This year, Clarkston native Mikaela Schmidt is one of the top graduating seniors from Olivet College.
She is graduating with the highest grade point average and completing all coursework, earning the Donald A. Morris Academic Excellence Award.
A Mathematics major, Schmidt is currently looking for employment in the data analytics field. After she attains some professional work experience, Schmidt plans to pursue a master’s degree.
“What I will remember most about Olivet College was my experiences with the Women’s Leadership Institute,” said Schmidt, noting that Professor Janine Peters was the most influential faculty member to her.
“Professor Peters is a great professor, and she always made time to help me when I did not understand the material I was learning in class,” Schmidt said. “She also has made a point to do what she could to help me with my job search. Overall, she is a positive, encouraging person, and I am glad to have had her in my corner.
Peters, an associate professor of mathematics, teaches college algebra, courses in the calculus sequence, probability, statistics, advanced calculus, complex analysis and abstract algebra at Olivet.
“It has been a sincere pleasure to work with Mikaela these past few years,” Peters said. “Mikaela is an earnest, detail-oriented and highly-motivated young mathematician, curious to learn and eager to solve problems. She has taken every opportunity to learn and grow during her time at Olivet College.”
Schmidt has been a member of the Women’s Leadership Institute, the President’s Leadership Institute and the college’s Mathematics Club, serving as treasurer and Student Government Association representative.
“Mikaela demonstrates community focus by her participation in the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program,” added Peters.
Peters also said Schmidt takes her education seriously.
“Mikaela takes responsibility for her own learning and personal development,” said Peters. “Beyond her meticulous work in the classroom, she has pursued learning opportunities beyond Olivet College. She contributes to the learning of others by respectfully asking questions and sharing remarks in class and is always helpful to her peers. She has demonstrated resilience in adapting to remote learning and the challenge of pursuing employment in a very different professional environment than she might have envisioned two years ago.
“Mikaela is a knowledgeable, reflective and creative individual, whose successes have only begun.”