Sophomore wins SHS car giveaway

Tyler Wallace is congratulated by Sikeston Senior High School principal Tom Williams after opening the door to his new vehicle Monday afternoon (Photo by Tim Jaynes, Staff)

SIKESTON - "Awww," came the chorus of groans after three individual students failed in their attempts to unlock the door of the 2001 Dodge Stratus parked in front of Sikeston High School on Monday afternoon.

Sophomore Tyler Wallace was the fourth student to step up to the driver's side door. He inserted the key and turned the lock. Friends came up to hug the stunned Wallace as the crowd started to cheer. Wallace had won the car, the most prestigious prize of the school's annual end-of-the-year giveaway.

For the fourth consecutive year, Sikeston Senior High has worked to encourage students to be all-around students. Students become eligible to receive prizes by meeting the following criteria: achieving 98 percent attendance, having no major disciplinary referrals and maintaining an 83 percent or "B" average. Some of these prizes are: hats, TVs, DVD players and stereos. Ten keys were raffled, one of which unlocked the door to the car.

This program inspires students to strive for several goals, including high attendance. Since the school receives money from the state based on attendance it equals out, as well as providing inspiration for students to maintain good attendance, high grades and less referrals.

Fred Johnson, dean of students, has observed much success since the beginning of this program.

"When we started, there were around 70 students," Johnson said. "Now, there are close to 300."

A shocked Wallace agreed. "It was something to work for and look at as a goal," he said.

Education was promoted in another important aspect of this project - the rebuilding of the car. The car had previously been wrecked and was repaired by Mark Asmus' collision repair class. Asmus found it was a great opportunity to take the wrecked vehicle and teach his class.

"They get the benefit of learning the correct way to repair a wrecked vehicle," Asmus said.

This is the first year that Asmus' class has repaired the vehicle to be raffled - in other years, the school has bought it. This year, the school simply paid for the parts.

The car was donated by State Farm Insurance. Sikeston agents Sharon Bryant, Joe Recker and Greg Comer helped to obtain the wrecked car as a donation to the school. This is the second car State Farm has donated. Last year, a car was donated and repaired, which is now used by office staff for school business.

"State Farm is a real big supporter of the collective curriculum that we teach here in school," Ausmus said, adding it especially aids ICAR, part of his collision repair class.

This is one way that State Farm, the largest auto insurer in the country, gives back to the community. "One of every four cars in the U.S. is insured by State Farm," Recker said.

"State Farm is very involved in education and participates when they can to promote safe driving, school attendance and quality education," Bryant added.

Another way State Farm shows this interest in education is by giving insurance discounts to students receiving good grades.

State Farm Insurance is working to create an ongoing partnership with Sikeston Senior High. They hope to be able to continue donating a car every year.