Bicycling to school was only one aspect of the day, which also included a senior hot dog cook-out on the school’s front lawn and bike races on Grant Street.
“This is something our senior class will remember years from now,” Holt said.
Holt, along with Jon Hueni, Kyle Hudson and Dan Schramm, planned the entire event.
“Other than getting permission, they did everything on their own,” said Ken Olson, BHS social studies teacher. “This is really a student-led and student-run initiative,” Olson said. “For four senior leaders to create a day where they’re getting the school involved and helping the environment, it’s a great testament to them as leaders and to the community for their support.”
In addition to planning and organizing the event, the young men worked with local businesses, who kindly donated more than $300 in gift cards. The cards were used as prizes in the bike races.
In the male division, the student relay team “Four Men and a Bike” beat out the staff team in the final round. Winning team members included Micah Kipfer, Joe Rallo, Hal Hackett and Ryan Dernay.
In the female division, the staff team — “Livin’ On a Prayer” — captured the championship. Team members included teachers Mischelle Browning, Patti Davis, Amber Reed and Beth Huppert.
The idea for the day came about from a joke made in John Kucela’s math class.
“Mr. Kucela rides his bike a lot. We joked that he and Kyle [Hudson] were going to have a bike race, then we kept adding things from there,” Holt said.
Kucela, an avid cyclist, said he rides his bike from his South Bend home to Bremen High School about once each year, usually on “Lion Olympics” day.
“It looks fun,” he said during the lunchtime event Friday. “It’s a good thing to get them to think about.”
A good time was indeed had by all, according to Hudson.
“I think everybody had a good time. Staff and students both had a really good time. Hopefully, it will become a lasting tradition.”