Engineering students recognized for campus involvement

Two Buckeye engineers have been named 2014 recipients of the only student administered scholarship at The Ohio State University: the Edward S. "Beanie" Drake Student Leader Endowment Fund.

Lauren Malone, third-year industrial and systems engineering major and Benjamin Musci, fourth-year mechanical engineering major, were awarded the scholarship at a banquet on April 6 in the Ohio Union.

Scholarships are awarded by a Student Board of Directors annually to provide funds for deserving students to participate in campus activities when need might otherwise prohibit them from doing so. The fund began in 1950 in honor of Edward S. “Beanie” Drake, student organization advisor and manager of the Ohio Union during his more than 50 year tenure at Ohio State. Drake is remembered for devoting much of his time and loyalty to student organizations.

Zachary Kelley, a fourth-year health sciences major and director of awards for the fund, said applicants are judged on service to campus and community affairs, leadership potential, financial need and academic achievement.

“Lauren and Benjamin stood out through their contributions to not only the College of Engineering, but also through their commitment to making Ohio State a better place. They both have embodied excellence in all they do and we are very excited to award them this scholarship,” Kelley said.

Malone, executive vice president of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and internal vice president of the Society of Women Engineers, said her engineering courses helped her win the award.

“The engagement and excitement in my classes encouraged me to get involved in organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers and Institute of Industrial Engineers. These organizations provided me with countless opportunities to learn, grow, and become a better leader,” she said.

Musci, president of the Association of Energy Engineers and vice president of student organization Net impact OSU, said he has been applying for the scholarship since his second year at Ohio State. 

“It was just really nice knowing that my persistence paid off,” Musci said. “Paying for this education has forced me to work two jobs during the school year and this award will allow me to scale back my hours a little bit. I'm really hoping to use this new-found free time to spend some time looking at things that I find interesting at a greater depth.”