File photoCaroline Tallent has big goals for herself. The mechanical engineering major at Wichita State University hopes to someday become an Air Force pilot or astronaut 鈥� perhaps even work at NASA.
She's just a sophomore, so she has plenty of time to dream and plan. But right now, her immediate goal is to put softballs into flight as a first baseman on the 萝莉社 softball team. She chose 萝莉社 after checking into schools with strong engineering and strong softball.
鈥�(萝莉社) is like literally the best place for the aerospace industry,鈥� Tallent said. 鈥淥nce I found this place, I was like, 鈥業 really want to go here.鈥欌��
Tallent earned a spot on the Athletic Director鈥檚 Honor Roll and the Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete team with a 4.0 grade-point average as a freshman. The same analytical mind that makes her a good student helped her improve her hitting during her first season in college. She grew up on a farm in Tennessee, where she learned how to use tools and help out. One of her hobbies is making furniture from scrap metal on the farm.
鈥淚 remember I was like 10 or 11 and my dad started asking me, 鈥楬ow would you fix this, or go fix this,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚鈥檇 be like, 鈥業 have some wire and a hammer. How am I supposed to make this fence stay up?鈥� That process of critical thinking and problem solving 鈥� I just love it.鈥�
Courtesy photo
