The excitement was palpable on Wednesday evening, as ticket after ticket was drawn for an array of amazing prizes leading up to the grand prize: a 2011 Chevy Cruze donated by Rotolo Chevrolet. That lucky student and winner of the year-long attendance contest was Shannon Ruiz, a senior at A.B. Miller High School, who will be driving her brand new car to Cal State San Bernardino this fall.

Leonard and Rosa Dominguez of Horace Mann Insurance, Marie and Bill Waddingham of Rotolo Chevrolet and several other local businesses partnered with the Fontana Unified School District for the Perfect Attendance Spells Success (P.A.S.S.) contest, instituted this year for the very first timeas a way of motivating students to graduate and continue their education.

Our five high schools have been promoting the contest on their school websites all school year, encouraging students to stay eligible by maintaining attendance of 96 percent, a GPA of 2.5 or better, and no out-of-school suspensions. A couple of weeks ago, schools sent out letters to the 2390 eligible 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students inviting them to the big event on May 11, 2011 at Fontana High School’s Steeler Stadium. Approximately 762 of those students attended hoping for a chance to win the 2011 Chevy Cruz or one of other prizes.

Among the winners were Francisco Gomez (Fontana) and Karen Edelman (Kaiser) who won Apple iPod Touches donated by Horace Mann Insurance and Jay Munoz; Jacob Buffman (Summit) who won a Sylvania 19” Flat Screen TV donated by Tony Diaz and Family; Ulizes Santana (Jurupa Hills) and Chanel Gonzales (A.B. Miller) who each won a Gateway LT Series Netbook; Stephanie Raguse (Fontana) who won a Vizio 32” LCD HD TV donated by Costco in Fontana; Donna Madrigal (Fontana) and Cristopher Tapia (Fontana) who each won an Emerson 42” Flat Screen HD TV donated by the Granado Family; Ernestine Estaban (Fontana) and Crystal Mendez (A.B. Miller) who each won an Apple iPad donated by Rosa and Leonard Dominguez of Horace Mann Insurance; Raul Villalobos (A.B. Miller) who won a $250 scholarship for books donated by Gloria Macias Harrison, President of Crafton Hills College; Minerva Garcia (Kaiser) who won Angels Baseball Diamond Club tickets and parking donated by Get Ahead Writing; and Lilliana Herrera (A.B. Miller), Violeta Martin (Kaiser), and Soemy Sanchez (A.B. Miller) who each won a $1000 scholarship from Inland Empire Scholarship Fund.

Click here to see more photos from the event.

Click here to view an online video.