Hailey Swartzbaugh ’27, an engineering major from Poquoson, Va., has been awarded a scholarship from the Department of Defense’s Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) program. Swartzbaugh is only the second RMC student—and first female RMC student—to receive a SMART scholarship, a highly competitive program. She follows Nate Brown ’22, who earned the scholarship in 2020. The award rate for SMART scholarships was just 9% in 2024. 

Swartzbaugh earns a full ride for the final two years of her Randolph-Macon education, as well as annual stipends. In turn, she has committed to at least two years of employment at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) after graduation. She’ll also complete an internship at Dahlgren during the summer of 2026.

Swartzbaugh is an identical twin (both twins play field hockey in the ODAC: Hailey at RMC and Emily at Shenandoah) and has been on the hunt for scholarships to ease the family’s financial burden since applying for colleges in high school.

“I really appreciate it. It means a lot to me because it’s a way to pay back my parents,” Swartzbaugh said. “I can help them out, because they helped me so much and helped me reach this point in my life as well.”

She also expressed gratitude to RMC engineering professors Deonna Woolard and James McLeskey for their guidance in the application process. 

Swartzbaugh has minors in both physics and astrophysics, with the ultimate career goal of working in aerospace engineering. The broad range of research and development opportunities at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, from mechanical engineering to aerospace, was appealing to her, as well as RMC’s longstanding relationship with Dahlgren.

“I really like hands-on things, I like looking at everything like a puzzle,” Swartzbaugh said of her interest in the engineering field. Working at Dahlgren also adds an extra layer of meaning to the work. “To use the things that I’m learning and my skills to help protect our country, I think that’s very important.”