A Naperville, IL, native, Matt Ford is now a freshman studying architecture at the University of Cincinnati.  He hopes to become an architect specializing in eco-friendly, urban, residential architecture.  Matt is also an Irish dancer who was inspired to learn the art after watching a television performance.  He plans to continue dancing throughout his life and will look for ways to incorporate his love of dance into architecture.  Matt also looks forward to continuing to give back to the larger community through architecture, thinking the Peace Corps or another volunteer service may also be in his future.

Matt is inspired by his mother, Kathleen, of whom he says, “She has inspired me to plan, set goals, and succeed. I aspire to get to go to college and get my masters as well because of her. I always seek her advice and I know I can count on her to give me an honest answer. She has a contagious go-getter attitude. She is a superhero in my life; she is my mom.”

Matt is known among his peers as an origami artist, but few know he is often responsible for leaving paper cranes on desks for those who sit at them next – a good-luck treasure he hopes makes them smile.