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Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

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Meet Winston Milton: A Model of Involvement and Advancement

Sep. 9, 2022
Junior construction systems management major Winston Milton

Junior construction systems management (CSM) major Winston Milton is certainly making the most of his experience at The Ohio State University. After transferring from Ohio University’s business school after his freshman year, Winston realized that he needed to start branching out and meeting new people.

“I wasn’t involved in anything at OU,” says Winston. “Coming to OSU, I also didn’t know anybody, so getting involved was integral to my success.”  

After a brief time in the University Exploration major as a sophomore, his family background led him to the Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering (FABE) and the CSM major, which he realized was the perfect fit for him.  

“I wanted to get into the industry of building because I come from a construction family,” says Winston. “So, when I stumbled upon construction systems management, it’s what I’ve always been looking for.”  

Winston MiltonThis past summer, his interests led him to an internship with Ruppert Landscape, a leading landscape contractor based in Laytonsville, Maryland, where he did landscape construction. Landscape construction, according to Winston, is a field that not many people focus on, as normally CSM tailors to the foundation and erection of the structure. 

“I just went out on a limb and did something that I never knew was a part of construction,” says Winston. “I learned a lot about plants and the outside of a building, which is still a part of the whole construction process.” 

During the school year, there is never a day short of activities for Winston. Along with studying CSM, he is pursuing a minor in military science, is the social outreach chair of the CSM Club, works a co-op for Lehman Daman Construction Services, and is a member of the U.S. Army ROTC at Ohio State. According to Winston, though, a busy schedule is what he prefers. Winston in his Army ROTC clothes

“I like to have a regiment and a scheduled routine,” says Winston. “I normally wake up at about 5 a.m. and go to PT (physical training). After that, I go home, shower, eat, and come back for 8 a.m. classes. After that I go to work most of the time or more classes, and later I’ll come back to the Ag. Lab to do homework and go to club meetings. I’ll usually get home at around 8 p.m., go to sleep, and do it all over again the next day.”  

Although he jokes that he doesn’t have a lot of free time, Winston believes that getting involved on campus is necessary to be successful in college and beyond, and it’s a large part of what helped him create memorable experiences at Ohio State.  

“In real life, you’re going to meet people and need networks and work with a team,” says Winston. “Get out of your comfort zone. It’s not hard once you start, and it’s actually a lot more fun than you think.”  

Moving forward, Winston’s plans outside CSM include commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army and continuing his involvement on campus. In the construction industry, Winston wants to make a meaningful impact by creating environmentally beneficial buildings, and eventually start his own property management firm.  

 

 

by Casey Coughlin