Driven to succeed: Palestine senior wins car with perfect attendance

Pennylynn Webb, Palestine Herald-Press, Texas
·2 min read

May 10—Palestine High School senior Gilchrist Akomeah was the 2024 winner of Palestine Toyota's Driven To Succeed program.

Akomeah, who had earned two chances for this year's drawing, was the next-to-last student in the drawing lineup. It was his second key fob choice that was the winner.

Akomeah not only received a free Toyota Corolla from Palestine Toyota, but also $500 to be used toward car insurance from Shelby Savings Bank and $1,500 in gift cards from Kim's Convenience Stores.

"We are so honored to be part of a community with such a devotion to education," said Larissa Loveless, public relations director for Palestine Independent School District. "The Palestine Toyota Driven to Succeed program is a wonderful tool to encourage senior students in their final year to be present and engaged in school. Chuck Eldridge along with Brittany Wardell at Shelby Savings and Kim's Convenience Stores provide wonderful examples to students on how important it is to know and connect with the community. Their generosity and unwavering support of the community is inspirational."

Toyota has been hosting the Driven to Succeed program at Palestine High School since 2018. Through this program, seniors with perfect attendance get to submit their names for the drawing. At the end of the year the seniors are randomly drawn for a chance to win a free Toyota Corolla from Palestine Toyota, among other community gifts.

This was the third year for Shelby Insurance Agency, owned by Shelby Savings Bank, to sponsor the Driven to Succeed event by Palestine Toyota.

"It is such an honor to be a part of something that impacts a student life in such a big way," said Brittany Wardell, branch manager at Shelby Savings Bank. "We look forward to next year."