Undergraduate Student Speaker Anderson Piercey, who is earning his bachelor’s in management, will address the class of 2023 on Saturday at Undergraduate Commencement.
Hailing from Shelby Township in lower Michigan, Piercey has been a senior resident assistant, resident assistant, and academic success coach during his time at Tech, earning the highest regional award presented to affiliates of the National Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH) and being recognized by Michigan Tech Student Affairs in 2020 for exceptional enthusiasm in student leadership.
He made his own memories in helping others to embrace Tech traditions. “One of my favorite memories of Michigan Tech (this is one of many!) is marching 68 residents from Wadsworth Hall to the Memorial Union Building for K-Day. It was the first time that I felt like a true student leader on campus,” Anderson said. “I made a lot of my residents come out of their shells for the first time, and the look of shock on peoples’ faces as we took up an entire bus heading to Chassell was something I’ll never forget.”
Active in Pavlis Honors College and on the Dean’s List every semester, Piercey was a member of numerous campus and community organizations including the Society of African American Men (SAMM), Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention Education (SAVE), and Mitch’s Misfits. He has volunteered with Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, Friends of the Library, and the Copper Country Humane Society.
In the College of Business, Anderson worked as a research assistant on the project “Engaging Under-resourced College Students in the Western Upper Peninsula,” mentored by faculty member Jonathan Leinonen. In this year’s THE Project competition, Anderson’s team, “WileyWare,” earned second place for their ransomware response and prevention strategies. He gained hands-on tax-preparation experience in the College’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
“I chose Michigan Tech because I’d been awarded a good amount of scholarships to come here. In my second year, I found myself captivated by the efficient processes and lean manufacturing mindsets within the management program.
“Amazing professors like Roger Woods gave me challenging but rewarding courses that made me excited to explore project management.”
Anderson begins his career as an associate business analyst at Auto-Owners Insurance in Lansing. “I’ll also be pursuing my hobbies of reading, photography, and hiking — I anticipate I’ll be coming back up here for the best views! — and writing.”
Learn more about Piercey — and get his suggestions to help new students settle in on campus — at Stories From Husky Nation. Can’t be here? Catch the Commencement livestream and be sure to share your Husky Pride on social media using #mtugrad.
Adapted from a story by Cyndi Perkins.
About the College of Business
The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.