Third graders at Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School were unexpectedly surprised with free Huffy bikes during an assembly this morning (Friday).
Earlier this month, the students participated in an essay contest writing about what they want to be when they grow up. Only the top three essayists would win bikes, the kids were told.
But during Friday’s assembly to announce the winners in the school gym, the 78 kids cheered wildly when told that they were all getting bikes and helmets, courtesy of Passport Auto Group. The initiative cost $12,750, according to Alexandria City Public Schools.
“The project was about being kind, dreaming big and working hard, and how when you do those things you can get results,” Principal Rachael Dischner told ALXnow. “We are really grateful for Passport Auto Group for reaching out to our school and Community Engagement Office and selecting Ferdinand T. Day as a school to work with for this project.”
Ashton Ryan, the communications manager for Passport Auto Group, hosted the assembly.
“We think you all did a very good job,” Ryan said. “In life, when you work hard, you think big and you make no excuses, you get rewarded.”
The three essay winners, Daniel, Medina, and Marwa have ambitious goals. Daniel said he was grateful to win, and wants to be a police officer; Medina wants to be president of the United States to make the country better; and Marwa wants to follow in the footsteps of her grandmothers and cousins and become a doctor.
None of them had bikes before, but for Marwa, the real prize was winning the contest.
“Sometimes it’s not really about the prize,” Marwa said. “It’s just about the feeling that you won that’s important.”
