Madison Yoder ’27 credits her love for engineering to the keen insight of her mother. Recognizing her daughter’s interests, Yoder’s mother encouraged her to explore engineering, leading Yoder to discover that it was the perfect fit for her talents and aspirations.
"My mother is my rock, and I wouldn't be where I am now if she hadn't been a great influence and encouragement along this road," said Yoder, who is majoring in civil engineering. "She knew my passions were math, physics and problem-solving, and [because of this], she realized the ideal degree for me was engineering."
With her mother's encouragement, Yoder began her journey, looking into her future education. While she desperately wanted to attend Texas A&M University, Yoder was concerned about the cost of tuition for her family.
"Texas A&M has been my ideal school since I was a child, as it offers one of the top engineering programs in the country," she said. "But I was concerned about the cost — I come from a single-parent household, [which] has created additional challenges."
Yoder's academic path took a pivotal turn at a college fair in her senior year of high school, where she stumbled upon the Texas A&M Engineering Academies’ booth. It was a program she had never heard of before.
"The advisor [at the college fair booth] provided me with an extensive amount of information on how the Engineering Academy partners with Tarrant County College (TCC) and how I could ultimately save a lot of money," she said. "After hearing all of this information, I knew this was the ideal program for me."
The Texas A&M Engineering Academies are the first engineering transition program of its kind in the U.S. where students are co-enrolled at Texas A&M and one of 10 partner colleges. Students take mathematics, science and core curriculum courses through the partner college while taking engineering courses from Texas A&M faculty on the partner college campus. After one or two years, students transition to Texas A&M in College Station to complete their bachelor's degrees.
"I chose to be a part of the Engineering Academies because it is an incredible opportunity that allows you to save money while still being an Aggie from day one," Yoder said. "I’m also able to make a decent income by working while getting support from my family and staying at home — with this opportunity, it makes things a bit easier for me."
In the future, I plan on using my engineering degree to positively benefit society and the environment. I see myself devoting a lot of my professional life to leading the development of infrastructure projects that place resilience and long-term sustainability first to create a safer environment.
After joining the Engineering Academies, Yoder excelled in her coursework, working hard to pursue her dreams.
"Every single day, I get closer and closer to establishing the career of my dreams," she said. "I've always wanted to work in civil engineering, and once I finish, I'll be able to accomplish just that."
Yoder is proud to call herself a future Aggie engineer, and this passion fuels Yoder's ambitions for the future, where she plans to use her civil engineering degree from the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to impact the world around her.
"In the future, I plan on using my engineering degree to positively benefit society and the environment. I see myself devoting a lot of my professional life to leading the development of infrastructure projects that place resilience and long-term sustainability first to create a safer environment,” she said. “Civil engineering has evolved in recent years to take into account a wide range of modern environmental challenges, such as assisting in the resolution of pollution and water shortage issues. I would love to help with these issues. I’m excited to use my knowledge to solve these problems and use my degree to advance society even further."
While Yoder is excited about her bright future, she does not take her hard work for granted, advising students to celebrate every achievement.
"Some advice I would give students is to study hard, manage your time effectively, care for yourself and enjoy tiny victories,” she said. “Engineering is among the most challenging topics to study — but once completed, you will be thrilled with your accomplishments."
Yoder attributes much her success to the friends she made in the Engineering Academies, crediting the community around her for making her time in the program worthwhile.
"The community is astounding," she said. "Without them, I would not have made it through my first year of college. Surrounding myself with friends has made this experience even more precious to me."
Yoder encourages students seeking a cost-effective and practical way to earn their degree to consider the Texas A&M Engineering Academies, based on her own experience in the program.
"Being in the Engineering Academy allows me to have a completely different experience than other students who graduate with an engineering degree from Texas A&M," she said. "I strongly encourage students who want to get into engineering to do this program. Being a part of the Engineering Academies has been one of the best decisions I've made."