ST. GEORGE — Nearly 100 Washington County elementary and middle school students have read their way to earn their own set of wheels.
Bikes for Books, a nonprofit program that encourages youth to foster a love for reading, visited eight Washington County schools, rewarding students who accomplished the most in reading for the academic year. Their reward? Their own bike.
The program is run by the St. George Masonic Lodge No. 33. The program also is sponsored by Robert J. DeBry & Associates, Walmart, KUTV 2 News, Bike Legal Utah and others.
“We are thrilled to be a new sponsor for 2023 and share the belief that promotes youth reading while getting more kids on bikes,” said Mila Allinson, marketing director for Bike Legal Utah, a new sponsor for the program.
Last year, 87 students earned bikes. This year, 98 students from Southern Utah elementary schools were rewarded.
Allinson said students are encouraged to read as many books as possible within a designated period. For each book read, the student is entered into a drawing. The more books they read, the better chance they have of winning. The forms entered have the student’s name, grade, class and title of the book they read.
At the end of this last semester, the schools held an awards ceremony where the winners, one boy and one girl from each grade, were given their prizes, which included a safety helmet, T-shirt featuring the name of the Masonic Sponsor, the Square and Compasses emblem and the school’s name. They also received a certificate of achievement.
Keith Stout with St. George Masonic Lodge No. 33 coordinated the annual event and schedule of bike deliveries with help from other lodge members.
Allinson said eight elementary schools were part of the program this year: Sandstone, Paradise Canyon, Washington, Coral Cliffs, Panorama, LaVerkin, Diamond Valley, and Santa Clara. Allinson along with Mark Strohman, representing Bike Legal, attended the assembly at Sandstone Elementary the morning of May 23.
One winning student was surprised and happy to have received a bike.
“I thought it was going to be a fifth grader and not a third grader,” said Dacen Christensen during a video interview mediated by his mother Britney Christensen.
Dacen said he was surprised with a special award for being the most improved reader in the school. His mother said due to problems in the past, he went through hard times and struggled with reading.
“To see him where he is today is just baffling,” she said. “He went from always in trouble to most improved. God is good, my friend.”
Recalling the moment when he claimed his award, Dacen said, “I didn’t know how I did this … in second grade I barely knew how to read.”
His mother added that much of the credit needed to go to the teachers, vice-principal and principal at Sandstone Elementary.
“Their dedication and hard work with him didn’t go unnoticed,” she said. “He wasn’t an easy kid when he first started.”
As for being the most improved reader, Dacen offered a small piece of advice.
“You can do hard things,” he said with a shy smile.
The masonic lodge has been facilitating the Bikes for Books Program for seven years since it has been a successful program nationwide. For more info, click here.
Photo Gallery
98 Students received bikes for books read at eight elementary schools, Sandstone Elementary, St. George, Utah, May 23, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Bike Legal Utah, St. George News
98 Students received bikes for books read at eight elementary schools, Sandstone Elementary, St. George, Utah, May 23, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Bike Legal Utah, St. George News
98 Students received bikes for books read at eight elementary schools, Sandstone Elementary, St. George, Utah, May 23, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Bike Legal Utah, St. George News
Most improved reader Dacen Christensen high-fives the Raptor mascot, Sandstone Elementary, St. George, Utah, May 23, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Bike Legal Utah, St. George News
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