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Derek Torres, of Sandyston, Will Participate in Cross-Country Bike Trek To Raise Funds and Promote Awareness of Individuals with Disabilities

Derek Torres, of Sandyston, president of the Beta Alpha chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), is currently training for a 4,000-mile, cross-country bike-a-thon to raise funds and promote awareness of individuals with disabilities. Torres, who is pursuing an architecture degree at NJIT, will join 100 Pi Kappa Phi brothers who will be traveling to California in May 2014 to participate in Journey of Hope, which will begin in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle and end with all teams in Washington, DC.

“If this wasn’t incredible enough, they will be stopping along the way to visit different clinics and interact with people with disabilities and help out along the way,” said Thea Zunick, assistant director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at NJIT. “As an advisor, I cannot be more proud of the journey they are about to embark on and am committed to helping them reach their goal.” 

Torres is participating in Journey of Hope through PUSH America, the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi.  Push America was founded in 1977 with the purpose of instilling lifelong service in its members and enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities. To date, Push America has raised over $15 million to benefit people with disabilities and organizations dedicated to their service. The Journey of Hope 2014 fundraising goal is $650,000; Torres’ individual goal is to raise $7,500.

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For Torres, Journey of Hope represents the pursuit of a dream to prove not only to himself, but to the world that nothing is impossible.  

“When I was just a little boy, I was diagnosed with autism and was told that I would never have a normal life,” he said. “Twenty-one years and I am still going strong and proudly representing Beta Alpha at New Jersey Institute of Technology.”

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To learn more about the Journey of Hope fundraising campaign, click here.   

NJIT, New Jersey’s science and technology university, enrolls approximately 10,000 students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 127 programs. The university consists of six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, College of Computing Sciences and Albert Dorman Honors College. U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 Annual Guide to America’s Best Colleges ranked NJIT in the top tier of national research universities. NJIT is internationally recognized for being at the edge in knowledge in architecture, applied mathematics, wireless communications and networking, solar physics, advanced engineered particulate materials, nanotechnology, neural engineering and e-learning. Many courses and certificate programs, as well as graduate degrees, are available online through the Division of Continuing Professional Education.

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