Nicholas Monaghan ('25, mechanical engineering) is on the TransAmerica team of 31 Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members who cycled more than 100 miles on the first day of Journey of Hope, an annual cross-country challenge raising awareness for people with disabilities. The journey covers more than 4,400 miles and is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 9 in Washington, D.C.

"I grew up with a cousin that had a disability,” Monaghan says. “He had Down's syndrome and witnessing how wonderful his life was and how his life impacted myself really made me passionate about continuing to meet people with disabilities and travel across the country, ultimately meeting as many people with disabilities and learning about how they live their lives as I possibly could.”  

This story was originally broadcast by NBC Right Now (KNDO-TV Yakima) on June 5, 2025.