Rick Kraas '75 never met his father-in-law, Bruce Stork '43. But the lives of both Michigan Tech graduates are forever connected by their affinity for the University—and their love of Claudette Reid, Bruce's daughter and Rick's wife of 12 years.
Hailing from a small-town banking legacy, Rick intended to pursue forestry during his time at Tech. On campus, he soon discovered his passion was not in trees, but in numbers. "Dr. Alexander's Principle of Economics course really opened my eyes," he recalls.
Fifty years later, Rick holds dearly the hard-fought lessons from his professors, including James Gale, Brian Patrick Joyce, and Paul Nelson. His memories as a student of MIT-trained Kenneth O. Alexander (or "Doc KO" as the professor of labor economics was fondly known) are vivid. "I learned an awful lot from his economics courses without ever reaching higher than a B," he says. "Nelson's Engineering Economy class was tough, but I cannot overstate how well it prepared me for my career," he adds.
"The access to faculty I had was tremendous. We'd have coffee together during office hours—I was being mentored and coached," he recalls, thinking back to a time on campus when accounting legend Sam Tidwell roamed the halls. "At Tech, you learn. You don't just earn a grade."
After graduating, Rick went on to earn his MBA from Notre Dame. His rigorous economics underpinning would launch a career spanning finance, corporate banking, and information systems, eventually leading to a role as vice president for systems development with CitiBank.
Rick's Michigan Tech experience gave him the confidence to tackle new and challenging roles and responsibilities. At CitiBank, he facilitated an internship program among career-ready College of Business students. "A Michigan Tech business education prepares students for career, but also life," he says. "Through hard work, they thrive in any scenario."
A passion for education led Rick to a rewarding second career teaching at Northern Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where he tried to replicate the example of his Tech faculty mentors.
The "Clam Dip Kid's" Secret Family Recipe
- 1 1⁄2 blocks (12 oz.) Philadelphia cream cheese
- 1 can (6.5 oz.) minced clams, drained
- 1 can (6.5 oz.) chopped clams, drained
- Worcestershire sauce, to taste
- Finely chopped onion (optional)
Stir until smooth. Add a small amount of drained clam juice if it is too thick.
Houghton left a mark on him, too. The Library (pub, not books) was a home away from home. Then-owner and Tech alumnus, the late Jon Davis, gave Rick a moniker that lives on today: "Clam Dip Kid"—a nod to the savory family-recipe dish he always brought to extracurricular functions.
The trails of University-owned Mont Ripley were stomping grounds for Rick—and for Stork too, a generation earlier (he is remembered for his counter-rotational skiing prowess). While Stork passed away 25 years ago, Rick is certain they would have gotten on well—a theory affirmed by Claudette, who retired as an occupational therapist with the State of Michigan.
Bruce A. Stork (1918-1997) studied civil engineering at Michigan Tech. He was a member of the Sigma Rho fraternity and Army ROTC, enlisting to serve in World War II just prior to earning his Bachelor of Science. Following his service, Stork embarked on a career in the auto industry, with stints at both Chrysler and Ford. A member of the team that designed the first-generation Mustang sports car, Stork was grandfathered in as a licensed professional engineer—an achievement he and his family were very proud of.
In Stork's memory, Rick and Claudette have established the Bruce A. Stork Scholarship, which will support students on their path to an MTU business degree.
"It's common to receive ample funding as a first-year," explains Claudette, who for 16 years also served as an elected city official in Portage, Michigan. "But we want to give returning students a chance to keep going—in spite of obstacles or hardships they face."
"Rick and I did well, but we are not rich individuals," she adds. "We're grateful Michigan Tech makes it possible to give back in a smart way."
"No one at Tech turns away from a challenge," Rick says. "Claudette and I are eager to give back to the next pack of hardworking Huskies."
Bruce A. Stork Scholarship
The Bruce A. Stork Scholarship provides one-time financial support for Huskies entering their second year at Michigan Tech. Awards totaling $1,000 are given to students who are pursuing a degree within the College of Business, who hold a minimum GPA of 2.5 during their first year, and who encounter uncertainty in being able to continue their degree due to unforeseen events. After all, the path to a college degree is not always linear.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
