The new normal: AI changes the landscape for students 

Maddie Larkin, a junior software engineering student, is redefining the image of a successful college student. She leads her sorority, participates in 100 + Women Strong, the Association for Computing Machinery and tutors fellow engineering students. She was also recognized as one of the winners of the Jeff and Linda Stone Leadership Award. 

How does Maddie manage all these activities? With the help of Microsoft Copilot. 

Before Maddie began using Copilot, she was an incoming freshman who decided to try out for the Auburn University Marching Band (AUMB). 

“I played the clarinet in high school marching band and eventually became head drum major,” she said. “I decided to try out for the AUMB instead of going through sorority recruitment.” 

Maddie was nervous about tryouts and called her mom, who advised her to fill out a continuous open bidding (COB) form as a backup. COB is an informal process for sororities to take in new members. After starting school, Maddie joined a sisterhood, met a Delta Zeta member, accepted her bid and is grateful for her mom's advice. 

Maddie didn’t stop at getting involved; she now serves as the president of Delta Zeta. 

“I can’t imagine my life without Delta Zeta,” she said. “It’s a huge responsibility to be the president, but Copilot has been an invaluable tool for me during my presidency.”

Piloting Copilot

Copilot is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered assistant from Microsoft that can help with various tasks, including writing, coding and research. The assistant can be used across all Microsoft 365 platforms, including Outlook, Excel, Teams and Word. 

“I use the AI tool to assist in scanning our sorority's documentation. It allows me to comb through our bylaws, constitution, standing rules and guidebooks,” said Maddie. “One of my major duties as president is to ensure we’re following our procedures and rules, and Copilot has allowed me to fast track this process. It’s streamlined my many responsibilities and made managing everything much more efficient.” Additionally, Maddie has used the assistant to schedule meetings, prepare questions and provide insight for various events, ensuring she can remain organized.  

“Copilot helps me prepare meeting agendas efficiently and manage my time wisely, positively impacting my mental health,” she said. 

Maddie’s journey shows how technology, specifically Copilot, can transform the student experience. From her initial days as a first-year student trying out for AUMB to her current role as president of Delta Zeta, her story is a testament to the power of AI in empowering students to achieve their full potential.