Texas Tech University senior Cavan Cox has balanced the demands of a chemical engineering degree with his commitment to the university’s Water Polo Club, drawing on discipline and teamwork from both pursuits. “It’s a lot of discipline,” Cox said. “Especially the fact that it’s a team sport. If one person starts not doing what the team wants to do, it could throw the entire rhythm off.”
Cox, who previously captained his high school water polo team in El Cajon, California, views the sport as a break from academic pressures while still offering lessons in resilience and cooperation. His experience extends beyond athletics; for three summers he interned at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest in San Diego, working alongside scientists and engineers on classified naval research projects.
“I basically made sure that everything was running smooth for the different levels of the military,” Cox explained. “Different bases in other parts of the country or the world could be relying on the knowledge.”
After graduating this May, Cox will return to Fleet Readiness Center as a full-time employee—a position secured through his Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from the Department of War (DoW). He described relief at having job security before graduation: “I was really excited because I knew that was something I wasn’t going to have to worry about next year… instead of applying to hundreds or thousands of jobs – hoping that I get an interview or two and eventually get accepted.”
The SMART Scholarship is competitive; only 8% of applicants are selected each year. Cox said persistence was key after being unsuccessful during his first application attempt. He strengthened his resume by participating in student organizations such as Tau Beta Pi honor society and contributing to extracurricular activities within Texas Tech’s Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering.
As part of Texas Tech’s Chem-E-Car Competition team with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Cox helped design a chemically powered vehicle intended to travel specific distances safely.
“There’s a lot of other parts about college other than just the classroom,” he said. “All these clubs and organizations just want somebody who’s willing to learn and understand what they’re trying to do. Those different aspects can help you as you’re trying to build a resume and make connections that could help you in the long run.”
When news arrived about his scholarship award—during class—Cox quickly shared it with family despite time zone differences: “Mom, I got it!” he recalled telling his mother early one morning.
His teammates also learned about his achievement during practice at Texas Tech’s Robert H. Ewalt Student Recreation Center. Sam Flesch, club vice president, noted Cox’s dedication: “I could easily see by the hard work he puts into water polo that he would also put that into school… He is one of the first people to show up to practice. He always warms up and prepares better than most of the other players there.”
Cox credits hands-on research experiences at Texas Tech with confirming his career path: “I really enjoy research because one group could be looking at it through lens A, and another group through lens B… but looking at the same research from different viewpoints can still lead to the same outcome—even if that’s not what’s expected.”
He also acknowledged guidance from Jeremy Marston, associate professor of chemical engineering: “Statistics can mask important details, and I try to stress that it is important to show full quantitative results (within reason),” Marston said. “Hopefully these lessons will help students delve more deeply into numbers…”
As graduation approaches, Cox reflects on how skills developed at Texas Tech—in both sports and academics—have prepared him for future challenges with DoW teams.
“The fact that I already know everybody at Fleet Readiness Center and how they do everything basically gives me a head start into my career,” he said. “A lot of what [the] first six months to a year into your job is just learning what they actually do—but I understand my mission and goal.”
