Wilson students surpassed their goal of 5,00 books, reading 5,700 books.

“It’s a great example of how to motivate the kids and keep them involved in our Bikes for Books program,” said Bob Bruning, Masonic Steward and Bikes for Books Chairman.

This is the third year of the program, with all elementary schools in the Alpena Public Schools district participating, as well as All Saints this year. This year, a total of 43 bikes were awarded, for a total of 115 bikes over the course of three years.

State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, told Besser students “readers are leaders” on April 25 at their Bikes for Books assembly.

Courtesy Photo Masons from Alpena-Hopper Lodge #199 present Wilson students with new bikes and certificates at the Bikes for Books assembly held recently.

“It’s a privilege to be here,” Cavitt said after the assembly. “I’m thankful that there’s an organization stepping up and celebrating literacy, especially at this age, when it’s so important.”

He hopes students will develop a lifelong love of reading.

Besser Principal Josh Feldpausch thinks the Bikes for Books program is a great way to encourage reading.

“What I’ve really enjoyed is how it keeps the kids excited to read,” Feldpausch said. “It gives them goals, and it encourages them along the way. There’s some healthy competition in there, for how many books you can read.”

With Cavitt, Alpena police officers, representatives from MyMichigan Medical Center, Masons, teachers, staff, and some parents attending the assembly, Feldpausch said the students received a lot of support from adults who care about reading.

Courtesy Photo Masons from Alpena-Hopper Lodge #199 present Lincoln students with new bikes and certificates at the Bikes for Books assembly held recently.

“I think that’s so encouraging for the kids to see so many adults cheering them on,” Feldpausch added.

Tanya Rouse, trauma program manager for MyMichigan Alpena, presented new helmets to students who received bikes.

Winners included:

Besser: Beckett Granata, Maisyn Cordes, River Page-Ormsbee, Davin Walterreit, Myles Granata, and Macy Carr.

Lincoln: Elliott Bullock, Ellie Radford, Brooklyn Kolnowski, Abdul Barr Ra, Krimson Parris, and Evelyn Bonds.

Courtesy Photo Masons from Alpena-Hopper Lodge #199 present Sanborn students with new bikes and certificates at the Bikes for Books assembly held recently.

Wilson: Hayley Viveros, Wyatt Smalley, Arianna Burns, Brantley Garrow, Madeline Miller, and Liam Bingham.

Hinks: Jensen Kelley, Alayna Batory, Otis Meden, Rayna Romel, Mason Kellar, and Noah Kinsel.

Sanborn: Carter Hermann, Annalisa Boes, Zayne Dingman, Madison Wallace, Raegan Shubert, Finn Bauer-Carlson.

Ella White: Mia Hainstock, Michael Berami, Maddie Wilson, Daniel Lopez, Harper Ross, and Lana Bruning.

Bikes for Books sponsors include: Huron Distributors, L&S Transit Mix Concrete, Thunder Bay Electric, Stanson Floor Covering and Furniture, Alpena Furniture, Walmart Supercenter, Meijer, Alpena Car Care, Nicolet National Bank, Auto-Owners Insurance, Wolverine State Credit Union, Flowerland Designs, Alpena Buick GMC, Bob Centala, State Barber Shop, Alpena Community Credit Union, Besser Company, Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, Northern Eye, Thunder Baykery, Dean Arbour Ford, Alpena Agency, HPC Credit Union, Frank’s Key and Lock Shop, Real Estate One, Starbucks Coffee, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, The Alpena News, Northern Collision and Auto Repair, A&B Storage, UpNorth Property Pros, Builders First Source, and Holcim Alpena Cement Plant.

Courtesy Photo Masons from Alpena-Hopper Lodge #199 present Ella White students with new bikes and certificates at the Bikes for Books assembly held recently.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Masons from Alpena-Hopper Lodge #199 present Besser students with new bikes and certificates at the Bikes for Books assembly held recently.

Courtesy Photo Wilson Principal Jenny Marceau stands with the colorful book banner that charted books read, totaling 5,700.

Courtesy Photo Hinks students who received new bikes for reading books in January through March are Jensen Kelley, Alayna Batory, Otis Meden, Rayna Romel, Mason Kellar, and Noah Kinsel. The program concluded on May 2. This is the third year of the program, with all elementary schools in the Alpena Public Schools district participating, as well as All Saints this year. This year, a total of 43 bikes were awarded, for a total of 115 bikes over the course of three years.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Masons from Alpena-Hopper Lodge #199 present bikes to students at All Saints Catholic School for reading books from January through March. All Saints students who received bikes are, from left, Lilly Oliver, Carson Beauxis, Aaron Donajkowski, Kenzie Anderson, Cephra Mitchell, Elijah Kaminski, and Brantley Ross. Pictured in back, from left, are All Saints Principal Melissa Doubek, Bikes for Books Chairman and Steward Bob Bruning, Worshipful Master Dale Kuehn, Lodge Secretary Mark Stoinski, Steward Ron Shumaker, Junior Warden Leonard Mason, and Tyler Roy Cartwright.