New program aims to ‘drive’ students toward success

LAKE VILLA – One lucky senior in District 117 is driving away from high school with a new car, courtesy of a new program created in cooperation with an area auto dealer.

The winner is Elizabeth Snyder of Lakes High School.

The Drive for Education program was something that Mark Scarpelli, owner of Raymond Chevrolet Kia in Antioch, had been thinking about for some time.

Scarpelli, who is a second-generation owner of the dealership that has been in Antioch for 65 years, is a graduate of Antioch High School. He donates to Antioch High School and Lakes High School through the Big Play program, which awards $25 for each home run, touchdown and 3-pointer made by the school’s athletes. The money goes to the athletic departments at the schools, but it creates a lot of excitement among students.

“They’ve made Raymond pay over the years,” Scarpelli said, adding he has contributed $250,000 over the 25 years the program has been in place.

In the new program, one student from the district will receive a new car with a cash value up to $25,000. Snyder also was awarded a $500 gas card so she could “drive all over Illinois,” Scarpelli said during the drawing.

To be eligible, students must meet criteria that has been set up by District 117, Superintendent Jeff Feucht said.

The criteria go beyond grade-point average, allowing more students to be eligible. Feucht said it was based on the district’s cum laude distinction.

“It opens the door to any student working hard,” Feucht said.

The requirements are that a student earns 26 academic credits, shows exemplary character by not being suspended at any point, serves the community through 40 hours of volunteer service, achieves three capstone credits over four years and participates in four extracurricular activities.

In this inaugural year, 110 students were eligible to win the car, 55 students from each high school. Students had to opt into the program because they are responsible for all taxes and license plate fees for the new vehicle, Feucht said.

The winner was chosen via a drawing at 10 a.m. May 17 at the dealership.

Since both schools were having graduation walk-throughs at that time, the drawing was livestreamed to each school as well as online for anyone who wanted to see it. This year, there were 261 graduating seniors at Antioch and 298 at Lakes, Feucht said.

The livestream had 94 connections, which included the high schools.

“We’re super grateful to Raymond Kia,” Feucht said about the program, which he said has been building excitement among students since it was announced.

“It’s been great for the principals,” Feucht said in explaining how the school leaders have been able to use the program as an incentive for the students. “There’s a lot of excitement in the schools.”

Scarpelli related a story of one mother who recently stopped by the dealership to look at the vehicles.

“I’m here to pick out the car my son is going to win,” Scarpelli said he was told.

Scarpelli hopes to be able to continue the program for many years.

“We’re thrilled to be involved,” he said.