Letter of Support for the Rick Holt Award
My colleague was being nominated for the Rick Holt Award, which “recognizes a Mason faculty or staff member who is committed to utilizing, promoting, and advocating for the use of active transportation as part of their daily commute life.” I was asked to write a letter of support. Of course, I complied:
To The Rick Holt Active Transportation Advocate Committee,
I am so glad to hear that MK is being nominated for the George Mason University’s Rick Holt Active Transportation Advocate Award.
M has been biking to work for as long as I started working at the Law School in 2011. Rain or shine, hot or cold, she bikes to work almost everyday. She has made the commitment to not only stay strong and healthy, but also contribute to a greener environment.
Furthermore, M promotes active transportation to the Mason community by encouraging me to take advantage of the shuttle system Mason is providing for free. Even though I live right by Fairfax main campus, I commute to Arlington campus at least three days a week. For many years, I drove my car to work for the sake of convenience. A few years ago, I started to take the shuttle because M had encouraged me. If I needed my car to work so I could go to my doctor or dentist appointment, she would offer me her complementary parking pass. As my supervisor, M would also provide me the flexibility if I needed to take care of my personal matters.
Thanks to M’s support and advocacy, I have made the transition from using my own vehicle to using Mason’s transportation service. I get to walk for 12 minutes each way from my house to the shuttle stop on Fairfax campus and back. I get the opportunity to meet other riders and become friends. I also get a chance to read for 40 minutes or catch a quick nap during my commute.
With her commitment in using self-propelled biking to work and her role in promoting active transportation to the Mason community and beyond, M deserves to win the Rick Holt Active Transportation Advocate Award.
Sincerely yours,
Donny Truong
Great news: She has been chosen as the 2026 recipient of the Rick Holt Active Transportation Award. My letter did the job.