Mentors and supervisors have never seen Mikayla Adams’ youth as a reason not to put her in charge. When she first joined the Army, she was selected as platoon guide at basic training, despite being the youngest person in her unit. On campus, she earned a place in junior leadership with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) — as a freshman. And she was the only person in the state to receive the ROTC’s four-year Minuteman Army National Guard Scholarship. That means when she graduates, she’ll earn a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army.

Such experiences will go a long way to Adams achieving her dream career: a long and successful tenure as an Army officer.

“The Army has molded me into the person I am today,” Adams said. “I was already goal-driven and ambitious, but the skills I have acquired through the military enhanced my patience and made me be more thorough in tasks that I complete. It’s even taught me a lot about diversity and inclusion.”

Outside her military service and full-time studies, Adams still finds time for a rich campus life. She’s a devoted member of the UM-Dearborn cheer squad, which makes 40 appearances a semester in support of student-athletes. She’s active with the Black Student Union. And as a member of the Student Veterans Association, she’s assembled care packages for troops overseas and been a mainstay volunteer at Veteran of the Game tailgate festivities at U-M home football games.

“MiKayla is making a difference at the university all while balancing life, academic success, the demands of a tight schedule and her desire to meet the call to military service,” said Coordinator of Veteran Affairs Tom Pitock. “I have personally witnessed her commitment to education, campus, community and country.”