MCAS Legacy: Mike Gresham, '92

“You can take the boy out of City, but you can’t take the City out of the boy. Michigan City sticks with you forever.”

It’s no secret that MCAS Board Member and Elston grad Michael “Mike” Gresham is one of City’s biggest cheerleaders. A lifelong resident of Michigan City, Gresham strives to contribute to the community that gave him so much as a student and leader.

Mike says MCAS didn’t just prepare him academically; it equipped him to confidently step into a diverse, evolving world. 

“The diversity of MCAS prepared me for a multi-cultural world in which I work with people from all over the world. It also prepared me to take on challenges head-on by putting me in situations where opportunities arose unexpectedly, but which allowed me to thrive and succeed.”

Today, he is one of the nation’s leading experts on federal net-capital rules for U.S. trading markets, serving as an Associate Director with Dash Regulatory Technologies.

In 2023, Mike returned to his roots in a new way: as a member of the Michigan City Area Schools Board of Trustees. And when he’s not helping guide district policy, Mike can often be found commentating MCHS football and basketball games and serving as the emcee for track meets. For him, giving back to MCAS isn’t a hobby; it’s a family tradition.

Mike’s City Pride is a family affair. His parents, Christine (Lind) and his father James Gresham (a 1968 Elston student who left school to serve in Vietnam), were both Red Devils. His wife, Angela Adey Gresham, who teaches science at MCHS, graduated from Rogers in 1995, following in the footsteps of her parents, George and Susan Cowden Adey. Now, the next generation is carrying the torch: his daughter Madison graduated from MCHS in 2024, and Lexi will join the Class of 2026.

Mike’s favorite moments from his time as an MCAS student reflect the confidence and motivation that continue to define his life today.

One of his favorite memories is standing up for public education. As a high school student, Mike joined his peers in protesting proposed statewide cuts to school funding. 

“We met with then-Governor Bayh, and were told to expect no more than five minutes. The Governor attempted to tell us stories about the history of the furniture in his office to fill the five minutes, and I was the one who interrupted him to ask the questions we all had about stopping the cuts to education.” 

Mike gives credit to his teacher, Barb Fritzen Holdcraft, who advocated for the students to meet with the governor. 

Another unforgettable highlight was Elston’s 1991-92 basketball season, when the Red Devils won Sectionals and Regionals and came within one game of reaching the State Finals at the Hoosier Dome. For Mike, it was a powerful example of what community pride and collective effort can accomplish.

Today, Mike’s journey has come full circle. From a student learning to use his voice to a community leader helping shape the future of MCAS, his story is a reminder that the district does more than prepare students for careers. It helps develop informed citizens, confident leaders, and lifelong advocates who are ready to step up when it matters most.