Finding Greatness: Madison Cosgrove

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Monday, April 27, 2026 12:00 AM
Categories: School of Health and Natural Sciences | Pressroom | Students | Finding Greatness

Cochran, GA

Balancing a challenging degree program like nursing while playing on a university sports team is not easy, but student-athlete Madison Cosgrove shows it can be done. An outfielder for Knights softball, Cosgrove is a recent Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week and leads the team this season with a .347 batting average. Soon to graduate, she hopes to begin her nursing career on a Med Surg or ICU hospital floor.

Full Name: Madison Cosgrove.

Age: 21.

Hometown: Columbus, Ga.

Residence: Cochran.

High School: Northside High School, Columbus, Ga., where she played on the softball team.

Family: Mom, Jazmine Cardenas; dad, Bart Childers.

Employment: Full-time student.

Degree Objective: Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Class Rank: Senior.

Primary Campus: Enrolled in the Dublin Campus nursing cohort; resides on the Cochran Campus as a member of the Knights softball team.

Activities: “I’ve really appreciated seeing the growth of FCA on the Cochran Campus. It’s been meaningful to watch that community develop and become a positive space for students.”

Career Goals: “I want to become a nurse because I grew up inspired by my Memaw, who was also a nurse. I’ve always admired the way she cared for others, and I hope to follow in her footsteps by bringing that same compassion and work ethic into my own nursing career.”

She chose Middle Georgia State University because … “My sister, who also played softball for MGA, encouraged me. Before transferring, I played at the University of North Georgia where our team won the 2023 national championship. Even though that was an incredible experience, things were not aligning the way I hoped, and I reached a point where I considered stepping away from softball to focus on nursing school. My sister encouraged me not to give up on either dream and told me that Middle Georgia State had a strong nursing program and that Coach Wimpy would welcome me. Transferring here gave me the chance to continue competing while pursuing the career I am passionate about.”

The greatest thing she discovered about Middle Georgia State was … “How much personality and community the campus has. Even though Cochran is small, the school brings in things that make campus life fun. I especially love when the Chick Fil A truck comes to campus since we do not have one here. I also enjoyed seeing a helicopter land on our field so the mayor could throw the first pitch at a recent game. Those moments showed me how invested the school is in creating memorable experiences for students and athletes.”

Her greatest academic experience as a Middle Georgia State student has been … “Growing through the nursing program and gaining confidence in my clinical skills. The hands-on learning, the support from instructors, and the opportunity to apply what I have learned in real patient settings have helped me become more capable and more confident in my future career.”

To her, “greatness” means … “Showing up with intention, giving your best effort in every area of your life, and focusing on what you can control. Your attitude, your work ethic, and the way you treat others are the things that define you.”

In five years … “I see myself gaining experience as a new graduate nurse on a Med Surg or ICU floor. I want to build a strong foundation in patient care while continuing to grow personally and professionally into the kind of nurse my younger self would be proud of.”