SMU senior heads to Columbia University to develop educational video games

May 14, 2026 - 13:17

Cecilia Tipping glanced down at the engineering ring she had just received during the Order of the Engineer ceremony. For her, it was more than a piece of metal. It was a personal promise. "My engineering ring is a reminder to myself that I want to use my knowledge for the betterment of society," Tipping said.

That promise is now taking her to Columbia University. The SMU senior will be joining a program focused on developing educational video games. Her goal is to blend technical skill with creative design to make learning more engaging. Instead of building apps or software for profit, she wants to create games that actually teach something.

Tipping has always been interested in how people learn. She sees video games as a powerful tool that is often overlooked in classrooms. Many games are built purely for entertainment, but she believes they can do more. By designing interactive experiences, she hopes to help students grasp difficult subjects in a way that feels natural and fun.

Her move to Columbia marks the next step in that vision. She will work with researchers and developers who share her belief that play and education do not have to be separate. For Tipping, the engineering ring on her finger is a constant reminder of why she chose this path. She wants to build things that matter.