Team Peacock bus to join RAGBRAI to raise scholarships for Upper Iowa University
Some of the members of the Upper Iowa University Team Peacock welcome the renovated school bus that will accompany the team to provide support during its sixth consecutive RAGBRAI participation to raise scholarship funds. At the door of the bus, from left, are UIU President Alan G. Walker; Pete the Peacock; Carol Langerman-Aten, mailroom coordinator; Sheila Miller, director of editorial services;(front row) Kit Klepinger, coordinator for international education; Tim Turnbull, admissions coordinator, Center for Distance Education; Tim Wolff; Adriel Hilton, executive assistant to the president; (second row) Holly Wolff, events coordinator; (third row) Chris Sanders, executive director of international programs; Joe Moses, development officer; Bill Duffy, senior vice president for academic extension; Tricia Pugh, facilities management and services assistant; (back row) Holly Johnson, director of alumni and development; Brent Kuker, recreation center director; Gina Kuker, assistant professor of education; Andrew Pugh, groundskeeper; (in the windows) Jackson Hayek, production services director/events coordinator; and Daryl Grove, executive director of student leadership and adventure .
FAYETTE, Iowa (June 25, 2010)—Upper Iowa University Team Peacock has a new member – a renovated school bus -- that will roll out with Team Peacock as it rides in its sixth consecutive RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) to raise money for UIU student scholarships this July.
The Team Peacock bus has been outfitted to provide team support. Some of the seats have been removed to accommodate the team’s luggage and tents, and the bus will carry a bicycle rack for all 35 bikes. The bus sports the Team Peacock “colors” after being wrapped by Iowa Vehicle Wraps of Des Moines.
Team Peacock, which began with just seven riders in 2005, is now comprised of 35 UIU staff, faculty, students, and alumni, as well as about 15 members of the “Blue Crew” that supports the RAGBRAI riders. The team is led each year by UIU President Alan G. Walker, who bicycles the entire RAGBRAI route.
The team’s fundraising goal in 2010 is to raise the cumulative six-year total to $500,000. In its six years of participating in RAGBRAI, the UIU Team Peacock has raised almost $350,000 through pledges and sponsorship from individual and corporations. Every dollar contributed goes toward UIU student scholarships. Reaching the $500,000 goal this year will bring the team halfway to its longer term goal of raising $1 million to fund scholarships.
“Team Peacock is a very visible sign of our commitment to Upper Iowa University students and to helping them to achieve their educational goals,” said Dr. Walker. “In these difficult financial times, nearly all of our students will need additional financial assistance to complete their college degree. We are pleased to dedicate the week of riding in RAGBRAI to raising money to support our students. Our participation in the event grows each year, to the point we have had to add a waiting list of riders. We welcome everyone to come out and support Team Peacock and our students.”
As in previous years, UIU alums, who live in the RAGBRAI overnight towns, will open their yards and homes to team members each night.
Regular updates about the progress of Team Peacock will be posted online at www.uiu.edu. Or follow the team blog (http://upperiowauniversityblogs.org/ragbraiprep2010/), or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/teampeacock). President Walker will also post updates on Twitter and welcomes followers at http://twitter.com/uiuteampeacock, hashtag #teampeacock.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to over 6,600 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.