When Ben Walter looks at a roller coaster, he sees a canvas of engineering possibilities — a complex system where physics, design and human emotion intersect.

“I’ve always had a passion for roller coasters, and I knew early on that I wanted to study engineering,” says Walter, who grew up in Old Monroe, Missouri.

In 2022, the RIDES student organization became one of the places he found like-minded peers as a first-year engineering management student at Missouri S&T.

“RIDES stands for Roller-Coaster and Innovative Designs in Entertainment Society,” Walter says. “We’re an organization for anyone who’s interested in the amusement industry, whether you want to work in it someday or just think rides are awesome. We learn about how different rides work, go on theme park trips and behind-the-scenes tours, host guest speakers, plan social events and take part in competitions.”

By his sophomore year, Walter wasn’t just a member. He was president. Under his leadership, the small club began to grow.

“Watching other students get excited about the same things I’m passionate about has meant so much to me,” he says

The second semester of that year, he accepted a paid internship with the Disney College Program, where he saw firsthand how those magical moments are made.

“Getting to work at Walt Disney World for a whole semester was honestly a dream come true,” he says. “It combined everything I love: meeting new people, working at a theme park and making people smile.” 

But RIDES has only been one part of the experience S&T offered Walter, who is now a senior. He joined the student ambassador team during his first year at S&T and is currently a head student ambassador.

“I absolutely love giving campus tours and getting prospective students excited about S&T and their college life in general,” Walter says. “It’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I’m also a senior resident assistant in University Commons. I’ve been part of residential life for a while now, and it’s been such a fun and meaningful experience. Getting to connect with residents and learning about other people has been the best part.”

Walter also credits his opening week experience with helping him to unexpectedly join another student organization, the Concrete Canoe Student Design Team.

“Most people turn their heads when I mention that I’m on a concrete canoe team,” he says. “And yes, it does actually float.”

His ultimate dream? Work at Walt Disney Imagineering. 

“This has been my goal since middle school,” he says, “It’s something that’s always inspired me and pushed me to try hard in school and to never give up on my dreams. Whether it’s with Disney or somewhere else in the themed entertainment and rides industry, I know this is the field I want to be in. It’s where my passion truly belongs.”

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.