Most people, when they hear the word valedictorian, think “Ivy League.” In the case of Michael Wilson, he decided to take a different “Ivy” path.
Wilson, 23, finished his high school career at the top of his class at Indianapolis Christian High School. The then-senior didn’t have a clue at the time which way he wanted to go. He knew a few things, however, about what he wanted to study and what type of atmosphere he wanted to do it in.
“I knew I wanted to do engineering or aerospace,” he said. “And I wanted to stay in Indianapolis to use my 21st Century Scholars funding. I thought about Ivy Tech, because some of my siblings had already gone there.”
Wilson said he received some criticism from others who thought his decision to attend a community college was a form of “stepping down.” He said that despite these critiques, he feels like the sense of community he’s found with fellow students and the individualized instruction he’s received from his professors prove he made the best choice.
“I can say that the community college experience was a lot more close-knit than at a university. I had a lot of mentors, a lot of people that helped me through things. When you’re in school, life doesn’t stop. Things happen, but you have to hold on to the people that are there to help you,” he said. In 2014, Wilson lost his mother to heart disease, but he found some solace in the network of supporters surrounding him.
The Ivy Tech life has also afforded him a variety of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, including meeting President Barack Obama. Wilson also got involved in the Bowen Scholars program, Collegiate 100 and the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis, among other activities.
“Being in the Bowen Scholars helped me to be more confident in myself,” said Wilson, who said he became more outgoing and professional and even developed leadership skills as a result of his involvement.
In 2015, Wilson graduated with his associate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, after which he transferred to IUPUI to continue his studies.
Upon graduation, he landed a job at Johnson Controls Inc. and also currently works for IUPUI as a Mechanical Designer for the Campus Facility Services.
Wilson is already seeing his dreams come to fruition, as one of the apps he’s developed has been funded by Purdue University.
Wilson said he’d encourage other students to seek out Ivy Tech as a viable, affordable higher education option.
