On Monday, Aug. 27, Pocatello’s third annual Welcome Back Orange and Black event was held in Old Town Pocatello. During the event, Idaho State University senior Jesse Ivie won a 2005 Kia Sportage provided by Pocatello Nissan-Kia, Anderson’s Body and Glass (located in American Falls), Les Schwab Tires, KPVI News Channel 6, the Bengal Car Wash, State Farm Insurance, New Day Products and Resources and Ward Oil.
The car, valued at $8,000, also came equipped with new tires and a new orange and black Bengal paint job.
“It still seems unreal,” said Ivie. “We just can’t believe that we actually won it.”
Ivie, a resident of Chubbuck, said it was pure chance that he even attended the Welcome Back event.
“I heard about it from a friend and it sounded like fun,” he said.
According to Ivie, he had a rare break from taking care of his year-old son, Daxdon, and decided to get out of the house.
“I read about [the car raffle] online so I figured if I was there, why not enter?” Ivie explained. “I’d never won anything like that before in my life so I didn’t think I had the slightest chance of winning.”
Ivie said his immediate reaction to winning was to “jump up and down and start screaming.”
“It’s the only way you can react when you hear your name called for something like that,” he added.
For Ivie and his wife, Kamie, the car came just in time.
“One of my vehicles was starting to break down,” said the 26-year-old biology major. He explained that he was in the process of deciding how to deal with that dilemma, as both himself and his wife need vehicles to get to school and work, respectively.
“Ever since we won that new vehicle it has taken that pressure off,” Ivie said. He then added that he intends to keep the Bengal Car.
According to Ivie, the best part of his raffle-winning experience has been “just winning a car.”
“Who doesn’t think it’s the greatest thing in the world to win a car?” he asked.
Winning has also encouraged a positive attitude for Ivie, who said he has experienced zero negativity associated with his win.
“It’s a great feeling to know that something like that can happen to you,” he explained.
Ivie’s win garnered him plenty of attention, both at the event and in the following weeks. That attention also follows his family and their uniquely painted vehicle wherever they take it.
“Everybody looks at the car,” Ivie said. “Some people will give a thumbs-up, [I see] people cheering…it feels good. They support ISU, too.”
Though some might have a difficult time dealing with the stares associated with such a unique vehicle, Ivie isn’t among them.
“I like the attention that I get from driving it around,” he said.