Engineering Academy guides student to dream major

Aiden Ware Bosanko, sophomore in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering, has never been one to shy away from a challenge. From the earliest days of his academic journey, he intentionally sought out advanced placement and dual credit courses. He remains steadfast in his pursuit of growth and is fueled by an unrelenting curiosity to learn more, go further and exceed expectations.

“I’m a constant learner,” Bosanko said. “Whether I’m researching engineering, philosophy, history or working on a new project involving my motorcycle, I never want to stop learning.”

Bosanko views learning not merely as absorbing information, but as a tool for achieving his goals.

“I’ve always been fascinated by how complex systems function and interact, constantly asking ‘why’ and ‘how’ things work together to create a functional solution,” Bosanko said.

It was this relentless pursuit of greatness that ultimately led Bosanko to the Texas A&M University Engineering Academies program at Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio.

The Texas A&M Engineering Academy is the first engineering transition program in the United States. Students are co-enrolled with Texas A&M and one of 10 partner colleges. They take mathematics, science and core curriculum courses through the partner college, while taking engineering courses from Texas A&M faculty on the partner college campus. After one or two years, students transition to Texas A&M to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Unlike traditional transfer programs, students are Texas A&M College of Engineering students from day one.

“I heard about the Engineering Academies during a visit to my high school,” Bosanko said. “Being involved meant having a clear goal to reach the main campus while being part of a tight-knit community of students all struggling through the same tough classes to become Aggie engineers.”

For Bosanko, the Academies offered more than just a supportive community — it offered a purposeful roadmap toward achieving his higher education goals.

“I chose the program over other schools because it was the most cost-effective and direct way to transition into the world-class engineering environment at Texas A&M,” Bosanko said. “The Engineering Academies acted as a strategic path to reach my dream school.” 

From the moment he enrolled, Bosanko made it his mission to make every day count.  

“I made my experience meaningful by diving into every opportunity — from joining clubs and meeting new people to seeking out projects that taught me something new,” he said. 

During his freshman year in the Engineering Academy, Bosanko completed an internship with CPS Energy, where he bridged the gap between classroom theory and real-world mechanical applications through hands-on involvement.

He didn’t stop at technical skills. He also sought wisdom from mentors like Professor Dan Ball.

“Professor Ball was a vital mentor who taught me not just how to be a great engineer, but how to be a better person,” Bosanko said. “Looking back at my three semesters at the Academy, I’m incredibly grateful for the foundation he helped me build.”

Motivated by Ball’s mentorship, Bosanko co-founded the Northeast Lakeview NLC STEM Club, where he and his peers worked together to foster a culture of service, collaboration and student success.

“I’ve realized that the Academy allowed me to develop more fully as an engineer than if I had started anywhere else,” he said. “Plus, I now have a solid group of lifelong friends here at Texas A&M that I met back in San Antonio.”

After just a year and a half at the Engineering Academy at Alamo Colleges District, Bosanko transitioned to Texas A&M University in College Station, where he is now studying mechanical engineering.

“I felt especially proud when I received my holistic admission into the mechanical engineering program,” he said. “It was the culmination of a long, diligent grind — it was my top-choice goal.”

For Bosanko, earning admission into mechanical engineering was more than an accomplishment. It marked the culmination of a journey defined by perseverance, self-doubt and steady growth.

“To be honest, I started the Academy with some pretty heavy imposter syndrome, feeling like I had a weaker background in engineering and projects than some of my peers,” he said. “However, the environment and having like-minded people around really helped me push through that.”

Bosanko’s goal is to work in the defense industry, specializing in propulsion and autonomous systems. He even plans to pursue a master’s degree in aerospace engineering with a focus on gas dynamics.

While he is enjoying his time at Texas A&M, Bosanko still hopes to inspire students who are currently enrolled or considering enrollment in the Engineering Academies. 

“Get your hands dirty with real projects,” he said. “Research the niche you actually enjoy and apply your classroom knowledge to something that genuinely interests you.”