Electrical Engineering Student Makenzie Fogle named Department of Defense SMART Scholar.
Kayla Dailey / Kayla Grace Photography | UAH
It's an achievement many college students strive for, becoming a Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholar. Between 2009 and 2018, The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has had 21 students receive the Department of Defense (DoD) scholarship, and now an Electrical Engineering student is joining the ranks.
Makenzie Fogle, a graduate of Covenant Christian School in Tuscumbia, Alabama, just wrapped up her Sophomore year at UAH and has big plans for her future. Fogle has stayed busy during her time at UAH. Along with studying for classes, she has also been working at the UAH Systems Management and Production Center (SMAP Center), focusing on different medical projects.
"So, my main project has been my mom. She was diagnosed with MS when I was 12. I was able to get some of her MRI's, and 3D model her brain to show lesions and how MS affects the brain," says Fogle.
This experience is one of the ways Fogle set herself apart. In 2019 only 16% of applicants were named a Smart Scholar and only 18% Electrical Engineering students according to the SMART Scholarship award statistics.
"I was really excited when I got the email that I had officially been accepted, but it really didn't start to set in until I began filling out all of the paperwork," says Fogle.
The SMART Scholarship was created to enhance the DoD workforce with talented, innovative, and brilliant scientists, engineers, and researchers. Scholars receive full tuition and a stipend each year based on degree level. The scholarship will also pay for Fogle's Master's Degree with an additional stipend. She will also intern with The United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command and have a job once she graduates. Fogle says this opportunity puts her one step closer to achieving her goals.
"I always wanted to work with the Department of Defense because I have an interest in radar and communications," says Fogle. "The Smart Scholarship has really helped me because now I will be able to work in the field that has sparked my interest. It will also help me focus on school and not be worried about the financial side of it."
