Madeline Adam ’25 is a senior aerospace engineering major and mathematics minor who recently completed an internship at TurbineAero in Tempe, Arizona.
Madeline’s dream of becoming a pilot was transformed into studying aerospace engineering and understanding how everything functions. She says that the program is extremely interesting because not only is she learning about her interest in aeronautics, but lots of classes incorporate astronautics, too.
What she enjoys most about UHart and the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA) experience is the student-to-faculty ratio. “Here at the University of Hartford, all of my teachers are available for office hours and will always give you their time to answer questions and make sure you are on track.”
Over the summer of 2024, Madeline worked as a mechanical engineering intern at TurbineAero in Tempe, Arizona. There, she worked with special processes and manufactured tools used to repair aircraft components. Shadowing and assisting the engineers, she learned the lean manufacturing system used to improve material flow, reduce repair cost, and deliver high quality parts. Her favorite part of the job was seeing the transformation of her class notes and exams into real products. “I got to physically work with lots of engine parts and saw the many challenges that come with the repairing side of engineering.”
Completing this internship helped Madeline gain experience and confidence for careers that will come along after college. Working in an office with others and completing all kinds of tasks gave her a greater sense of the functions and responsibilities of engineers and has her looking forward to what comes next. She says CETA has helped prepare her for a career through comprehensive projects lasting over several semesters, which prepared her for the many real-world tasks she will face in her career. Madeline says these projects challenged her to work with others, meet deadlines, perform lots of research, and display professionalism in the presentation of the projects. “The classes alone are challenging, preparing you for not just future careers, but life in general, and taking on the obstacles that could come with it.”
On campus, you can find Madeline is a valuable member of the University’s women’s golf team, where she broke the school record for the lowest tournament round for the team, shooting 70 (-2). She is also a member of the Society of Women in Engineering and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
As the number one player on the UHart Women’s golf team, Madeline has found a way to balance the responsibility of being a student-athlete while staying on top of her academics. She says that although it can be stressful, she loves being busy, and playing on the golf team is a great experience. “I have been fortunate to see a lot of new places and states because of the travel tournaments we get to compete in. Being from Arizona, it has been exciting to see a lot of New England and experience the culture. My teammates all have different majors, and coming together to play a sport has created some amazing, life-long friendships.”
Overall, Madeline says, CETA has helped her in many ways. “Coming out of high school, I didn’t have the best time management or study habits. After about a year, I made a lot of changes in order to be prepared for taking on an engineering major. The CETA program has transformed me into a better student as each semester goes on.”
Many campus leaders have helped Madeline both in and out of the classroom. “Professor Slaboch and Professor Milanovic have been my professors for multiple classes in the aerospace engineering program and have supported and pushed me through all the semesters. Their great lectures and mentoring have transformed me into the student that I have become, and I am grateful to have had them as my professors.” In terms of her experience on the women’s golf team, Denise Marchese, assistant director of student-athlete services, has helped Madeline navigate the student-athlete experience. “She is always there for all the athletes and keeps us on track throughout our athletic seasons.” Lastly, her coach, Peter Stankevich, has helped her through all the hectic exam and travel weeks. “He has always been an advocate for allowing athletes to choose a major that we are passionate about, and was a great coach for us on the golf course.”
After graduation, Madeline plans to find a position in engineering back home in Arizona, where she will also work on getting her pilot's license. She is also interested in becoming an officer in the Navy, pursuing a pilot’s license in the military, and serving the United States.
Madeline Adam ’25, College of Engineering, Technology, and ArchitectureThe classes alone are challenging, preparing you for not just future careers, but life in general, and taking on the obstacles that could come with it.