May 13, 2014

Midland native Nicholas Anderson earns full-time job with Dow Corning on eve of SVSU graduation

‌Earning a full-time job straight out of college isn’t an everyday occurrence, but Midland resident Nicholas Anderson isn’t an everyday student, his professors will tell you.

Before Anderson graduates from Saginaw Valley State University in May, he was promised a full-time job as an accountant at nearby Dow Corning Corp., one of the world's leading manufacturers of silicon used in next generation technology.

"Landing a job (right out of school), that's not easy to do at all," said Mark McCartney, an SVSU professor of accounting who has instructed Anderson in four classes. "He's a very bright young man.

"He works hard and catches on to things quickly. He has a good head on his shoulders."

Anderson, who will receive a bachelor's degree in accounting, is familiar with Dow Corning. A little over two years ago, he joined a co-op program in the multinational company's treasury department.

"I'm so grateful," Anderson said both of the job and the opportunities at SVSU that helped him secure the position.

The 2010 Dow High School graduate enrolled at SVSU knowing he wanted to join the business world in part because his family owns a Midland company, Quick Reliable Printing.

"During my sophomore year, I declared as an accounting major," he said. "I realized doing something in money was the direction I wanted to take."

Anderson's smarts and hard work exposed him to a number of opportunities at SVSU. He admits joining the campus as a "timid" person, but praised his experience at the university for developing his leadership skills.

As a freshman, he was one of 60 students annually picked to participate in SVSU's Foundation Scholars Program, which offers study abroad or community service opportunities to students. In that program, he volunteered at the Good Neighbors Mission, a homeless shelter in Saginaw.

"It was great to give back to the community," Anderson said.

During his junior year, he was selected in the inaugural class of SVSU's Vitito Global Leadership Institute, a nearly 2-year leadership development initiative for students in the College of Business and Management. Anderson and the group traveled to Prague in March to visit the sites of top businesses there.

"To be chosen as one of the best leaders in the business school was great," he said.

The experience, he said, could also help him as he sets his sights on opportunities beyond mid-Michigan. Anderson pointed out that Dow Corning has operations across the world, and he has ambition to some day work in a large city.

"The career path there looks great," Anderson said. "I'm happy with where I'm going."