‘Very Blessed’: Edmond Teacher Surprised With New Car At Softball Game

For 34 years Rhonda Lawson has been impacting students in the Edmond school district, and after giving herself for all those years, it was time for someone to give back to her.

The Oklahoma City Spark prepared to take on the Texas Smoke, it was educator night. Rhonda Lawson, an Edmond physical education and health teacher, was set to just throw out the first pitch, so she thought.

“I was very nervous. Everybody was like did you warm up? Did you pitch? And I was like no,” said Lawson.

As her big moment arrived, Lawson, a softball coach and former All- American catcher at UCO, delivered like a champ.

“Just praying I could throw a strike of some form, you know not roll it, not launch it so I guess I accomplished something there,” said Lawson.

That’s when she found out the real reason she was there.

Because of her commitment and dedication to the community, the Oklahoma Chevy team dealers were proud to present her with the keys to a brand-new Chevy Blazer.

“I just couldn’t believe it. In my mind I was like no, are you kidding me?” said Lawson.

“I think we got the perfect candidate,” said Jason Hawkins, president of Oklahoma Chevy Team Dealers.  

“You know when you see someone like that, and you can do something and give back to somebody that has given so much to kids in the Oklahoma education system,” said Hawkins.

Close to 100 family members and friends came out to celebrate Rhonda, even her former softball teammates and coach from UCO.

“Rhonda is one of those that will lead by example, been very proud of her ever since she was in college,” said retired UCO Softball Coach Gerry Pinkston.

The car, the taxes, the title, everything already paid for and ready for her to drive home.

“It was time for a new one and I kept saying, I don’t want a payment, I don’t want a payment, and I got a car. I’m just very blessed, that’s all I can say, just blessed,” said Lawson.