Hey! My name is Brian Nahas and I am 21 years old. I am currently a junior at Penn State University, majoring in Architectural Engineering. I am in my third of five years, electing the concentration of Construction Management at the conclusion of this semester. I plan on continuing my education at PSU for an additional semester after graduation (MAY 2012) in order to obtain my Masters degree. Keeping all this in mind, Bike and Build is a perfect fit for this summer, allowing me to experience an aspect of my major which cannot effectively be taught in the classroom.
My college experience has been centered on my academics, along with my involvement with the Penn State Crew Team. I am currently in my third year as a coxswain, and I am also the travel coordinator for the team. I recently began cycling as a mean to keep in shape during the off-season and have become captivated by this sport. Although Bike and Build will be a large step out of my comfort zone, I feel prepared to take on this ride with the support of my family and friends in the coming months of training.
Travis Hall, and alumni of B&B, told me about Bike and Build. He recently became a coach for our team, and has shared his experiences with all of us, and inspired me to take on this challenge. From the minute he mentioned his involvement with the trip, I wanted to know how to apply and become a rider.
After my freshman year of college, I attended a mission trip to St. Lucia. This group was composed of high school alumni who participated in a service project, based out of Philadelphia, called Sarnelli House. During our week stay in St. Lucia, we worked on houses which had structural damage caused by recent hurricanes which passed though the Caribbean. Projects varied from wall additions, to reroofing, to cleaning up a yard or as simple as a fresh coat of paint. After seeing the harsh living conditions, and the amount of happiness we were able to provide in such a short visit, I can’t even begin to imagine the impact and entire summer will have on others. I believe that anyone who is a hardworking individual, who provides as much as they can for their family, deserves the opportunity to afford safe housing. I am honored to be riding for the affordable housing cause.
Last summer I biked 560.8 miles between Atlantic City and Cape May, New Jersey. This summer I’m projected to exceed 4000 miles between the East Coast and the West Coast. Words can’t describe the excitement that I feel when I realized what I am setting out to do. I can’t even begin to thank all of my family and friends, the Bike and Build community, and my team members on the ride for the support, the memories, and the experience. I cannot wait to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean after this awesome journey.
