Since the rest of this website is focused on engineering, I made this about page to showcase some of my other interests.

The best way I can describe Quizbowl is that it's like Jeopardy but with teams. It's a trivia competition in which two teams of four players compete in categories ranging from chemistry, fine arts, literature, history, etc. At the college level, schools will travel to and compete against each other. It's a great way to get exposure to all kinds of things that have made an impact on the world as we know it today, and a great way to meet some new friends. My specialties include paintings and sculptures, mythology, and some science. I've spent more time learning about Norse Mythology than I care to admit.

(Purdue's Quizbowl team after the ACF Fall competition in 2022)

My interest in art history started from my exposure to it from Quizbowl, and after taking a few classes in the subject at Purdue, I am now working towards a minor in it. There is also a surprising amount of science and engineering in art history, especially concerning the restoration and preservation of works of art. Pictured on the right is a machine that analyzes the vibrations caused by people moving or talking, ambient air movements, etc. in order to create a way to display the painting in a way that better protects it from these vibrations.

(Rembrandt's The Night Watch in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)

I started rock climbing in September 2023, and instantly fell in love with it. There's just something about climbing that is so much fun. Maybe that's why so many kids like climbing trees. It's also a great form of exercise and the community is generally very friendly and supportive, no matter your skill level. While I'm not very good right now, I plan to continue climbing a lot and hopefully improve.

(Photo of myself climbing "27 Years of Climbing" in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky)

Throughout my life I've played nearly 200 unique board games. They're a great way to interact with people face to face and to keep my brain engaged. Some of my favorites include: Everdell, Codenames, Dominion, and Scythe.

(The aftermath of the final game in Rise of Fenris Scythe campaign)

I participated in Boy Scouts as a kid, and enjoyed it very much. However, I fell out of camping until I discovered Purdue's outing club, which revitalized my spark for exploring the outdoors. Growing up in central Illinois, there wasn't much diversity in the geographical features. It still amazes that some of the places on Earth are part of the same planet as the one we're all on.

(Photo of myself by cloud lake in the Upper Peninsula Michigan)