Big surprise for students at Orchard Knob Elementary
In a gymnasium packed full of elementary students, excitement was in the air as the students awaited a big surprise.
Then out of nowhere, three people who represented Academy Sports walked in front of the crowd. The leader of the Academy group was Academy store manager Mark Kinsey who spoke to the children about the importance of reading. Then it was time for the big surprise; stage curtains opened to reveal 30 brand new bikes and helmets.
The bikes were donations from Academy Sports. Each bike was an incentive for excellence in school attendance, good behavior and high reading scores.
"If that encourages them to get some reading done, that’s the least we can do to encourage these kids to be better readers," Kinsey said.
Principal Lefrederick Thurkill made it known that he demands academic excellence. He told News 12 that he views the bikes as a tool for bringing out the best in his students.
"I think it was just a great incentive to continue to motivate students for reading or to improve their reading skills," Thurkill said.
This isn’t the first time Orchard Knob received bike donations to push students in the right direction. But it is the first time 30 bikes have been donated all at once.
"In the past, we’ve given out bikes but never had the opportunity to give out as many bikes as Academy Sports has afforded us this year; so the students were super excited to see those number of bikes on the stage," Thurkill said.
The 30 students who receive the bike will have done so based on growth in reading skills combined with attendance and good behavior. By the time the winners are announced at the end of the school year, each student will have undergone three assessments to determine eligibility to receive the bikes.
Each year, Academy donates more than $250,000 in youth bikes and helmets.
The donations span 15 states and benefit more than 4000 boys and girls.
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