“I’m weird,” says Madison Woolridge, a senior, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. “I feel like people who run into me get the gist of me pretty quick. I’m an acquired taste. I’m like green tea. You force yourself to like it.”

Madison may sometimes feel like a round peg in a square hole, but CBU is known for appreciating and welcoming its students as they are. That’s exactly the environment Madison experienced when she transferred to CBU after three years at another university in Tennessee. 

“I came to Tennessee for soccer,” says the Florida student-athlete. “I spent three years at a rival school. It was nice there, but I didn’t feel like I fit in. It wasn’t my vibe, and I felt like I was hiding myself and being lost amongst them. My third year, I got tired of not being me. I entered the portal, and one of the coaches from CBU reached out.”

While at her previous university, Madison competed here as a winger on the soccer team and knew she “loved the pitch” at CBU. She also really liked the idea of a fresh start in a city the size of Memphis. 

When she got to know her teammates at CBU, she realized the decision she had made was a good one.

At the other school, “I never made a good group of friends,” she says. “At CBU, it happened instantly. We all share common goals – to play for happiness and to try to win. It’s always about winning, but it’s not about how we win or who scores. It’s that the goal goes in. It doesn’t matter who or how we get that win, we are just happy to see the score go up.”

Madison got hurt at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year conference season but played through pain to enjoy every last moment of eligibility on the soccer team. Now, Madison has healed and stays active on the track team.

“Madison brings a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and genuine care for those around her,” says CBU Athletic Director Ricky Jackson. “She represents CBU athletics exceptionally well through her leadership, dedication, and the way she helps create a welcoming environment for her teammates and fellow students.” 

Jourdan Doffeny, former Head Track and Field Coach, concurs. “She is a hard-working student athlete in the class and on the field,” he says. “Anything you need done, she will make sure the mission is accomplished.”

Madison’s area of study is cybersecurity, which stems from her longtime interest in computers. In fifth grade, she watched the Iron Man movies and wanted to be the titular character Tony Stark, so her father encouraged her to learn about computers. She took numerous classes, excelled at coding, and chose an engineering academy for high school. 

Once she completes her undergraduate degree, Madison plans to pursue a master’s degree in digital forensics at her mother’s alma mater, George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In this field, law enforcement use tech-based clues to catch perpetrators of crimes. 

Madison spoke with an FBI officer who told her, “It’s some morbid stuff.” Her interpretation is that the skill allows you to access the “dark and dirty acts of people” to solve cases.

As she reflects on her short but impactful time at CBU, Madison says she has “no regrets.” She appreciates the education she received (harder than her previous school), the campus (“The Hill” is one of her favorite areas), but, above all, the people and how they made her feel. 

“Growing up, I was always very different. I’m Black and Asian. I have piercings and jewelry. My hair is different. I wear teeth gems. I’m known for my outfits. These things make me stand out in a crowd,” she explains. 

“Here, I still stand out, but everyone is friendly and welcoming. I’m not not a friendly person. I’m just not always a people person. I like my space and my time to myself,” she says. 

“At my old school, you were immediately isolated and punished for not participating.  But here, they just love that you’re with them. It’s refreshing. You don’t have to be somebody fake. Just be you.

“No one’s aggressive, angry or rude. At my old school, there were athletes and NARPs (non-athletic regular persons), no in between. At CBU it’s one big family – as it should be.” 

Madison is on track to graduate in May 2027 with her bachelor’s degree.