Odenton Fourth Grader Collects Bikes, Wins Scholarship

Ali Ibrahim recently realized that he had too many bicycles on his hands. 

But he knew there were people in other parts of the world whose lives would be changed if they had one. 

The fourth grader at Odenton Elementary School decided to collect more bicycles with the intent to ship and donate them to young people in the African nation of Uganda. 

Then he wrote about the experience in an essay, and ended up winning a $1,000 college scholarship. Ali was named a Carson Scholar, which goes to children in grades 4-11 who show good academics and a willingness to serve. The scholarship was founded by noted neurosurgeon Ben Carson. 

To win the scholarship, applicants had to write an essay on the question, "What sets you apart from others?" For Ali, the answer to the question was easy.

"If you help other people, you will not only feel better, but it will help you in almost everything you do," Ali said. 

The motivation to help those in Africa came in part from his parents. His mother is from South Sudan, and his father, a native of Uganda, told him stories of growing up in Africa. He also learned more from the book Ryan and Jimmy: And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together.

"The book talked about how kids had to go long distances just to get water," Ali said. "We thought it would be nice if they had bikes to they could go faster."

Ali has collected about 20 bicycles so far, and would like to collect as many as 50. He's also collecting wheelchairs and hopes to collect enough items to fill a large shipping container. 

"We have never known anybody at the elementary level who's been a Carson Scholar," said Jennifer Ruef, the guidance counselor at Odenton Elementary. "It was unbelievable."

Ali is an A student who said he likes mathematics and enjoys reading in his spare time. And of course, he also likes to ride his bike. 

Now he's armed with $1,000 to be set aside for college, and already has an idea of where he wants to go: Harvard. 

"If I didn't read or pay attention in school, I wouldn't have done this and wouldn't have become a Carson Scholar," he said.

To learn how to donate bicycles, email ileregi@yahoo.com.