As appearing in source.colostate.edu | April 29, 2025 | By Macie May
CSU Mech master’s student changes lives of future engineers
Engineering graduate student Dylan Scheller has received the Colorado State University Career Impact Award for his work in shaping the lives of youth.
The Career Impact Award is given to individuals or teams who have positively impacted the career journeys for CSU students. He was nominated by Sara Perrine, engineering engagement and retention coordinator for the Walter Scott Jr., College of Engineering.
“Dylan is an exceptional person. As an employee, he has gone above and beyond his roles to help support students through mentorship and leadership in the engineering community. I am so proud of him and his continued dedication to CSU and the college of engineering,” Perrine said.
“It was something I never really had growing up, so I wanted to be able to provide that for someone else,” Scheller said. “If I help someone figure out what they want to do in their life and help them get to college and feel confident about themselves or even through high school … I think it is great and something I can do to pay it forward.”
Scheller’s long journey to becoming a graduate student in bio-mechanical engineering shaped his drive to help youth find their passion in life. He wanted to be a role model – someone he never had – but it took him a while to find his own path first.
A journey of self-discovery
Scheller took an aptitude test in high school that indicated he could be an engineer or a garbage collector. Although interested in engineering, the results did not instill faith that he would be successful, he said. He chose to rely on his skills in math and sought a degree in business, but it didn’t take him long to learn he didn’t like business math, so he reevaluated
This time, Scheller looked into his own past and realized he had some background working as a camp counselor and enjoyed sports. He jumped into kinesiology education to coach and teach sports in schools. A few months shy of graduation, Scheller learned that he enjoyed the work he was doing with children but was not looking forward to working in a K-12 school system, he said. He finished his degree but never used it.
He spent a few years working part-time jobs doing everything from security work to working in a coffee shop, and by then, he had already attended two different colleges and was taking some online courses to earn a drafting degree.
Engineering still lingered in the back of his mind.
Then the pandemic hit, forcing him to once again reevaluate his future at age 33. His dad moved to Fort Collins and encouraged Scheller to consider CSU to pursue the engineering degree Scheller had always dreamed of.
The two visited campus for a self-guided tour during the pandemic and Scheller fell in love with the campus. Also, as a second-degree-seeking student, Scheller had faced rejection at other universities but found acceptance at CSU which had an established program for non-traditional students.
Becoming a leader among students
He soon bonded with his professors, which encouraged him to get involved in student organizations. He joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME. He joined a sub-team that wanted to do outreach for middle school students. The program became so large that the team disentangled from ASME and created Stem4Kids, which works with youth who aspire to be scientists and engineers.
He also joined the Engineering College Council which has planned and organized E-Days, which provides an opportunity for undergraduate seniors to showcase their senior design projects.
As a graduate student, Scheller joined the Engineering Residential Learning Community in the Academic Village Engineering Hall where he serves as the graduate academic coordinator.
Throughout his own journey, Scheller has involved himself in lifting others, encouraging them to explore their passions and follow their dreams.
Scheller is inspired by his time at CSU and the professors he has had, so much so that he may become a professor so he can continue to shape young minds.