Mariah Parker, Multimedia Editor

Perhaps you’ve seen him bouncing around outside Sunderland on his Powerisers, his protective padding giving him the look of a Storm Trooper. Perhaps he’s strolled uninvited into your suite and, with a sincere smile, introduced himself:
 
Hi, I’m Ben Dirks and I’m (pretty much) fearless.

Seeing Ben in Gladfelter, you’d never guess you were looking at a sky-diving, snowboarding Eagle Scout who, at the tender age of 15, completed two 50-mile hikes near his home in Seattle, Washington. Even with his neon-yellow, occasionally liberty-spiked, hair, Ben strikes you as the sensitive, thoughtful kind.

“I’ve got my life values posted up on my wall: human connection, love, and education, to name a few,” Ben said.

As an aspiring Eagle Scout, Ben organized 80 volunteers in the planting of 1500 trees for his final project. “I received double the hours I needed,” Ben said. “Still, it was worth it.”

Ben has played the full spectrum of sports, from basketball, soccer, baseball and football to running, hiking, golf and tennis. Ben acquired his Poweriser pogo-stilts as a high school freshman and frequently puts them to use around campus. The stilts allow Dirks to jump two meters high and run at speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour.

“There are videos of people leaping over fences and cars [with them]. It’s really adrenaline-inducing,” said Ben.

Ben aspires to one day work for a park service or ski patrol. In the short term, Dirks hopes to join the Farm crew and major in Outdoor Leadership.

When asked if he’ll be jumping over cars anytime soon, Ben replied, “I hope so.”

Part street-fashion blog, part community member profiler, Owl on the Prowl celebrates individuality within the Wilson bubble. Submit your photos and profiles to echo@warren-wilson.edu