College of Business students excel in competition and academics. Find out who won a prestigious scholarship, completed an exciting internship, delivered an inspiring speech, and started a new student organization as we celebrate their achievements.
Construction Management Student Starts New Club, Completes Internship
A new College of Business student organization kicked off in fall 2024. Initiated by junior construction management student Rachel Blaine '25, who is president of the club, the Husky Construction Design Association gives students opportunities to gain knowledge and experience through trips to construction sites, working on local construction projects, and building professional connections.
This summer, Blaine completed her second internship with Alberici Constructors, which is constructing a new lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Working with dirt and demo crews, Blaine gained knowledge in field communication and operations. "I saw what a day in the life of an operator looks like," Blaine says. "I loved the people on the site and how interesting it was."
Blaine hopes to translate her keen interest in construction management into a career as a construction superintendent.
Madison Mattila Receives PCAOB Scholarship
College of Business undergraduate Madison Mattila has been awarded a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholars Program scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year. The program seeks to benefit students who are likely to become auditors and might otherwise choose a different career path. The generous scholarship funds tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment.
Mattila is double majoring in management information systems and accounting. She is also pursuing a Master of Science in Accounting and a graduate certificate in accounting analytics.
This spring, Mattila was recognized as an outstanding student by College of Business accounting faculty, and she received the 2024 Dean of Students Award for Possibilities. Mattila is the president of Kappa Sigma Iota (KSI) Accounting Club, serves as the College of Business representative and public relations chair for Undergraduate Student Government, and is vice president of the Women's Golf Club. She is also engaged in the Applied Portfolio Management Program and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Off campus, Mattila coaches girls soccer at Houghton High School and serves as a big sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Aerith Cruz Caps Off Her Time at Tech by Delivering Commencement Address
A northern lights chaser and Keweenaw explorer who carried out her goal to create and expand access to opportunities for others across campus, Aerith Cruz was selected as the undergraduate student speaker at Michigan Tech's 2023 Midyear Commencement.
The prestigious and competitive Leading Scholar program brought Cruz to Tech. She's been a proponent ever since, volunteering at 11 scholarship events and supporting prospective students as a Tech Pal mentor. Cruz continued to challenge herself while at Tech, earning the 2023 President's Award for Leadership and the Rising Star of the Year award.
Cruz completed her degree work in three and a half years. Her accomplishments and activities, many of which are detailed in the 2023- 24 issue of Impact Magazine, included establishing a Society for Women in Engineering Endowed Scholarship and remaining active in FIRST Robotics as both a mentor and executive board member to Copper Country Robotics.
In her commencement speech, Cruz urged fellow Huskies to continue pursuing their dreams. "With every opportunity that has been presented to me, I have always challenged myself with a simple question: 'Why not? Let's just go for it.' I hope to inspire my fellow graduates to continue challenging themselves in their future endeavors, and that there can be a lot of impact within that simple question."
First Annual College of Business Student Awards
Congratulations to these College of Business undergraduates, who received special recognition from their programs at the end of the spring 2024 semester. The awards were presented by COB alumni and Dean's Advisory Council (DAC) members.
Henry Basala, Accounting and Management Information Systems, presented by Dave Bernard '74, DAC
Teddy Ellis, Construction Management (Business minor), presented by Marie Cleveland '82, DAC
Sydney Lurvey, Finance and Economics (FinTech minor), presented by Dan Green '83
Madison Mattila, Management Information Systems and Accounting, presented by Carrie Schaller, DAC
Nicholas Pate, Marketing, presented by Paul Stinson '84, DAC
Olivia Von Holtz, Management, presented by Scott Pattullo '81, DAC
Miles West '24, Economics and Statistics, presented by Dan Green '83
Connor Zavislak, Engineering Management, presented by Eric Roberts '93, DAC
Huskies Place First, Second in THEProject Competition
College of Business engineering management and management students took first and second place in the 12th annual Western Michigan Project Management Institute Collegiate Project Management Competition, known as THEProject. The teams gave their final presentations on April 8 in Hudsonville, Michigan.
The team members were students in the spring 2024 section of OSM4350 Advanced Project Management. The course was led by Roger Woods, teaching professor in operations management.
For the competition, the student teams developed a community event on the Michigan shore, highlighting Michigan natural resources and military service through demonstrations, information sessions, and contests for attendees. Applying the principles of project management, the students developed a project charter and project plan, event day schedule, budget, and high-level logistical plans, as well as alternate plans in case of inclement weather and other risks.
Students on the winning MTU teams were: First Place Team (first image)—Anchor Management: Jacob Maurer '24 (team lead), Blake Lewis, Easton Armstrong '24, Alex Bos, Will Zinser '24, and Meredith Raasio '24.
Second Place Team (second image)—Lake Superior Salute: Gregory Lapetina (team lead), Connor Zavislak, Ethan Kennedy '24, Maggie Gallup '24, Ashley Haen '24, and Simon Karnoe.
COB Students Excel in AMA Regional Marketing Competition
Students in the student organization American Marketing Association (AMA) at Michigan Tech excelled in competition at a major regional AMA conference at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
From many academic majors, including marketing, finance, accounting, and supply chain and operations management, the 20 MTU students competed with 300 students from 25 national and international universities across six competition categories.
In the AcuRite Digital Marketing Strategy Competition, marketing majors Lydia Sterly and David Miller took home first place.
In the Sherwin-Williams Design Competition, second place went to marketing majors David Miller, Stephanie Franco, and Veronica Frystak.
In the Henry Schein Mock Interview Competition, management and marketing major Jaylen Body won second place.
In the Colony Brands and Carol Wright Marketing Strategy Competition, second place went to marketing majors Nicholas Pate and Veronica Frystak, along with accounting major Max Schramm.
"The Michigan Tech AMA students demonstrated remarkable self-motivation, an incredible dedication to the competitions, and a strong sense of teamwork, assisting each other in securing victories in the competitions," said Junhong Min, associate professor of marketing and faculty advisor to the AMA student org.
Nicholas Pate, AMA president, said of the competition, "This past week was amazing! I grew my marketing skills and learned a little bit about the future of AI and how it will play a role within the workplace."
Pate extends thanks to Junhong Min, Matthew Monte (president of Monte Consulting Company, Houghton), and Dan Green '83 BS Business Administration, for providing insight and guidance during the competition.
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.
