Austin students ride motorcycles for good grades

Off the Wire News
CUT AND SHOOT – They may not be the image portrayed in Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild,” but they are exactly what their teachers and parents are striving for.

Nearly 300 Austin Elementary first- through fourth-graders climbed aboard motorcycles Friday for the annual Excel to Ride, sponsored by the Cut-N-Shoot Harley Owners Group.
“They get to ride based on high academics, overall improvement in academics, high attendance and citizenship,” Assistant Principal Linda Kight said.
One at a time, all 291 eligible students took their turn on a motorcycle ride around the school parking lot. Only first- through fourth-graders are eligible.
It was the first time for first-grader Angel Schave, 7.
“I ride with my grandpa and I’m so excited because I get to ride with someone else,” she said as she waited for her turn. “I did this because I came to school every day, never missed one or two (days).”
It was also the first time for fourth-grader Jonathan Trice, 10.
“I like that I actually get to experience riding a motorcycle,” he said about the motivation for improving his grades to be eligible.
For fourth-grader Cristal Ramirez, 10, it was her sixth time on a motorcycle through Excel to Ride.
“I like riding on motorcycles, and it’s going to be my last time because I’m going to a different school next year,” she said. “You have to get good grades or be improving to do this.”
Cut-N-Shoot HOG had 62 bikes at the event.
“We really wanted to do something that gave them a reason to want to read, to want to learn,” said Cindy Hinkle, Cut-N-Shoot HOG Excel to Ride coordinator. “This is the event all the members look forward to. You can always expect a great turnout.”
The students are just as excited.
“They look forward to it, especially if they have siblings who did it before,” Kight said.
Even the community comes out to cheer on the riders.
HOG members provide bandanas for each rider to wear along with a picture of each rider sitting on the motorcycle with their biker.
“These kids that ride, (the bikers) don’t just put them on the bike,” Hinkle said. “They talk to them and build relationships. Some of the kids come back with their picture and ask us to sign it.”
For the last 10 years, the Cut-N-Shoot HOG has partnered with the school.
“The Cut-N-Shoot HOG plays a big role,” Kight said. “They visit in the fall and read with our students to kick it off.”
To learn more about the Conroe Independent School District, visit www.conroeisd.net.

To learn More about the Cut-N-Shoot Harley Owners Groups, visit www.cutnshoothog.org.
Kassia Micek can be reached at kmicek@hcnonline.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Original article...
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