Strive to Drive: Columbia dealership to give away a car to high school senior
For the past seven years, Columbia Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has given a hardworking high school senior car of their own, and this year will be no different.
During a live event set to take place at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 21 at the dealership, one lucky MCPS senior will win a 2022 Jeep Compass during the dealership's annual Strive to Drive giveaway.
Seven years of Strive to Drive
In 2015 Columbia Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram owner, Eddie Collier came up with the program with then-Superintendent Eddie Hickman.
“We thank the community for supporting us all these years, making us a successful dealership, and this is our way of giving back to them,” Collier previously told The Daily Herald.
Collier said that he and his wife initially came up with the idea for the Strive to Drive giveaway while returning from a trip to Florida. They saw it as a way to give back while simultaneously encouraging the community's students to do their best in school.
“It is wonderful to give back and especially to the kids,” said Gina Collier. “We want to keep them motivated through the end of the year.”
Collier wanted to help students succeed, to help them plan for college or enter the workforce out of high school.
The program recognizes seniors for receiving the A/B honor roll and/or perfect attendance in a nine-week marking period. Each marking period the senior would get an entry for each criterion into a drawing for a brand new car provided free of charge from Columbia CDJR.
As the program took hold, students were given a choice of vehicle to be given away and FAFSA and TN Promise completion was added. With four nine-week periods of school, this meant that a student who received good grades and perfect attendance each quarter could earn up to eight entries.
More: Central student takes home car in Strive to Drive giveaway
These incentives have helped students strive for better grades, attendance and future planning.
This school year, the students at six schools and two virtual academies chose a 2022 Jeep Compass as the car they would like to win. Over 840 seniors will have the opportunity to win the 2022 Jeep Compass.
Every student and their families are invited to attend the live event.
"We are excited to have community partners like Columbia Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram come together and make a difference in education," said Lisa Ventura, the district's superintendent. "Investing in the future is what we are all about, and we are thankful for CDJR and their staff for being so passionate about education and our graduate’s futures."
More than $300K has gone to MCPS students at Strive to Drive events
In addition to the care giveaway there will also be eight $400 giveaways from CDJR to an employee from each of the six high schools and the two academies. The $400 giveaway could go to an office employee, teacher, admin, cafeteria, janitorial or nurse, etc.
The Maury County Sheriffs Department School Resource Officers will also give away a laptop computer.
In the past six years and including this seventh year, approximately $300,000 has been awarded during Strive to Drive events to promote education in Maury County.
"Maury County Public Schools is grateful to Mr. Collier and his team to continue this generous tradition of promoting grades, attendance, and planning for high school seniors since 2015," said Jack Cobb, the school district's communications director.
This year’s vehicle will be given to a student in attendance with only taxes at the end of the year to be paid by the winner.
The winner will own the car with no strings attached.
The vehicle will be on display at each graduation and can be seen daily at the Columbia dealership.
The car is wrapped with eye-catching graphics that must stay on the vehicle for a short period after winning. Some winners have chosen to leave the wrap on as it looks great and is a great conversation starter.
"Really, our main goal is to get these kids to strive to get better grades and to go to school and get into college,” Strive to Drive Director Brittany Sloan said.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Strive to Drive: Columbia dealership to give away a car to high school senior
