Student Awards Archive

The President's Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Emma who is a graduating senior in Applied Ecology and Environmental Science and a cadet in Michigan Tech's Army ROTC program, was also recognized as the departmental scholar in Military Science.

While at Michigan Tech, Emma has also been:

• An active member of the Practical Pistol Club
• A tutor and mentor for other students in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science as a member of Xi Pi National Honor Society
• An instrumental chair of the planning team for the Husky Alpine Mountain Run
• and the Facebook and Instagram manager for the Arctic Warrior Battalion

all while maintaining a stellar academic record, working part-time in town, and excelling in the ROTC program.

As a student leader in ROTC, Emma has mentored incoming members, planned service activities, and ensure a safe and welcoming space for her fellow female cadets. Her nominator, Major Daniel Gwosch, stated, "The most sought after Army branch, Infantry, was the last combat arms branch to be gender neutralized. After Emma graduates, she will accept a commission on Active Duty as an Infantry Officer. Emma is a tremendous leader and has proven that she has the highest qualities and attributes that the army seeks in its future leaders. Second Lieutenant Coenen has unlimited potential and will be a great future Michigan Tech alumnus as she blazes her path for years to come."

Emma elaborated in her own essay, "It is an honor to join this branch and prove that women are reliable assets in our nation's defense."

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent, not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills. 

Recipient's Bio

Christian Johnson is pursuing a double degree in English and Human Biology with a pre-health professions minor. His diverse passions and accomplishments led to his selection as the Departmental Scholar for both Humanities and the Pavlis Honors College.

His passion for creative writing has led to his recent essay, "Je t'aime," being accepted for publication by Free Spirit publishers in their book, Love Stories. The essay is about taking chances, developing independence, and finding love. With his passion for health sciences, he has also served as an undergraduate research assistant in Qing-Hui Chen's Cardiovascular Physiology lab in Kinesiology.

On top of this scholarly endeavors, Christian has also repeatedly embrace opportunities as a student mentor. He has served as:

• A peer coach in Michigan Tech's Writing Center, sharing his expertise in writing for both humanities and STEM contexts
• A resident assistant with Residence Education
• A Husky Connect Mentor with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and
• A volunteer with Dial Help

Additional examples of his leadership and involvement include serving on the executive boards for Alpha Epsilon Delta (the pre-health honor society) and the Pre-Health Association, and being an active member of Michigan Tech's Blue Key National Honor Society. 

The Dean of Students Award for Possibilities recognizes a student that embodies our possibilities value statement: "We inspire the exploration and creation of all possibilities through innovative use of our skills and knowledge."

Recipient's Bio

When Jemel Thompson arrived on campus, he struggled to see himself in anything at Tech, so he decided to forge the community he sought on his own. This was the inspiration to revive the Society of African American Men (SAAM) with the help of his fellow brothers. Jemel went on to become the first Minister of Direction (President) of the organization since its reinstatement providing resources and support for men of color on campus.

As one of his nominators shared, "Throughout his career at Michigan Tech, Jemel has continued to try new things, take chances, and engage meaningfully with everyone he meets. He has engaged with a wide variety of Tech experiences from working in curriculum development with Residence Education, re-establishing the Society of African American Men on campus, attending and on-site coordinating for the LeaderShape Institute, volunteering with the Tech Traditions committee, serving as a Husky Connect Mentor with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and a variety of other involvements in between. In each of these experiences, Jemel unabashedly asks everyone 'why' and 'how can we improve.' To him nothing is stagnant and it has pushed me and our Michigan Tech community forward."

The William and Josephine Balconi Community Service Award is presented to a student who demonstrates community service with lasting and meaningful impact during their time at Michigan Tech, regardless of background or area of study. 

Recipient's Bio

Bella's dedication to service stretches both far and wide. While at Michigan Tech, she has: 

• founded and led the Pre-Health Mentoring Program,a program that connects first and second-year pre-health students with third and fourth-year students for guidance
• founder and led the "Winter Warm Up" program which helps collect winter jackets for those in need
• served as a crisis text counselor for a national organization committed to promoting the well-being of others
• assisted elderly and low-income community members with finding resources to help them at the height of the pandemic
• created a student Pen-Pal program to combat the isolation many students felt during the lockdowns
• served as a point person for the Green Bandana Project
• mentored middle school girls with the goal of empowering them to set goals and improve their self-esteem

After graduation, Bella intends to attend Physician Assistant school with the goal of becoming a healthcare advocate in rural, medically underserved areas. 

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Anna, who is pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Electric Power has shown excellent success during her time as a student. Her involvement and contributions to Michigan Tech’s campus are numerous and cast such a wide net.

Anna has:

• Had multiple internships at Black & Veatch and Westwood Professional Services.

• Served in the project and team leader roles with the Alternative Energy Enterprise on projects like the Baraga Community Solar and On-Campus Mine Water Geothermal System.

• Been an active part of the Residence Education and Housing Services community as a Senior Resident Assistant and Resident Assistant for three years.

Anna has left a mark on Michigan Tech’s community. In her essay, she writes how she strived to be a role model for others through community building.

“Through my Michigan Tech experience, my values of leadership, community, openness, and integrity have been demonstrated through every aspect of my involvement. In trying to create a supportive community, I have strived to give a sense of comfort and belonging to those without a place. Michigan Tech has helped me find my values and my identities, and I hope through my involvement that I have left as positive of a mark on Michigan Tech as it has left on me.”  

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

This year’s recipient of the Provost’s Award for Scholarship is Thomas Basala from Biological Sciences.

His department states in support of Thomas: “He [Thomas] is one of the most conscientious, reliable, and appreciative students I have met.”

•   Thomas is an EMT with our Emergency Medical Services.

• President of Triangle Fraternity

• Member of Pavlis Honors College Undergraduate Student advisory Board

• Holds a 4.0 GPA

We are proud to recognize Thomas with the Provost’s Award for Scholarship.

The Dean of Students Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Lydia is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences, with a minor in Business and Global Community Development. Lydia is actively involved on campus.

• Lydia has served as the President of the Tech Tutors and Women’s Leadership Council.
• Served as the volunteer coordinator for the Appalachia Service Project, a non-profit home repair project, to plan the work scope for 13 repair projects over a seven-week period.
• Involved on campus as an Orientation Team Leader, LeaderShape Institute Graduate, Mont Ripley ski instructor, and the philanthropy chair for Delta Phi Epsilon.
• Participated with IT Oxygen Enterprise on the DENSO North American Foundation-sponsored project to predict spot market prices of semiconductors 30 days into the future.

In her essay, Lydia stated, “I realized being a leader is not always about you, but rather it is about the people you are serving. Participating in a variety of service opportunities taught me that to be a leader, one should understand other perspectives, encourage growth in others, and recognize the importance of collaboration to reach a larger goal.”

Lydia has been able to serve those around her by contributing both to the campus and the community in extraordinary ways.

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Zachary, who is pursuing a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a Minor in Microbiology, has shown excellent success during his time as a student.

Zachary has:

• Served in multiple Executive Board roles on Wadsworth Hall Association and Inter-Residence Hall Council.

• Connected leaders in the residence halls with learning and programming opportunities by affiliating Michigan Tech with the Regional and National Association of College and University Residence Hall Associations.

• Elected as the Conference Chairperson for the Great Lakes Regional Business Conference in 2019 and was integral in hosting the conference at Michigan Tech.

• Serves as a Bringing in the Bystander Peer Educator.

Zach has left a mark on Michigan Tech’s community. In his essay, he writes how life-changing his time and involvement has been at Michigan Tech.

“I can say with utter certainty that my experience at Tech would not have been the same without the leadership opportunities that I have had. These experiences shaped who I am over four years and set me on a path that I find very fulfilling and exciting.” After graduation, Zach will be pursuing a career in Student Affairs and Higher Education.

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

This year’s recipient of the Provost’s Award for Scholarship is Kaylee Meyers from Biomedical Engineering.

Kaylee’s department writes: “She is driven by a sharp intellect, an inexhaustible work ethic, and an insatiable need to learn and understand. From the start, her level of seriousness, intellectual curiosity, and attention to details were hallmarks I have seen in only our very best students.”

Kaylee works on an NIH funded project that has led to novel cell and molecular mechanism data regarding tendon repair.

• Co-Authored two review papers.

•  

• Prepared and presented peer-reviewed abstracts.

• Actively involved in Summer Youth Programs and serving at Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.

We are proud to recognize Kaylee with the Provost’s Award for Scholarship.

The Dean of Students Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Dana is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dana is actively involved both in her field and on campus.

• Dana is an Undergraduate Microbiology Research Student

• Serves as an Academic Success Coach and a Peer Health Advocate

• Volunteered over 1000 hours as a Michigan Tech Volunteer EMT

• Executive Board member of her sorority, Theta Chi Epsilon

• Active with her church teaching pre-school aged and younger children

• She is a member of multiple honor societies including Phi Sigma – Biological Science Honor Society, Order of Omega – Greek Honor Society, and Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Society.

• Dana is also involved on campus as a member of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Club, Love Your Melon and Women’s Rugby Team.

In her essay, Dana explored the question, “Who am I?” and was confidently able to say that Michigan Tech allowed her to strengthen her leadership skills and become the person she is today.

Dana has certainly proven her willingness to serve the campus and the community in extraordinary ways.

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Jack, who is pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering, has shown excellent success during his time as a student.

Jack has:

• Had multiple internships at Marinette Marine Corporation, Winsert, Inc; and Procter & Gamble.

• Served in multiple Executive Board roles in the Memorial Union Board, including a two term President.

• Been a part of the Winter Carnival Alcohol Safety Committee, a representative of the students in front of the Board of Trustees, and attended National Level Conferences.

Jack has shown he is dedicated to making a positive impact, not just for himself but for all of the students at Michigan Tech. In his essay, Jack speaks to the skills he gained through his involvement.

After graduation, Jack will be working for Procter & Gamble.  “My drive and passion have brought me to the start of my career where I will continue to grow as a leader, knowing that I have a head start on that process because of MUB Board.”

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

This year’s recipient of the Provost’s Award for Scholarship is Tessa Steenwinkel from Biological Sciences. Tessa attended Preview Day in the Spring Semester prior to becoming a student on campus. She impressed Dr. Thomas Werner so much, he recruited her for a research position in his lab and became involved in academic research on her very first day of college.

Her department states in support of Tessa: “I consider [Tessa] invaluable and irreplaceable to the operations of my lab and research...Her intellectual capacity is unparalleled...I recognize her as my intellectual equal because of her terrific writing skills, her love for her experiments and science, and her dependability in the lab.”

• Tessa has co-authored multiple publications

• Goldwater Award finalist

• Soyring Foundation Scholarship Recipient awarded for work on solutions to prevent and cure cancer.

• Pavlis Honors Student.

We are proud to recognize Tessa with the Provost’s Award for Scholarship.

The Dean of Students Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Elise is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, with a minor in Spanish. Elise is actively involved both in her field and on campus.

• Elise has served as the President of the Biochemistry Club and a mentor in the Young Women Leaders Program.

• Currently serves as a troop leader for a local Girl Scout Troop.

• Involved on campus as a writing coach in the Multiliteracies Center, Summer Youth Program Counselor, and a Pavlis Honor Student.

• Participated as an Undergraduate Research Fellow at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School in the Department of Neuroscience. While in Rochester, MN volunteered at the Ronald Mcdonald House providing support and care for the families as they are navigating their difficult situations.

• Created and founded the Science Fair Mentoring program where under-served 4th and 5th grade students are paired with Undergraduate Students who helped design, execute, and present science fair projects.

Elise has been able to serve those around her by contributing both to the campus and the community in extraordinary ways. Congratulations, Elise.

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Sarah Jo, who is pursuing a degree in Environmental Engineering, has shown excellent leadership and success during her time here as a student.

Sarah Jo has:

• Had an internship with GEI Consultants, Inc.
• Served as the President of Blue Key Honor Society, where she helped managed the planning and implementation of Winter Carnival
• Has served as a Campus Tour Guide, an Orientation Team Leader, and Co-section Leader of the Huskies Pep Band
• Has been a part of the Michigan Tech Theatre Company where she has taken part in 7 productions, including last weekend’s Midsummer Night’s Dream
• And helped start the Michigan Tech chapter of Alpha Psi Omega – the theatre honor society

Sarah Jo’s dedication has allowed the Blue Key Honor Society to implement many positive changes to help ensure Winter Carnival continues to be an outstanding tradition here at Tech. Her focus on improving communication and morale within the organization has also helped make membership in Blue Key more meaningful to each and every member.

Sarah Jo’s leadership has clearly made a difference here at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Dillon is a member of the Michigan Tech Formula SAE Enterprise where he is focused on the powertrain sub-team, working on the coolant and lubrication components.

His department notes his excellent communication skills and states that his personal philosophy of team communication states, in part: “All members’ opinions and viewpoints are valid and should be respected and considered when working with a team.  This feeling of respect from member to member can spark motivation and produce better work at the end of the day.”

Dillon has held an internship with Fiat-Chrysler of America where he was able to develop a MATLAB program that was able to test their supplier’s equipment to verify if they met their functional objective.

Dillon is also a member of the Physics Department’s Demonstration Crew where he works with department faculty to supply their classroom with physics demonstrations and sets up some of the physics undergraduate labs.

Dillon represents the best of student scholarship within Mechanical Engineering – Engineering Mechanics and has consistently performed with distinction in his academics, research, and involvement.

The Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Gina is pursuing both her Bachelor of Science in accounting and her Bachelor of Science in Finance and hopes to attain her Master of Science in Accounting this fall.  During her time at Michigan Tech, Gina has gotten very involved both on campus and in the community. 

Some highlights include:

• Actively involved in Residence Life where she is currently a Community Coordinator and has previously been a Resident Assistant
• Internal Audit Intern for Kohler Corporation
• A LeaderShape graduate
• Has been the president of Circle K, member of the Kappa Sigma Iota Accounting Club, School of Business and Economics Student Ambassador
• States that her two great passions in life are “education and service”
• Her service work includes student care packages, Trick or Treat for UNICEF, a used shoe drive, a military supply drive, 31 Backpacks, HuskyFAN.
• She is also a Peer Mentor in the Wahtera Center for students in the ExSEL program.

In her essay, Gina stated, “I have gained a lot from serving the campus and local community over the past 4 years… everything that I have done provides me with the valuable experience that will help me pursue my dream of starting a nonprofit educational organization – the ultimate culmination of my passion for education and service.”

Gina’s positive impact on Michigan Tech is evident and her dedication and involvement have made a lasting difference both on and off campus.

Recipient's Bio

Tyler is a Chemistry student. Tyler’s department describes him as an exemplary student whose academic prowess extends well beyond the classroom. His willingness to lend a hand and enthusiasm for helping others is what sets him apart.

Tyler has served as the Supplemental Instruction Leader for Organic Chemistry for the past two years and will step into the Supplemental Instruction Student Supervisor role next year. He has also completed an internship with Pfizer in Kalamazoo.

The Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Erin is a Mechanical Engineering Major with minors in Psychology and Spanish as well as a certificate for Global Technological Leadership from the Pavlis Honors College. Erin is well known on campus and in the community for her active involvement.

During her time as a student at Michigan Tech, Erin has:

• As an Academic Success Coach in the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success
• She had an internship with Georgia Pacific and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
• K-2 Stem Instructor
• Human Factors Team Lead in her Humane Interface Design Enterprise where she developed tests on Google Glass and it’s effect on driving ability, as well as designed an interactive polling system for campus student government to increase the number of voter responses. 
• She is also very active in Women’s Health and Education and spent 5 weeks in Ghana Africa as part of her Pavlis Honors College experience teaching basic health and hygiene principles

Erin has made a lasting impact as a student and her dedication is exemplary.

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Terrianna Bradley, a third-year Environmental Engineering major, has shown excellent leadership and success during her time here as a student.

During her time as a student at Michigan Tech, Terrianna has:

• Served as President for National Society of Black Engineers
• Had internships with Prein and Newhof
• Coordinated the Society of Intellectual Sisters Bra Show for the National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Designed a new flood prediction model for the Consumers Product Manufacturing Enterprise
• Attended LeaderShape

It is clear that Terrianna has made a great impact on the Michigan Tech community.

The Provost’s Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Sarah Harttung, an Applied Ecology & Environmental Sciences major, has been described as an exemplary student whose academic prowess extends well beyond the classroom.

During her time as a student at Michigan Tech, Sarah has:

• Been involved in five research labs in her department
• Pursued a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship for two summers
• Working towards publishing papers on her research in climate change
• Treasurer for Women's Leadership Council

Sarah has consistently performed with distinction in her academics, research, and involvement.

The Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Rachel Chard, is a Business Management Major with a concentration in Supply Chain and Operations. Rachel is well known on campus and in the community for her active involvement.

During her time as a student at Michigan Tech, Rachel has:

• Served as events and Programming Team Leader for Career Ambassadors where she planned and coordinated the Veterans Day honoring active duty individuals and veterans both on the Michigan Tech campus and local community.
• Had an internship with Amway Corporation
• Vice President of the Leaders in Continuous Improvement Organizations
• Member of Circle K community service and leadership based organization.
• Emcee'd for the Michigan Tech Hockey Games

Rachel has made a lasting impact as a student and her dedication is exemplary.

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Kimberly D’Augustino, a double major in Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, has excelled in academics while also taking full advantage of so many opportunities at Michigan Tech.

During her time as a student at Michigan Tech, Kimberly has:

• Had internships with Nucor and Plexus
• Served as Vice President of the Biomedical Engineering Society
• Mentored students as a Success Coach and an ExSEL Mentor
• Volunteered with Relay for Life
• Worked for Summer Youth Programs

Kim has also served as President of Mind Trekkers, a role in which she has helped organize science festivals all over the country to ignite the passion for science in young people.

The Provost’s Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Melissa Michaelson, an Anthropology major, has been described as a maturing scholar with a high level of intellectual curiosity, independent ideas, and excellent leadership and communication skills.

Melissa was a recipient of the prestigious Environmental Protection Agency Greater Research Opportunities Undergraduate Fellowship, given to only 34 students nationwide in 2014. Melissa is committed to connecting her scholarship to her community, and with funding through a separate EPA grant, she is part of a team that will create a guidebook that former mining communities can use to evaluate the social and technical feasibility of using mine water for geothermal energy.

Melissa’s scholarly abilities are reflected not only in her coursework and research, but also in extracurricular commitments. She works as a writing coach in the Multiliteracies Center and serves as treasurer of the Student Anthropology Club.

The Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Dallas Linville, a Biological Sciences major with a minor in Psychology, has demonstrated that she is committed to service.

During her time as a student, Dallas:

• Has served as a mentor in the Young Women Leaders Program
• Has given many hours of her time serving as a volunteer for the Emergency Medical Services program on-campus
• Spent a week volunteering in Peru in a Mobile Clinic for MEDLIFE
• Was elected and served as the Vice President for Service for Order of Omega, the Greek Honor Society
• Has coordinated volunteers for the American Red Cross Blood Drives
• Has participated in two mission trips with her church, where she has helped build houses, paint, plant trees, and much more.

Dallas’ other involvements at Michigan Tech include serving as president of Delta Phi Epsilon, planning orientation as a member of the Orientation Executive Staff, and coaching and tutoring students in the Multiliteracies Center.

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Kerstin Cleveland, a double major in Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, has maintained excellence in academics while also being committed to multiple student organizations.  

During her time at Michigan Tech, Kerstin has

• Had internships with DOW Chemical and Honeywell
• Served as Treasurer of Blue Key National Honor Society
• Attended and graduated from LeaderShape
• Gained experience as a Career Services intern
• Worked as an Admissions Telecounselor
• Taught Sunday school at one of the local churches

Kerstin was also the conference planning co-chair for the Society of Women Engineers, and she coordinated operations to host the SWE Region H Conference at Michigan Tech just this past spring. 

The Provost’s Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Holly Zehfus, an Applied and Computational Mathematics major with a Pre-medicine concentration and Spanish minor, has been quite a leader in the Aerospace Studies Department.

She is the highest militarily ranked cadet in her department, holding the rank of Cadet Colonel as Detachment 400’s Cadet Wing Commander.  This means she is the senior cadet leader who commands and oversees the entire cadet corps.  Holly was also one of only ten students nationally selected for a summer internship with the Department of Defense National Reconnaissance Office where she conducted cutting edge research.

Aside from being an exemplary scholar, Holly was also an Orientation Team Leader for two years, has been involved in Mind Trekkers, and is a LeaderShape graduate.  

The Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Rebeka Horsch, a Business Management major with a minor in Psychology, has displayed countless examples of service both on and off campus.  

Some of the activities Rebeka has been involved in include:

• Volunteering her time to help coach young figure skaters
• Helping the Houghton Rotary with their annual Seafood Fest fundraiser and also their Holiday Gift Wrapping for children in need
• Volunteering at Dial Help
• Participating in Adopt a Highway
• Teaching first graders at one of the local churches

Beka has also been very active as President of Alpha Gamma Delta Women’s Fraternity, and she and others in this organization were able to fund-raise nearly $10,000 in one semester that went to Diabetes Research and Awareness. 

Her other involvements on campus include being an Orientation Team Leader, an Orientation Executive Staff Member, President of Panhellenic Council, a LeaderShape graduate, and much more.

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Melanie Hoffman is a very successful student athlete, competing in three team sports:  soccer, track and field, and Nordic skiing.  She is a double major in Biological Sciences and Exercise Science and is minoring in Spanish, all while still carrying a 4.0 grade point average.  

During her time at Michigan Tech, Melanie has served as captain of her soccer team, earned numerous GLIAC awards for her performance in academics, been named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team, and been selected as a Woman of Promise by the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology for her outstanding work.  She has also served as an undergraduate teaching assistant, a mentor to local youth, a ski instructor, and more.

After graduation, Melanie plans to attend Marquette University in the fall of 2013 to

The Provost’s Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Michael Adler is double majoring in Mathematics and Physics while maintaining his grade point average of 4.0.  He is a dedicated researcher, receiving a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in 2011 and working on the Nanotechnology Enterprise team.  

Michael is also a gifted musician and long-time member of the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra.  He works as a consultant in the MathLab and as a teaching assistant in the Advanced Physics Lab, and he is a member of Mu Beta Psi, the National Honorary Musical Fraternity at Michigan Tech.  

Michael is recognized by faculty, staff, and peers for his excellent communication skills and his willingness to teach and help others.

The Vice President for Student Affairs Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Claire Meneguzzo is a Clinical Laboratory Science major and her list of involvements and accomplishments goes on for miles.  Claire has coordinated high school outreach activities like the annual Bioathlon and Touch the Future events.

She has served as president and public relations chair for the Society of Clinical Laboratory Scientists and has served as member and public relations manager for Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society.  With all this and working as an undergraduate teaching assistant, Claire has still found time to volunteer with veterans and elderly members of the local community and at fundraisers like Make a Difference Day.

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Andrew has all but reinvented the Honors Institute, insisting on adherence to GPA requirements, writing its constitution, adding leadership positions, outlining administration of elections and policies, and speeding-up legislation.

He also greatly expanded the Honors Institute’s efforts into Orientation and developed relationships with Career Services, Nucor Corporation, and the Kohler Company through involvement in the Student Organizations Fair, the Dollars and Tons Competition, and the Business Etiquette Dinner, respectively.

Andrew also focused on Honors Institute-sponsored Summer Undergraduate Research Funds and a new Institute-sponsored Undergraduate Research Expo open to all students. He has also worked with Enrollment Services Information Systems to develop an event-tracking system for all student organizations to use.

Outside of Andrew’s Honors Institute duties, he has been involved with internships, co-ops, Enterprise, his own undergraduate research, Student Life, Career Services and LeaderShape.

The Provost’s Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Samantha is maintaining a 3.96 GPA (3.99 cumulative). She is involved in research in a research program to explore online environments to accommodate diverse skills, interest levels, and disciplinary orientations in preparing writers.  Within this area of interest, she is an active blogger in the Midwest Writing Centers Scholars Blogging Community.

The faculty mentors who nominated Samantha marvel at her “intellectual curiosity and creative commitments.” They add that she “exudes enthusiasm and contributes significantly to every class she takes” and “makes teaching a joy.”  Her communication skills have been called “outstanding.” She speaks with sophistication and can articulate complex theoretical concepts while writing at a level far beyond her years.

Samantha is an active member of the National Communication at Tech club, Café Francais, and Keweenaw Pride. She’s often attending academic guest lectures, film screenings, and Rozsa performances. She is a classically trained musician and plays violin, piano, and banjo.

The Vice President for Student Affairs Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Jessica is an incredibly involved student leader at Michigan Tech. As a resident assistant, she organized a canned food competition between all of the residence hall houses.  She supervises a staff of eight RA’s and organized three different service projects last fall. First, all the RA’s were “volunteered” to ring the bell for Salvation Army in front of Walmart. Next, she had her staff decorate four Christmas trees, with their residents, and donated the trees to St. Vincent DePaul to give to families in need. Finally, she organized a food drive among all the residence halls, and six large boxes were donated to Goodwill.

With her sorority Delta Zeta, Jessica organized blanket tying for the Marquette General Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, lollipops decorated as flowers for Portage Pointe residents, raking leaves with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, and creating sign-language flashcards for children with hearing impairments.

The Delta Zeta’s have also begun raising funds for Relay for Life and participating in Standathon and Bowl for Kids. For Valentine’s Day, under Jessica’s direction, they worked with Alpha Sigma Tau to coordinate a two-day Crush soda sale to benefit ovarian cancer research.

Upon graduating, Jessica will be in the Rural Physicians Program, based in East Lansing, but she’ll be coming home to the Upper Peninsula for rotations.  In her own words: “Serving others has been and will always be a personal passion, and I hope that my efforts will impact others in a positive way.”

The President’s Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

As a student leader, Angela has participated in various university recruitment events and has assisted with the planning of many campus traditions.  She has served on the Homecoming and Family Weekend committees.  She was also a Winter Carnival Queen Candidate. Angela served as a leader in student organizations such as Circle K International, Alpha Sigma Pi-National Society of Leadership and Success, Psi Chi-The International Honor Society in Psychology, the Association of Psychology Students, and ART Revolutionizing Tech. She was also previously employed as a Residence Counselor for Summer Youth Programs, Orientation Team Leader, Campus Tour Guide, LeaderShape On-Site Coordinator, and Youth Programs Course Instructor.

With Circle K International, she has participated in service projects such as dog walking at the Copper Country Humane Society, working at the Kiwanis’ Chicken Barbeque and Pancake Breakfast, and delivering care packages to students in the Residence Halls.

Angela also strives for excellence in leadership as an employee. As a staff member, she works every day to perfect her student-centered approach to services by following the Michigan Tech Student Affairs mission, “students first.” In her current position as a Reception Desk Coordinator, she directly supervises six Assistant Coordinators, 35 Desk Receptionists, and daily desk operations, as well as coordinating the campus visit program which hosts 170 prospective students in the Residence Halls each year.

The Provost’s Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Emily embodies a rare combination of high academic achievement, intensive research activity, and community service. As a record of her impressive intellectual ability and energy, she maintained an outstanding 3.99 GPA while working intensively in a research laboratory for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year.

Emily has been a member of the Research Scholars program for three years and is now currently the president of this program. She has been highly productive in undergraduate research and has progressed immensely in her abilities and contribution. Emily has played a key role in establishing a human research project in collaboration with Portage Health. Results from this project may help treat women who are recovering from lymph node dissections from breast cancer surgery and are at risk for developing Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema, a disease of impaired lymphatic flow.  This is of course, just a sample of research experiments Emily has done.

She also serves as member of the International Business Ventures Enterprise and Pavlis Institute for Global Technological Leadership. Emily certainly works very hard and strives to give back to others and to the Michigan Tech Community.

The Vice President for Student Affairs Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Krista loves to give back to her community; as a child, she spent her holidays preparing meals for the poor, which taught her the importance of volunteering. Since coming to Michigan Tech, she has expanded her volunteer experiences. Krista has provided service for popular organizations such as ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, and delivering meals as a Friend of the Elderly.

Krista loves working with children, and has been a volunteer with the Little Husky Coach program and being a camp dorm counselor. Some of the things that Krista has done for these programs; providing the children with knowledge of the sport and playing in a fun environment. She also helped teach them life skills which include; self confidence, healthy exercise habits, teamwork, communication, and learning to win with humility and lose with good sportsmanship.

Krista said that her most memorable volunteering experience was when she was a practice player for the Special Olympics basketball team. She also stated that it was a very rewarding experience. She had more fun than she could have imagined and that she really learned to appreciate the talents of Special Olympics participants. Krista is an excellent role model and is a living proof that helping others does help change lives.

The President's Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

The largest impact to Andrea’s leadership development was her involvement in the Orientation program.   Through her work with both the Orientation program and new students as a commuter mentor, Andrea realized that her true passion lies with helping peers and other students to be successful. 

Andrea’s role in orientation has had a great impact on hundreds of students.  After serving as an OTL and Commuter Mentor, Andrea sought the challenge of Programming and Communications Coordinator for Orientation.  Her dedication to the program and her desire to continue to provide this type of program for students is the reason that Andrea has been on the Orientation Executive Staff for two years.  Although Orientation week can be stressful at times, serving the incoming students in that capacity constituted the best week of Andrea’s college experience thus far and being able to see the staff of OTLs grow throughout their intense training week and Orientation week, was immensely rewarding.

As Andrea wrapped up her role as the Programming and Communications Coordinator, she realized she still wasn’t quite ready to leave the Orientation program.  This year, she was accepted back onto the Orientation Executive Staff as the Selection and Training Coordinator.  In this role, Andrea is responsible for the selection of 70 new staff members, maintaining a database of applicant information for students applying for positions across student life, developing the Orientation Spring Training program, and working throughout the summer to develop our intense week-long training program for our OTLs this fall. 

The leadership experiences which Andrea has been a part of, both in Michigan Tech’s community and outside of it, have shaped her into who she is today; developing confidence, increasing facilitation skills, expanding her knowledge of the inner-workings of a large institution, improving her professional communication skills, and enhancing personal development.

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Elissa represents the best aspects of undergraduate research scholarship at Michigan Tech in the department of Geological & Mining Engineering and Sciences.

Her research focuses on investigations of magnetic properties of rocks and individual rock-forming crystals in order to evaluate their fidelity as recorders of the Earth’s ancient magnetic field.  Last fall, Elissa played an instrumental role in obtaining data on magnetic mineralogy of Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments from the North Dakota. 

Currently, Elissa is involved in paleomagnetic measurements of Archean rocks from Western Australia.  Her work includes investigations of the ability of individual plagioclase crystals to preserve reliable information about the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field during its early stages. 

Elissa’s excellent abilities for analytical thinking and independent work were well demonstrated by her work on GE4500 term paper.  She selected a very complicated topic which was not on the suggested list, but entirely based on her own interest to the subject.  Her work clearly showed that her motivation was to gain a clear understanding of the state of the art in the selected topic, rather than just to fulfill one of the class requirements with a minimal effort. 

The strong Environmental Engineering program at Michigan Tech convinced Bri to enroll so she could gain expertise in a field that serves people.  Michigan Tech not only allowed Bri to prepare for the future, but to get involved throughout her undergraduate program and further  her strong desire to serve the public with the work she does in her career.

Bri began her service lifestyle while still in high school, participating in a medical mission trip to Mexico distributing eye glasses with her father.  Bri did not stop there, as a student at Michigan Tech, she traveled to Guatemala twice on service trips focusing on sustainability, and Panama City Beach, Florida cleaning up and promoting responsible use of the natural areas.  While Bri contributes to the greater good with these far reaching trips, she does not forget to help out locally.  Whether helping out with the Lions’ Club in her hometown or working with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly in the Copper Country, Bri has made serving others a way of life. 

As she prepares to graduate from Michigan Tech, exciting opportunities are on the horizon for Bri.  Continuing her service lifestyle, Bri will start graduate school this coming fall in the Peace Corps Masters’ International Program in Environmental Engineering.  After a year of classes, she will serve as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years working on water and sanitation projects.  This unique program is giving her the awesome opportunity to combine so many of her passions as she pursues her master’s degree. 

The President's Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Dustin's first experience with leadership was as a rink manager for the IRHC Broomball program. From that experience Dustin has made great strides with Broomball and has played a role in making it as popular as it is. With over 2200 participants playing well over 1,000 games during the seven week season, Broomball has become one of the most popular winter activities at Michigan Tech. While serving as chair of Broomball, Dustin was able to add a third rink, allowing the program to grow by 70 teams to a total of 220 teams; implemented The Blue Book, a booklet published during the summer to inform incoming students about Broomball; led the merger of the Broomball PE class with the IRHC Broomball program; and also implemented the Skills Competition and All-Star Game, a very popular part of Broomball.

Dustin served as a Resident Assistant for one semester before becoming a Management Assistant in Wadsworth Hall. With his leadership in the Halls, Dustin was involved with committees that recommended the reform of the smoking policy and represented the students' interests.

Dustin has been integral in the revitalization of Prince's Point as a member of the Student Commission. Dustin was able to enhance the campus waterfront space by adding picnic tables, trash cans, signs and fire rings to preserve the clean sand. This area was used during Spring Fling this year by the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Outdoor Adventure Program to get students on the water and the trail.

Dustin is also the Vice-President of the National Society of Leadership and Success, a member of two enterprises including the Pavement Design Construction and Materials, and the Integrated Micro Systems Enterprise in which he was project manager on an effort to develop a wireless concrete maturity meter.

Dustin graduated in May of 2009 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Eli has been described as "the best undergraduate student" one of his professors has "ever worked with." He has proven to be very gifted in both the laboratory and the classroom. It has also been said that Eli possesses a sharp intellect and an inexhaustible work ethic. It is not surprising after hearing all of the great things about Eli to find out that he maintains a perfect grade point average and is the top student of his class in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, all of this while playing Division 1 collegiate hockey.

Eli completed his first manuscript for publication last fall based on research he has been conducting and has presented this work at a professional conference. In addition, Eli has already submitted two abstracts to the Design of Medical Devices Conferences and the American Society for Mechanical Engineering which address modified thin film materials that he has been developing while at Michigan Tech. Eli is capable of formulating and carrying out independent and group work with equal ease, and this shows through his involvement outside of the classroom as well.

Eli serves as a role model for kids as a member of the Michigan Tech hockey team. The concept of teamwork permeates every aspect of athletic and academic life.

Eli an exemplary student, more importantly he is an exceptional person with the maturity, temperament, and attitude to be a gifted scientist.

The Vice President for Student Affairs' Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Rei has been involved in many different groups during his time at Michigan Tech, including International Club, Blue Key National Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Friends of the Library Book sale, and Make a Difference Day, to name a few. Rei has not only been involved in these organizations, but has also taken a leadership role to serve his fellow students. As the President of the International Club during 2007-2008, Rei was responsible for overseeing International Night 2007, which was hailed as a huge success.

As Blue Key vice-president during the 2008-2009 school year, Rei had another opportunity to serve and lead the students of Michigan Tech. In recognition of his service to Blue Key, Rei was named the 2008 Blue Key Honor Society Member of the Year for outstanding service to Winter Carnival.

Rei volunteers as an International Student Mentor and as an International Orientation Tutor and was been involved directly with the planning of the 2008 Parade of Nations event.

Rei demonstrates his dedication to service not only through the organizations he is involved with and the events that he plans, but also in his choice of work: as a Teaching Assistant for the Mathematics Laboratory. Serving his fellow students is part of who Rei is and realizing that, he states "it truly hones my skills and perspectives, making me a wiser and more mature person day by day, as well as gives me hope that each and every one of us has the ability to change the world."

Rei graduated in May of 2009 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

The President's Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Jonathan is a fourth year, Mathematics and Biological Sciences double major with an International Minor in German. During his time at Tech, he has been involved in a wide variety of activities. One of his favorite activities has been his involvement with the student-run radio station, WMTU, where he is on the staff and also co-hosts a weekly radio show. As a staff member, he helps determine the future direction of the radio station, as well as bring in musical acts from around the country.

For the past couple of years, Jonathan has been an anatomy lab teaching assistant, where he has the opportunity to guide students and make improvements in the lab. He has also helped others by serving as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician Basic in Baraga Country. During the summer of 2007, he had the opportunity to be a volunteer EMT counselor at Camp 911, a safety camp for fifth and sixth graders, where children were taught CPR, basic AED use, and first aid.

Jonathan has also been involved with the Blue Key Honor Society, where he served as president during this academic year. Winter Carnival 2008 received 33% more funding than 2007, which improved the organization's infrastructure with online registration and made it easier for students to participate. He was also able to bring back the traveling trophy, which is one of the great traditions of Winter Carnival that has disappeared in the past few years due to the lack of funding. He also worked with the University to bring artists from Kentucky and Maryland to campus to freeze a car in a block of ice.

Through all of his experiences he has learned "while leadership and service require much sacrifice of time and substantial effort, the reward for the community is well worth the hard work."

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Amy Palmgren is the perfect example of a Scholar. Her academic performance has been excellent, as demonstrated by her 4.0 cumulative grade point average in her double major of Computer and Electrical Engineering. She is a member of the Wireless Communications Enterprise, where her team programmed and then verified the Wireless Infrastructure for High Assurance Real-Time communications protocol used for the Pierre Auger Observatory North project. She is continuing to work on the Auger North project as an undergraduate research with Dr. Kieckhafer, and will produce an undergraduate thesis on her work.

Amy also plays on the varsity tennis team. She was selected for one of the GLIAC's inaugural Commissioner's Awards for Academic and Athletic Excellence. She is the Huskies’ number one singles and number one doubles player and has earned a place on ESPN's The Magazine Academic All-American First Team in 2007. She is a four-time All-GLIAC selection who earned Second Team All-GLIAC accolades this past fall. She has also been named an ITA Scholar-Athlete twice and to the GLIAC All-American Team three times.

In addition to her scholarly work and tennis, she is also active in the Society of Women Engineering, having served as the president in the 2006-2007 academic year.

The Vice President for Student Affairs' Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Alex is a student-athlete on the Michigan Tech football team and President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In his time here at Michigan Tech, he has planned and organized all Make-A-Wish fundraising events including Chuck-A-Puck at all home hockey games as well as selling "chains of love" at home basketball games. In the three years he has been president of SAAC, he raised over $4,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, he also organized the Think Pink Initiative, which included many events with all proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. He also planned and organized Take-on-a-Husky Night while on the Homecoming Committee in 2006 and 2007.

Alex has also helped with other organizations such as Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Community for Creative Non-Violence Homeless Shelter, McGregor Elementary School, Residence Hall Move-In, and Canal Run Aid Station Volunteer. He has also served on the Vice Provost and the Health and Wellness Coordinator Search Committees.

Alex says the most rewarding service experience he has had was watching the faces of two Hurricane Katrina victims as they watched their new homes being built through Habitat for Humanity. He stated, "Knowing the impact that your efforts have had on that person's life provides you with a feeling that is unlike anything else…I get that same feeling every time I perform an act of service."

The President's Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

In her four years in Army ROTC, Beth has held several leadership positions as Cadet Battalion Commander, where she was responsible for everything in the Battalion during the 2006 fall semester, to Training Officer, where she planned and coordinated all training events for the Cadet Battalion, to serving as Color Guard commander, where she led a group of cadets in posting the Colors at football games, commencement ceremonies, and leading the Parade of Nations.

She spent two years serving on the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), one as a sophomore representative and another as Vice President.

While serving as President for Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), she planned and coordinated a Career Fairs Dinner for Business and Economics students and coordinated programming competition for local high school students.

Other organizations she has been involved with are IT/OX Enterprise, Order of Omega Greek Honor Group, Alpha Sigma Tau's Philanthropy Chair, Blue Key Honor Society, captain and team member of various intramural sports, president in her residence hall, Circle K Service Organization, Little Brother's Friends of the Elderly, and the England Cadet Exchange Program.

But even with all this involvement, this year's award recipient states "I feel the largest impact I have made on campus has been dedication through the activities where I did not belong to a specific organization at the time. From being a Teaching Assistant for a UN1010 class, to giving up a week of my Winter Break to go back to LeaderShape a second time to serve as an On-Site Coordinator, to bringing up MCRI and BAMN speakers to inform students on the civil rights issue before elections, to being an Orientation Team Leader for three years. I have learned not only when to be a leader, but when to be a follower, time management, how to plan events, to delegate tasks, to keep others involved, communication skills, and last but not least to have fun."

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Alexandra is the perfect example of a Scholar. Her academic performance has been excellent, as demonstrated by her 4.0 overall grade point average. She has already completed a Modern Language Minor in German and is pursuing a concentration in the Aerospace Enterprise. She received a research fellowship from the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, West Virginia for the summer of 2006 and this year she was named one of the McArthur Research Interns in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering. Furthermore, she has just received a Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship for the summer of 2007.

Dr. Mark Plichta, Chair of Materials Science & Engineering describes Alex as very friendly and is always willing to help others in any way she can. She also has a wide range of interests, including skiing and hiking—and she has completed 300 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

The Vice President for Student Affairs' Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Sunny is currently the Chapter President of the Society of Environmental Engineers and has been an active member since her first semester at Michigan Tech. Her role in this organization has been to lead and organize meetings and field trips that promote networking and support the environmental field.

As one of the Chairpersons for the Guatemala Water Project Committee for Engineers Without Borders, she has just returned from her third trip to Guatemala. She was responsible for all aspects of the Guatemala Sustainable Water Project that involves health, community, and education issues. On her first assessment trip, she conducted the Community Health Survey, collecting data for the project. On her second trip she was chosen to be the Point Health Person and was responsible for again leading the general meetings with the village, coordinating the Health Education plans with the village through workshops/learning sessions, and preparing the village for the upcoming Water Project implementation and conducting the final engineering assessment. Over spring break 2007, eleven Engineers Without Borders members and herself implemented the project.

Sunny has been very involved with the Nosotros-Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers as the 2005-06 Chapter president and as an active member organizing student activities such as the Gala Latina Formal Dance, volunteering events, and Salsa lessons.

During her time at Michigan Tech, she was appointed as the Chairperson for the International Film Festival Committee, and after studying abroad in Spain was appointed to be a Study Abroad Peer Advisor. She has been a Spanish tutor since January 2006 and is also a mentor for the Intercultural Mentor Program and is also a Brazilian Ambassador.

Sunny states "participating in events such as Make a Difference Day, and being an active member of I-Club, and Chi Epsilon Honor Society, as well as my volunteer experiences, and on-campus activities have given me the opportunity to develop and shape my leadership and service experiences."

The President's Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Over the past three and one-half years, Adam has been actively leading in both the academic and co-curricular arenas, with experiences such as the Geology Club, Inter Residence Hall Council, Wadsworth Hall Student Association, First Year Experience House, and serving as a Teaching Assistant for several courses.

In the Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Department, he is an executive member of the Geology Club and a Teaching Assistant.

In IRHC, he served as the residence halls National Communications Coordinator (NCC) where he organized a delegation of Michigan Tech students to attend a regional hall council conference and presented a session for the delegates. He also helped to expand IRHC programming by being a co-founder of the annual Trivial Pursuit Tournament, Fall Frisbockey league, and the Broomball Hot Cocoa Shack.

Adam served as Wadsworth Hall Student Association President during his sophomore year.

He feels the largest impact he has made on campus has come through his four years of dedication to the First Year Experience (FYE) program, where he has been a hall member, the house president, a peer mentor and the program coordinator. He has worked at making FYE an exceptional program by continuing the hall's traditions, while introducing new programs and a sense of belonging to everyone in the community.

In conclusion, he says “ I am privileged to have had such unique opportunities to grow in my own leadership abilities at Michigan Tech. I hope that my efforts to pass on my knowledge, ideas, and enthusiasm will result in stronger leaders for Michigan Tech's future.”

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Adam is intellectually curious, striving to master material on a fundamental level. Not content to simply absorb material in class, he has actively pursued learning by getting involved with research projects. In 2004, he received an award from the Michigan Space Consortium for his proposal "Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes for uses in Advanced Space Propulsion." That work with Dr. Yoke Khin Yap has resulted in a publication "Stability of field emission current from various types of carbon nanotube films."

The following summer, he worked at Michigan State University in the Research Experience for Undergraduates program, investigating the structure of CMR manganites. He is currently working with Dr. Miguel Levy, designing experiments to probe photonic structures. He has also worked as a teaching assistant in the physics labs. 

Adams's extracurricular activities include playing in the Pep Band, serving as Treasurer for the Society of Physics Students, and being president of the Fencing Club, where he also serves as the beginner’s class instructor. 

In the short time that he has been at MTU, he as made significant contributions to three research groups, gained teaching experience, and been a leader in two student organizations.

The Vice President for Student Affairs' Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Hans started out his first year at Michigan Tech by volunteering through AFROTC and has continued to provide service to the campus and community.

He is a regular volunteer with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and does things like cut, split and deliver firewood, as well as help elderly people clean their homes.

He has volunteered in the community school system, by helping with book fairs and school carnivals.

He has assisted with three area youth programs: the Day of Challenges and the Husky Challenge drill competition, events which are designed to build confidence and a sense of accomplishment in children. Also, he has assisted with the Alcohol Free Weekend in the SDC, which provides an environment without drugs and alcohol for local junior and senior high school kids.

With the Copper Country Humane Society, he not only walks dogs, he has helped organize the Crazy Dog Triathlon. With the Red Cross, he is a regular donor and volunteer. And he currently is helping to organize a 5 and 10K run to raise money for a 5 year old who is suffering from cancer.

On campus, he has volunteered as a student recruiter for the University through the Ambassador Program, Preview Day, and AFROTC. He has cleaned up litter for Make A Difference Day. He is also the president of McNair Hall Association, where he lead a charity date auction that raised money for Tulane University, to help them get back on their feet after Hurricane Katrina.

The President's Award for Leadership is given to a student who is chosen from an outstanding group of nominees that have provided leadership for their peers in their activities while a student at Michigan Tech.

Recipient's Bio

Chad has been a very active and important member in many organizations and activities, such as the Arctic Blast Drill Team, Special Tactics Squadron, Arnold Air Society, Air Force ROTC, and Intramurals, as well as working as a Challenge Course facilitator, and Electrical Engineering Learning Center Coach, grader and lab supervisor. To top this all off, he has maintained an excellent overall grade point average.

Chad was selected to become the Air Force ROTC Cadet Wing Commander. His overall duty was to lead the Cadet Wing of eighty officer candidates for preparation into the United States Air Force. In this capacity, he was expected to achieve all training, learning, and education objectives required during weekly, Leadership Laboratories and he oversaw the organization, planning, and execution of the Physical Fitness Program.

Along with these two programs, Chad initiated sweeping changes resulting in increased efficiency, morale, and readiness, brought about a Freshmen Cadet Orientation Program, Squadron Store, Air Force ROTC Cadet Learning Center, detailed equipment inventory plan, created a Cadet limited-access website, oversaw the organization of eight Morale, Welfare, and Recreation events for cadets, an Orientation Week BBQ which over 300 freshmen attended, hosted Civil Air Patrol resulting in twenty hours of flights for cadets, and continued the Hockey Ushering Program which consists of over 600 man-hours to usher all of the Michigan Tech Men's Hockey games played at home.

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills.

Recipient's Bio

Rachel is the perfect example of a scholar. Her academic performance has been excellent, as demonstrated by her 4.0 overall grade point average. This is even more impressive when one considers that she is pursuing degrees in both Materials Science & Engineering and Physics. In addition, she has attained senior status after only two years at Michigan Tech.

Rachel is also involved in other scholarly activities such as working as an undergraduate research assistant, a participant in the Research Scholars Program, a contributing writer for the Daniell Heights newsletter, a Math Learning Center Coach, and an active member in Tau Beta Pi engineering society.

The Vice President for Student Affairs' Award for Service is given to an undergraduate Michigan Tech student who has performed volunteer services which have provided both benefits for the people served, as well as valuable learning experiences for the student.

Recipient's Bio

Christopher has led presentations on Kenya to local elementary and middle school students, as well as various community organizations, taught Swahili to groups of students who were going to Kenya, worked with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship to get a dormitory built in Kajiado, Kenya, for students in elementary school who walk about 12 miles every day to get to school, delivered pumpkins at Halloween to local residents, visited with the elderly on Valentines Day, Bowled for Kids, and assisted Salvation Army with a clothing drive and regularly volunteered with food bagging and other miscellaneous work.

Christopher's other service activities include being a mentor to a first-year student with the Peer Mentor Network, participating in the GM Sullivan Fellowship program, and working with the AFG Enterprise project which included leading a group of students on a tour of local area homes that run on alternative energies.

Through the student organization American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Christopher took the lead in bringing National Engineers Week (NEW) to Michigan Tech, which assists in outreach to the younger students in the community and educating them on the advances in engineering.