Special Feature

June 18th, 2009

The Great Bike Give Away!

Escondido Education COMPACT, in partnership with the Escondido Police Department and the Escondido Kiwanis Club, has started a program that will distribute rebuilt bikes to students in need. These students are being recognized for their positive accomplishments during the school year (academic excellence, greatly improved academics, good school attendance).

The long-term goal of this program is to provide bikes to deserving students while developing a program that will provide work experience/internship opportunities to students in COMPACT's Careers Club Program. These students have an interest in learning how to rebuild bikes while giving back to their community. The bikes have been donated by the Escondido Police Department and have been rebuilt and refurbished by members of the Escondido Kiwanis Club.

The following students will be awarded bikes during this media event:
Nicolas Francisco Mateo - Bear Valley Middle School
Kissel Contreras - Bear Valley Middle School
Wyatt Hudson - Rincon Middle School
Michael Goerner - Rincon Middle School
Chris West - Escondido High School
Daniel Alcayde - COMPACT's Careers Club

Bikes were awarded by: City of Escondido, Police Chief Jim Maher, Joe Heard of the Escondido Kiwanis Club and Executive Director, Escondido Education COMPACT, Patricia Huerta.

Police Chief Jim Maher greets the crowd	Daniel Alcayde, from COMPACT's Careers Club, flanked from l-r, by Nick, Walsh, COMPACT, Joe Heard, Chief Jim Maherand Sgt. Dave Cramer, who headed up th epolice department part of the program	Sgt. Dave Cramer who spearheaded the bike programwithin the police department
Joe Heard, Escondido Kiwanis Club addresses the crowd	To the right, Kissel Contreras, from Bear Valley Middle School. She plans to ride the bike a lot in local parks. She is 11 years old; she had an old bike but the tires blew out. This newer used model will last her a long time she said.