Mississippi State University student Mary Kate Smith competed as one of the nerds on the popular game show, “King of the Nerds,” premiering on TBS Thursday night.
According to TBS’s website, “King of the Nerds” is a “nerdy” competition where nerds from all over America compete for a $100,000 grand prize and the title “King of the Nerds.” All contestants live in “Nerdvana,” a house filled with “nerdy” things for contestants to enjoy, for the span of eight episodes. The competition includes challenges that test the “nerdy” skills of contestants.
Smith, senior aerospace engineer, is a member of the Space Cowboys at MSU. Space Cowboys is a group of engineering students that compete in a “high-powered rocket” competition sponsored by NASA. Smith has been a part of the program for four years and was project manager for two years.
Kevin Koenig, a professor of aerospace engineering, got an email from one of the casting directors for the show. 
In the email, the director mentioned the Space Cowboys and asked Koenig if he had any students who would be a good fit. Koenig said he knew just the person.
“I knew she would fit,” Koenig said. “Well, if anybody was going to fit that mold, it was her.”
Smith said she is very passionate about space exploration and loves to teach the do-ability of rocket science to children. Science is not the only “nerdy” thing Smith is passionate about. 
Smith also does cosplay, or costume-play. Mostly based on comic books, Smith said she makes her own costumes to wear to conventions.
“I love comic books,” Smith said. “Whenever I see a character, I love to recreate that character and try to get it out at conventions.”
Smith is also an active member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. This is an international organization that recreates medieval Europe. Smith becomes “Inga Knarrarbringa,” a Viking combat fighter, when she is with SCA.
Joseph St. Columbia, a senior aerospace engineering major, said he met Smith his freshman year in a Space Cowboy meeting where they became friends. Columbia said Smith has many different sides to her personality.
“Mary Kate is great,” Columbia said. “She is like an onion. There are so many layers to her. She does the cosplay, SCA and she makes her own costumes. She is just an awesome gal.”
Smith said she felt like she represented MSU and Space Cowboys well on the competition, and she will miss her fellow contestants. 
“Every nerd that I met on the show was so inspiring. Just because they are so happy about what they do,” Smith said. “I think that people of all ages will really connect with the show and root for all the nerds.”
Smith plans to graduate in May with a degree in aerospace engineering. She is currently looking for a job while she considers graduate school. 
“King of the Nerds” airs on TBS at 9 p.m. on Thursdays.