Perfect Attendance Pays Off for 2 Gaither Grads

Two recent Gaither High School graduates are the proud owners of new cars thanks to a mix up during the third annual perfect attendance drawing sponsored by Toyota of Tampa Bay.

While there’s generally only one winner in the drawing that rewards kids for making school priority No. 1, the dealership stepped up to the occasion when confusion occurred during the drawing.

That means Davie Chen, 17, and Monica Tromer, 18, both get to head off to the University of Florida this fall in spanking new Scion XDs courtesy of the dealership.

Toyota of Tampa Bay, 1101 E. Fletcher Ave., sponsors the annual event, which is open to seniors with perfect second trimester attendance. During the June 8 drawing, all 300 eligible seniors’ names were put into a pot. Hillsborough School Board members Cindy Stuart and Candy Olson randomly pulled 10 names. Those 10 seniors then got to select a key out of a bowl. One of the keys opened the door to a new car.

As it turned out, Tromer’s key opened the door, but she thought it needed to set off the horn for her to win. When the horn didn’t blare, she walked away disappointed, a media release from the school district stated.

Since no winner emerged, a second round of drawings was staged. This time, Chen’s key opened the lock and he was awarded the car.

Following Chen’s win, the issue with Tromer’s key was discovered.

“Toyota of Tampa Bay officials spoke with Monica, who was near tears when she learned that simply turning the key meant it was the winning key,” the district’s media release said. “Minutes later, Toyota official Brett Morgan announced that Monica, too, would win a new car.”

Davie plans to study molecular biology at UF. Tromer will be a pre-med student.

“I’m just grateful to Toyota of Tampa Bay,’’ Tromer said, following the drawing. She explained what owning a car would mean to her: “Freedom. Right now, my mom has to drive me everywhere.”

How old were you when you got your first car? Tell us by commenting below!

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