BAR HARBOR – Two men are cycling across the country to raise money for the Jerry Ellis Scholarship Fund. Currently in Minnesota, they hope to end their journey at the Maine shore.
Jerry Ellis, a Phillips-born, 1960 graduate of the former Phillips High School (now Mt. Abram High School) and former director the University of Maine College Success Programs, embarked on the 4,300 mile-long trip from coast to coast. Ellis and John Hwalek, an associate professor of chemical engineering at the University of Maine, began at Alexander Beach, which is north of Seattle, Wash., on June 17 and intend to complete the trek by dipping their bicycles into the Atlantic Ocean at Sand Beach in Acadia National Park.
Why? To raise $20,000 for the scholarship fund to assist people in attending UM schools. The Jerry Ellis fund was established by the University of Maine Foundation in honor of Ellis, who served the system for 33 years in the Onward Program, which helps students in need of financial assistance.
“My goal for this summer is to grow the scholarship fund to $20,000. At this level, the Foundation allows the withdrawal of funds for scholarships,” Ellis said. “All gifts will be there forever, as this is an endowed fund. So low-income and first generation students at UMaine will benefit from the interest forever.”
At the time this article was written, Ellis and Hwalek were riding along side along the Mississippi River. You can follow along here.
“The route today followed closely along the Mississippi River,” the entry reads, going on to relate that the riders “are at mile 2448.”
To date, Ellis has $12,000 of the $20,000 he is trying to raise. Anyone who would like to help him reach his goal is encouraged to look on his web site.
