When Sydney Lurvey crosses the commencement stage on Saturday, the award-winning College of Business student knows exactly where she’s headed: Wausau, Wisconsin, where she’ll pursue a career in financial planning and advising through the post-grad program at Northwestern Mutual.
That self-assured certainty is in character for the double finance and economics major, who minored in financial technology and is a teaching assistant in the College’s Applied Portfolio Management program (APMP). A Wisconsin native, Lurvey was valedictorian of her class at Three Lakes High School and a winner of the statewide Herb Kohl Go-Getter scholarship award. At Michigan Tech, she found a myriad of opportunities that further expanded her skills.
“What I’m most proud of throughout my time at Michigan Tech has been the ability to find my voice, confidence, and leadership abilities and apply them to my life personally and professionally.”
In 2024, Lurvey earned the Finance Student of the Year Award as well as being recognized as the Sam Tidwell Outstanding Student in Business. These are among her most cherished accomplishments at Tech, along with the initiatives she helped operate and manage, like the Husky Investment Tournament, which she aptly describes as “a cool program that Michigan Tech offers that allows high school students to learn about the stock market and compete for scholarship money.”
When Lurvey is taking stock of her college years, she points to APMP as one of the biggest influences. Students selected for the prestigious program, which has been operating for nearly three decades and is open to all students at Tech, actively manage a $2.1 million portfolio of fixed income and equities.
“The APMP program has helped me grow and evolve as a finance student and a professional,” said Lurvey. “I’ve been able to learn a lot about finance, including theory, analysis, and interpretation.”
For her, the most valuable benefits were about more than finance. “The program built my confidence in my ability to deliver a professional presentation in front of stakeholders. I developed the ability to carry myself professionally and grow my network,” she said. “Being in APMP helped me find my confidence in interviews, interacting with professionals, and being able to have constructive conversations with others about business. APMP teaches you to have a sound understanding of finance but it most of all develops you as a well-rounded individual and business professional.”
“APMP teaches you to have a sound understanding of finance but it most of all develops you as a well-rounded individual and business professional.”
After her participation as an APMP student, Lurvey took on a teaching assistant role in the program. It felt like a natural progression. She grew up playing sports, where her affinity for coaching and mentoring developed, but she didn’t fully recognize it until she was offered opportunities to guide and inspire others at Tech.
“I think it’s always been an innate part of me and I’m just now realizing and leveraging it,” Lurvey said. “Being able to help mentor and lead others is such a rewarding feeling. Seeing others thrive and achieve their goals energizes me and fills my cup. There’s nothing more rewarding than being able to offer heartfelt insight and time to someone and really see it make a difference for the better. Making an impact in someone’s life and being someone they can look up to or reach out to is so special to me! I think my career in financial planning will really allow me to leverage my abilities in this area. I’ll get to meet with clients every day and help them plan for their futures.”
Lurvey, who played on Tech’s women’s intramural basketball team, also plans to keep sports mentorship in her life. “I hope to coach basketball someday,” she said.
The Business of Financial and Economic Research
Lurvey knows her way around a Bloomberg Terminal and is not at all daunted by conducting analyses that some folks might find mind-numbingly complicated. “I think it’s super common to feel confused or uncomfortable about investing and the stock market as a whole. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve really enjoyed being able to learn about it, as I love to teach others and offer insight! I was able to get comfortable with this material through diving right in and learning as I go. Leveraging my peers and professors for knowledge has also been super helpful,” said Lurvey, adding with a smile, “I’m still learning and becoming more comfortable every day, as I’m not a professional yet!”
Lurvey noted that her minor in financial technology, or FinTech as it’s often called, is another example of how the ability to continuously learn things that might feel intimidating at first is essential to success in her career field.
“Essentially, the entire premise of my FinTech class was trying to define what FinTech is! FinTech can be described as any product or service that integrates technology in a way to help streamline financial services for customers,” she explained. “It encapsulates lucrative concepts in the financial markets, as we see the evolution of AI and future technology. FinTech firms focus on the integration of these cutting-edge technologies to create products that offer specialized insights for their customers, whether that be a whole business or you and me.”
“I wanted to minor in FinTech to have a good knowledge base on how technology is going to impact and change the world of finance in the years to come. I think this knowledge will be advantageous for my future career.”
In addition to researching the markets, Lurvey has also contributed to Michigan Tech’s body of community-focused economic research.
“Business research is extremely important. It offers insights into the economy and the efficiency of how firms and businesses are run,” Lurvey said. “It allows for crucial insights into companies that allow them to make informed decisions, control risks, and further understand markets and competition. My economic research at Michigan Tech was done to test the feasibility of dredging the Menominee Harbor. This was crucial from an economic perspective as we analyzed the costs, benefits, and impacts to the local economy and the environment.”
Lurvey appreciated the Tech undergraduate research model, which pairs students and faculty who work together to assist clients. “It’s a really cool opportunity for students to be able to work directly with faculty on their real research projects. It allows for a good insight into the real business world,” she said.
A Proud Husky Family Tradition Carried On
Lurvey’s parents are both Tech alumni who graduated in 1999. Mom Carolyn (Pitlick) Lurvey earned her degree in environmental engineering, while dad George Lurvey earned his in civil engineering.
“My parents are such incredible, hardworking, and well-rounded individuals who have truly been my rock throughout my whole life. It’s pretty neat to be able to go to college where they did,” said Lurvey. “I couldn’t ask for a better support system to guide me through my college experience and now into my career.”
Lurvey also had her own reasons for earning her degree at Tech.
“I chose Michigan Tech because I love its small-town feel. Feeling safe and at home while away at college was so important to me, and Michigan Tech fits the narrative perfectly! I love the area and all the nature and activities that come along with it,” she said.
Lurvey was specifically drawn to the College of Business because of the individualized attention it provides to students. “I knew that I would be able to receive a personalized education experience and really be able to build relationships with classmates and professors,” she said.
Aside from her parents, her biggest influences in her education and career path are Dean Johnson, dean of the College of Business, and Marie Cleveland, an ’82 alumna and Academy of Business inductee who serves as an undergraduate student liaison.
“Marie Cleveland and Dean Johnson have also been an amazing support network. Marie has helped me with so many things, from resume review to interview tips and tricks, and is overall an amazing person to go to for advice and encouragement about career and life. Dean has offered me many opportunities, including networking, professional development, and career advice that have been extremely helpful,” said Lurvey.
“There is nowhere else I would have rather gone to school. It’s such a unique experience to have such close relationships with professors, the dean, and staff. The College of Business at Tech really allows for a unique and individual experience, and I think that’s not something you can get at other business schools.”
As she considers how Tech has influenced her, Lurvey is counting her blessings for the community she’s part of and the memories she’s made.
“My best College of Business memory is the etiquette dinner. It’s an amazing opportunity put on by Marie Cleveland. There’s a lovely dinner and lots of networking. We learn all about general business and dinner etiquette, which is very helpful when you have interviews or business meetings that involve going out to lunch or dinner,” she said.
Her best overall Michigan Tech memory is attending basketball and hockey games. “The Huskies Pep Band is amazing and Tech really brings in the best fans for the sporting events. It’s always so fun to get together with friends, cheer, and enjoy the game,” Lurvey said.
The warm atmosphere that made Lurvey feel welcome on campus and in her college only got better over time. In addition to outstanding memories, she graduates with knowledge, confidence, and overflowing gratitude.
“I would like to thank every staff member, fellow student, and everyone else who has helped make Michigan Tech feel like home for me,” she said. “My time at Tech has been amazing. I believe that Michigan Tech has set me up for great success in my career. I envision a future where I can change the world as a woman in business.”
About the College of Business
The Michigan Tech College of Business prepares tomorrow’s business professionals through STEM-infused, AACSB-accredited degree programs and minors. The college offers nine bachelor of science programs in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing; and four master of science programs in accounting and analytics, applied natural resource economics, engineering management, and the TechMBA®.
Questions? Contact us at business@mtu.edu. Follow the College of Business on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.