National Park College engineering student Ben Scarbrough was recently selected to receive the $500 Elisabeth Wagner Math and Science Scholarship this semester.
He was nominated by instructor Darlene Gentles. According to a news release, Scarbrough "can be found in the engineering study room daily either with fellow students or working diligently on his own to master the content."
The release stated that Scarbrough was "inspired by his own struggles with expensive and poor-fitting prosthetics" and "hopes to use his degree to design affordable, custom prosthetics and disability aids."
He was born with campomelic dysplasia, which is a rare disorder that affects the skeletal system. Scarbrough uses prosthetic legs for mobility. The release said that he is interested in designing low-cost prosthetics for financially challenged individuals.
Scarbrough is working to design custom prosthetic arms that will allow him to participate in welding classes, the release said. It said he sought design input from staff at the Innovative Technologies Center to refine his design and has inquired about a grant for help funding the prototype.
School on 10/13/2019