Canyon High Junior Wins Nissan Versa From Nissan Valencia

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STORY BY AUSTIN DAVE/ FOR SCVNEWS.COM PHOTOS BY GAIL PINSKER/ HART DISTRICT SPOKESWOMAN

A culmination of hard work paid off for one William S. Hart Union High School District student when she won a car at College of the Canyons in Valencia on Monday.

“I’m shaking,” said Crista Wyatt, a Canyon High junior. “I can’t even believe what’s happening right now.”

Wyatt thought her chances were slim to none, and at one point, told her father, “There’s no way. I might as well just leave.”

Then an opportunity landed in front of her.

The 2013 Nissan of Valencia Car Giveaway presented a unique opportunity for more than 4,000 high school students who have demonstrated academic excellence.

PHOTOS : 2013 Nissan Versa Giveaway at COC in Valencia

“They called my name, and I thought, ‘No way,’” she said.

Four students were chosen and given keys to start the 2013 Nissan Versa.  A pair of students failed to start the car before Wyatt’s key worked.

For Wyatt, whose 97 percent attendance record and GPA easily exceed contest requirements, the new car is a fitting reward for her academic performance.

“I’ve definitely put in a lot of hard work at school, and I’m glad I won the car,” she said. “I’m going to drive it around and just be happy I have a new car.”

“I think any business, any dealership that is as successful as we are should give back,” said General Manager Dan Sterkel. “We wanted to give back to the school district and the kids.”

Sterkel strongly believes in incentivizing positive actions and looks for different ways to do so.

“We want kids to show up in school, so if you show up 97 percent of the time, you’ve got a shot to win a new car.”

Eleventh- and 12th-grade students free of suspensions that held a GPA of 2.0 or more were eligible to enter the contest.

As a father of four, Sterkel takes into account the amount of labor that goes into school work.

“I know it’s hard work,” he said. “I rarely saw my daughter when she was their age because she was always doing work.”

The night’s other big winner was Hart senior Asia Antoniuk who took home a $2,500 scholarship.  She is headed to the Air Force Academy later this summer.

The dealership, which underwent a management shakeup two and a half years ago, has given out $75,000 in the last year with a majority of the stake going to local schools.

“They need to be rewarded,” Sterkel said. “And I’m glad to do it.”

PHOTOS : 2013 Nissan Versa Giveaway at COC in Valencia 

Listen to the interviews:

Gloria Mercado Fortine:

Gail Pinsker:

Tina Haddad:

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