YAKIMA, Wash. -- In exchange for spending a full academic year without a car, four freshmen at Central Washington University are receiving free bikes.

The recipients are Korista Minney of Bellevue, Troy Kilburn of Everett and Holly Howton of Port Ludlow, who competed in the Cycling is Central Challenge.

A fourth winner will be announced in late September and will receive a bike donated by Bicylefix.net.

The first three students will receive a Hardrock mountain bike with a rack, fender, helmet and lock valued at $700 in late September.

The bikes were purchased with private contributions from CWU employees and supporters of the program. Details of the fourth bike are pending.

All students must sign a written pledge before collecting their prize.

Central launched the program a year ago as a way to encourage incoming freshmen to care about the environment. Applicants wrote essays addressing the benefits of using nonmotorized transportation.

For more information about the bike challenge, contact Chris Frankenfield at rankenc@cwu.edu or go to http://www.cwu.edu/~relation/freshman/email_blast/cycling_is_central.html.

-- Erin Snelgrove

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