"In leadership and in life, it's not just about the grades," Finley said.

Finely has the grades – he made the Deans' list all 10 semesters, studying professional accountancy – but it was getting in touch with his values and those of his university, and putting those values into action that taught him as much or more.

"SVSU has taught me that there's more to life than just being smart. Do you care about the community? Are you humble? Do you want to see others around you succeed with you? In life, you can't do anything by yourself and SVSU has that community focus that I really appreciate."

With aspirations to start his own mentorship program one day, Finley started planning out his future while in high school at Flint Southwestern Academy where he took his first accounting class. There, he discovered not only his proficiency in the field, but his love for it as well.

"It just made sense to me," he said.

After discovering this passion, Finley took a tour of SVSU during his senior year of high school. Though he had been considering some other universities at the time, the welcoming campus of SVSU and the friendly people who inhabited it convinced him to enroll.

"I felt like I could really make an impact at SVSU and it was big enough to meet a lot of people but it was small enough to still make an impact," he said.

Finley certainly stood out. As a member of the Roberts Fellowship Program – a student leadership development initiative at SVSU – he built upon his leadership and academic achievement through service projects and study. Finley and nine of his classmates traveled to Asia in May as the culmination of the program.

"One of the goals of the program is to become well-rounded in global citizenship while making us aware of different social issues in different areas of the world," he said.

Recognized by his fellow students, Finley beamed with pride after being elected to Homecoming Court in the fall of 2015.

"It was just an honor to make court – just to have that experience was kind of cool," he said. "I thought, 'Wow. I affected people enough on this campus to even make court.'"

Students knew Finley because he signed up for nearly every high-profile position a student can have. He worked as a resident assistant, a campus tour guide, and an orientation leader, helping new students acclimate to SVSU.

Through his involvement with Delta Sigma Pi, a business fraternity, Finley built his résumé further. He worked his way up, eventually serving as the vice president of finance for a year and a half before serving as the fraternity's president for a year. Finley was awarded the Huron Regional Collegian of the Year in 2016 for Delta Sigma Pi; the award is presented to a member of the fraternity who represents the distinguished values and ideals of the organization through achievement, participation and character.

Finley's drive and determination saw him serve as an accounting tutor in SVSU's tutoring center as well as a research assistant in the Office of Institutional Research. He also worked as an intern with The Dow Chemical Company, where he made connections and secured a full-time job after graduation.

A first-generation college student, Finley remembers a time when the future didn't always look so bright.

"Where I came from, no one really expected me to be a leader," he said. "No one expected me to make Homecoming Court. No one expected me to do all the stuff I'm doing. SVSU allows you to grow your confidence here."

Personal perseverance shaped Finley's confidence.

"I was beaten up really badly in high school," he said. "I was really, really frustrated but then I realized, it's not about who does what to you. It's about your response. I can say, 'I don't want to see that happen to someone else so let me show people that there's more to life than negativity.' I don't want to let stuff like that hinder me. I just want to stay positive."

Finley spreads that positivity through his connections at SVSU, in the community and in his hometown.

"My ultimate goal is to become a CFO – a chief financial officer – of a company, and, although I have a passion for accounting, I also have a passion for mentorship," he said. "Coming from Flint, Michigan, I've always told myself that I wanted to give back by starting a mentorship program or possibly doing a scholarship for people growing up in the Flint area."

Finley learned from multiple mentors to him during his time at SVSU.

"I was really lucky to have great mentors in my life," he said. Among those mentors were Ian Philbrick, a former resident director with SVSU Residential Life.

"He taught me about leadership and he held me accountable. Stuff like that is intangible. You can't put a value on it," Finley said.

Another mentor was Nick Wagner, SVSU's director of institutional research. "He wants to see you succeed. He gives his all to the community and he would always make time for students," Finley said.

Wagner has worked closely with Finley over the course of his time at SVSU and spoke highly of him as both a student and a young professional.

"Kevin has been one of the most unique and profound students I have ever had the chance to interact with at SVSU," Wagner said. "He displays a constant desire to learn and become better all while being selfless and humble. He is a student the university should be extremely proud of and has set the standard for what it means to be a student leader."

With his post-graduation plans locked down, Finley is excited to see where his future will lead. Hard work and dedication certainly play a large role in Finley's story but he also finds motivation in an optimistic attitude and these words of wisdom:

"Be honest with who you are as a student leader," Finley said. "The biggest thing I could recommend to anyone would be to pursue your passion. Even if it takes a little longer, do what makes you happy."

The future physician will begin her studies at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine with more than two years of experience in a Saginaw hospital emergency room, thanks to an extraordinary experiential learning opportunity through SVSU. 

Allen participated in SVSU's Medical Scribe program, an innovative partnership that pairs undergraduate students with physicians at Saginaw’s Covenant HealthCare. Allen, who graduated from SVSU with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in May 2017, and other scribes assist the professionals with medical documentation. 

“It’s been an incredible experience,” said Allen, a first-generation college student. “You get to see how doctors work and how they approach difficult situations. There are also the social aspects and basic medical processes we get to learn.” 

The program involved a number of responsibilities, largely involving taking notes while doctors and nurses worked with patients. Allen also watched personnel perform medical procedures and assisted with gathering medical equipment. 

“It definitely opens your eyes to the profession,” she said. “Going into college, you’re not as experienced in this world, but after being in the ER in downtown Saginaw for a certain amount of time, you see what people are dealing with.” 

Filled with a spirit of servant leadership, the experience solidified Allen’s ambition to become a doctor, which dates back to her fascination with human anatomy studies at Valley Lutheran High School.  

“There were situations that shook me, with some of the patients having harsh backgrounds and not many resources when they came in,” she said. “A lot of people are at their lowest moments there. I just want to try to make their care better, and steer them in the right direction.” 

It’s an outlook such as that one that gives Heidi Lang, SVSU’s pre-health professions advisor, confidence that Allen possesses the qualities necessary to excel in the health care industry. 

“Kenzie has great attention to detail as well as an intrinsic motivation to learn, to grow, and to improve,” Lang said.  

“She has been a tremendous asset to SVSU, participating in multiple student organizations, volunteering and working in local health care settings, and excelling in her studies.” 

Lang was impressed with the Allen's commitment to being a worldly health care worker. Allen’s academic minor was Spanish, and she used the second language during an internship with Saginaw-based Great Lakes Bay Health.  

In the summer of 2016, Allen helped workers with the community health care center provide medical check-ups for Spanish migrants working in Michigan for the summer.  

“A team of us would drive out to the farms where they were working and make sure they were getting the resources they needed,” she said. “Some of them needed help, and we were there for them.” 

Lang said Allen was an outstanding undergraduate with great potential as a prospective physician. 

“She will be missed, but we look forward to following her journey,” Lang said. 

It is a demanding journey, to be sure, but Lang and others are convinced Allen has what it takes and that she will be motivated by her desire to lead a life filled with caring for others. 

The Howell native discovered his love for accounting during his sophomore year at Saginaw Valley State University, where he enrolled in an introduction to financial accounting course. He spent much of his remaining time at SVSU capitalizing on opportunities that empowered him to grow and take on new challenges.   

After graduating from the institution in May 2017, Pratt’s dedication and hard work will pay off when he begins a full-time job working in the accounting department at The Dow Chemical Company in June. 

“I found a purpose in the numbers of accounting that I couldn’t find in any other academic program,”

 he said. “I fell in love with the business.” 

Pratt accepted the job offer 10 months earlier, contingent on his graduation. The combination of factors leading to that opportunity included classroom studies, outside-of-classroom university organizations and a Dow internship Pratt discovered through SVSU’s Career Services. 

Hired as an intern with Dow’s accounting department in the summer of 2016, Pratt spent much of his 3-month stint on a single project that involved collecting and analyzing data relating to a pricing policy that affected the company globally.  

“I was using a (computer) system that only 11 people in the world knew how to use,” Pratt said. “It was a great opportunity.” 

His complex analytics and thoughtful conclusions caught the attention of his employers.  

“The rest is history,” said Pratt, who shortly thereafter was offered a full-time position that will begin June 12. 

Pratt’s path to Dow started at SVSU with that introductory accounting class, and included one of the university’s competitive programs for business students: The Vitito Global Leadership Institute. The initiative develops leadership abilities for students enrolled in SVSU’s College of Business & Management, while exposing them to international business environments.  

Kaustav Misra, an associate professor of economics and chair of the Vitito program, described Pratt as “dedicate, passionate and hard working.” 

“He is definitely one of our best students in the college,” Misra said. “He is modest, respectful and has a very high level of people skills, which will definitely help him in the long run to grow as a leader. His sincerity, work ethic and team spirit are really commendable.”  

Pratt was selected as one of 12 Vitito Fellows in the winter of 2016. The program heightened his understanding of international commerce while also providing him with a new network of friends. 

“The Vitito Fellowship connected me with 11 amazing individuals who I still keep in close contact with,” he said. Recently, when a family member of a Vitito Fellow died, Pratt and others with the group attended the funeral and offered support. 

“The camaraderie involved in that program is one of the big things I will remember fondly when I think of my experience at SVSU,” he said. 

Pratt also spent time as a student tutor for accounting.  

“When you work with students on that level, it helps you better understand the subject you’re teaching,” he said. “It instills confidence. It’s really fulfilling to work with people and help them in that way.” 

Pratt said the experience as a mentor also exposed him to another role he one day could pursue: an accounting professorship. 

“Something like that could be way down the road, but I feel like working as a tutor showed me that I could enjoy teaching the subject,” he said. 

Pratt also served as president of the SVSU College of Business & Management’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council, exposing him to more opportunities to sharpen his leadership skills.  

“It gave me confidence in myself that I could be a leader,” he said. “I had to be accountable for my actions and push people to reach their potentials. You’re never truly done learning how to lead, but that was a good start for me.” 

Pratt defies the stereotype that accountants have no sense of humor. His varied interests led him to pursue another of SVSU's multifaceted opportunities. During his junior year, Pratt was a writer for an on-campus sketch comedy troupe called Cardinal Night Live, based in part on NBC’s Saturday Night Live program. 

“That was a unique departure from my normal activities,” he said. “That really helped me broaden my horizons. It was a great experience.” 

“A great experience” is the same phrase Pratt used when recalling — and running the numbers — on his years as an SVSU undergraduate.  

After four years at SVSU, Rivard said that graduation was bittersweet. She doesn't plan to stray too far from home, though, after accepting a full-time teaching position at Bay City Public Schools.  

"I've always had a passion for the Great Lakes Bay Region because I feel like I'm such a product of the system," she said. "I want to give back to that because this area has invested so much in me." 

Having grown up in Bay City, Rivard was no stranger to SVSU. By the time she was a senior in high school, she knew that she would be making the transition from a Bay City Western Warrior to a Saginaw Valley Cardinal. 

"I've had a really strong connection to this community and SVSU just felt like an extension of that," she said. "It was both a big campus feel and a small, hometown feel. Saginaw Valley has a very highly acknowledged education program and that's what I'm passionate about." 

SVSU made Rivard's decision easy. Not only did she get to remain close to home and engaged with the community she loved, but she would get to do all of it while graduating debt free.  

"The private scholarships that SVSU has afforded me have been tremendous," she said.  

Long before she arrived at SVSU, Rivard knew she wanted to teach.  

"When I was in third grade, my teacher at the time – Sharron Travis – always made me feel like she just wanted me to succeed, not only in the classroom, but outside of the classroom as well," Rivard explained. "It made me feel so good and I wanted to do that for other kids." 

As a dual major in elementary education and early childhood education, Rivard has had many field-work experiences that have led to real world opportunities.  

"At other universities, I know I wouldn't have had nearly as many opportunities as I've had here," she said. "SVSU has allowed me to create great networks with educators and administrators while giving me hands-on experience to know what the real world is like and knowing what real children in a classroom are like. That has really helped me become the young professional that I am today." 

Rivard is also a member of the Kantzler Fellowship -- an SVSU service and learning initiative comprised of a select group of Bay County students. Through this fellowship, Rivard has worked closely with Bryan Crainer, SVSU's associate director of student life and leadership programs. 

"I have relied on Mallory numerous times to serve as a mentor, a role model, and a leader to younger students coming from Bay County schools," Crainer said. "She always serves in that capacity with a grace and positive attitude that leaves those students feeling a sense of confidence and security."  

Crainer remembers his first interaction with Rivard.  

"I had the pleasure of interviewing Mallory during her senior year of high school as part of her application for SVSU's Foundation Scholars Program," he said. "I remember telling Janna Kern, the former advisor of Foundation Scholars, that Mallory was the most polished and impressive high school student I had ever interacted with. That same level of professionalism followed her to SVSU and has, naturally, grown in her time here." 

Rivard is among the most highly engaged students you will find, sharing her enthusiasm with a host of organizations. At SVSU, she served as the philanthropy chair for her sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha, joined the SVSU cheerleading team as well as the National Society of Leadership and Success. Rivard served as an executive board member for Cardinals for Special Olympics; she was a co-founder and vice president of the Saginaw Valley Lions Club as well as an active participant in Alternative Breaks and the Order of Omega – a Greek life leadership organization.  

Rivard also is an active participant in the Miss America organization. Not only does her participation help pay for school but it provides Rivard with endless volunteer opportunities. Through the organization, Rivard was previously named Miss Saginaw County.  

"It was awesome," she said. "I felt like I was really representing my university." 

Rivard currently holds the title of Miss South Central and she will compete for Miss Michigan this June.  

As a student leader at SVSU, Rivard was also offered the opportunity to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders in Washington D.C. last summer.  

"I was one of two women selected from SVSU to go," she said. "There were motivational speakers and workshops but I also got to lobby in Congress on behalf of the American Association of University Women for a bill regarding student debt and how to refinance it."  

From lobbying on national issues, Rivard's multifaceted education also extended internationally; she completed a study abroad trip to India over the summer of 2016. There, she spent four weeks teaching lessons to girls at the Kittur Rani Channamma Residential School for Girls.  

"I was able to teach some science lessons there," she said. "It gave me the opportunity to see how their educational system was set up. I think my trip – travelling to India – was a huge highlight for me during my time at SVSU. I was so emotional when I was there. I don't know if it was because it was the culmination of my education or the fact that it was my first set of students. It was so real."  

Rivard's enthusiasm for education came to her naturally. Since then, she has continued to work hard every day driving closer and closer to her goal of gaining employment as an educator in the Great Lakes Bay Region.  

"This has always been the goal," she said. "I just want to teach."