Not only does perfect attendance allow students in Stanislaus County to be up to date with their curriculum, but it could also lead to a brand new car, as demonstrated by one Pitman High School student on Friday morning.

During a special ceremony in the campus quad area, junior Ekjot Johal was handed the keys to a brand new 2024 Toyota Corolla courtesy of Modesto Toyota and the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE). It was a reward for achieving perfect attendance for at least one month in the 2023-24 academic year during the SCOE’s inaugural  “Every Day Counts” campaign.

The Office of Education launched Every Day Counts in August as an effort to increase school attendance rates — which have taken a hit since the COVID-19 pandemic — across its 25 school districts (188 schools with approximately 107,000 students). As an incentive, each month a student had perfect attendance, they’re name was entered into a drawing. To be eligible, students must have had at least a 2.0 GPA and attended all class periods of all school days within the calendar months of August, September, October, November or December 2023 and January, February, March or April 2024. 

“School attendance is a serious issue – one that concerns educators and should concern all of us,” said Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools Scott Kuykendall. “We applaud Modesto Toyota for recognizing the importance of school attendance and partnering with us. An opportunity to win a new car encourages and motivates high school students to prioritize attending school daily.”

Complementary to her new car, Johal received one year of car insurance donated by Modesto’s TSM Insurance, plus a year of free car washes from Vintage Car Wash in Modesto.

Johal knew that winning the car was a possibility, as she was named one of the county’s 50 finalists who attended a recognition event Tuesday at Modesto Toyota. Still, the look of shock on her face couldn’t be contained.

Other local finalists included Leonardo Saavedra Valencia and Ryan Yusefian of Pitman High, Maria Bravo, Brennon Hernandez and Orlando Perez of Turlock High, Jeremiah Cuevas Torres of Roselawn High, Jason Araujo of Denair High and Elizabeth Becchetti of Hughson High.

Each of the finalists in attendance Tuesday received Attendance Certificates from SCOE and were given four tickets to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.