By Mya Snow, Communications Specialist
Annalise “Anna” Atherton is a 19-year-old Monroe County Community College sophomore whose passion lies in technology and engineering. She was born in Port Huron but grew up and resides in Monroe.
Atherton has known that she wanted to get involved in engineering since the sixth grade. She has always been drawn to tech – her fascination began in elementary school, where she learned to code and run robots.
By the time Atherton was attending Monroe High School, she was leading technology projects. One pivotal assignment involved a collaborative development of an underwater remotely operated vehicle. She said that her leadership experience in a high school engineering class solidified her resolve to pursue STEM -- science, technology, engineering and math.
Atherton started at MCCC as a dual-enrolled student, taking classes at MCCC while still in high school, including a CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided modeling) Milling course this spring.
She originally planned to transfer to the University of Toledo by her sophomore year, but she decided to spend another academic year at MCCC for “the community” and because her class experiences were so positive.
Atherton is an advocate for anyone interested in STEM.
She believes that anyone can study engineering if they conquer apprehension. Atherton speaks about the power of passion, stating that people can overcome challenges with the right mentality.
“Especially for women...with [engineering] being a male-dominated field, don’t be afraid, because it’s a lot less scary than you think it will be,” she said, sharing how her first day in college was one of trepidation since she was one of the only women and one of the youngest people in the classroom.
Atherton explained that her initial hesitation melted rapidly. Once inside the engineering tutorial room, she felt better. She immediately began establishing connections with her colleagues and instructor on the first day of the semester. She felt welcomed and free to be who she is – a student captivated by STEM.
Atherton aspires to become a lead engineer, but, in addition to theory, she is fond of working with her hands. She shares that she wants to delve further into the creative side of engineering in future classes, exploring both engineering technology and engineering theory.
“I love tinkering. I love the building and the designing,” Atherton said, touching on how manufacturing is her own type of art.
Results that Atherton can grasp in her hands – sometimes, small enough to hold in her palms – are pieces that represent her personal artistic expression.
In one class, she created a bottle opener engraved with the words, “Dream Big."
Atherton said that she carries the bottle opener with her everywhere she goes. The opener is a tangible reminder of what she is capable of and what her future holds in engineering and technology.
“The math may seem kind of scary; it [STEM] might seem a little complex [at times], but if it’s something that you love, you can overcome any challenge as long as you put in the right amount of time and effort,” Atherton concluded, as a wide smile appeared across her face.
