Brittany Way doesn’t have a driver’s license, but thanks to her good attendance and grades, she now has a car for when she goes to college next year.

Way won a drawing at South Effingham High School for the car.

“Now I have an excuse to get my license,” Way said as she looked at the 2000 Mustang GT.

Effingham Board of Education member Troy Alford and South Effingham Principal Dan Noel presented Way with the keys to the car.

“I’m really excited,” Way said. “I wasn’t expecting this at all.”

Noel said every student in the school was entered at the beginning of the year. In order to remain eligible, students had to pass all of their classes, have no more than five absences, no more than five tardies and no more than four discipline referrals.

He said students with perfect attendance had extra entries for their names to win the car.

Way had the extra help for perfect attendance for the year. She has not missed a day of school since the sixth grade, and when her friends tried to get her to miss on senior skip day, she went to school anyway.

Noel said he approached Alford, also the general manager of Coastal Chevrolet, about getting a car. Alford gave the school a promotional price for the car, and Noel used parking fees and other incentive program funds to pay for the car.

Alford said he was happy to help with the event because he felt it would help encourage the students. He also said he hopes the program is something that will be continued in the future.

Way’s mom Jackie came to the school when she heard. With tears of joy, she thanked Alford and Noel.

“This is an answered prayer,” she said.

Way will attend Piedmont College on a scholarship in the fall to earn a degree in math and business. She plans to minor in Spanish.