Nicholas Scarangelli (’26) grew up surrounded by family members who worked in computer science. His father is a computer scientist for the FAA; his sister, Gianna Scarangelli (’24), is a computer engineer.

Originally interested in engineering, he took an advanced programming class during his senior year and fell in love.

“To me, coding is like a puzzle — once you figure out where the pieces go, they all fit together,” Nicholas shared. “There are infinite possibilities of what you can make through code.”

Embry-Riddle Met the Criteria

Nicholas and his parents took a 3,000-mile road trip to visit dozens of colleges from Maine to Florida. That trip helped him realize that he wanted to attend a smaller school in a warm state. He also wanted to run at the collegiate level.

“Once I figured out my criteria, Embry-Riddle kept coming back to mind,” Nicholas said. “I had been here on several visits to see my sister and was in awe of the campus. It was modern and in a great, lively area with beautiful beaches nearby.”

When he took an official tour of Embry-Riddle, he realized the facilities, class size and expert professors met his criteria.

“The cross-country track and field team sealed the deal. I met the coach and team, and I loved the vibe — everyone was so friendly.”

Nicholas has found that smaller class sizes allow for better relationships with his professors. They’re available for questions and want to help their students succeed. Teaching assistants have also been a valuable resource to Nicholas.

“Along with the professors and teaching assistants, I have utilized the Academic Advancement Center, which is an amazing resource on campus,” he said. “I really enjoy going, and the tutors are great at explaining topics or answering my questions.”

Gaining Research Experience

One of the benefits of Embry-Riddle is the opportunities for undergraduate research. Nicholas realized his sophomore year that he wanted to gain hands-on experience through research. With the help of his professors, he settled on autonomous vehicle simulations (AVS).

“I knew there would be a learning curve, but AVS sounded exciting. I had to learn Python, so I was given small tasks to output graphs to learn the language.”

In his junior year, Nicholas joined Assistant Professor Laxima Niure Kandel for research at Accessible Learning Labs, an NSF-funded project to promote inclusive software education. Using the data he gathered, Nicholas helped write a paper that was accepted to the 2025 Frontiers in Education (FIE) conference.

Staying Motivated through Challenges

As a collegiate athlete, Nicholas is fiercely competitive, but adjusting to college has been academically and personally challenging.

“I stay motivated by reminding myself that I’m doing this for a reason and the pay off will be a job I love,” he said. “For projects or assignments, I remind myself of my goal to graduate summa cum laude. If I keep working hard, great things will come.”

Nicholas has learned to do his best work, but not to get anxious when his grade isn’t what he expected. Rather than stress, he seeks help.

“There are plenty of resources on campus that I have utilized, from professors to tutoring rooms, and everyone always wants to help,” he said. “I try to budget my time, and I don’t wait until the last minute to start assignments.”

Time management is key. Between classes, cross-country track and field, research commitments and his social life, it would be easy for Nicholas to get overwhelmed.

“It can be hard to find balance, but it’s important for both your body and mind.”

Finding His Inspiration

Nicholas knows his parents are his biggest supporters, and he always wants to make them proud.

“My parents inspire me to be the best person and student I can be,” he said. “I’ve gotten a 4.0 almost every semester of school so far, so I’m on track to graduate summa cum laude.”

His hard work has paid off — in the classroom and on the track. He has a 3.955 GPA, and he’s met or exceeded the NCAA provisional qualifying standard, making him one of the top contenders in his event.

In addition to his parents, Nicholas finds inspiration in his friends. They push each other to do their best, whether in academics or track and field.

“I have a great group of friends,” he said. “If I need help on or off the track, I know I can count on my friends and my team.”

Planning His Future

Nicholas plans to take advantage of Embry-Riddle's combined and accelerated bachelor’s-to-master's programs to earn a B.S. and an M.S. in Computer Science in just five years.

“I think my coursework and research here at Embry-Riddle will make it easy for me to integrate into the workforce, he said. “I’ll graduate soon with two degrees and a solid understanding of computer science, cybersecurity and the dynamics of working with a team.”

An Embry-Riddle student and cross-country athlete, Nicholas Scarangelli follows a family legacy in computer science and runs toward his future in cybersecurity, exemplifying how Embry-Riddle prepares students to turn passion into purpose.