Meet Sydney Wieseler, a Pavlis Honors College student whose leadership, service, and global experiences have shaped a meaningful path at Michigan Tech. Sydney is majoring in Mathematics with an International Spanish minor and comes to Michigan Tech from Battle Creek, Michigan, and plans to graduate in 2026.
Sydney is currently a Senior Resident Assistant (SRA), a member of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), and an active member of St. Albert the Great. She has explored many other opportunities, ranging from the Swing club to serving on the Douglas Houghton Hall Council (DHHC). She has participated in two study abroad programs, one to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula for spring break, and the second to Barcelona, Spain, where she spent six weeks. As an SRA, she had the honor of representing East Hall’s residents at the building’s ribbon-cutting, which included speaking at the event and helping cut the ribbon alongside university officials and building planners!
Sydney’s journey with the Pavlis Honors College began with several conversations that encouraged her to get involved. One of the first came from an RA in her first-year residence hall, who introduced her to Pavlis halfway through the fall semester. A few weeks later, she heard about the program again from Dr. Marika Seigel, shortly after Dr. Seigel became Dean of the Pavlis Honors College. With these conversations in mind, Sydney decided to give Pavlis a try.
Since joining Pavlis, Sydney has completed HON 2150 and HON 3150, along with her Academic Enhancement, Immersion Experience, and Leadership/Mentorship Experience. She is currently working on her Project Experience by drawing on her role as the SRA for Hillside and the fourth floor of East Hall. Next semester, she will be enrolled in HON4150, capping off her Pavlis Honors College courses and experiences.
Making the Most of Every Opportunity
“Pavlis is a great opportunity! It helps you meet a lot of other amazing leaders across campus and hear about a lot of amazing opportunities!”
Throughout her time in Pavlis, Sydney has learned strategies for maintaining a well-rounded life and connecting her academic work with her passion for community engagement. Volunteering has long been important to her. “I did 150 volunteer hours within a year with my local food bank, and I recently learned that I can volunteer at the food bank here for students at Michigan Tech,” Sydney shared.
She has also taken advantage of many valuable university resources she learned about through Pavlis and her RA role. These include the Learning Centers, Student Mental Health and Well-Being, and more.
Sydney’s Pavlis journey reflects her commitment to leadership, service, and growth. She continues to build meaningful connections across campus and beyond, embodying the values at the heart of the Pavlis Honors College, a compelling reminder of how the Pavlis Honors College helps students turn their passions into meaningful impact.