Pursuing Passions featuring Trevon L. Collins

"My central impetus for high academic achievement is my inherent desire for knowledge," declares 2023 National Merit $2500 Scholarship winner Trevon Collins . "It is my conviction that learning is the most powerful instrument of enrichment at one's disposal." Trevon studies mechanical engineering at Tennessee Technological University with a concentration in mechatronics. "I decided upon this field of study because it aligns with my interests in robotics and automated systems," he says. "In particular, I intend to explore the ways machine learning can be leveraged in the development of autonomous manufacturing, which will require understanding of the concepts highlighted in my academic domain." One summer, Trevon entered a robotics boot camp at a local community college where he studied industrial hardware programming. "I was able to tour campus laboratories that contained equipment ranging from standard production line input-output boards to robotic assemblers suitable for off-planet studies," he says. "This engagement reinforced my fascination with the rapid progression of technology that I hope to contribute to in the near future."

Outside of academics, Trevon is an avid musician. "Composing music is one of my favorite personal occupations," he shares. "I currently have fifteen scores privately published on MuseScore that span numerous genres such as pop, jazz, lo-fi, pep band, and classical. Furthermore, I have several projects that I have yet to complete and will hopefully publish in the years to come. While I don't envision myself writing music professionally, I nonetheless compose recreationally as it lends an artistic avenue for engaging my mind and complements my long-standing general appreciation for music."

"For me being selected as a recipient of a National Merit Scholarship is a triumphant milestone in my academic career, a grand recognition of my exertions toward the fulfillment of my high school motto and my personal mantra: 'striving for excellence'," says Trevon. "I imagine that my fellow NMSC Scholars share these sentiments, which makes this experience that much better. We have collectively emblazoned a chapter in the extensive history of elite scholarly performance around the world, and I wholeheartedly believe that I speak for us all when I declare that it is an incredible honor to enter this community."