The Pedaling Professor: Graduation Day

Friday, May 23, 2008

Graduation Day

You do remember that I'm the pedaling professor. Today is my favorite day of the academic year- Graduation! On Graduation Day, everybody is proud, happy, or just relieved that it's finally over. The faculty gets paid to sit in the sun and look scholarly, the grads get to bounce the beach ball around during the speeches, and the families get to crane their necks and cheer. The picture is of my friend George, giving his daughter Jen her diploma. Faculty giving diplomas to their children is a Rutgers tradition. The day that I gave Chris his diploma was my most memorable day at Rutgers. To many of you, the signing of the Alma Mater is one of those silly traditions. But Rutgers' Alma Mater is derived from a colonial drinking song. We all stand up and sing it at the end of the ceremony and then the academic year is over. Whew....

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About Elijah's Promise

I am riding to raise funds for Elijah's Promise, which began as a small soup kitchen and has since become a multi-service agency that moves people out of poverty. Elijah’s Promise is working to empower lives, invite justice and alleviate hunger. The organization offers a continuum of services leading to self-sufficiency. These programs include a soup kitchen which serves 300 to 400 meals daily, a meal program for HIV-infected clients, and a culinary school.

My goal is to raise $10 a mile, which comes to $38,000 and will fund 15,200 meals. Elijah's Promise is serving 14.% more meals this year than last year, so your support will help us go the extra mile to fight hunger!

To donate online: Go to the main Elijah's Promise page, and click on the "donate" link on the upper right side. Don't forget to type "bike ride" in the "purpose field." You may also download a paper donation form here.

About Me

Here I am, a dad, a professor, and now an athlete. Who’d have thunk it? The dad thing gives me the most joy. Chris (29), Rebecca (26), and Matt (19) have enriched my life by teaching me all sorts of things. Being a professor is a good gig. Rutgers has taught me a lot in 24 years, as Department Chair, Director of the Graduate Program, and as a teacher. My favorite classes are “The Science of Food,”and “Food Safety: Fads, Facts, and Politics.”

I try to remember the words of the Harvard theologian, Henri Nouwen: “When you die and stand before God, the question won’t be “How many papers have you published in peer review journals?” The question will be “What have you done for the least of your brothers.*" This ride is dedicated to the least of my brothers (and sisters). Riding a bike to feed the hungry, pretty neat idea if I do say so myself.