Introduction to a Bright Future
Since graduating from Utah State University this past spring, alumna Reagan Hoopes has been navigating the vast expanse of Utah’s Hill Air Force Base, uncovering the potential of augmented reality technology in creating progressive military training scenarios. This technology, akin to Pokémon GO, blends virtual and physical realities, allowing for a real-time view of each digital information and the physical world.
Discovering the Perfect Fit
Hoopes, a distance runner who accomplished her bachelor’s degree in computer science with a 4.0 GPA and Mountain West Scholar-Athlete academic honors, was recruited into the Air Force’s competitive Palace Acquire (PAQ) civilian entry-level science and engineering program. This full-time profession path will enable her to pursue graduate studies in computer science inside the following two years, a possibility she could hardly imagine when she first entered Utah State in Fall 2019.
The Journey to Computer Science
Hoopes initially selected Utah State to compete in track and cross country on the collegiate level, aided by a USU Presidential Scholarship. Her athletic focus was clear, but her academic path was less defined. She began with outdoor product design, then shifted to food science. It wasn’t until she took her first computer science class between her freshman and sophomore years that she found her true academic calling. Despite initial concerns about being behind her peers, Hoopes discovered a natural affinity for problem-solving and coding, thanks partially to the support of the Computer Science Coaching Center.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Success
The COVID pandemic presented significant challenges, including the cancellation of the 2020 spring track and fall cross-country seasons. However, Hoopes’ discipline and time management skills, honed through athletics, served her well in pursuing computer science. She credits her coaches with keeping her motivated and notes that the experience taught her invaluable lessons about coping with setbacks and maintaining her physical and mental health.
Career Exploration and Opportunities
Hoopes’ journey was marked by encouragement from faculty members like Erik Falor, who helped her explore profession options and secure skilled opportunities. A highlight was her acceptance right into a highly competitive National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates internship at Boise State University, where she worked on a novel blockchain-based solution for scientific workflow information. This experience, together with a College of Science academic scholarship awarded at the beginning of her junior 12 months, boosted her confidence and lessened her financial burdens, allowing her to give attention to her academic and athletic pursuits.
Pursuing Endless Opportunities
Hoopes views computer science as a field with limitless opportunities, applicable in quite a few disciplines. She is happy concerning the long-term prospects and experiences that lie ahead. To those that, like her, began their academic profession with little knowledge of knowledge technology, Hoopes advises against letting fear or insecurity hold them back. She attests that Utah State University, with its supportive people and resources, is an excellent place to undertake latest challenges and succeed.
Conclusion
Reagan Hoopes’ story is a testament to the ability of perseverance, adaptability, and the pursuit of 1’s passions. From her early days as a collegiate athlete to her current role on the Hill Air Force Base, Hoopes has demonstrated that with the proper mindset and support, one can overcome obstacles and achieve great things. Her journey serves as an inspiration to current and prospective students, highlighting the importance of embracing challenges and exploring opportunities, each inside and out of doors of 1’s comfort zone. As Hoopes embarks on her future endeavors, her experiences and advice offer invaluable lessons for anyone trying to forge their very own path within the ever-evolving field of computer science.
