Michigan environmental activist Meag Schwartz has won a General Motors contest that pays $100,000 and gives her three-months use of the new 2024 Chevrolet Trax subcompact SUV, the automaker said Monday.
Schwartz was named the “Lead Dream Chaser” as part of the Fast Trax Your Future contest, which Chevrolet announced in January. The money and the car are intended to help Schwartz — who lives in Ossineke just south of Alpena — to pursue her dream to protect and clean up the Great Lakes.
“This is a dream come true,” Schwartz said in a statement. “The funds and Chevy Trax will go a long way in helping us achieve our goal of protecting and enjoying the Great Lakes. Thanks to Chevrolet for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The U.S.-based contest was designed to promote the Trax, which goes on sale this spring starting at $20,400, so GM will not offer the same contest next year, Kellie Van Maele, GM spokesperson, told the Free Press.
Schwartz, who is known as “The Great Lakes Litter Lady,” wants to grow her marine debris removal passion project, Great Lakes Great Responsibility, according to a release from Chevrolet. Schwartz’s LinkedIn page describes Great Lakes Great Responsibility as “an environmental non-profit aimed at preventing marine debris in the Great Lakes through litter cleanups. Creator of the #GreatLakes1Million challenge, an effort to clean up one million pieces of trash from the Great Lakes basin.”
A panel of judges from Chevrolet and creative entrepreneur and CEO of Kickstarter, Everette Taylor, chose Schwartz after reviewing “hundreds of video submissions” and scoring each finalist according to five areas of the weighted criteria. Van Maele declined to say how many entries Chevrolet received.
The contestant with the highest total combined score from each judge won. Some of the finalists included former basketball player Arelious Cooper, of Atlanta, who founded Art in the Paint which uses art and athletics to promote a higher quality of life. Also, Emily Vital, who was diagnosed with ADHD and now wants to grow her business, Talk Too Much in the Denver area to bring awareness to mental health issues. For more finalists and details on judging criteria go to ChevyDreamChaser.com.
Schwartz will share her journey on social media on @greatlakeslove.
More:Former GM president, who was first to champion EVs, dies
More:‘I’m scared to drive it’: Hundreds of Subaru owners allege sudden acceleration issue
Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.