Student Spotlight

Meet Henry Smith, a junior in Mechanical Engineering from Bountiful, Utah. For Henry, choosing to attend BYU wasn’t just about earning a degree. It was about BYU’s “unique focus on academic rigor and spiritual development,” which have shaped his opportunities to become an engineer and a disciple of Jesus Christ that makes a difference.

 

During his mission in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico, Henry aligned his life more clearly with what matters most to him: helping others. When he returned home, he didn’t leave that direction behind, carrying it with him into his classes and future plans.

 

His love for mechanical engineering clicked in a group project for his freshman year Statics class. As he and his classmates applied class principles to design and build a model, something changed. The formulas on the page suddenly had literal weight. His long-time love for math and science grew in a new way as he saw those abstract concepts work and come to life.

 

Since then, Henry wasted no time diving into opportunities that stretch and sharpen his engineering skillset.

 

In the summer after his freshman year, he jumped into research in the CMR Lab with Dr. Usevitch. More recently, he conducted research in the RAD Lab under the direction of Drs. Killpack and Salmon.

 

This semester, you can find Henry volunteering with the BYU Mars Rover Team, diving deeper into robotics and controls—areas he’s especially excited about. He also took his learning abroad to London last spring, gaining new perspectives both inside and outside the classroom.

 

But ask Henry what has made the biggest difference in his college experience, and he won’t start with labs or projects. He’ll start with people.

 

“I’ve been super blessed to have awesome friends during my whole time at BYU who have helped me feel comfortable in challenging environments,” Henry says.

 

He’s especially grateful for Marianne Cutchins, the mechanical engineering student advisor, who has helped him thoughtfully map out his academic path.

 

When Henry isn’t in the lab or classroom, he enjoys reading, playing guitar, watching movies, and spending time with friends. On sunny days, he loves taking walks between classes, soaking in the mountain views around campus.

 

However, in competition with mountain overlook walks, the basement of the engineering building takes first as Henry’s favorite place on campus.

 

“I love the excitement you can feel down there as people come up with and test new ideas,” Henry says.

 

For Henry, that energy of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving is where he feels most at home.

 

Looking ten years down the road, Henry sees himself in a career where he’s challenged to solve complex problems and continue growing. Beyond work, he hopes to be married with children, deeply involved in their lives, and active in his community, doing his best to be a steady, positive influence.

 

His advice to other engineering students? Don’t wait.

 

“It's never too early to start planning and preparing for the future, and it’s never too early to do really cool things,” Henry says.

 

He also encourages students to talk to professors and counselors. “They want to see you succeed,” Henry says. “They are willing to help and give you opportunities.”

 

Above all, Henry shares his gratitude to be at BYU and for mentors who guide him in a community that pushes him to be better.

 

We are grateful for Henry, whose faith, initiative, and genuine desire to serve make him an example of what it means to be a BYU engineer.