Aaron graduated in 2019 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He grew up and spent the first 21 years of his听life in the small town of Washington, Missouri. His听parents encouraged him听to be active in sports, scouts, and school, and this encouragement听helped him听find some of his听first interests in outdoor recreation and chemistry. After moving to Colorado, he was able to better develop his outdoor interests in backpacking and white-water rafting. Aaron transferred to the University of Colorado after earning his听Associates of General Studies at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs, where he听now considers his home away from home. The McNair program helped him prepare for graduate school where he听hopes to prepare himself for work in industry developing new materials and technologies, and as a professor helping the next generation of students to develop their skills and enthusiasm.
Aaron's McNair Scholar mentor was Joshua De La Cruz. His faculty advisor was Wei Zhang.听