Ashley Leak
Ionia High School
Ashley Leak is currently a senior in SVSU’s finance program, and is focusing her education for a career in either commercial banking or financial planning.
Ashley helped to found SVSU’s student Finance Club, which has been growing ever since its inception. The group is working on expanding its slate of activities, which currently include seminars for freshmen on using credit, a student-run portfolio in the stock market, and participation in the FMA Conference, held in New York City, which allowed the students to meet and network with professionals working in the industry.
“SVSU’s professors are extremely intelligent – finance classes are always geared toward learning material in the classroom that can be directly applied in the real world.”
“The faculty members all have different teaching styles, which is refreshing. Most professors do not teach directly from a text book, but instead take a case study approach.”
“SVSU’s finance program is exciting because there’s always something going on. The atmosphere is welcoming and open. Students are encouraged to hang out and talk, and facilities are provided if you want to just sit and read or use a computer.”
“The most valuable class I have taken so far is the class on investment analysis, which stressed research in investment strategies. The class taught me about teamwork and gave me the ability to work in a group – which is important because in the workplace you will not always be able to choose the people you work with.”
“The program gives students practical experience with obstacles and problems that you encounter in the real world, and how to conquer them.”
“Overall, I highly recommend the finance program because the classes are small so there is a lot of individual attention available from the professors, and you will develop a circle of friends who all have the same interests.”