At first glance Nick Margida is a typical Ohio State student, but his life has been a journey of trying to find himself at a university where it’s easy to get lost.

Margida, a senior in history and political science, is one of the 15 OSU graduating seniors selected for the Outstanding Senior Award of 2003. He just finished his reign as Student Alumni Council president in March, and he is one of the 24 senior-class honorary members of an organization called Sphinx, which links and honors student leaders at OSU.

Although he has accomplished all of these things, Margida does not let his academics and extracurricular activities get the best of him. He still finds time to hang out with his friends, family and people that he has met at OSU. It is obvious how much he values these relationships.

He is known by his peers for his sense of humor and the fact that he can make anyone laugh.

“I am most proud of coming to know myself and the relationships that I have made here at OSU,” Margida said. “I came to college to explore and find myself.”

Margida lives with his twin brother, Vince Margida. The Margida brothers grew up in a single-mother household and have been by each other’s side ever since. They both attend OSU and plan to move to Virginia together after graduation.

“His biggest passion is people,” Vince Margida said. “I think most of his friends would describe him as someone who makes them laugh and equally as someone who inspires them.”

“I am very competitive and used to be very focused,” Margida said. “However, OSU has taught me how to let loose.”

Margida said he loves to dance and he still finds time to party with his friends. He started at OSU as a pre-medical student, but found he became too emotional when volunteering at the university hospitals. It was too draining for him, and he said he knew there was something else out there for him.

Katherine Margida, his mother, said she thought his disinterest in medical school had something to do with his grandmother’s death from ovarian cancer.

“My parents were very close to our family, because I was a single parent,” Katherine Margida said. “When my mother died, I think it was a little too much for Nick.”

Margida changed his focus because he was interested in politics and federal government, and he found his niche at OSU.

He was one of 60 students selected by the National Italian-American Foundation to attend a learning-exchange program in Italy. He was one of 19 students selected to attend a summer pre-law study program at Oxford University in England. There, he compared research on judicial selection in the United States and the United Kingdom.

“I have since applied to law schools and am waiting to hear back, but I will most likely end up at University of Virginia,” Margida said.

Margida is involved with two major organizations at OSU. He was the orientation chairman and president of SAC, and was voted member of the year for 2001. This council strives to create a sense of community between students and alumni, establish loyalty to the university, and cultivate relationships between all students.

“I can say that in a short time at OSU, Nick has changed significantly,” Vince Margida said. “He’s always had the ability to get along with people, but I’ve seen him grow into a leader that sincerely loves Ohio State. I honestly believe that his involvement in SAC sparked this change.”

Tahira Rehmatullah, a senior in finance, is the current president of SAC and Margida’s close friend. She said Margida came in as president during difficult times, and he handled them with confidence and grace. She said he approached every situation with a positive attitude and calm demeanor.

“Nick’s passion for and dedication to this university are incomparable. He genuinely loves Ohio State, and wants nothing but the best for this institution,” Rehmatullah said. “Nick strives to bring the best out of others. He is a perfectionist, and he challenges you to become a better person, or a better student organization, and is constantly looking forward.”

Dr. Carl Zulauf is one of the co-advisors for Sphinx senior honorary, and said since these honorary groups are only together for one year, it is important for individuals to step forward as peers and reach out to help integrate the class.

“Sphinx is fortunate to have had many such individuals this past year, and Nick is clearly one of them,” Zulauf said. “Nick truly bleeds scarlet and gray.”

Katherine Margida said she was most proud of her son when she saw him walk out onto the field for homecoming court because she knew this was something that meant the world to her him.

“Nick has always inspired me with his work ethic,” Katherine Margida said.