UIU Team Peacock reaches 7-year $1-million goal for scholarships
Upper Iowa University President Alan G. Walker has announced that Team Peacock has reached the $1 million fund-raising goal for the seven-year total for the Team’s scholarship fund drive. Walker is shown here during RAGBRAI in 2010.
FAYETTE, Iowa (July 22, 2011) -- Upper Iowa University Team Peacock has reached this year’s goal for raising money for student scholarships, hitting the $1 million mark before it even leaves Fayette to ride the first mile of RAGBRAI XXXIX.
UIU President Alan G. Walker announced Friday, July 22, that Team Peacock has raised a cumulative total of $1,000,000 for UIU scholarships during its seven years of participation in RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). Every dollar raised by Team Peacock supports scholarships for UIU students.
"I am pleased to announce that we have hit the million-dollar mark. We could not have reached this goal without the generosity of Board members, alumni, faculty, staff, corporate sponsors, and other friends of the University," Walker said. "Last September, when I issued the challenge to reach this goal in 2011, I knew it was ambitious. However, I had every confidence that we would reach the mark, especially with the lead gift of $300,000 given by ARAMARK, our dining services partner in Fayette."
Team Peacock, which began with just seven riders in 2005, is now comprised of 35 UIU faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University, as well as members of the "Blue Crew" who support the RAGBRAI riders. The team is led each year by Walker, who bicycles the entire RAGBRAI route.
Walker added that although the million-dollar goal has been reached, the University will continue to make every effort to raise additional funds to help students graduate with the least debt possible. "We don’t officially close out the Team Peacock fund-raising year until October 31, and we will continue to push for donations through that date and then set another fund-raising goal for 2012," Walker added. "Every year, we raise the bar a little more; and every year, we have met the challenge to help our students get a great education and graduate with less debt. Because of fundraising initiatives in support of scholarships, UIU students on average graduate with less debt than many of their contemporaries at other four-year institutions in Iowa. That’s important to their future, to Iowa, and to the country. Our effort to help our students afford an education is a commitment that really never ends."
Wendell Snodgrass, vice president for advancement, development and alumni relations, said meeting the goal was a combined effort by the Board of Trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, corporate sponsors,Team Peacock members, and UIU friends.
"Every group of donors rallied to the challenge," Snodgrass added. "Each group knows how important it is to help our students – especially in these difficult financial times -- and they dug a little deeper to give this year. On behalf of all UIU students, we thank them for their support."
"Unrestricted dollars like the Team Peacock challenge are an important part of our overall ‘$25 Million Transforming UIU’ capital campaign. Reaching such a milestone gets us closer to our overall capital campaign goal," Snodgrass added.
Corporate sponsors of Team Peacock in 2011 include:
- ARAMARK
- The Samuels Group
- Perry Novak Electric
- Scott Pharmacy
- Unicco
- Ball, Kirk & Holm, PC
- CIPCO
- Derck & Edson Associates
- First National Bank
- Kerns Company
- ME&V
- Palmer Lutheran Health Center
- Pratt Audio-Visual & Video Corp.
- UGL Services
- Carney, Alexander, Marold & Co.
- Compass Business Solutions
- Millihiser Smith Agency
- Service Consulting Inc.
- Spillman Farmer Architects
- Van Meter Industrial
"Team Peacock is much more than just our riders," Walker added. "We have support on campus throughout the year as well as during the week, and we have a dedicated support crew who comes with the Team to make sure we get what we need to complete the ride safely. We also are grateful to the alumni who support us along the route and who visit the UIU booth in the mid-day and overnight towns, and to the alumni and friends who open their homes and yards to provide us with a place to sleep and recuperate each night.”"For more information about Team Peacock, to make a donation to UIU scholarships, or to follow this year’s RAGBRAI participation, go to www.uiu.edu/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 nearly 6,800 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.