Matt is the son of Jim and Donna Drake and comes from Harveysburg, Ohio, just north of Cincinnati. His father is in public works in Centerville, Ohio, and his mother is a factory supervisor at Newman Gasket.
 

Matt heard about Lee from a youth-group mentor who encouraged him to attend. While a student, Matt served in the United States Army Guard and was sent to Iraq while still attending Lee. He explains that his transition back to school after being in Iraq was difficult. “It was a change of mentality. I went from applying skills and knowledge to learning them again.”
 

Matt speaks highly of the business office and their help during his transitions; they would send him packages when he was over-seas. The constant reminder that people cared provided him with much needed strength. Matt also met his wife Lindsay while at Lee. “She is my biggest motivation to be successful, she provides me with a calming factor.” Matt and Lindsey were engaged in September and then married in November of 2005, right before he left for Iraq. While at Lee Matt has been involved with the social service club, Theta Delta Kappa, as well as being a big brother for the social service club, Epsilon Lambda Phi. Matt also volunteered at the local Boys and Girls Club. After graduation in December, Matt began working in Cleveland while awaiting law school acceptance for next year.  He plans to specialize in transaction law, which is primarily used in the corporate setting.