Strive 2 Drive campaign rewards Gwyneth Sidney with a new car

A year of participation in campus activities and working toward educational goals has paid off for Brazosport College student Gwyneth Sidney.

Sidney was named the winner of Brazosport College’s second-annual Strive2Drive initiative campaign and was rewarded with a new Honda Civic during a presentation Thursday, April 18 in front of the BC Student Pavilion.

Sidney was one of five finalists and her name was randomly selected by Brazosport College President Dr. Millicent Valek. The other four finalists, who each received consolation prizes, were Toria Brown, Julianne Damico, Carlos Matias and Riley Ramsower.

Dr. Valek proclaimed Sidney the lucky winner after selecting a random key fob out of a bowl of five key fobs. The five students were standing beside a different Honda Civic vehicle of their choosing as Dr. Valek’s key fob activated Sidney’s winning vehicle.

“Congratulations to Gwyneth Sidney, the winner of the Strive to Drive competition,” said Brazosport College President Dr. Millicent Valek. “This innovative program reinforces behaviors that have shown to lead to success in college. I’m so grateful to our sponsors who support this initiative and to all the BC students who chose to participate.”

Sidney, who is from Bay City, plans to transfer to Sam Houston State University and expects to use the car for much-needed transportation to and from school.

“This is amazing,” Sidney said. “I never expected this. It’s just a blessing.”

Now in its second year, Strive2Drive is one of the biggest promotions ever offered by Brazosport College. The Strive2Drive sponsors included Honda of Lake Jackson, The Dow Chemical Company – Texas Operations, Freeport LNG, BASF, MEGlobal and TDECU.

The Strive2Drive program was based on participation in campus activities and operated on a defined point system, with points assigned based on the length, importance and educational value of the activities.

Through this point system, students accumulating the most points each month during the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters earned prizes. Also earning one of the biggest prizes was BC student Daniel Martinez, who was awarded a $1,000 gift card Thursday for finishing as the year’s highest point earner.

All Brazosport College full-time, part-time and dual-credit students enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 were eligible for the Honda Civic.

Brazosport College will begin a new Strive2Drive initiative campaign at the start of the Fall 2019 semester. More information about Strive2Drive can be found at www.brazosport.edu/strive2drive.

Gwyneth Sidney reacts after winning a new Honda Civic Car during Brazosport College’s second-annual Strive 2 Drive initiative campaign on Thursday, April 18.

Gwyneth Sidney, front, hugs Brazosport College President Dr. Millicent Valek after winning a new Honda Civic Car during Brazosport College’s second-annual Strive 2 Drive initiative campaign on Thursday, April 18.

Gwyneth Sidney, right, gets hugged by a friend after winning a new Honda Civic Car during Brazosport College’s second-annual Strive 2 Drive initiative campaign on Thursday, April 18.

Brazosport College student Daniel Martinez, left, accepts $1,000 in gift cards from Brazosport College President Dr. Millicent Valek during the College's Strive 2 Drive initiative campaign on Thursday, April 18. Martinez was the initiative’s top points earner.

The finalists for Brazosport College’s second-annual Strive 2 Drive initiative campaign were, from left, Riley Ramsower, Toria Brown, Gwyneth Sidney, Carlos Matias and Julianne Damico. Sidney was the lucky winner of the Honda Civic.

The finalists and sponsors for Brazosport College’s inaugural Strive 2 Drive initiative campaign were, counter clockwise, Rod Hall, Honda of Lake Jackson; Cindy Suggs, BASF; Trish Thompson, MEGlobal; car finalists Riley Ramsower and Toria Brown; car winner Gwyneth Sidney; car finalists Carlos Matias and Julianne Damico; Lucilla Henderson, TDECU; Wendy Mazurkiewicz, Freeport LNG; and Richard Wells, Dow Chemical Company.