By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Twice the winnings from last year's giveaway but only 55 of the 60 instant finalists showed up Saturday morning at the Crest Theater for Eagle Media's $20K Christmas Cash Giveaway, presented by Bauer Computers, Mayo Money Management, and Moeder Plumbing Heating & Air, your Bryant Dealer, whatever it takes. Kaitlyn Suss, an eighth-grade science teacher at Great Bend Middle School, was nearly one of those no-shows. Her decision to attend paid off as her lucky No. 29 ball was picked as the winner.
Before Saturday, Suss had never won a major prize. She signed up at the UPS Store/Westside Market.
"I was just returning an Amazon package," she said. "I actually just signed up the one time and was like, 'Let's just try it.' I never thought I'd win."
Suss was joined by her daughter, Paige, on the stage as she was announced as the winner Saturday morning. She and her family will now have the opportunity to spend the prize money at any of the participating sponsors in the contest.
"My husband already has a huge list of what he wants to spend it on so I have no idea," Suss said.
Terry Wagner, who registered at Eagle Media, was the other last finalist on the stage. New to the contest this year, all instant finalists who did not win the grand prize were entered into a drawing for a $250 Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificate. That winner was Rita Engle, who registered at Boone's Maytag as instant finalist No. 54.
The last 10 instant finalists in Saturday's giveaway and where they registered:
No. 1 - Terry Wagner, Eagle Media
No. 7 - Dawn Johnson, Ruhe Rituals
No. 8 - Traci Wieger, Miller's of Claflin
No. 17 - Jeff Troyer, Great Bend Appliance
No. 23 - Tiffani Patterson, Sutherlands
No. 24 - Marilyn Strecker, Mattress Solutions
No. 29 - Kaitlyn Suss, UPS Store/Westside Market
No. 59 - Darin Herter, Sutherlands
No. 60 - Shawn Unruh, Bauer Computers
No. 61 - Jody Klepper, Eldridge Fencing
Sponsors of this year's giveaway are:
- Bauer Computers
- Mayo Money Management
- GB Tires
- UPS Store/ Westside Market
- Z's Liquormart
- Great Bend Appliance Furniture and Sleep Source
- Boone's Maytag
- Cornerstone Automotive
- Yours Truly
- Sutherlands
- Nex-Tech
- Nex-tech Wireless
- Jimlo Glass Center
- Ruhe Rituals
- Magna Dry Cleaning Services
- Millers of Claflin
- Mattress Solutions
- Straub's Powersports
- Memorial Art Company
- Hoisington Veterinary Hospital
- UPS Store/Westside