Beau DeLaet
Purdue University

Degrees: B.S. in Construction Engineering and Management

How did the Stamps Scholarship help shape your undergraduate experience?
It gave me the freedom and confidence to pursue a wide variety of experiences. I was able to visit Ecuador for a week and address the entire freshman class from center court of our basketball arena.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your freshman self?
It’s okay to say “no” sometimes. It’s better to put your whole heart into something than to do it because other people expect you to do it.

Who has had the greatest impact on you throughout your college career and how so?
My academic adviser encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone. He got to know me as a person beyond academics, which allowed him to give me advice that no one else could.

What’s your favorite Stamps Scholar memory?
We had a Christmas party one year that included some goofy presentations. My group remixed “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to be about Stamps Scholars. I’m not sure if we’ve ever laughed so hard as a group.

What comes next?
I have accepted a position with M.A. Mortenson Company as a Field Engineer, which will involve constructing wind farms around the country.

Please share your favorite inspirational quote.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela