For the past 16 years students at Nederland High School have known that good attendance means a shot at winning a brand new car.

Now, Port Neches-Groves High School students will have the same chance, thanks to a partnership with Philpott Motors.

Bob Thewman, general manager at Philpott, said this is a win-win partnership.

“It’s a proven fact in any educational document you read, the less school you miss the better your chances are of succeeding, no doubt about it,” Thewman said.

The idea of a car for perfect attendance — with Nederland High School that’s no more than three absences — came from former Nederland Independent School District Superintendent Gail Krohn, Thewman said. She approached Philpott with the idea and it proceeded from there.

The names of the high-schoolers that fit the requirements are placed in a drawing and a winner’s name drawn.

“When I stand up on that stage and see the kids who haven’t missed a day of school since pre-k, it warms your heart,” he said.

Attendance also helps the school district as federal dollars are tied to attendance: The better the attendance, the better it is for school districts.

Thewman said in the past they’ve given away Toyotas and will give away a Ford at PNG.

Philpott has also helped local school districts through Drive One For Your School. The event is a test drive event where people over the age of 18 can test drive a car and the car dealership will donate $25 per test drive up to $3,000 to a school district the driver designates. The money typically goes to help with Project Graduation, he said. This year there were Drive One For Your School events at Port Neches-Groves High School, Nederland High School, Hamshire-Fannett High School and East Chambers High School.

Thewman is looking forward to see what kind of presentation PNG will come up with for their car give away in the spring.