Academy Outdoors surprises Mendez students with bikes

Thirty students at Mendez Elementary received a surprise Wednesday just in time for the holidays with Academy Sports + Outdoors’ gift of bicycles and helmets for each of them. Above, kindergartner Anthony Stansbury Jr. peaks out through the handlebars of his new bike with a smile. The gifting was part of an annual holiday bike donation program to reward children for academic performance, perfect attendance and good behavior. Daily Record photos by Denise Cathey

Kindergartner Lacey Dickerson poses for a quick photo on her new bicycle.

Kindergartner Dayana Hernandez Cartagena hugs her new bike.

Too excited to wait until he got home, first-grader Abraham Ortega takes a quick ride on his bicycle around the gym with a steadying hand from his step-father Ayoub Zriouil.

Kindergartner Cara Ferrer (center) poses for a photo with her bike accompanied by her father John, Assistant Principal Liz Salinas-Rodriguez, Principal Karen McGowan, mother Alexandria and Academy Sports + Outdoors representative Tracy Haynes.