Born and raised in Texas, I spent 18 years in the DFW area before heading to the University of Texas at Austin. I'll be graduating in May with a B.A. in Plan II Honors and Philosophy. I've been cycling and riding mountain bikes for about 5 years, and raced with the UT Cycling team my freshman and sophomore years. I've been playing ice hockey for UT since then.

I'm currently employed as a Certificated Flight Instructor with about 500 hours of flight time. Upon returning from Alaska I'll be putting in applications at the airlines and the Air Force.

I ride in memory of my loving Grandmother, June Ackerman, in memory of a great friend and mentor, Dennis Windmuller, and in support of my Grandmother, Sally Casey (though I am fully confident that I will soon ride in celebration of Grandma Casey beating breast cancer).