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Chevrolet Helps High School Seniors "Drive for Perfection"
By Monica Coleman
Guest Blogger
Going to school just got sweeter for high school seniors in more than 200 schools in 26 Tennessee counties because of the Chevy Drive For Perfection Program. Through this initiative, five lucky students will be awarded with a 2008 Chevy Cobalt sedan for having perfect attendance during the 2007-2008 school year.
Statistics show that students who have poor attendance for reasons other than illness are more likely to drop out and to fall behind their peers in the classroom. The Chevrolet Drive For Perfection program was created by Chevrolet and the Middle Tennessee Chevrolet Dealers, in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Education, to give seniors an additional incentive to finish their high school careers strong in order to adequately prepare for post-secondary education or the workforce.
When I talked to Tim Hudgens, Chevy marketing manager for GM’s Southeast region, he couldn’t have been more excited about encouraging students to succeed:
“Literacy and education are two initiatives that Chevrolet and its dealers champion through their support of several initiatives in the Southeast region. The Tennessee Department of Education is charged with the significant task of educating the state’s youth, and our local Chevy dealers are honored to provide support to them and high schools in their communities.”
Why the Cobalt? We thought it offered a variety of well-equipped and sporty choices and was a natural fit for a hard-working student finishing up another exciting school year. For more information about the Chevy Drive For Perfection program or to see if your school or your child’s school is participating, please e-mail Katie Dougherty at kdougherty@chevydriveforperfection.com.
Posted by Editor on February 28, 2008 3:12 PM
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Comments
Why only Tennesse?
Posted by: Brady Turley on February 28, 2008 9:37 PM
Why only Tennessee Brady asks? If you read closely you will see the Middle Tennessee Chevrolet Dealers started the program in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Education.
I'm sure GM and their Chevrolet division would be ready to support similar programs if the Chevy dealers in Illinois, Nebraska, West Virginia, or some other state were to show the same initiative.
Posted by: Hawkshaw on February 29, 2008 11:01 AM
Thanks for investing in my home state. My family have been teaching school in TN in one form or another for well over 150 years. I am a product of the TN public school system. The schools in that state do admirably well and I am only too glad to see GM's support of it.
Many Thanks!
Posted by: edvard on February 29, 2008 11:09 AM
Man, you should have given out Malibus instead.
If the first new GM car a teenager ever owns is a Cobalt, you're probably going to create a future Honda / Toyota owner.
Way to get a lot of free press for $75k in cars, though.
Posted by: John on February 29, 2008 11:32 AM
Free cars for going to school is the wrong way to instill a sense of responsibility and obigation in our young people. Perfect attendance at school or work should occur because it's the right thing to do. And, what about the other "good" kids who just happened to get a bad bout of flu? How many of you really believe that those with attendance problems will be encouraged to go to school every day just for a chance to win a car? I think the money would be better spent on educating young drivers with quality driver education programs and rewarding them for community service, good driving records, etc.
Posted by: Cheryl on February 29, 2008 4:08 PM
Agreed, had some people at my highschool who simply couldnt have made it due to things like mono, or even wisdom teeth pulled. Don't know that you would have kids chomping at the bit to make it to school to win a cobalt.
Posted by: Brady Turley on March 1, 2008 11:54 PM
A Colbalt is a fine first car - don't want to sooil them by giving away 5 CTS Cadillacs! My first car was a run-down Dodge from my mother, because she couldn't give it away.
This is a great initiative not only for GM but for a way to reward these kids to stay in school. Where I attended h.s. only 50% of the senior class graduated, a big shame. Maybe it will instill in these kids too that whether or not they win a car it's good to WANT to go to class everyday.
Posted by: CallumW ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/nav-commenters.gif)
on March 3, 2008 3:57 PM
