Every July, as the Iowa sun rises hot and relentless over rolling cornfields, a small group of riders hop onto their bikes with one purpose in mind: to make Upper Iowa University an even better place for students. We call ourselves Team Peacock.

And this year, we ride for the people who start their day long before the first student walks into class. The Heartbeat of Campus. Long before the first light shines through the windows of Fayette Hall, the Facilities team is already at work. At 5 a.m., maintenance staff unlock buildings and check temperatures. At 4 a.m. during a snowstorm, grounds crews are clearing sidewalks so students can safely make it to class. Custodial teams prepare classrooms and residence halls.

Twenty-seven dedicated employees care for 141 acres, 29 buildings, and more than 674,000 square feet of space. They are the quiet force behind warm classrooms in January, safe sidewalks in February, and pristine lawns in May. They are the reason generations of alumni remember UIU as welcoming, beautiful, and safe. Most of their work happens before you ever notice it needed to be done.

Why We Ride

This year, we’re raising funds for something that might not sound glamorous, but will make a powerful difference:

A ProPress tool for copper pipe repairs.

Right now, many plumbing repairs require a torch. That means:

Fire watches must be assigned - Fire alarms may need to be disabled - Safety risks increase - Time and labor costs grow

With a ProPress system from Milwaukee, repairs can be completed safely without a torch. The $2,400 M12 Force Logic Press Tool is the lightest press tool on the market today and represents a new level of portability and accessibility around installed pipe.

No flames. No shutting down alarms. No added fire risk. Just faster, safer, more efficient repairs that keep students safe and buildings fully operational. It’s not flashy. But it protects every student who lives, learns, and grows on campus.

Sweat Equity for Student Success

Bicycling across the great state of Iowa in July is no easy task. The miles are long. The heat is real. The headwinds are relentless, but every mile reminds us why we ride. We ride for the student studying late in a well-lit residence hall. We ride for the professor teaching in a classroom that’s warm in winter and cool in August. We ride for the alumni who still picture the Fayette campus exactly as they left it.

Daryl, Director of Annual Giving and an original member of Team Peacock, has poured years of sweat and heart into this ride. But this effort is bigger than one rider. It’s bigger than one department. It’s about pride. It’s about protecting the place we all love.

Your Gift Powers the Pedals. When you give, you are not just buying a tool. You are supporting the people who protect our campus every single day. Investing in student safety and ensuring efficient, modern infrastructure no gift is too small. Every dollar moves us closer to our goal and every mile we pedal carries your generosity forward.

Please consider helping Team Peacock reach our goal this year. Together, we can equip Facilities with the tools they need to serve students safely and efficiently.

Cheers—and Go Peacocks! 🦚