2008 Woodie Awards
Geek of the Week
Ben Weilert, Senior: Mechanical Engineering
By Satira Tajdin-Labib
9/24/07 - Features
[Oredigger] When did you first realize you were a geek?
[Weilert] Probably when I was 5 years old, I was already starting to draw robots.
What makes you a geek?
Wow, everything. From witty comments and puns, to analyzing just about everything: thinking, how can I make this better? Everyday I'm a geek. I made it a project to watch the Top 100 movies according to the American Film Institute, movies like Gone with the Wind and Lawrence of Arabia. I memorize lyrics to songs about math and chemistry and lip sync them. I bought a lab coat just for the hell of it. I mean, I didn't need it for any class, I just bought it.
So do you wear the coat everywhere? [Weilert wore the coat during the interview.]
Pretty much, I mean it's not cold right now, but when it starts I have my lab coat.
What is the geekiest item you own?
That would probably have to be my plasma ball. You know the one you touch with your hand and it attracts to your fingers. I actually burnt myself on that thing.
Windows or Mac?
Definitely Windows, I think Mac is kind of stuck up.
What do you do outside of school work?
More or less I lip sync to nerdy songs and put them on YouTube. I'm in the Anime club and I do the Mines Little Theatre.
How many decimals of pi do you know?
Actually now, not many. But I used to know it to 500 [he swore to this]. In Junior High, there was this pi contest and some guy beat me getting to 100, so I thought I could do better than that. I had this sheet covered in all the decimals of pi, and I would constantly just glance at it. That's how I memorized it up to 500.
Who is your role model?
My dad mainly. I'm here because of him, I grew up with engineering around me. Also, I would have to say Bill Nye, I just found out he had a degree in mechanical engineering.
Do you own any 20-sided die?
No, and I try to stay away from people who do. I'm not a Dungeons and Dragons fan. However, I do keep four, six-sided dice in my pocket all the time. You never know when you're going to have to throw them on the table for Yahtzee.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
I want to work in the Aerospace industry. Not for NASA, but the people who supply NASA.
To check out Ben Weilert, go to Youtube.com and type in "New Math." Trust me, his videos are hilarious.
[Weilert] Probably when I was 5 years old, I was already starting to draw robots.
What makes you a geek?
Wow, everything. From witty comments and puns, to analyzing just about everything: thinking, how can I make this better? Everyday I'm a geek. I made it a project to watch the Top 100 movies according to the American Film Institute, movies like Gone with the Wind and Lawrence of Arabia. I memorize lyrics to songs about math and chemistry and lip sync them. I bought a lab coat just for the hell of it. I mean, I didn't need it for any class, I just bought it.
So do you wear the coat everywhere? [Weilert wore the coat during the interview.]
Pretty much, I mean it's not cold right now, but when it starts I have my lab coat.
What is the geekiest item you own?
That would probably have to be my plasma ball. You know the one you touch with your hand and it attracts to your fingers. I actually burnt myself on that thing.
Windows or Mac?
Definitely Windows, I think Mac is kind of stuck up.
What do you do outside of school work?
More or less I lip sync to nerdy songs and put them on YouTube. I'm in the Anime club and I do the Mines Little Theatre.
How many decimals of pi do you know?
Actually now, not many. But I used to know it to 500 [he swore to this]. In Junior High, there was this pi contest and some guy beat me getting to 100, so I thought I could do better than that. I had this sheet covered in all the decimals of pi, and I would constantly just glance at it. That's how I memorized it up to 500.
Who is your role model?
My dad mainly. I'm here because of him, I grew up with engineering around me. Also, I would have to say Bill Nye, I just found out he had a degree in mechanical engineering.
Do you own any 20-sided die?
No, and I try to stay away from people who do. I'm not a Dungeons and Dragons fan. However, I do keep four, six-sided dice in my pocket all the time. You never know when you're going to have to throw them on the table for Yahtzee.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
I want to work in the Aerospace industry. Not for NASA, but the people who supply NASA.
To check out Ben Weilert, go to Youtube.com and type in "New Math." Trust me, his videos are hilarious.
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