Trenton native Jesse Herrera plans to set off on a cross-country bike ride April 19.
He will leave the city with far more than adventure on his mind. Herrera will be giving back to his hometown by raising money for Mercer County Community College.
After graduating from Hamilton High School West, Herrera spent his freshman year at Mercer in 2005, playing baseball under Coach Clifford Harrison, the current dean of students at Ewing High School. He was following in the footsteps of his father, Robert, who played baseball at Mercer in the late 1960s.
But he has another compelling reason to ride for MCCC. Since returning to Hamilton after graduating from Arizona State University in 2009 to live with his father and grandfather, he has seen the shuttered buildings and neglected sections of the city.
Herrera believes that MCCC, especially its Trenton campus on North Broad Street, has a role to play in revitalizing the city through education. His campaign, “Herrera Across America/Miles for Mercer,” is intended to help MCCC develop and expand its educational programs in the city.
Herrera remembers his own Mercer experience in glowing terms. He recalls that playing on the Mercer baseball team “was like playing with a team of all-stars.”
“Going to Mercer really helped me get a solid foundation for the future. I had a great experience,” he said in a statement. Herrera transferred to Arizona State after freshman year and earned his bachelor’s degree in communications.
Herrera’s wide circle of friends already has his back, donating funds and gear to help him get properly equipped for the 3,300-mile journey, which he hopes to complete in two to three months. Several local bike shops are also supporting his efforts, including Knapps in Lawrenceville and Hart’s in Pennington.
Herrera will rely on social media to stay in touch with his supporters, posting his progress every day via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. His Twitter hashtag is #jhxctrip.
More information is online at mccc.edu/jesse.
