Betty Hasse is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering and a student in the Honors Program at URI. Throughout middle and high school, Betty commuted to school in Providence on her bike. She began racing bikes recreationally with a local city team called 1PVD at the start of high school. As she continued racing, she realized it was becoming a serious pursuit. Believing she could excel, Betty committed to training, got a coach, and transitioned to progressively more competitive teams, which opened doors to higher-level races.

Since then, Betty has focused primarily on road racing. She has had the opportunity to compete at U.S. Nationals and has traveled to Europe to race, gaining experience as both an athlete and an individual. Over the past two summers, she raced with the U.S. national team in several events and will begin her first professional contract in January. Betty’s racing career has taken her to Belgium, Portugal, France, Ireland, and Canada.

Betty appreciates the Honors Program for its engaging coursework, particularly the colloquium. She enjoyed taking the class two years ago when the topic was sustainability and food waste, describing it as a “cool” and eye-opening experience. She finds the Honors courses unique and engaging, offering a refreshing contrast to her major-specific studies.

Watch her spotlight video here