CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Michael Sutton, a graduate of Kenwood High School, was the lucky winner of a new car Saturday at the 15th annual “Pass and Go” event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard.

The event features students from Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools and is supported by the Education Foundation. Pass and Go rewards student achievements with an opportunity to win a car or other prizes like gift cards, iPads or laptops.

Winner of a new car, Michael Sutton at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Antonio Murgas, Natasha Lugo, Brian Burkeen & Jeffrey Richards at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Q-108 air personalities Kyle King & Tiffany Hill at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Christina Ploeckelman, Tiffany Hill, Evelyn Ploeckelman, Ryan Ploeckelman & Kyle King at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Totota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Prize winners at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
A prize winning CMCSS student at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Top ten finalists at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Michael Sutton starts the car and wins at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Michael Sutton & Brian Burkeen at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Michael Sutton & Dr. Jean Luna Vedder at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Michael Sutton holding the key that started the car at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Antonio Murgas, Dr. James Bailey, Michael Sutton, Brian Burkeen, Dr, Jean Luna-Vedder, & Robin Burton at the 15th annual Pass and Go event at Wyatt Johnson Toyota on Aug. 5, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

“I am so excited I can’t think straight,” Sutton said. “It doesn’t feel real yet, it honestly feels like I’m in a dream, like having this dream about winning this car and I am about to wake up.” Sutton, who graduated in May, said he doesn’t have a car and has been using his parent’s vehicle. He will be attending Tennessee Tech this fall to major in mechanical engineering.

Sutton was given the choice of a 2023 Toyota Corolla, the car that he started with his key during the contest, or a 2023 Hyundai Elantra. The Elantra was not on the car lot on Saturday, but Sutton said he wasn’t yet sure which car he would choose.

There were 686 CMCSS students who scored a 3 or above on their Advanced Placement (AP) exam in order to qualify for a chance to win the car. Each of the 589 students registered at the event was given a numbered ticket, and drawings were held for prizes with a final drawing for 10 students. Each of those students then received a key, and only one of the keys would start a Toyota.

CMCSS students had the opportunity to take 26 AP courses, and 240 more students took a class in 2022-23 than in 2021-22. The pass rate improved to 60 percent.

Wyatt Johnson General Manager Brian Burkeen said it was important for their business to give back to youth.

“This program has grown year after year, and we think it has had a lot to do with the partnerships, not just from Wyatt Johnson, but Domino’s Pizza, Google, Beach Oil and all of the other partners including the Education Foundation,” Burkeen said.

Antonio Murgas with Domino’s Pizza provided free pizza for those attending along with gift cards as prizes. Beach Oil also gave gift cards as prizes, and Google supplied iPads and laptops for giveaways.