KC student wins Chevrolet Trax at second annual Cruise for Success car giveaway

Zhyon Bell’s birthday is next week, but he got his biggest present Thursday: a new Chevrolet Trax.

Kilgore College business administration student Zhyon Bell took home the top prize at the second annual Cruise for Success car giveaway — much to the delight of his KC football teammates, who swarmed him in a celebratory group hug when they realized he had won.

“I’m excited. I didn’t think I was going to win it! I didn’t think I was going to win it, but I’m blessed to win it,” Bell said.

Bell, who is from Porter, said after KC, he wants to transfer to a four-year school to continue his education.

He was one of a number of students who qualified for the Cruise for Success program.

Under the program, students have the chance to compete for monthly prizes and the ultimate prize of a new car by doing things that will lead to academic success and the completion of their degrees. Thursday’s drawing in the middle of the Lee Mall/Mike Miller Plaza was between the top 10 point-earners.

KC students Jada Hood, Maya Scheitel-Taylor, Mckenzie Brown, Rahmena Henderson, Michael Jones, Sherwin Keys, Farah Shaaban and Alisha Parker took home $500 each after their names were drawn from a bowl.

The last two, Bell and Vianey Galvan, got to draw for a car key fob. The student with the car fob that worked took home the Trax, provided by Patterson Chevrolet of Kilgore, and $200 worth of fuel cards from Brookshire’s while the runner-up took home $1,000.

Bell hit his button, it worked and he screamed in excitement. Galvan, too, couldn’t help but get excited for Bell as his teammates rushed to him.