Group at the ARCC Cambridge gathered around the bike donated by Cambridge Target. The bike was raffled-off to raise funds for scholarships for part-time students. Pictured left to right are Mark Widell, faculty member and foundation board member; Bill Breen, faculty member and winner of the bike raffle; John Schlagel, foundation board member; Lynnette Brambrink, foundation executive assistant; Juanita Peterson, foundation board member; Howard Beane, biker; Bob Erickson, former trustee and biker; Bill Tschida, MnSCU vice chancellor; and Steve Engelter, Target executive team leader. The Cambridge Campus of Anoka-Ramsey Community College also celebrated the bike tour with an ice cream social that included students, staff, faculty and community members.

The chair of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Foundation, Erickson arrived at Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) Coon Rapids Campus at 8 a.m. on Aug. 22 to kick off his tour. He then biked 35 miles to the ARCC’s Cambridge Campus with two companions Bill Tschida, MnSCU Vice Chancellor of Human Resources and Dr. Howard Beane, a fellow bike riding enthusiast. During the trek, which is expected to take 30 days, Erickson will tour all 53 campuses in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. He is funding the trip at his own expense.

As a former trustee and chair of the finance and facilities committee of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System’s Board of Trustees, Erickson recognizes the financial hardships faced by many part-time students.

ARCC Students Christina Cornelius, Alison Atchison and Gary Steffenson publicly thanked Erickson for his efforts on behalf of part-time students. Each noted the extensive challenges faced by many non-traditional, part-time students and that these scholarships provide a financial resource that makes a real difference.

In the first three years of his bike tours, Erickson raised more than $228,000. To spur contributions, the state colleges and universities will participate in Erickson’s effort in various ways.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College has created a scholarship fund for its part-time students and raffles off two donated bicycles to raise scholarship funds.

Contributions, which are tax deductible as charitable contributions, may be made to: the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Foundation, the Cambridge Community College Foundation, or the system foundation. All donations raised in connection with Erickson’s ride will be applied to student scholarships.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 240,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 130,000 students in non-credit courses. About 43 percent of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities students are enrolled part-time. The average age of part-time students is 30.

To follow Erickson’s itinerary and progress, visit http://www.mnscu.edu/media/bikechallenge/index.html.