WKU News

When Logan Stewart first stepped foot on the Hill in Fall 2020, things looked a little different—masked faces, online classes, and a whole lot of uncertainty. As a Gatton Academy student navigating high school and college coursework during the height of the pandemic, the transition wasn’t easy. “The shock of COVID and moving to a new town was pretty interesting,” said Logan.

Originally from LaGrange, Kentucky, Logan will graduate next week with a double major in Mathematical Economics and Computer Science. He will then pursue a Ph.D. in Economics at Michigan State University.

Staying at WKU for his undergraduate degree wasn’t always an obvious choice for Logan. “Most of my classmates at Gatton were applying to Ivy League schools,” Logan explains. “I shot pretty high with my applications too, but money was a big thing for me. So, I had to factor that into my decision.” Logan applied to several other state schools, but in the end, he chose to continue his journey on the Hill. He said WKU’s generous scholarship package was a strong selling point, and the campus felt like home. “It’s a beautiful campus. The people here are kind. It just made sense.”

Logan found his academic spark early on. “I took a macroeconomics class at Gatton as a filler, and I fell in love with it. I didn’t know you could mathematically model human behavior like that.” Add to that a long-time passion for coding—something he’s been doing since he was 12—and his double major made perfect sense.

But Logan’s WKU experience has been about more than just classes. He’s worked on campus at the Preston Center, joined clubs, and most notably, dove deep into research. “I’ve been doing undergrad research pretty much the whole time I’ve been here,” he says. He’s worked across disciplines—from modeling equations in Mathematica to machine learning in the Department of Psychological Sciences—but found his true home in the Department of Economics.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Locke, Logan recently completed and defended his honors thesis. “That was a big moment for me,” he said. “Dr. Locke is amazing—he helped guide me as I figured out the kind of research I want to do long-term.”

Though he didn’t pursue traditional internships, Logan believes his research experience gave him the skills and knowledge he needed for grad school—and beyond. “I knew I wanted to go into academia, and this was the best preparation I could get.”

Outside of academics, Logan also found a passion for powerlifting. He first got into lifting during the pandemic, and it’s become a steady part of his routine. “It’s something that helps keep me grounded,” he says. “It’s a great way to manage stress and stay focused, especially when classes or research get overwhelming.”

So what’s next for Logan? “I’m heading to Michigan State in the fall,” he says. “I was lucky enough to get a fully funded offer.”

As for advice to future Hilltoppers? Logan keeps it simple: “Find what makes you curious and chase it. WKU has a lot of opportunities—research, community, and people who care. You have to plug in.”