For 11 years the Riverland Community College Bikers Of Student Success (BOSS) Ride has raised money for student scholarships by doing what bikers enjoy: Taking a day’s worth of time on two wheels.

“It’s a good cause and a lot of fun,” said Rocky Schammel, a rider from Rose Creek who has been on a majority of the rides. “You meet people you don’t see that much.”

At $25 a biker, 36 bikes and 56 participants combined to raise $3,400. The money goes to fund scholarships at each of the three RCC campuses in Austin, Albert Lea and Owatonna. The scholarships are worth $500 at each campus.

The popularity for the ride has remained consistent over the years, though co-organizer Ron Wangen said the BOSS community was hoping for more bikers this year to raise even more money used to help students gain a college education.

“It stays about the same, between 50-70 riders, but this year we’re kind of hoping for 100,” Wangen said.

The efforts behind the ride strike a chord with those taking part.

“I remember what it was like,” Schammel said with a laugh.

In the past the ride would take riders to the scenic area along the southeastern border of Minnesota, but this year the ride took bikers south on a long loop through the open fields of Iowa.

But as it is with most bikers, a ride is a ride no matter where it is, which makes it pretty easy to ride for a goal like that which BOSS offers.

“It’s pretty neat,” said RJ Bergstrom, another rider who has taken part in most of the BOSS rides. “When you get a ‘thank-you’ letter from a student, that means a lot.”