‘Beyond commendable’
Brian Hansen, a 2020 Post Falls High School graduate, reacts after his key open the door of the 2019 Chevrolet Trax on Thursday at Knudtsen Chevrolet. A few minutes later, he gave up the new car and turned the key over to Amy Palmer, a Timberlake High School graduate.
BILL BULEY/Press
Post Falls HS grad receives praise, more for giving up free new car
COEUR d’ALENE — When Brian Hansen turned down a free new car, people noticed.
The Post Falls High School 2020 graduate grabbed the admiration of many on Thursday for showing “exceptional honesty and integrity” by correcting a mistake at the drawing for the 2019 Chevrolet Trax AWD at Knudtsen Chevrolet.
While Hansen had the key that opened the SUV’s door the second time around, Timberlake High grad Amy Palmer had that key on the first go-around – only she didn’t pull the handle.
So the first high school grads went through the process again of trying a key in the door.
Hansen, though he could have kept it, gave the key to Palmer.
“It’s not that I gave it up,” Hansen told The Press at the time. “It was hers first. It clicked. She opened it. She just didn’t open the door. She got the chance and she won it.”
Keith and Sandy Hawkins wrote that they were “very moved” by Hansen’s actions.
“His act to rectify that situation is beyond commendable,” they wrote in a letter. “My wife and I believed he should be rewarded for such a commendable act. His generosity in stepping forward, we feel, should be rewarded.”
So they donated $1,000 toward a goal to raise $26,000, the estimated retail sales price of the Trax.
“If the efforts fall short of the desired $26,000, we would suggest that whatever is raised be awarded to Brian to further his educational goals,” Keith and Sandy Hawkins wrote.
Dr. Norman Leffler said he was also impressed by what Hansen did and wanted to present him with an original 1961 hardback copy of “The Fate of Man,” compiled by Crane Brinton.
He believes the book is valuable and that Hansen deserves it.
“A fine young man,” Leffler said.
Hansen said Monday he has received calls, emails and messages via social media congratulating and praising him.
There have been offers of free senior graduation photo shoots and even talk of scholarships
“Word got around fast,” he said.
As he did Thursday, he said he didn’t keep the Trax, and instead gave it to Palmer, because it was the right thing to do.