Ryan Olson

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Mechanical Engineering

Future Plans: Move to Chicago to work for Radio Flyer as a Prototype Shop Engineer

Honored Faculty: Dr. Trevor Lujan, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering

Scholarships: Wayne Osborn Scholarship for Academic Excellence, Drs. Ed and Mary Ann Reynolds Honors College Scholarship, Edward W. Stimpson Leadership Scholarship, Boise State Hometown Challenge Scholarship

Ryan Olson has distinguished himself through his high work ethic, leadership, and a keen eye for opportunity. Throughout the past 4 years, Ryan has maintained a 4.0 GPA in one of the most strenuous programs on campus. He has also been a part of several academic clubs and held many internships. One of his proudest accomplishments was creating the Maker Club here on campus. Established by Ryan and his friends so they could share their passion for making things, its unique projects include a retro-style arcade cabinet complete with games like Pac-Man, Galaga, and Ryan’s favorite: Dig Dug. As the club’s president, Ryan taught other students skills like 3D printing, Computer-Aided Design, leatherworking, woodworking and metalworking; and raised over $8,000 in ASBSU grants.

Ryan has been involved in the Honors College, where he presided as president of a student-led council, was a member of the Honors Student Association, and has been a part of the Honors Social Committee. In these positions, he profoundly impacted the Honors College by planning social, service, and academic events for all 1,100 honors students. One event Ryan started in the Honors College is Glow-in-the-dark capture the flag. He has planned and led this event since his first year at Boise State, and it is consistently the most-attended event within the Honors College.

Ryan spent this last year working as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Trevor Lujan in the Northwestern Tissue Mechanics Laboratory. In this position, he uses his skills as a maker, helping Ph.D. students by fabricating parts and apparatuses for their studies, including making parts for the lab’s bioreactors. He also has been a member of the Boise State Swing Dancing Club and the Boise State Bee team, and he has been playing intramural sports, including two volleyball championship titles.

Ryan is excited to move to Chicago to work as a prototype shop engineer. In this position, he will be using his woodworking, metalworking, and 3D modeling skills to make prototypes of bikes.

Ryan is from Napa, California.

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