HONORSSELFDESIGNEDPROPOSAL

CompletethisproposalpriortoyourexperiencesstartdateanduploaditintheUHPDatabase
(https://webapps.uc.edu/uchonorsstudent).Createanexperience(Addanewrecord)intheTracking
Projecttabanduploadyourproposaldocumentasanattachment.Thedeadlineforsubmittingproposals
isthe5thofeachmonth(excludingJuly).

Proposalsareintendedtobewelldevelopedplansforyourexperience.However,experiencesare
exploratoryinnature,andweareflexiblewithchangesthroughouttheexperience.Ifyourexperience
changesafterreceivingapprovalonyourproposal,contactyourhonorsadvisortoverifythechangesstill
satisfytherequirementsofanhonorsexperience.

BasicInformation
FullName:NoraLakes

TitleofProject:BikeandBuild
ThematicArea(s):GlobalStudies,CommunityEngagement
ExpectedStartDate:December1,2016
ExpectedEndDate:July31,2017

1.
Abstract

Brieflydescribetheexperience.Whatmakesthisexperiencepersonallymeaningful?Whatgoalsdoyou
haveforthisexperience?Whatisyourtimelineforthisexperience?
*Ifyouareproposinganinternationalexperience,provideanitinerary.
**Ifyouaredevelopingthisexperiencefromanexistingopportunity(classwithastudytour,campus
organization,coop,etc.)thatisnotalreadyanhonorsseminarorpreapprovedexperience,howwillyou
differentiateyourexperiencefromwhatisalreadyrequiredofotherstudents?

Iamcurrentlyintheprocessofapplyingtoparticipateinacrosscountrycyclingtripwitha
nonprofitorganizationcalledBikeandBuild.BikeandBuildorganizescyclingtripsforandledby
youngadultstobenefitaffordablehousing.Currentlythereareeighttenweektripsfromtheeastcoastto
thewestcoast,andtwothreeweekregionaltripsoversmallerportionsofthecountry.Iamapplyingfor
oneofthetenweekcrosscountryridesthatoccursoverthesummer.
Thetripalternatesbetweenridedays,builddays,andrestdays.Duringridedays,youwakeup
earlyandbikeanywherefrom40to120milestogetfromyourcurrentdestinationtothenextplanned
destination.Riderscanstopandexploretheareaalongthewayaslongastheyareatthefinaldestination
bydinner.Duringbuilddays,youworkwithalocalaffordablehousingorganizationtobuildahomefor
someonewhocouldntotherwiseaffordit,oftenalongsidethefutureownersofthehouse.Duringoff

days,thereisnobikingorbuildingandyouhavetheopportunitytorelaxandexploretheportionof
Americayouarecurrentlyin.
IndividualsapplyforatripinearlyNovember,andareplacedonaparticulartrip,alongwith
severalleadersandaboutthirtyotheryoungadults,inlateNovember.Fromwhenmyspotisconfirmedin
Novemberuntilthestartofthetripinearlysummer,Iwillberesponsibleforfundraisingandtraining.For
thefundraisingportion,eachriderhastoraiseaminimumof$4500.Aportionofthismoneygoes
towardsbuyingabikeandthecostofthetrip,butthemajorityofthemoneyraisedgoestowards
affordablehousingorganizationsandtheworkwedoontheroad.Thismoneycandonatedbyfriendsand
familyorearnedasgrants.Asfarastraininggoes,Iwillneedtopreparephysicallytobeabletorideover
4,000milesinonesummer.Thiswillinvolvebikingatleastseveraldaysaweekandgoingforlongrides
ontheweekends.Inaddition,IllvolunteerwithalocalaffordablehousingorganizationsuchasHabitat
forHumanitytobecomefamiliarwiththeaffordablehousingcause.ThegeneraltimelineforBikeand
Buildlookssomethinglikethis:

November:applyfortrip,placementisconfirmed
DecemberApril:fundraise$4500,train,volunteer,buygear
MayAugust:bikeacrossthecountrywhilebuildingaffordablehousing

IstumbledacrossBikeandBuildalmostaccidentallythisprevioussummer.Ivealwayswanted
tobikeacrossthecountry,andIfiguredcollegewouldbeagreattimetoaccomplishthatgoal.While
googlingcrosscountrytrips,IfoundBikeandBuildandimmediatelyknewitwassomethingIwantedto
do.Ilikehowitturnssuchanamazingthingsuchasbikingacrossthecountryintoawaytogivebackto
peoplewhoreallyneedit.Theentireorganizationseemstohavealotoffun,andIknowIwillmake
lifelongfriendshipswiththepeopleonmytrip.Plus,IveheardthatyouhaventreallyseenAmerica
untilyouveseenitatthepaceofabike.
IfyouwanttolearnalittlebitmoreaboutBikeandBuild,thelinktotheirwebsiteis
https://bikeandbuild.organdtheirInstagramishttps://instagram.com/bikeandbuild/(Idefinitely
recommendcheckingthatout).

AdvisorFeedback
MustInclude:

Briefdescriptionofthe
experience

Personalconnectiontothe
experience

Identifiedgoalsfortheexperience

Timelinefromstarttofinish

RequiredRevisions:

Effective:

*Itinerary(international
experiencesonly)

**Explanationofdifferentiated
experiencefromwhatisrequired
ofotherstudents

2.
ExperienceAdvisor

Identifyanexperienceadvisorandprovidetheircontactinformation.Explainwhyyouchosethisperson
andhowyouplantoutilizeyouradvisorforthisexperience.
Note:Advisor(s)shouldhaveknowledgeorexpertiseinanarearelatedtotheexperience.Honors
advisors,undergraduatestudents,andfamilymemberscannotbeexperienceadvisors.

Dr.AnilMenon
ProfessorofMolecularGenetics,DirectorofUndergraduateMedicalSciences,UCCOM
anil.menon@uc.edu
(513)5585534

AlthoughthereisagoodchancesomeUCstudentshaveparticipatedinBikeandBuild,Ihavenotmet
anysoIchoseDr.AnilMenonasmyexperienceadvisor.Dr.Menonisthedirectorofmymajor,Medical
Sciences,andheisalwaysencouragingourcohorttogetourheadsoutofthebooksandreallyexperience
theworld.Iknowhewillbecompletelysupportiveofthisendeavorandhelpmeinanywaythathecan.
Healwayshasexcellentwisdomtooffer,soImsurehewillhavewisdomthatwillapplytobiking
crosscountry.IplantoutilizehimprimarilyinhelpingmebalancemycommitmentsasaMedical
Sciencesstudentwiththelargeamountoftimeitwilltaketoprepareforthistrip.

AdvisorFeedback
MustInclude:

Experienceadvisornameand
contactinformation

Descriptionofwhyadvisorwas
selected

Specificplanstoengagewith
advisor

RequiredRevisions:

Effective:

3.
ConnectiontoLearningOutcomes

List3learningoutcomesfromanythematicarea(s).Providespecificactivitiesyouplantoengageinto
helpyoumakeprogresstowardsthechosenlearningoutcomes.Describehowyouexpecteachactivityto
helpyourprogress.Includeanestimatedtimecommitmentforthoseactivities.

1. Identifyanddifferentiatemultiplewaystocontributetowardsthedevelopmentorachievementof
thecommunitysgoals
ThroughmyinvolvementwithBikeandBuild,Iwillbeexploringdifferentwaystocontributetothe
affordablehousingcause.Examplesincludeadvocacy,donations,andphysicallycontributingtothecause
throughbuildinghouses.Illbeadvocatingforaffordablehousingwhenfundraising,andwhenpeopleon
theroadaskWhatareyoudoing?,Icanexplainwhatwearecyclingforandwaystheycanhelp.Illbe
makingaphysicalcontributiontothecauseduringBuildDays,whenIgettoworkwithmygrouptobuild
ahouseforsomeonewhootherwisecouldnthaveaffordedit.Therearedifferentwaystoreachthea
singlegoal,andIwillbetakingpartinafewofthempertainingtotheaffordablehousingcause.

2. Demonstrateanunderstandingofculturaldiversitybyacknowledgingtheimpactoftheirown
identityandtheexperienceofsocialnorms,customs,orbeliefsthataredifferentfromtheirown
CyclingacrossthecountrywithBikeandBuildwillallowmetoseeawidevarietyoflandscapesand
peoplewhomakeuptheUnitedStateswithinthespanofafewmonths.Ihavebeentootherpartsof
America,butinmostplacesIwaslargelyatouristanddidntgettoseethequirksthattrulymakethat
areaunique.WhileontheroadwithBikeandBuild,Iwillmakesuretostopatthetinyicecreamshops
andmomandpopgrocerystoresalongtheroadthatreallyrepresentatregionscharacter.Iwilldevelop
relationshipswithpeoplemyagefromallacrossAmerica,exposingmecustomsandbeliefsdifferentthan
theCincinnatibubbleIvegrownupinmyentirelife.

3. Summarizetheinterconnectednessofgeography,history,culturaltraitsandworldissues
Thepreviouslearningoutcometiesinwiththisoneverywell.AsImeetnewpeopleandexperience
differentregions,Iwillbegintounderstandhowpeoplesbeliefstieinwiththeirenvironment.Personal
beliefsarelargelyinfluencedbytheenvironmentapersonisexposedto.Iwillbeabletoexperiencemany
areasofAmericaduringthissummer,fromNewEngland,totheMidwest,tothesouthernstates,and
finallyendingonthewestcoast.Itwillbeinterestingtoexplorehowthegeographyandissuesineach
regioncontributetothebeliefsofthepeopleImeetalongtheway.

AdvisorFeedback
MustInclude:

3learningoutcomesexplicitly
identifiedfromanythematic
area(s)

RequiredRevisions:

Effective:

Examplesofactivitiesand
explanationofhoweachwill
assisttheprogresstowardsthe
chosenlearningoutcome

Estimatedtimecommitmentfor
eachactivity

4.
AcademicResourcesConnectedtotheLearningOutcomes

List12academicresourcesyouplantousetoenhanceyourunderstandingofthelearningoutcomes.
Explainhoweachresourceconnectstoyourlearningoutcome(s)andhelpsyouexecuteyourexperience.
Pleaseincludethetitleandauthor/creatorforeachresource.
Note:Academicresourcesareprofessionalworksthatcanbeusedtoassistyourunderstandingofthe
topic.Someexamplesarebooks,documentaries,videos,orresearchjournals.

Inthemonthsleadinguptomytrip,Iplantodosomereadingtoexplorewhatbikingacrossthe
countryislikeandtogainasenseofthecharacterofvariouspartsofAmerica.
ThefirstbookIplanonreadingisBikingAcrossAmerica:MyCoasttoCoastAdventureandthe
PeopleIMetAlongtheWay,byPaulStutzman.Itdetailstheterrainsandareasheencounteredduringhis
5,000milebikeridefromWashingtontoFlorida,alongwiththepeoplehemetwhorepresentthe
challengesandtriumphsoftheentirecountryThisbooktiesinverywellwithmysecondandthird
learningoutcomes,whereIwillseektoexplorehowdifferentpartsofAmericacontributetothebeliefsof
peoplelivingthere.
Ialsoplantoreadabookandsomecurrentresearchabouttheaffordablehousingproblem,butI
amhavingtroublefindingspecificresources.Iwillreachouttoafacultymemberwithaninterestin
affordablehousingforsuggestions.

AdvisorFeedback
MustInclude:

12academicresources
connectedtothelearning
outcomes

Titleandauthorofeachresource

Descriptionofhowresourceswill
helpmakeprogresstowards
learningoutcomesandexecution
ofexperience

RequiredRevisions:

Effective:


5.
OngoingReflection

Theongoingreflectionshouldhelpyouprocesstheexperienceandprogresstowardyourchosen
learningoutcomes.Describeyourmethodforreflectingthroughouttheexperience.Indicatespecific
reflectionquestions/topicsyouplantousetoguideyourreflectiveprocess.
Note:Avarietyofmethodscanbeusedforongoingreflection.Someexamplesarevideos,drawings,
blogs,songs,andjournals.Reflectiontopicstoconsiderincludeyourideas/insightsabouttheexperience,
connectiontootherareasofinvolvement,andyourprogresstowardsthelearningoutcomes.

TheprimarymodeofreflectionIwillusethroughoutmyentireexperiencewithBikeandBuildis
ablog,probablythroughWeebly.Attheendoftheday,afteranybikingorbuildingorexploringhasbeen
done,Iwilltake1020minuteseachnighttomakeablogpostincludingwhathappenedthatday,
pictures,andthingsIlearned.Iwillalsomaketheoccasionalblogpostthroughoutthewinterandspring
asItrain,fundraise,andpreparetobikeacrossthecountry.Iwilllinktheblogtomyhonorswebsiteand
sharethelinkwithfriends,family,andanydonorswhomadethetrippossible.Thiswillallowmeto
reflectoneachdaywhilekeepingpeopleinmylifeupdatedontheBikeandBuildadventure.
SomequestionsIplantoreflectoninmybloginclude:
1. WhathaveyoulearnedaboutthisportionofAmerica?
2. Whatfactorsleadtothepeoplereceivingthehousebeingunabletoafforddecenthousing?
3. Whathaveyoulearnedaboutyourself?
4. Whatarethreethingsyouaregratefulfortoday?
IalsoplanonusingInstagramtopostpicturesofthingsIexperiencewhileontheroadwithBike
andBuild.Iwillpost12picturesperdayonmypersonalInstagramduringthesummer,andusethe
captionspacetoreflectonthatmomentwithahopefullywittycaption.Thiswillallowmetosharemore
abouttheaffordablehousingcausewithmyfriends.BikeandBuildsInstagramisactuallyacompilation
ofpostsfrompastriders,andtheyareInstagramgoals.Ifyouhaventcheckeditoutyet,Iseriously
recommendyoudoitnowathttps://instagram.com/bikeandbuild/.

AdvisorFeedback
MustInclude:

Methodforongoingreflection

Reflectionquestions/topicsclearly
specified

RequiredRevisions:

Effective:

6.
SharingYourLearning

Describehowyouplantoactivelysharewhatyouvetakenawayfromthisexperiencewithatargeted
audience.Explainwhyyouchosethisspecificaudience.
Note:Whilesocialmediacanbeaneffectiveplatformforsharing,onlypostingonyourpersonallearning
portfolioorsocialmediaaccount(s)doesnotreachatargetedaudience.

ThereareseveralorganizationsatUCwhichIfeelwouldbeveryinterestinginhearingaboutmy
experiencewithBikeandBuild.ThefirstobviouschoiceisCyclingClub,sincemembersenjoyriding
longdistances.ThesecondorganizationisUCschapterofHabitatforHumanity,whichgathersonthe
weekendsandbuildshousesforlocalpeoplewhocantafforddecenthousing.Afterreturningfromthe
trip,IwillcontactthosetwoorganizationsandaskiftheydlikemetogiveapresentationofBikeand
Buildandmyexperiences.ThiswillbeagreatwaytoraiseawarenessfortheamazingworkBikeand
Builddoesandmaybeevenencourageafewpeopletopartakeintheirownadventure.

AdvisorFeedback
MustInclude:

Atleastonemethodtoactively
sharetakeaways/learningfrom
theexperience

Aspecificaudienceandwhythe
audiencewasselected

RequiredRevisions:

Effective:

7.
Budget(ifapplicable)

Provideanitemizedbudgetandindicateyoursourceforcostinformation.
*Ifyouareengagedinanunpaidinternshiporresearch,pleaseindicatethenumberofweeksandhours
perweekyouplantoparticipate.

$200applicationfee(paysforThermarest,bikingjersey,andotherequipment)
$4500fundraisingminimum,majorityisdonatedtotheaffordablehousingcause
$650pretripcyclinggear(estimatefromwebsitebasedonpastriders)
$200bikemaintenance(estimatefrompastriders)
$500spendingmoneyforontheroad($50dollars/week,estimatefrompastriders)
$350airfare(estimatedbasedonstartingandendpointsofCentralUSroute)
$70costtoshipbiketostartingpointandbacktoCincinnati(estimatefromresearch)
Total:$6470,$1970ofwhichisnonfundraisedexpenses


AdvisorFeedback
Notes:

RequiredRevisions:

Detailedbudgetofexpenditures
withsourcestojustifybudget
estimates

*Indicatesthenumberofhours
perweekandnumberofweeksof
participation

Effective: