Mechanical engineering is a natural fit for Leah Schleibaum. The Ohio Northern University sophomore possesses a curious, technically-inclined mind and a deep faith that compels her to serve others.
“I’ve always had a strong desire to understand how the world around me works and an inner drive to do something meaningful that positively impacts others,” she said.
At ONU, Leah is discovering how engineering skills can be a catalyst for good. Her freshman year, she was part of an EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) team that designed and built an outdoor Gaga Ball pit for Ada Elementary School. Gaga Ball is a fast-paced, popular variant of dodgeball played in an octagonal pit where players try to eliminate opponents by hitting them with soft balls below the knee.
The impact of the project became real for Leah a few months later while she was volunteering at the school. When a few students shared how much they loved the new addition to the playground, she told them she had helped build it. Their faces lit up with amazement and they couldn’t wait to tell their classmates.
“It was such a simple thing, but seeing firsthand how it made their day brighter—and recess more fun— was incredibly rewarding,” she said.
Leah’s purpose-drive approach extends beyond the classroom and lab. She’s active in Delight Ministries, a non-denominational Christian women’s group on campus, where she has grown in faith, friendship, and leadership.
She’s also a standout tennis player who helped the Polar Bears secure the OAC Championship last spring as a freshman. Just as gratifying as the victory, she says, was the support she received from her professors.
“They congratulated me before I even had the chance to bring it up,” she said. “Their genuine excitement made me feel truly seen—not just as a student, but as an athlete and person.”
With two years left in her college journey, Leah is confident she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.
“ONU has shown me that wherever I end up and whatever I end up doing, I want my work to bring joy to people,” she said. “That’s the kind of engineer I hope to become.”