Dylan McDevitt managed to keep a big secret at Ohio Northern University. No one, not even his family or close friends, knew he was Klondike. But while he kept his Polar Bear persona under wraps, there was one thing he couldn’t hide: his reputation as a stellar, one-of-a-kind guy.
This May, Dylan graduates with a degree in construction management, a field he chose for simple reason: “Hands down, every construction person I interacted with growing up was just good people.”
Two summer internships at CK Construction Group in Columbus affirmed his choice of career path. “It was everything I wanted and more,” he says, “I was surrounded by so many smart and talented people; it just felt like a good fit.” Following graduation, Dylan will officially join the firm as a field engineer.
On campus, Dylan’s outgoing personality enabled him to shine. He joined Sigma Phi Epsilon, volunteering with his fraternity brothers every year to chaperone a prom for special needs teens, and he enthusiastically welcomed new students as an Orientation Leader. However, he says his “coolest” role by far was the one nobody knew he had: mascot.
“You put on the suit, no one knows who you are in there, and you just get to have fun,” he says.
Dylan is naturally curious about people. “I like to learn more about their perspectives—what they see, feel, and believe,” he says.
At ONU, he not only built strong relationships with his peers, but with professors and staff. His favorite place on campus is “The Mac” not only because he likes to eat (although he admits that’s a big draw) but because he took time to get to know every cafeteria employee. Every Valentine’s Day, he even surprised Cricket—the beloved Mac cashier—with a rose and homemade card.
Looking back, he says he can’t imagine his life going in any other direction. “I’ve been afforded so many amazing opportunities,” he says. “How could I not be proud to be a Polar Bear?”
