Inspire, Fall/Winter 2010

Aaron Welty ’05 is living life in the fast lane. At least, that’s where he rides his FENX 4.1, a custom mobility scooter he designed and built with his father. Having cerebral palsy can make it difficult for Aaron to walk long distances. When he first arrived at Cedarville in 2001, he made his way around campus on a larger-than-life tricycle. But after he flipped that while avoiding a collision with a motorcycle, he and his dad drew up plans for a safer, more practical mode of transportation. In 2004, they unveiled the original FENX (pronounced “phoenix”), an experimental, battery-powered device. These days, a retooled version of the FENX helps Aaron get around Washington, D.C., where he works as a legislative assistant to Representative Thaddeus McCotter, a congressman from Aaron’s home state of Michigan. Aaron’s experiences overcoming physical adversity have prepared him for his job in the nation’s capital. He firmly believes that God has placed him there for a reason. “A life like this isn’t what I would have chosen, but it’s what I’ve been given, and I work hard to thrive in what I do,” he said. “You learn a lot about what you’re made of in this line of work.” Though the FENX project began more than six years ago, it’s still going strong. Last year, Aaron worked with NBC Nightly News on a story about the project. You can watch the video at cedarville.edu/fenx . Aaron’s dad is working on a new version of the FENX — the FENX V. He and Aaron are excited to see what God has in store for the future of their project. Aaron commented on his blog that he’s “eager to see what sorts of doors and adventures the Lord brings as a result of this — His fingerprints have been all over it from the beginning.” A Dream Ride Aaron Welty ‘05 knows the life-changing capability of smart design. 18 fall/winter 2010