Willmar students earn free bikes for meeting reading goal

Masonic bikes 001.jpg — Lakeland Elementary School fifth-grader Larissa Medina looks for her brand new bicycle, courtesy of Willmar's Sharon Lodge of the Masons, during the Bikes for Books program presentation on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, in Willmar.

By Macy Moore

May 11, 2022 at 5:04 PM

WILLMAR — Students at Lakeland Elementary School in Willmar learned on Tuesday afternoon that if they work hard for something, they will reap some pretty awesome rewards.

Masonic bikes 002.jpg — Dave Stuhr, who serves as the secretary of Willmar's Sharon Lodge of the Masons, speaks before parents and students at Lakeland Elementary School in Willmar during the Masonic Lodge Bikes for Books program presentation on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

Following a musical concert before proud parents and school staff, 18 students were announced and brought to the front of the crowd to be recognized for meeting a strict reading goal of 30 books in a tight time frame. As a reward, each student who made the cut earned a free bicycle, lock and helmet, courtesy of Willmar's Sharon Lodge of the Masons.

Masonic bikes 003.jpg — Hayat Moge, from left, fifth-grader Ugbad Moge, center, and mother Sharaf Yusuf celebrate together after Ugbad received her free bike during the Masonic Lodge Bikes for Books program presentation on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Lakeland Elementary School in Willmar.

Masonic bikes 004.jpg — Lakeland Elementary School fifth-grader Sakariya Hassan prepares to roll his brand new bicycle out of the school following the Masonic Lodge Bikes for Books program presentation on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, in Willmar.

By Macy Moore

Macy Moore is an award-winning photojournalist at the West Central Tribune in Willmar, Minnesota.
She can be reached via email: mmoore@wctrib.com or phone: 320.214.4338.

Willmar students earn free bikes for meeting reading goal

A free bicycle, lock and helmet were presented to students at Lakeland Elementary in Willmar, courtesy of Willmar's Sharon Lodge of the Masons.