handling cars and offer great economy."