At 21 years old, fourth-year University of Notre Dame Stamps Scholar Luke Horwath still plays with LEGOs – but unlike most casual LEGO players, Luke’s custom creations win awards.
“I’ve always been a creative person,” Luke says, reflecting on the roots of his interest in custom LEGO builds. “I’m very curious about the way things work.” Luke received his first LEGO set at just five years old and, like many children, he was captivated by the joy of building something he could bring to life through play.
However, his passion for LEGOs truly ignited in 7th grade after a sports-related ankle injury left him sidelined. With extra time at home, his mother suggested he tap into his creativity by building something from their large bucket of basic LEGO bricks. What started as a simple LEGO beach soon evolved into a sprawling 63-square-foot custom LEGO city that filled an entire room of their house. This moment marked a pivotal point in Luke’s LEGO journey, when he realized that he could use the bricks to create imaginative, complex custom designs.
When he was 15, Luke built the world’s first life-sized, fully operational LEGO pinball machine. To perfect the mechanics, he first designed a 10-by-10-inch prototype, then visited real arcades to take measurements for the final build. The result was a fully functioning machine that fused three of Luke’s passions: LEGO, pinball, and Batman, with the design inspired by his love for the Batman movies. “The George Clooney era is one of my favorites,” he says. In 2019, the pinball machine earned him the “Best Replica” award at Brickworld Chicago, the largest LEGO convention in the United States.
Luke is particularly excited about the idea of making interactive builds. “It’s rare for a build to be interactive, and that’s where I found my niche,” he explains. Rather than adhering to the typical “look but don’t touch” approach, Luke’s creations invite people to play. His recent showcase at Brickworld Chicago 2024 featured four tables of displays, including the pinball machine, a life-sized LEGO go-kart, and the highlight: a seven-foot-tall, 11-foot-long roller coaster that had attendees cheering as the LEGO car raced over a massive drop.
Luke has found a natural connection between his love for building with LEGO bricks and his academic studies at Notre Dame. Majoring in mechanical engineering, he used his Stamps enrichment funds to participate in an engineering-focused study abroad program in Ireland. Though he is open to where his career may lead, Luke’s love for mechanical systems and creativity points toward a future in engineering, perhaps as a roller coaster designer – his dream job.
In pursuit of this goal, Luke recently utilized the Stamps network to connect with Will Florer, a University of Texas alum currently designing a theme park in Texas. “Will shared valuable insights about his journey through college and the engineering field, which helped me understand the practical steps I can take to follow a similar path,” Luke said. “It’s amazing to have access to such an accomplished network of peers and mentors eager to help each other succeed.”
Reflecting on the strength of the Stamps network, Luke added, “The support I’ve received from the Stamps community is truly unparalleled. I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many others with a unique passion for shaping the world through their goals and projects.”
For students with unconventional passions, Luke has one piece of advice: “Go for it! You never know where the future will take you.” He believes success is a process that requires perseverance and trust in oneself. Whether your passion becomes your career or remains a separate hobby, Luke emphasizes that doing something you enjoy is vital for personal fulfillment.
“I’m always trying to push the boundaries of my own creativity,” he says. And, brick by brick, he is building a meaningful future for himself and others.