That is wonderful - a local high school here gives "Perfect Attendance" students a car.
Two cars too many for Sandusky student
By RICHARD PAYERCHIN, Sandusky Bureau Chief 05/28/2008
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SANDUSKY -- There were 55 anxious students waiting to find out which one of them, all with perfect attendance, would win a car yesterday at Sandusky High School.
When his name was announced, James Pankow thought it was a joke, because he won a car last year.
But in the spirit of fair play, Pankow told them to draw another name and the lucky winner of the silver 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier is freshman Jerron Taylor.
Taylor was one of 55 students among the 1,175 student body members who scored perfect daily attendance with no tardiness during the school year. The car give away, in its second year, is a combined effort of the high school administration, the Sandusky Education Association and Phil Steinle Motorcars, 5215 Milan Road, which donated the car.
The contest requirement was more rigorous this year, with students measured for perfect attendance and no tardiness all year, instead of just the second half of the 2006-07 school year.
Phil Steinle thanked the students for their work to get into the raffle.
''There's faces that I recognized from last year, so that's pretty cool,'' Steinle said. ''Keep up the good work.''
The chilly Tuesday morning did little to dampen the spirits of students gathered in the front circle outside the building's main entrance.
For the raffle, Steinle teased the crowd by pulling out two slips at once, then dropped them back and shuffled the names in the can.
Then he pulled out a slip and Pankow's name was announced. Last year Pankow got a red 1998 Buick Regal LS.
''I thought they were going to joke on me at first,'' Pankow said.
''I watched all those kids' faces,'' Steinle said. ''I watched all those kids go like that,'' he said, imitating the startled look of the students when Pankow's name was drawn.
''Omigosh -- I couldn't believe it,'' said Sandusky High School Library Media Specialist Mary Dahlmann, who announced Pankow's name two years in a row. ''I thought, what are the chances we could pull that name twice?''
The junior said he decided he did not want to win a car again.
''I got the experience once,'' Pankow said. ''I'm in it again next year.''
Pankow then told Dahlmann he would withdraw his name from the contest so another Blue Streak could drive off a winner.
''James has decided to take his name out,'' Dahlmann told the students.
She held up the can while Steinle plucked another slip of paper.
The next name out: Jerron Taylor.
''I was like, wow, I couldn't believe it,'' Taylor said.
He and Pankow both said they have come to school with colds or flu rather than miss a day.
''I'm scared I'm going to miss something,'' Taylor said. ''I've got a 4.0 so I like to stay on top of things.''
Taylor, 15, is the son of Donna and Jerry Taylor of Sandusky. His sister, Dayonna, 12, is a student at Adams Jr. High School, while older brother Jerry Jr., 23, studies at The Ohio State University.
Taylor will keep the car in his driveway, washing it and keeping it clean. He will get his learner's permit next month and hopes to get his driver's license in December.
Of course, he couldn't drive it home himself, so dad Jerry Taylor had the honor of getting behind the wheel.
''It rides pretty good,'' the elder Taylor said. Earlier in the school year Jerron had talked about winning the car, but the news still came as a surprise for the family.
''I wish I was that lucky when I was his age,'' Jerry Taylor said.
Several times a year, Steinle, who also is an agent for Farmers Insurance Group, lectures on car buying and insurance as part of teacher Diane Bryant's economics class. An alumnus of Sandusky rival Fremont Ross, Steinle has become an adopted Blue Streak.
''Every time I leave this building, I feel better than when I came here,'' Steinle said. ''It's nice to see these kids. It's like a birthday gift, I guess.''
Steinle said he will continue to donate a car next year for another raffle, which is organized each year by Dahlmann, Bryant and SEA President Brian Nitschke. His daughter, Jenny, picked out the Cavalier, which Steinle said was a cooler ride than last year's Buick.
''It obviously motivates and stimulates the cause to come to school,'' Steinle said.
No students walked away empty handed, because Principal Dan Poggiali gave every one a pair of day passes donated by Kalahari Waterpark Resort.
Pankow sold his car and has saved the money for a new set of wheels someday.
''It was kind of big for me,'' Pankow said about the Regal. ''I'm not a very tall person.''
His luck yesterday prompted several requests from people who asked Pankow for lottery numbers or if he would buy them lucky tickets. His decision about the car prompted praise from teachers and staff.
''This is a man of real character,'' said high school counselor Mary Ellen Hart.
''That was huge, good job,'' Steinle said to Pankow. ''I think he's the hero of the day. Like the teacher said, it's really a selfless act.''
©The Morning Journal 2008
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