The 2015 Legacy Banquet

Young Alumnus of the Year Mr. Travis Smith ’09 When Young Alumnus of the Year Travis Ramone Smith recalls his time at Cedarville University, he remembers the relationships that God used to change him. He also remembers how during his senior year indoor track season he entered the national meet ranked No. 1. He recalls being filled with pride and confident that he would receive a top 3 ranking for All-American status. Travis admits to being unconcerned with practice, thinking he was talented enough to slack off in training, and undisciplined in his diet. The indoor meet did not go well for Travis, who ended up ranking No. 6. This was a devastating blow for him. He remembers crying on the phone with his mom, wanting to drop out of school and thinking that he had lost any chance he had at being a great athlete. This was what Travis recalls as the lowest point of his life. But he now believes that it was the best thing that ever happened to him. It humbled him and taught him three lessons that he continues to benefit from today: 1. Visualize what you want. 2. Talent is never enough. 3. Pride is your enemy. After that experience, he began sharing his experience with his classmate Jesse Lear. Jesse told him about how he placed goals for himself to work toward, keeping pictures of the things he wanted. Travis began doing the same thing and praying for God’s provision for those things. He also started taking his classes and training seriously. During the outdoor track season, he worked to prepare himself physically and mentally. It was in that season that he was the lead runner of the relay team that broke the school’s record in the 4x100-meter dash, won a national championship, and received All- Conference and All-American awards. That experience taught him that Proverbs 29:23 is true: Pride does indeed bring down men but humility builds him up. Since graduating from Cedarville University, Travis started V.I.P. Waste with Jesse Lear ’09 when they realized the hassle that apartment renters experienced when taking trash to the dumpster in Ohio winters. V.I.P. Waste now employs more than 30 people in three states and four cities by providing doorstep trash and recycling pickup service in more than 30,000 apartments and households each week. Travis is also a member of the Cedarville University School of Business Advisory Board, Co-Chairman of the Columbus Apartment Association, Council Member of the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Apartment Association Associate Council, Council Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Central Ohio Branch) Summer Camp Advisory Council, and a volunteer in the children’s ministry at Rock City Church of Columbus, Ohio. Travis references Philippians 3:13 and advises students that “many times what you perceive as a great weakness is actually a great strength. Only when you know your weaknesses can you mitigate them, so be honest with yourself enough to know them and always strive to find ways to use them to your advantage.”