COLUMBUS - Edgewood Senior High School graduate Matt Lockwood, 21, is Mr. March in the 2003 edition of the Campus Men calendar.
The calendar spotlights students from Ohio State University, where Lockwood is a senior, majoring in mechanical engineering.
The calendar, distributed nationwide, was photographed by Sean Ashbrook and has athletic and collegiate themes, including shots of basketball, baseball and football players, along with students, in dorm rooms and other campus locales. The photo shoot was held last October.
Appearing in the calendar is considered an honor among OSU students, Ashbrook said.
Lockwood was "discovered" by another calendar model two years ago while living in an OSU dorm.
"He had done the calendar two years before, and he thought I had the look they were looking for," Lockwood said. "He urged me to go try out." Lockwood took his friend's advice and ended up being one of 80 students invited to apply for a place in the calendar.
"I was excited," he said. "A lot of opportunities come out of this."
Lockwood knows of other calendar models who have made it in magazines, movies and on TV shows, such as "Ricki Lake" and "Oprah."
A 1999 ESHS graduate, Lockwood was captain of the Warrior football team, a member of the basketball team, and in Who's Who Among American Students.
"I'm coming home this weekend to see my brother play football," he said. "It'll also be the first time my mom will see the calendar."
Lockwood is the son of Russell and Helen Bearce of North Kingsville.
"It's very surprising," Bearce said when contacted by phone Thursday afternoon, adding this is her son's first shot at modeling.
However, news of Lockwood's 15 minutes of campus-wide fame has spread among his friends.
"The word gets out quite easily," Lockwood said. "I was a resident adviser, so a lot of people know me; and once the word got out, everyone knew."
One final note to the ladies: Lockwood is coy about whether he's attached to anyone in particular.
Copies of the $14.95 calendar may be obtained from Lockwood or by writing: Calendar Models, PO. Box 3301, Columbus, 43210.
Originally published Aug. 23, 2002. Story © Ashtabula Star Beacon. This text is exactly as published.
