Alabama A&M First-Generation Student Grateful for Campus Experience

MiKaylah Pratt, a mechanical engineering major from Charlotte, North Carolina, will begin her post-graduate journey this summer as a Program Quality Engineer with Boeing in Philadelphia. Selected as a Thurgood Marshall College Fund Boeing Scholar as part of Cohort 5, Pratt secured the position through a competitive national process that affirmed her academic preparation and leadership on campus.

“It's like I’m completely starting over because I don’t have family in Philadelphia,” she said. “But I’m also very excited.”

A first-generation college student, Pratt chose Alabama A&M University for its strong reputation in STEM and for the opportunity to chart a path that would lead to a meaningful career. She remained focused on one clear objective.

“I wanted to make sure I graduated with a job after my four years of study,” she said.

While at AAMU, Pratt earned the Normalite Scholarship and the TMCF Scholarship. She served as SGA Senator of Student Affairs during the 2022–2023 academic year and as Executive Treasurer the following year. An active member of the campus community, she was inducted into the Honors Program, became a Fall ’22 initiate of Eta Kappa Tau Engineering and Technology Fraternity, Incorporated, and joined the Delta Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, in Spring ’23.

Pratt says she will carry with her not just a degree, but a deep appreciation for the culture and connections she found on The Hill. From late nights in the engineering building to the warmth of Every Sunny Wednesday and the joy of the Homecoming Gospel Concerts, her memories are etched into every corner of campus life.

“I will miss it all,” she said. “I didn’t know anyone when I arrived here, and now I feel like I’ve created a family.”

That sense of transformation – academic, personal, and professional – defines what she sees as the greatest lesson learned at Alabama A&M.

“What you put in will come back to you,” Pratt said. “Always invest in yourself and find ways to become a better person. I am extremely grateful to have made a difference on campus. It’s definitely bittersweet, but I’m excited to see what comes next.”