Each month, we highlight an Ohio 4-H alum who has an amazing story to share—from their personal experience in 4-H to how they have given back to the program. This month, we feature Dr. Lauren H. Logan, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the T.J. Smull College of Engineering at Ohio Northern University and a proud alumna of Athens County 4-H.
“I didn’t know about 4-H until a friend introduced me to it in high school,” said Logan, but she wishes she knew about the opportunities available through 4-H 
earlier. “I was a member of the Alexander Bits ‘n’ Pieces 4-H Club for four years and I took advantage of as many experiences as I could during that time.”
For Logan, 4-H camp and project judging were most influential to her as a 4-H’er. “At camp I tried things I never imagined doing, like learning how to rappel! Now, I look back on these experiences and am grateful for the 
opportunity to build my confidence and try something new in a safe environment.”
Project judging was equally important because it taught her valuable lessons in public speaking and communication. “I learned how to effectively speak about my projects to different audiences and I loved speaking with the judges. Before joining 4-H I went to my county fair every year, but after I became a member, it became so much more exciting! Displaying my projects and showing what I accomplished was very rewarding.”
“One of my favorite 4-H memories is competing at the Ohio State Fair for the first 
time. Just being there was exciting enough, but I ended up winning the clock trophy for my Investigating Electricity project, and that was the icing on the cake,” said Logan. Her success at judging also ended with her becoming the first recipient of the Julie Miller Memorial Award for the top female in electricity at the State Fair. STEM projects like this quickly became her favorite, and the electricity and 
engineering projects she took ended up leading her to her current career.
“I always loved math and science, but 4-H and the projects I took were what sent me down the path of engineering,” said Logan. Since her 4-H days she has earned undergraduate degrees from Ohio University, her master’s from Purdue University, and her PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Now, as an assistant professor at Ohio Northern University, 
Logan studies the relationship between water and energy production and the resulting environmental impacts.
She continues her support of Ohio 4-H by serving as a project judge at the Ohio State Fair, participating in the selection of the Julie Miller Memorial Award, and sponsoring the clock trophy for the Investigating Electricity project—the same project that helped start her career interest. “By volunteering at the State Fair, I get to help other 4-H’ers have experiences like mine and support and empower young girls as they explore their interest in STEM.”