Hauter, who set a Guinness Book World Record with his 1999 trek cross-country on a lawnmower, will hit the road this spring to break his 4,000-plus-mile record while raising awareness for Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup.

Rose-Hulman hosted an official send-off rally March 11 on campus. Rose-Hulman alumni living along Hauter's route are being contacted to encourage their support of his efforts. The campus and Terre Haute communities are also planning projects to bring attention to the Keep America Beautiful campaign.

The 37-year-old Hauter was the first person to complete a transcontinental trip on a lawnmower. On March 19, Hauter boarded his Yard-Man by MTD to become the first person to do it twice. Hauter will travel more than 5,000 miles starting in San Francisco and finishing in New York City in June.

"I'm back!" Hauter exclaimed. "I’m ready to mow over my first record and help clean up America along the way. America's support in 1999 was incredible," Hauter remembers. "Because concern for the environment is of keen interest to engineers and scientists, I know the Rose-Hulman community will enthusiastically support this effort," he said.

In order to top his 1999 mark, Hauter will spend four months - more than 600 hours - on his mower. Traveling an average speed of 10 mph, Hauter and his six-member support crew will mow from San Francisco through Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Albuquerque. From New Mexico, he will head east through San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Bentonville, Martin, Atlanta, Memphis, Charlotte, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.

The route will culminate in New York City's Battery Park where Hauter will present the Keep America Beautiful donations he has collected en route.

"We hope to raise $200,000 this year," Hauter said. "I'm confident that with America's support, we can reach our goal."

Commemorative T-shirts will be available for $12 at www.yardman.com. The T-shirts will also be sold in the Rose-Hulman Bookstore. All proceeds will be used to benefit Keep America Beautiful. To purchase a T-shirt, simply log onto www.yardman.com or send a check made payable to the Yard-Man Mow Across America, P.O. Box 368022, Cleveland, Ohio 44136.