2019 Martin Marietta Scholarships
Bruce Banks IV
Ferris State University
10 September/October 2019 The Conveyor | 10 2019 www.martinmarietta.com
He graduated first in his class, captained the varsity football, basketball
and baseball teams, served with his school’s chapter of the National Honor
Society and the Youth Advisory Council and spent his summers keeping a
local campground clean. Yet, when Bruce Banks IV thinks back on the most
memorable experiences of his childhood, he’s drawn to Ron Tyndall’s sixthgrade
classroom.
“Mr. Tyndall was a captivating educator,” Banks says. “He sparked my
interest in science and encouraged me to explore engineering, even though
I was only in middle school. I took his advice and started delving deeper into
the world of science and numbers.”
As a freshman at Ferris State University, Banks is studying business data
analytics. Ultimately, he says, he intends to use the knowledge he gains from
his studies to improve life for those around him.
“Not only is working with numbers fun for me, but data and statistics are
important,” he says. “There are many things you can do if you learn how to
interpret data. You can help companies determine what products will sell or
help them reach their customers more effectively. You can track what values
and messages are most important to employees. This degree offers a skillset
that can be used just about anywhere in business.”
Banks says his experiences to date have taught him a great deal about
himself and prepared him for college. He’s learned about the value of hard
work, for example, through the myriad activities in which he’s been engaged.
On the field, he’s developed an ability to work with different personality
types, a skill he knows will be beneficial throughout his life. Always seeking to
improve, however, the teen understands that the world of higher education
presents a host of new challenges; though his grade point average was perfect
in high school, he says academics are his main concern.
Having already balanced a scholarly life with that of an athlete and a leader,
Banks says he’s prepared, but knows he must stay the course.
“I’m planning to do all kinds of activities – intramural sports and clubs
similar to the ones I joined in high school. I’m also in the Honor’s Program at
Ferris, which I’m really excited about,” he says. “I’m sure the classes will be
harder than they were in high school, so I just plan to study hard and do the
best I can in every class I take. I think I’m ready.” ▼
Just the Facts: Bruce Banks IV
Parents: Magnesia Specialties (Manistee) Laboratory
Supervisor Jody Banks and Bruce Banks III
High School: Mason County Central High School (Michigan)
Bruce’s message to mom: “Thank you for all the sacrifices
you’ve made, for driving me to and from practice, helping me
with my homework and helping me study for tests. Life would
have been much harder without you helping me through.”
Photo courtesy of Ferris State University
/www.martinmarietta.com