2022 Alumni Service Award
Benjamin Matzke (ENG 2011, 2011) bleeds Tartan, and he always goes an extra 0.84 miles* for Carnegie Mellon University.
Through his work on the Buggy Alumni Association, Ben has inspired alumni to re-engage with the university every year at Carnival and made race day an exciting and memorable event for students. He has pushed Buggy forward with his entire heart through meaningful programming, collaborative relationships between alumni and students, and increased visibility for this beloved tradition.
When Ben came to CMU, he joined the Kiltie Band, playing trombone, and got involved in Buggy through the Carnegie Involvement Association (CIA). Over time, he became a leader in both groups: cheermaster for two consecutive years and vice president of marching for the Kiltie Band and chairman of CIA. He led CIA to its first-ever design competition win and its return to the finals after many years. As a graduate student, he spearheaded the creation of the first all-organization Buggy orientation event.
After graduation, he took on writing and coordinating weekly rolls reports for the alumni community. He eventually assumed the mantle of Buggy Alumni Association (BAA) president, revitalizing the group to the point that it was honored as Large Network of the Year in 2016 and 2020 by the CMU Alumni Association. Ben initiated and led a Buggy 100 Planning Committee, resulting in a cross-collaborative group that created programming for Buggy’s milestone celebration. His passion didn’t waver when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the centennial celebration of Buggy to extend through two virtual Carnivals.
Ben has also donated his time to the Alumni Association Board, serving a four-year term as co-chair for the Networks, Awards and Alumni Engagement committees. While serving on the board, he continued his efforts with the BAA, finishing out six years as president and a three-year stint as Centennial Committee Chair.
In his professional career, Ben has spent time in the Pittsburgh startup community working in product development before starting his own product development consulting company. His company joined with Lexicon Design, an industrial design firm that offers end-to-end product design, development and manufacturing services to startups and established companies across the country. In late 2021, Ben joined Lutron's window systems department as a senior design and development engineer, where he leads the development of high-end motorized and automated shades, drapes, blinds and other window coverings.
*0.84 miles is the length of the Buggy course.