Parking on campus is a luxury most WEGO students do not have – especially since student spots were eliminated during recent construction. But this fall, juniors and seniors had another chance to secure one of the coveted spaces when Student Council opened its annual parking raffle, offering 10 designated spots to upperclassmen.

Students had until Friday, Nov. 7, to submit their entry forms, and winners were announced Monday, Nov. 10. Each winner was required to pay $150 and provide identification, proof of insurance, and a license plate number to officially claim the spot.

According to Student Council adviser Candace Fikis, student demand has only grown.

“When student parking was taken away during our construction project, it was very upsetting to students, so they have been advocating for a return to some onsite parking,” Fikis said. “We rolled it out last year with 20 spots and now we have been able to expand to 40 spots. There has been a high rate of interest, especially for students who arrive early or stay late for extracurriculars so they do not have to walk — sometimes by themselves — out to the Kerr McGee lot.”

This year’s raffle winners were juniors and seniors Natalie Brown, Lizbeth Castro, Gabriela Cortes Montoya, Rosario Cuatle, Cassiella Koeune, Jessica Lopez, Fernessa Reyes, Jakub Slupski, Salome Vargas, and Khloee Zomparelli.

For many students, especially with winter approaching, the news felt like a game-changer.

“When I realized I had actually won a parking spot, I was really happy since I wouldn’t need to walk all the way from Kerr anymore,” senior Lizbeth Castro said. “With the winter months coming up, it’s a big relief — not having to worry about being late or freezing on the way to school makes a huge difference.”

While many winners mentioned the weather, others said the raffle offered a chance to solve more practical, everyday challenges.

“I decided to enter the raffle to test my luck and see if I could get a close parking spot so that during the winter I won’t have to walk as much in this cold,” senior Salome Vargas said. “I also tend to be late to school sometimes, and having a closer parking spot could really help me be on time each day.”

The raffle does more than save students a long walk from Kerr McGee. Student Council launched it as a fundraiser to help offset rising costs for homecoming, prom, and other school events. Decorations, arches, balloons, table décor, and venue fees add up quickly — and the money raised allows ticket prices to stay more affordable.

“We started raffling the spots off last year, and that’s why a lot of seniors are able to park near Entrance H,” senior Rachel Knaack, Student Council executive board member, said. “The funds that come from this go directly to prom and homecoming costs. It’s a really good fundraiser because we don’t have to do anything, and we make a good profit off of it. It’s easy money, and it helps decrease ticket prices for students.”