Drive for Excellence Winner - Zachery LaForest of Saranac Central High School!

With 16,972 entries and 695 students, Zachery LaForest joined 75 of his fellow finalists today, May 12 at Burlington Subaru Hyundai to enter the drawing to win a new car. Drive for Excellence is in its fifth consecutive year of rewarding hard-working students for their efforts in school. LaForest is a junior at Saranac Central High School and took home a 2013 Hyundai Elantra.

High school juniors and seniors have been turning in their report cards throughout the school year and received entries for each A, B and for perfect attendance. Nearly 17,000 entries were received and the 75 finalists were selected on April 30. The final drawing was held today at Burlington Subaru-Hyundai, where LaForest chose between a 2013 Hyundai Elantra and a 2012 Subaru Impreza.

“This is a program that we came up with five years ago to support kids getting good grades and working hard in school,” said Steve Kelson, General Manager at Burlington Hyundai Subaru. “Four lucky juniors or seniors have already won cars and today makes the fifth; we’re super excited.”

Burlington Hyundai Subaru was joined by WCAX, 106.7 WIZN, 99.9 the Buzz, 98.9 WOKO, KOOL 105, AM1230 WJOY and Angolano & Company in today’s Drive for Excellence event. The previous winners were Shane Mason of Milton High School in 2008, Sarah Cameron of Colchester High School in 2009, Crystal LaHart of Peru Senior High School in 2010 and Zoe Davis of West Rutland High School for 2011.