Yosemite High School graduate wins Toyota Camry
Graduate Samantha Hemman wins a car
during grad night festivities
BY IRENE THIRLWALL - ITHIRLWALL@SIERRASTAR.COM

IRENE THIRLWALL
Yosemite High School graduate, Samantha Hemman, won a 1991 Toyota Camry from Oakhurst Auto Center. Hemman, with her mother Diana Hemman at her side, picks-up her prize. The car was a raffle prize Samantha won for attending sober grad-night. Jim Nakashima, sales manager, far left and Tim Jalving, general manager of Oakhurst Auto Center present the keys to the YHS grad.

Today’s high school students are encouraged to not drink and drive, and graduation night is no exception. At Yosemite High School students were reminded of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving in the days leading up to their prom. Last week, Thursday, June 16, seniors celebrated graduation and then many participated in grad night.

During the grad night festivities, students were encouraged to enjoy themselves and stay for the entire night until the next morning. One of the ways the new grads were enticed to stay was a raffle give-away.
YHS seniors who chose to stay had their names entered into a raffle for a car from Oakhurst Auto Center.

Oakhurst Auto Center, located at 40233 Enterprise Drive in Oakhurst, was present at the sober grad night and pulled the name of Samantha Hemman on Friday morning. Tim Jalving, general manager at Oakhurst Auto Center, said in order for Hemman to win she was required to be present. He said this prevented her and the others who were in the drawing from leaving the party and possibly getting involved in an accident.

Diana Hemman, Samantha’s mother, made a trip to Oakhurst Auto Center on Friday with her recent graduate, to pick up Samantha’s 1991 Toyota Camry.

Jalving, along with Jim Nakashima, sales manager at Oakhurst Auto Center, presented Samantha with the keys to her newly won car.
Jalving said this is the auto center’s fifth or sixth year they have given a car away to a sober grad.

“The ones who stayed until about 5 in the morning had a chance to win,” Jalving said. “We are supporting staying sober on grad night and saluting the graduates.”

Yosemite Joint Union High School District News