Noah Waxler
Oklahoma State University
www.martinmarietta.com | September/October 2 2019 The Conveyor 17
He was a captain on the wrestling mat and a top-notch student,
an entrepreneur with a head for business and a volunteer with
an uncanny ability to make children smile. Martin Marietta Scholar
Noah Waxler’s talents may be vast, but his success is less about his
skills and more about his attitude.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my experiences with school,
sports, clubs and work, it’s that I’m relentless,” he says. “I don’t quit
and I don’t say, ‘no.’”
Waxler’s never-say-die attitude carried him through high school,
where he graduated 12th out of a class of 208. Now, he’s taking it to
Oklahoma State University, where he plans to study architecture. The
18-year-old believes his past has more than prepared him for his future.
As a high school student, Waxler played varsity football, led
his wrestling team as a four-time captain and two-time MVP, and
competed with the track team. He was a member of the National Honor
Society and his school’s Student Council. He started a landscaping
business with a local friend and volunteered for various community
clean-up events while also serving as a volunteer youth football coach.
While some may see balancing so much activity as a challenge,
Waxler says he set himself up for success by always taking the time he
needed to prepare himself physically, emotionally and psychologically.
“Getting outside and working out has always helped me to put my
mind at ease,” the teenager says. “Ultimately, I think having that
release helps me be better, so that I can more effectively make other
people’s lives easier.”
Waxler’s primary coping mechanism is a healthy one and he says
he’ll continue to utilize it while balancing Greek life, intramural
sports, numerous volunteer activities and the rigors of undergraduate
academics at Oklahoma State. Acknowledging that he’s again taking
on a challenging schedule, Waxler says he’s considered what he wants
out of life and believes such efforts now will be worth it down the line.
“I know I want to have a little bit of money one day. I know it
doesn’t fix your problems, but it sure can make things easier,” he says
with a bit of a laugh. “But when I think about true success and what
that looks like for me, I see a family of my own and a job that allows
me to provide for them as much as I can while also spending as much
time with them as I can.” ▼
Just the Facts: Noah Waxler
Parents: Tech Services Mix Specialist Kara Waxler (Southwest Division)
High School: Midlothian Heritage High School (Texas)
Noah’s message to mom: “Mom, you did a fantastic job raising me.
You set an example and taught me what the words ‘responsibility’
and ‘accountability’ mean. You helped me see all that I can accomplish
with a little hard work.”
Photo courtesy of Oklahoma State University
/www.martinmarietta.com