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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Official Athletics Website of the MIT Engineers
MIT

2026-27 MIT Rifle Roster

Pauline Xu

  • Height 5-2
  • Class First Year
  • Hometown Fairbanks, Alaska
  • High School Fairbanks B.E.S.T Homeschool
  • Major Aerospace Engineering

Biography

Before MIT:
  • Graduated from Fairbanks B.E.S.T Homeschool and was dual enrolled at University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Varsity co-captain of Lathrop High School, four-time first place team in MAC regionals
  • 2025 National Rifle and Pistol Junior Olympic Competitor
  • Team captain of a state team in Arctic Precision club team
  • Second place team in Civilian Marksmanship Program state championship in 2024, 2025
  • CMP National Three-Position Air Rifle Championships Competitor
  • Personal Bests: 588 in 60-shot standing air, 589 in 3P-air, 561 in 3P-smallbore
  • Also played soccer and tennis
  • First place winner of the Alaska Science and Engineering Fair and singular Alaskan representative in 2026 Regeneron ISEF
  • 2025 National JSHS competitor (second in state), NASA Earth System Science Project Award, Yale Science and Engineering Association Award, Award One from U.S. Air Force, Alaska Space Grant Undergraduate Student Award
  • First place team in the 2024 World Youth Classic Ice Art Championships, Principal Chair violist of Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, previous Chapter Head of Tech Trek in Fairbanks (international newspaper organization), Elementary school tutor
Personal:
  • Born in Shanghai, China
  • Lived in at least six countries before middle school
  • Love exploring, hiking, dip-netting, fishing, camping, and any sports in general!
  • Hobbies: art (charcoal, sketching, calligraphy), music (viola, guitar, and lofi), crocheting
  • Favorite food: freshly baked brownies with vanilla ice cream
Why MIT:
  • "Going to MIT was my dream because of its unlimited opportunities to study and explore, along with its generous scholarships. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by space exploration. Living in Alaska and being exposed to extreme temperatures and isolation and auroras (and studying them in my lab), I developed a personal connection with the universe and Fairbanks. Thus I wished to explore it further at MIT and join the AeroAstro program, the world’s best. In addition, the limited opportunities I had in Alaska pushed me to reach higher and hope that my knowledge may someday help the community and education in Fairbanks."