Vincent Crist- University of St. Thomas, Mechanical Engineering 

Scholarship Amount: 

• Twin Cities District: $750
• PMA Educational Foundation: $375
• Total: $1,125

 Vincent Crist plans to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of St. Thomas.

Vincent has always known he wanted a career in engineering because of his passion for creating, building and solving problems. As a child, he spent countless hours playing with Legos, designing complex train tracks. Drawing is another hobby that has honed his design skills, allowing him to bring concepts to life on paper and effectively communicate his ideas.

Vincent strives to excel in all his pursuits. He has played piano since he was five years old under the guidance of a classical music teacher from St. Petersburg, Russia, who emphasizes perfection and historical context. Through piano, he has learned that mastery requires dedication, discipline and repetitive practice—principles that apply equally to athletics and academics. Vincent has been running long distance for four years and with consistent training he improved to running three miles in under half an hour. These experiences in running, piano and school have taught Vincent that achieving goals demands time, dedication and discipline. He believes he possesses the characteristics and drive necessary to become an excellent mechanical engineer.

As a leader on his high school cross country team, Vincent often led group runs and mentored younger teammates. Academically, he maintained a GPA above 3.5 throughout high school, earning academic awards for his performance. At the University of St. Thomas, Vincent plans to continue running on the cross-country team while pursuing his degree in mechanical engineering. He believes that an engineering degree will equip him to build the systems society relies on and, in doing so, improve people’s lives.

Congratulations, Vincent! May your future be bright!