POST FALLS - With 210,000 miles on his 1987 Toyota pickup and repairs imminent, Griffin Winget needed a new ride as he heads off to college.

Winget's wish became reality Thursday night when the recent Lake City High graduate won a charcoal-gray 2014 Chevrolet Sonic LT Turbo, courtesy of Knudtsen Chevrolet.

"To be able to take this to college is a godsend," Winget said, moments after learning his key was, of the five chances for local high school students, the one which unlocked the car. "How often do you get to win a car?"

And it's economical for college students, to boot.

"The first thing that I noticed is that it gets 31 miles per gallon, which will be nice in California," Winget said with a smile.

Winget said he's also looking forward to driving an automatic, as his truck has a manual transmission.

The car giveaway was part of the 75th anniversary festivities at Knudtsen Chevrolet. Five students' names were drawn at senior parties to be eligible to win the car, which is valued at $18,990.

Winget, who works at the Azteca Mexican restaurant, was figuring on spending about $800 in repairs on his pickup this summer to get to La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif.

Winget plans to double major in biomedicine and business, and hopes to become a pediatrician.

He was the last student to attempt to unlock the car, so he knew he'd won after the four others tried.

"I wanted to go last because each attempt mounted a surprise," he said.

Moments after confirming his key worked, Winget raised his hands in the air, gave family members hugs and shook the other students' hands.

"This was a great opportunity for all five high schools and I like how they did it at random instead being based on academics or athletics," he said. "It's very nice of Knudtsen Chevrolet to do this."

Winget's mother, Lisa, said Griffin bought his pickup with his own money.

"He's a genuine, caring and loving kid who would do anything for anybody," she said.

Other students who were eligible to win the car were: Nick Nyquist, Coeur d'Alene High; Hayden Nosworthy, Lakeland; Cora Sincerbeaux, Timberlake; and Michael McKoewn, Post Falls High.

Each of the four semi-finalists won a MacBook Air computer valued at $1,000.

Eve Knudtsen, who owns Knudtsen Chevrolet with her brother, Eric, said the car giveaway and anniversary celebration were a chance for the dealership to give back to the community which has supported it for 75 years.

Brothers Clifford E. and Wayne G. Knudtsen started the business, followed by C. Wayne Knudtsen, Eve and Eric's father.

Knudtsen said the plan is to hold a celebration each year with an atmosphere similar to what the former Body By Scotty Block Party had.