Michael Wilson was chosen to represent his classmates during President Obama’s visit for many reasons.

During his time at Ivy Tech Community College, Michael Wilson was involved in the Bowen Scholars program, Collegiate 100 and 100 Black Men of Indianapolis. He now studies Mechanical Engineering Technology at IUPUI and has successfully developed mobile apps, one of which is being funded by Purdue University.

When he first came to Ivy Tech, Michael was very shy and kept to himself. In 2014, after losing his mother to heart disease, he began to have a major transformation in his attitude toward school. He applied to the Bowen Scholars Program, where he learned to become a leader. In 2015, Michael represented Ivy Tech as student ambassador and was able to meet President Barack Obama during his visit to campus. Michael got involved in community projects and organizations, including Collegiate 100 and 100 Black Men of Indianapolis. He also had an internship with AeroFab, a division of Tube Processing Corp.

Michael graduated from Ivy Tech with his Associate of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology in 2015. He was hired by Johnson Controls Inc. upon graduation, where he is still employed today. He is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology at IUPUI and plans to graduate in May 2017. Michael also works for IUPUI as a Mechanical Designer for the Campus Facility Services and volunteers with Circle Up Indy and the Bloom Project, Inc.

In 2015 Michael was named one of WFYI’s American Graduate Champions. He co-founded the Collegiate 100 at IUPUI and serves as president of the organization. Michael has successfully developed mobile apps and online modules for educational purposes. He recently received a grant from the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology to research and develop an augmented reality app that improves the process and efficiency of engineering practices, which is not beta testing.

“I believe that Ivy Tech is where I really found my way to my passions and ambitions. I was surrounded by people who encouraged me every day, reassuring me that I had the ability to reach the goals I spoke about. I always think about how different my life may have been if I did not come to Ivy Tech. I would have never met the counselors, mentors, and even instructors, all who went the extra mile just to make sure I had everything I needed to succeed.”