Catching up with Nick D’Esposito
Nick D’Esposito is a young man that shouldn’t be underestimated. He’s smart, hard-working, well-spoken and driven. He’s also the beneficiary of having a great role model in his grandfather, Angelo “Pops” D’Esposito, who taught the teenager many important lessons over the years.
A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 2009, the younger D’Esposito is now immersed in classes and activities at Bucknell University. “School is going very well,” he said during a recent interview. “I am a mechanical engineering major, and I’ve been giving thought to seeking minors in bio-medical engineering and economics.” The Huntington grad went to Bucknell armed with college credits in biology and chemistry, which would help facilitate a bio-med minor.
Despite any secondary academic interests that might exist, Mr. D’Esposito’s “main interest” lies squarely in mechanical engineering. “I’ve always loved to design, to build, to create - to put something down on paper, and from start to finish see that design become a reality,” he said.
This interest has been a longtime presence in Mr. D’Esposito’s life. “When I was 16, I finished construction of my boat, “The North Star,” after almost three years of perpetual problem solving,” he said. “In the process of becoming an Eagle Scout, I designed and built shelving units to create room in a crowded church pantry. I refuse to take my car into a repair shop, not to be frugal or because I see a career as a mechanic in my future, but because I genuinely enjoy that sort of problem solving.”
At Huntington High School, Mr. D’Esposito earned the designation of Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor and was a member of the Nathan Hale chapter of the National Honor Society as well as the foreign language and math honor societies.
“With engineering being such a primary focus and interest of mine, the well-respected school of engineering that we have here at Bucknell played a key role in my decision to enroll,” he said. “A notoriously heavy workload is associated with the engineering school, and this is certainly something that I can attest to.”
Mr. D’Esposito is currently enrolled in physics, calculus, general engineering and philosophy classes. “It’s undeniably challenging, but I’m getting used to it,” he said. “As one of my favorite high school teachers, Mr. [Tim] Clouser would say, ‘it’s a lot of work worth doing.’”
Interestingly, Bucknell was not Mr. D’Esposito’s first choice. “I was rejected for admission to both Notre Dame and Dartmouth, and at the time was very disappointed, having set my heart on both schools,” he said. “In retrospect, my happiness at Bucknell seems to be just another example of how everything happens for a reason and ultimately works out for the best.”
The Huntington grad said he’s “definitely enjoying the small community feel of the university, as well as the small classes. Most of my professors knew my name before I knew theirs. They’re exceptionally accessible and willing to help, which makes the learning process truly enjoyable.”
While his classes are difficult, Mr. D’Esposito has been able to use his free time for some satisfying activities. “I’ve joined the Ultimate Frisbee team, which has proven to be a lot of fun and a great way to meet upperclassmen,” he said. “I’ve also begun work with a fellow mechanical engineer on the construction of a race car. We’re taking a Toyota engine and building an ultra light car around it. Our goal is to design and build a small, light, fuel efficient car that is street legal and able to out accelerate sports car icons like the Ferrari.”
The D’Esposito family has long had an affinity for the water and its most recent Huntington grad shares that love, calling the water his second home and something he “sincerely misses” about Huntington. “Luckily, Bucknell is minutes away from the Susquehanna River,” he said. “A fellow water loving friend and I will hopefully have the construction of two rowing shells finished by the spring, so that we might take advantage of the river, and get back out on the water.”
As he goes about his life on the Bucknell campus, Mr. D’Esposito continues benefiting from the inspiration of the grandfather he had grown so close to over the years. Unfortunately, “Pops” D’Esposito passed away earlier this month at the remarkable age of 101. “He was without a doubt the greatest man that I ever knew,” the teenager said. “He was and remains my idol and role model.”
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