Michael Eze will join more than 1,100 other University of Idaho graduates at commencement ceremonies this weekend, but like many of his peers, he’s gained so much more than his degree over the past four years.
By diving into a buffet of U of I offerings, Michael has collected confidence, experience and education that will allow him to pursue his dreams. He learned about the U of I through the Global Student Success Program, which helps connect international students with U.S. universities. Michael liked what he read about the beautiful campus in a small town, and he was impressed with the U of I’s business programs. As a shy 16-year-old, he moved from Abuja, Nigeria – population 4 million – to Moscow for his freshman year. It didn’t take long for him to break out of his shell.
“In high school I was not really outspoken or very involved,” Michael said. “When I got here, I just went for it. I wanted to get involved on campus, work on my public speaking and make connections.”
Mission accomplished, and then some.
Michael’s resume is already jam-packed and he’s barely 20. For just a sample of his experience: He served on the Student Alumni Relations Board for four years and was the alumni chair for the Homecoming committee, as well as a Vandal Wellbeing Ambassador; he was a resident assistant in the dorms and was the secretary, and then president of the African Student Association; he served as director of Student Resources for ASUI; he was the communication chair for the Society of Black Engineers; in 2020-21, he was the Intern of the Year for Career Services on campus; and as a member of the Campus Visits team, Michael led campus tours and helped recruit new Vandals for the past three years, which was truly impactful.
“Before I applied to be a tour guide, I never saw myself doing that – talking to large crowds and directing different groups,” he said. “But I got good at it, and I saw the lasting impact you have. Sometimes students recognize me on campus from when I gave them a tour and it’s very rewarding.”
Michael credits professor Scott Metlen for his mentorship and staff members John Mangiantini in Career Services, Danae Nagle with the Campus Visits team and Erick Larson, professor in the College of Business for their guidance throughout his U of I journey. He said former staff members Rachel Otto and Jamie Kieltyka were also crucial in his professional development.
On Saturday, Michael will take home bachelor’s degrees in management information systems and operations management, with a certificate in business analytics. He recently achieved his goal of earning Outstanding Student for four years in a row at the Student Achievement Awards, and he has a job lined up in the finance department at Micron, where he interned last summer.
Ultimately, Michael aims to return to Abuja and open a business to help Nigerian companies transition to digital platforms and improve efficiency. Before then, he hopes to earn a master’s degree and gain relevant work experience.
Michael’s U of I story wouldn’t be complete without one last extracurricular activity. Two days after commencement he will join fellow Vandals for an Alternative Service Break in Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh. The group will work with community and nonprofit organizations to serve homeless and food insecure individuals.
“My philosophy is, just give it a try,” Michael said. “If you don’t try, you’ll never know.”
Congratulations to Michael and all of the extraordinary Vandals in the class of 2022!
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