Business » Local Business

Subscribe

21-year-old Victorian wins contest, gets $30,000, plus swag, to pitch TDECU

Reporter Allison Miles interviews winner Josh Garrett
  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • 1 Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •
  • BY ALLISON MILES - AMILES@VICAD.COM
  • Originally published December 21, 2009 at 6:18 p.m., updated December 21, 2009 at 11:25 p.m.

  • TO VIEW

    To see Josh Garrett's application video, or to check out his blogs, visit http://www.livingyoungandfree.com/profile/JoshuaGarrett.

It isn't every day a guy enters a restaurant for lunch and leaves with the promise of a $30,000 salary, laptop, camcorder and more.

But that's how it happened for Josh Garrett.

On Monday, TDECU surprised the 21-year-old Victorian at Uncle Mutt's Bar-B-Q Co. with news he'd won the company's Young & Free Texas spokesperson search.

"It feels pretty good," Garrett said as he stood among friends and family who gathered for the surprise. "I'm really excited."

As spokesman, Garrett will travel, post blogs and video blogs and educate young adults about the benefits of joining credit unions. He also will help TDECU determine how to reach out to young Texans.

The deal includes swag such as use of a Toyota Prius and gas allowance, an Apple MacBook notebook computer with Internet, Canon digital camcorder and an Apple iPhone with a paid contract, according to a TDECU news release.

The Victoria College student entered the contest via a video blog and updated with new blogs daily. His fate was left to the online community, as voters decided among the contest's top three candidates.

Garrett will continue with school and plans to move on to the University of Houston-Victoria, where he will study communications.

His parents, Terry Garrett and Ophelia Calderone, both said they're proud of their son, who they described as a hard worker with a sense of humor. They learned of the win a week ago and it was difficult to keep it under wraps, Calderone admitted. Especially on Wednesday, Garrett's birthday.

Mom and Dad might not have blabbed, but Garrett still grew suspicious when his brother told him he wanted to visit Victoria.

"That's never happened before," he said. "I kind of suspected something was going on."

Garrett might be gearing up to start his new position, but he isn't without guidance. DeAndre Upshaw, the organization's 2009 spokesman, offered a bit of advice.

"Be yourself," he said, adding there are people involved in the program in South Carolina, Alberta and other areas, and each person has a unique personality. "Do what you feel is right."


Sign Up
CLOSE

  • Print
  • •
  • •
  • 1 Comment
  • •
  • Favorite
  • •
  • Report an error Report error
    • Thank you for your submission.
      Error report or correction
      Contact name (optional) Contact phone/e-mail (optional)  
      Sending report
    • Close
  • •