Clarence Durliat
Clarence Durliat
Clarence was drawn to Ohio State because he wanted the opportunity to work towards becoming an army officer while having a traditional major.
HOMETOWN: Findlay, Ohio
CAMPUS: Columbus
MAJOR: BS in Mechanical Engineering, minor in military science
YEAR: Class of 2026
Receiving scholarships solidified Clarence's decision to attend, since he was able to focus more on academic and career aspirations than how to afford college.
Being part of Ohio State’s Army ROTC enabled him to grow leadership skills and form a community at the beginning. By Clarence’s junior year, he became the Battalion Commander for over 200 cadets, where he led through physical training, technical labs and more. Simultaneously, he has really enjoyed being a teaching assistant (TA) for a machine shop for the past couple of years, helping students learn general machine operational skills by creating air motors. He started his capstone project with a student design team that will build portal uprights for the Baja Buckeyes’ cars, which will continue through the autumn term.
Looking back at his time here, Clarence says he loved living in the dorms and creating lifelong friends through roommates that would eat at Scott Dining and play basketball at the North Recreation Center. As a big football fan, he recalls the excitement of the 2024 home playoff game against Tennessee.
In summer 2026, Clarence attended annual training with his National Guard Unit, the 837th Engineering Battalion. He also was a vehicle protection systems engineering intern at General Dynamics in Michigan. Clarence will graduate in autumn 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and plans to commission into the Ohio Army National Guard and serve as a 2nd Lieutenant while continuing his education at Ohio State. He will transition into a graduate TA for machine shop class while working on his master’s degree in mechanical engineering, planning to graduate in spring 2028.
“Scholarships allowed me to embrace the entire Ohio State experience. I got to fully enjoy time with family and friends and dive more into my classes, enabling me to prepare and transition for my next steps. With your funding, you allow students like me to accomplish our goals and see the full potential in ourselves — thank you!”
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