Student Spotlight

Madi Cowan is a junior mechanical engineering student from Huntsville, Alabama. She chose to study mechanical engineering because of her love of physics and calculus that began in high school. In her time at BYU, Madi has found many ways to keep busy. As a freshman, she was selected as an awardee for the BE Together Research Mentorship, where she worked with Dr. Blotter on vibrations and acoustics and eventually published research in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. She said her involvement in this program was an incredible learning opportunity to build connections and acquire hands-on experience.

This past year, Madi was awarded the Science, Math, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from the Department of Defense, which is no easy feat with only a fifteen percent acceptance rate. The SMART Scholarship provides full tuition reimbursement, an annual stipend, a summer internship, and a full-time job following graduation. Madi is very excited for her future involving this scholarship. Until then, she will continue to work in the College of Engineering as a student assistant for BE Together.

Madi has great advice for other students pursuing engineering. She encourages her peers to utilize their TAs, saying that they will be your best tool for success in school. She said that getting out of her comfort zone and making friends early on in her academic career has been a huge support for her. She is grateful for the friends she has made and the study groups that have come from those friendships. Her last piece of advice is something everyone needs to hear: “You are going to fail, but failure leads to success.”

Outside of her engineering endeavors, Madi enjoys spending her free time with friends and family. Her favorite places to eat in Provo are Zupa’s and Costa Vida, as there is “nothing like them in Alabama!” She loves being outside, especially watching and playing sports. She plays on an intramural soccer team and has never missed attending a home football game while here at BYU! Madi is also involved with The Adaptive Show Choir here on campus, where she practices every week with special needs individuals for their final performance at the end of the semester. Madi also has a love for reality TV and gameshows; Family Feud ranks high among those, which makes sense since the Cowan family was recently selected to compete on the show in an upcoming season. Be sure to tune in!

We are so glad to have Madi Cowan as part of our College of Engineering family.