Perfect attendance, some luck of the draw earns this local student a free, new car
Published 1:08 pm Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Nederland senior Eddie Barragan sits inside his new 2022 Toyota. (Chris Moore/The News)
Eddie Barragan, center, sees his name on the paper selected to win a 2022 Toyota. (Chris Moore/The News)
Eddie Barragan, second from right, stands with, from left, Big Ned, Bob Thewman and Daren Granger. (Chris Moore/The News)
Bob Thewman presents Eddie Barragan with the keys to his new car. (Chris Moore/The News)
Dozens of Nederland High School students stand on stage to see who wins the car giveaway. (Chris Moore/The News)
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NEDERLAND — As Eddie Barragan stood on stage by himself in front of students, staff and administrators; the reality that he had won a new car began to set in.
Moments before, Daren Granger and Bob Thewman of Philpot Toyota and Philpot Ford drew a name from a list of Nederland High School students with perfect attendance.
After some showmanship and fanfare, Barragan stood on stage alone as it was revealed he won the car.
At first, Thewman and Granger called up everyone whose last name started with the letter “B.”
Barragan was one of several dozen students on the stage. After a few minutes of slimming down the number, he stood up there with four other students. The next qualifying question eliminated all but Barragan, who stood on the stage in shock and disbelief.
“I didn’t think I was going to win this,” Barragan said. “I am so excited. I just didn’t think I would win. I got nervous because everyone was watching. It is a good car.”
Barragan, who graduates next week, has his license but did not have a car of his own prior to Tuesday.
He had been driving his dad’s vehicle, but that can now change.
He plans to attend Lamar University in the fall to study civil engineering.
Thewman said it was the first time in a few years that a senior had won the car.
Upon winning, Barragan was presented the car keys on stage and was able to start the engine to the 2022 Toyota.
Granger and Thewman have been doing this giveaway for nearly two decades as a way to give back the community that has supported their businesses.
“Seeing that young man as nervous as he was is what makes it worth it,” Granger said. “To do this as a company is the most amazing thing. Our community is the most important thing we have. Our business is about relationships with the community. We are going to put every dollar we can into that. They made us. We are going to keep giving back. That is what it says in the Bible to do, so that is what we are going to do.”
The district was also able to celebrate students who had perfect attendance for at least four years with cash and prize giveaways.
