The suspense at East Lee County High was so intense that one of the students was about to win a car.
The last semester the students were awarded raffle tickets each time they were caught demonstrating positive behavior — helping a classmate, achieving an academic goal, doing a favor for a teacher.
Those tickets were thrown into a container, and 13 names were pulled as semifinalists.
Then came the one-in-13 shot at a new car.
Friday was the big day at East. All 13 teens crammed into East Lee’s TV studio, and the vehicle’s donor, David Smith, pulled out one ticket and announced the winner.
“Romeo Battle!” Click here to see video
The 18-year-old senior, just a day before graduation, landed a whopper of a graduation present — keys to a 1999 Mercury Villager minivan. Click to see photo of this event
OK, so it’s not a brand-new, shiny sports car. Smith donated it to East Lee’s automotive program so students would have a practice vehicle to hone their mechanic skills. Teens spent the past few months restoring the van to its former glory (or as much glory as a vehicle with 168,000 miles can display).
Used minivans aren’t exactly a teenager’s dream car, but the Villager had four things going for it: the vehicle was free, it runs, had four new tires and the A/C blows cold air.
“It could have been messed up. I could have fixed it,” Battle said. “I didn’t care what it was.”
Battle has no car; this is his first. If he wanted to go anywhere, he had to bum a ride from family or friends. Or just not go.
To him, the Villager represents freedom, a freedom that coincides with a hard-earned high school diploma. After going for a quick test drive through the parking lot, Battle called his mother to deliver the news.
“Romeo, I’m so proud of you,” Mrs. Battle said. “Your hard work paid off.”
Then, the old van’s new owner delivered a brilliant retort.
“I’m gonna need some gas money,” Battle send to his mother.
At East Lee, 82 percent of its 1,851 students are considered low-income, and assistant principal Ed Matthews said only about 350 students have cars. East Lee’s Positive Behavior Support system, and the raffle, are intended to reward students for following the rules and doing the right thing, rather than punishing teens who break the rules.
“Instead of giving disciplinary referrals for bad behavior, we’re giving out positive referrals,” Matthews said.
Good for him. I hope he leaves his cell phone at home before driving.