MIDLAND, Texas — In life, showing up pays off.
You don’t get that big promotion at work by slacking off.
And for two Midland ISD students, just waking up, putting on their backpack and showing up to school paid off in a huge way.
On Wednesday night, Midland High Junior Albany Solis and Legacy High Sophomore Dylan Ramjattan were rewarded for their attendance.
Their reward? A 2023 Ford Escape SUV, fully paid off by Rogers Ford Lincoln.
"I'm feeling so excited today because I've actually been joking about it all day that I was going to get the car and I did get the car," Solis said. "So manifesting, manifesting works."
"She is an excellent student and contributing member of Midland High and we're so proud of her," said Jennifer Seybert, principal of Midland High.
These students were able to drive home these SUVs simply for doing something every student can do.
"We've had a yearlong attendance incentive," Principal Seybert said. "So encouraging high schoolers to come to school."
If you didn’t miss a single day during a six-week grading period this year, and maintained a 90% attendance rate, your name was put in the hat to be drawn.
40 students in total had the opportunity to win the grand prizes. And for the ones who didn’t win the car, they still won a $50 gift card.
"So the buzz about the excitement today carries into next year," Principal Seybert said. "Students saw somebody, one of their friends won a car and they want to do the same thing. So I think if nothing else, attendance is going up from this."
According to MISD, this incentive has helped improve the attendance rate by a full percentage point at Legacy High and two full points at Midland High.
"The only place for students to learn is the classroom," Principal Seybert said. "And so get out of bed. Get to school. You might win a car."
In life, you can’t miss days, and if these students have found that out at such a young age, they might already have a head start in their future careers and life itself.