Built to Make a Difference

From the moment Macy Hill stepped onto Bradley University’s campus, she could picture herself here. Walking through the state-of-the-art Business and Engineering Convergence Center (BECC), she imagined long hours in the labs, study sessions in the bright collaborative spaces, and the kind of hands-on learning she had been looking for. For someone who had always loved math, science, and physics, engineering felt like a natural path—and Bradley felt like the right place to pursue it.

The senior mechanical engineering major wanted a university that offered opportunity without being overwhelming—large enough to explore her interests, but small enough to feel seen. “Bradley felt like the perfect size,” Hill said—a place where she could get involved and challenge herself without feeling like just another number.

Drawn by her desire to help others, Hill added a biomedical concentration to her mechanical engineering degree. “I’m fascinated by the application of engineering principles, such as mechanics, to the human body. I felt that, by adding the biomedical concentration, I would get the opportunity to directly improve the lives of people in need,” she explained.

Whether through prosthetics, medical devices, human-centered manufacturing design, or even community-based work, her focus has always been clear: using her skills to make a meaningful difference.

While engineering challenged her academically, Hill’s growth at Bradley extended far beyond the classroom. Her campus involvement spanned a wide range of interests, from intramural sports—where she played, refereed, and supervised games like softball, basketball, flag football, volleyball, and soccer—to leadership roles such as treasurer of Bradley’s APICS chapter and president of Get Fit Stay Fit. She also found community through Cru, where she attended Bible studies and strengthened her faith.

Each experience played a distinct role in her development. Intramurals kept her active and taught her how to manage people and resolve conflict. APICS introduced her to professional networking—and even took her to Austin for the 2024 ASCM conference, where she met her fiancé. Leading Get Fit Stay Fit gave Hill hands-on experience with budgeting, event planning, and creative problem-solving. None of these activities were directly tied to mechanical engineering, but together they helped shape her confidence, leadership skills, and sense of balance.

In the classroom, Hill learned another valuable lesson: that challenges are rarely impossible, even when they initially feel that way. Bradley’s engineering program pushed her to grow her capacity for understanding and adaptability, showing her that persistence and effort can turn complexity into opportunity. That mindset has stayed with her as she prepares to enter the workforce.

“Bradley has been instrumental to my growth in every area of my life,” Hill reflected, crediting both the rigor of her mechanical engineering coursework and the experiences she gained through involvement across campus.

After graduation Hill will begin a new chapter—getting married and moving to Alabama, where her fiancé is stationed with the U.S. Army. She is currently seeking an engineering role where she can put her skills and education to work.

“I see myself using the skills I gained at Bradley to make the world a better place. Whether that is using the technical skills I learned in the engineering program, or the soft skills I gained through my involvement in student organizations, I see myself working to improve the lives of the people around me.”

—Emily Potts