The scene had all the excitement of a television game show.
After several fruitless tries by other students, 17-year-old Deland Senatus turned a key and started a black 2001 Honda Civic.
The Waltham High School student leaped from the driver's seat and pranced around as a crowd applauded.
The car was the prize in the "Keys to Success" program, which was launched last fall in conjunction with six Massachusetts high schools.
Throughout the year, students whose grades, attendance or other qualities improved, were nominated for the program by faculty members.
Senatus was nominated by 11th-grade House Master Elizabeth Gavin. House masters work with the principal and deal with students daily.
"He's a super nice kid. He's never in trouble and he's normally a quiet kid," Gavin said, as Senatus climbed on top of the car to be photographed. "He got a role in the school play earlier this year and blew everyone away."
Senatus played Buddy Fiddler, a tyrannical Hollywood producer in the musical "City of Angels" in the fall.
"I was involved in a very difficult performance," he said. "It was one of the biggest performances I've done in my entire acting career."
Senatus, a junior, said the car will help him carry musical equipment. He is a drummer and disc jockey.
"This can help me a lot right now," he said. "I want to say a very big thanks to the principal and the house master and all the staff. They are very supportive and inspirational."
Waltham High School was involved in the program for the first time this year. Teacher Judy Lopes was approached by Christine Caron, general manager of the Village Automotive Group. The company owns seven dealerships in Greater Boston including Charles River Saab of Watertown and Honda Village of Newton.
"It's an incentive program for all students in all grades here," Lopes said. "Through out the year they can receive up to three of these cards."
Three-hundred and fifty high school students received key cards throughout the school year. Fifty of them were then chosen from a random drawing and were given a key.
"We chose improvements in (grade point average), improvements in attendance or community service, good citizenship or any other unique accomplishments as guidelines," Lopes said. "Teachers, staff and coaches can nominate a student for any reason."
Lopes said the idea for the program started in Utah by Ken Garff.
"Ray Ciccolo, president of Village Automotive Group, learned about it through him and decided that's what he wanted to do," Lopes said.
Yesterday Ciccolo's daughter Caron said Honda Village of Newton will soon be moving from Newton to Waltham after 37 years in its location at 371 Washington St. The upcoming move was partially an incentive to host the event at Waltham High School.
"We're a family business. We've been in the community for over 50 years, so education has always been a part of our core values," she said. "It's just a good way to start getting involved in the city on a grassroots level."
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com.
