Balancing academics, D1 athletics: Softball standout excels as a flight test engineer

Published: May 11, 2022

Logan Hawker. (Marlayna Demond '11/UMBC)

Logan Hawker

Degree: B.S., Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Mechanicsville, VA
Plans: Flight test engineer, Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, MD

“UMBC encourages exploration of all types and learning that gives students valuable experience beyond the classroom. At UMBC, you have so many job opportunities all around you.”

Logan Hawker ‘22, mechanical engineering, chose UMBC because she wanted to feel supported both in the classroom and on the softball field. She knew it would be a challenge to pursue an engineering degree as a D1 athlete, but thanks to careful time management and guidance from mentors, she has balanced her courses, her practice and game schedules, and several other meaningful opportunities, on and off campus. 

Logan Hawker on the softball field. (Chris Hook/UMBC Athletics)

Hawker worked with Jamie Gurganus ‘04, M.S. ‘11, Ph.D. ‘20, faculty in mechanical engineering and associate director of engineering education initiatives, as the head teaching fellow for UMBC’s introduction to engineering design course. As a teaching fellow, Hawker held office hours for students in the course, answering questions and offering additional support. Hawker also oversaw the mechanical engineering 3D printing lab.

Logan Hawker in The College Tour video.

Off campus, Hawker served as an F-18 flight test engineer intern for the Navy at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. She developed flight test plans and briefed pilots, then monitored test flight data from a control room. She will work there full-time as a flight test engineer after graduation.

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