An Oklahoma State University student bicycling from Stillwater to Alaska is at the University of Wyoming through Sunday, May 30, to raise awareness for the National Student Exchange program.
Citing a desire to inspire others to create their own adventures, Curtis Moss is on a 3,970-mile solo bicycle trip to Anchorage, Alaska. The OSU geography junior left Stillwater May 15 and hopes to reach his destination in August. Moss plans to use the trip to bring attention to the NSE by stopping at several of the partner institutions along the way, including UW.
UW is among more than 200 members of the National Student Exchange, a not-for-profit education consortium that provides affordable opportunities for students enrolled at member campuses to study and live in a new location.
Moss plans to camp overnight at Curt Gowdy State Park Thursday and arrive at UW Friday afternoon. He will stay in one of UW's residence halls Friday and Saturday before leaving Sunday morning for his next stop at Montana State University in Bozeman.
During his trip, Moss will have visited other NSE partner institution schools, such as Wichita State University; University of Nebraska, Kearney, University of Montana in Missoula, and finally the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
He hopes to raise funds that will help other college students study abroad.
The 23-year-old Moss joined the National Guard while still in high school. After a semester at Oklahoma State University, he was deployed to Iraq for two years, returning to OSU to continue his studies. He developed a love for cycling when he purchased his bicycle a year ago and began testing himself on extended trips.
Having traveled extensively with his grandparents as a child, he wanted to do something different and challenging that combined his cycling interests with a desire to see the country.
On his current adventure, Moss carries about 35 pounds of supplies and camping equipment. He plans to stop along the way to purchase whatever food he needs, do his laundry, and clean up. Moss' travel vest holds a camera, cell phone and GPS tracking device. His Facebook page, "Summer2010: Ride to the Midnight Sun" links to his Web site to track his travels.
After graduation, Moss hopes to travel more and learn new languages. He is considering OSU's international graduate program that combines an M.S. degree in international studies with two years of Peace Corps service abroad.
For more information about his UW visit, call Jill Johnson, UW International Students and Scholars office, at (307) 766-5193.
