DETROIT – the son of a landscaper, Noah Nicklin I have never been afraid to get my hands dirty.
“He gets us a fair share of the household chores,” Nicklin said, referring to his father, Thomas. “But he never let us do it alone. He’s always by our side.”
So when Nicklin received word that he had been named one of Wayne State University’s most brilliant and hardworking academics, he immediately wanted to share the news with his father.
Nicklin, who was named this year’s Mike Illich School of Business 25 Under 25, said, “It was a good call. Obviously moms and dads love hearing stories like that.”
The Mike Ilitch School of Business 25 Under 25 Program Recognize undergraduate and graduate students who achieve success in at least two categories: academic, leadership, professional development, and campus or community service. To be selected, students submit essays, resumes, and possibly letters of recommendation or other documents to prove their contribution to the community.
This year’s awardees are Mike Illich School of Business Gala Friday, April 14th.
As an MBA student, Nicklin maintains a 3.91 grade point average.he graduated honor student Last year I graduated with a BA in Finance and a Minor in Sports Management. He was accepted into an accelerated graduate admissions program, allowing him to enroll in graduate-level classes while earning his bachelor’s degree.
But 23-year-old Nicklin doesn’t just attend Wayne State classes and labs. He continues to balance his life on the student-athlete campus as a member of his Warriors football team. A Sam and Leonard Fink Memorial Scholarship and Graduate Professional Scholarship recipient, Nicklin has been named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) All-Academic Excellence Team four times. He also serves as the Leadership Development Coordinator and serves as team representative on the WSU Student-Athlete Advisory Board.
An aggressive lineman, Nicklin admits that juggling academics and sports isn’t always easy. But again, he credits his father and mother Karen for the work ethic he and his siblings learned at an early age.
“There are many tools between the academic staff and supporters, but it really goes back to our parents and how we were raised,” Nicklin said. “Our parents always allowed us to be ourselves and encouraged us to do our own thing. I was expected to do whatever was necessary to achieve the goal.
Nicklin, who is on pace to complete his master’s degree in December, hopes to eventually seize a career opportunity that combines his knowledge of corporate finance with his love of sports.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Nicklin, who previously interned at United Wholesale Mortgage and Northwestern Mutual. “I have always had a passion for sports and football. But I have also always enjoyed the world of corporate finance.”
Nicklin says his passion for mathematics was formed as a student at Clarkston High School and credits Kevin Smith, an advisor to Clarkston’s Business Professionals of America chapter.
“Mr. Smith kind of sparked my interest in business in high school,” Nicklin said.
brotherly love
Max Nikulin Located on the same academic and athletic tracks at Wayne State University. Noah Nicklin’s younger brother, Max Nicklin, is finishing his senior year at Ilitch School and is set to graduate this spring, where he has a bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in economics. . He is also a wide receiver and special teams contributor to his football team, and has been named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence team three times.
The brothers share a keen business acumen, but their focus is different.
“I’m on the side of economic finance,” said Max Nicklin, who maintains a GPA of 3.78. “I would like to eventually work in investment banking and hedge funds, and eventually in private equity.”
Unlike many sibling rivalries, animosity has never really been an issue for Nicklins. is the toughest of the brothers. Of course, sometimes the driveway basketball game gets physical, but for the most part, the two always remain best friends.
Max Nikulin said, “It’s crazy when people mention sibling fights and rivalries.” It’s good-natured and always comes and goes.”
However, Noah Nicklin adds: And he would do the same for me.
In high school, the brothers celebrated a football championship together when Clarkston won the 2017 Division 1 state title at Ford Field. Noah Nicklin was the senior captain that year, but an injury kept him out of the game.
The following year, Max Nikulin returned to the state final, but lost by one point.
Still, the experience learned from legendary head coach Kurt Richardson continues to help his brothers both on and off the field.
“He’s a man who instilled in us a lot of discipline and hard work,” Max Nikulin said of Richardson, who coached him for 35 years. I know it is, he was always someone you wanted to work hard for and always someone you wanted to train and do right. I think I brought it to college.
“Even during our internship, my boss once said to me, ‘You got up at 6 in the morning, you went to training, and then you came here, and you showed up on time.’ Who else are you?” The first to be here and the last to leave.This is nothing surprising or new.We always believe that if you work harder and do your best than anyone else, good things will happen. It’s something we’ve grown accustomed to.”
The past few seasons haven’t gone as planned on a win-loss line, but the Nicklin brothers are optimistic about the future of the Gridiron behind first-year coach Tyrone Wheatley.
“What excites me the most is the staff he brought in,” said former center starter and left guard Noah Nicklin. “I think they’re very good for the future. I think I have perspective, especially in my position, it’s really cool because I’m excited to not only be able to be in for another year, but to see where the future is going.”
Warriors are their annual spring game Saturday April 15th at Tom Adams Field. Kickoff is at noon.
