Lake City grad wins Cruze at Knudtsen
LOREN BENOIT/Press Lake City High graduate Arlaina Stephenson reacts to winning a 2018 Chevy Cruze hatchback at Knudtsen Chevrolet’s student car giveaway. The five finalists for the drawing had to attend their alcohol-free, all-night graduation party to be eligible.
POST FALLS — Arlaina Stephenson shouldn't have a steep learning curve with driving her new 2018 Cajun red Chevy Cruze she won at Knudtsen Chevrolet on Tuesday night.
The Lake City High graduate has been sharing an older white Cruze with her mother.
"I'm really excited and blessed to have won the car," said a smiling Stephenson. "It's the first car I've owned."
Stephenson was among five local graduates who became eligible to win the Cruze hatchback, valued at $24,400, when their names were drawn at their recent all-night, alcohol-free graduation parties.
"I really like the color," said Stephenson, adding that she wasn't sure if she'll drive it south to the Tampa area this fall to attend Saint Leo University where she'll play beach and indoor volleyball.
After the first four finalists tried to open the Cruze with the key they had drawn but couldn't, Stephenson, the fifth and final graduate to try, knew she'd won the car.
"Since I got the last key, it was picked for me, but it was still exciting," she said.
The car features OnStar, which provides subscription-based communications, in-vehicle security, emergency services, hands-free calling and turn-by-turn navigation.
"You'll never be somewhere by yourself," said Eve Knudtsen, Knudtsen Chevrolet owner, referring to the capability. "It is also one of the safest cars on the road, so it's a great car for going across the country."
The drawing's other finalists — Timberlake's Mike Carhart, Coeur d'Alene's Bo Leifer, Post Falls' Ben Bowland and Lakeland's Sidney Wissmann — won MacBook Air laptop computers.
The drawing was held during the dealership's 79th anniversary and community celebration that included music, drinks and a barbecue dinner.
"We look forward to this every year because it caps off the school year and celebrates our anniversary," Knudtsen said. "Everyone walks away a winner."