Alumni and Friends

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1911, Melvin Calvin received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in 1931 and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1935. He began his academic career in 1937 at the University of California at Berkeley, where he stayed for the remainder of his career. He died in 1997. Calvin was the first scientist to unravel the . . .

Lina Tormen Taskovich ’52 studied chemistry and chemical engineering at Michigan Tech almost thirty years before Sally Heidtke, and she has some words of wisdom for women students too: "Study a field you like—you have to spend all your life working in it. And go for the top degree in the field of your choice. Also, do not go for the most lucrative job, but for the job you would love to do." When Taskovich . . .

Jim Mitchell has a long history of service to Michigan Tech. As a student he was active with Theta Tau fraternity, served as treasurer of Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, junior class student government representative and senior class president. He served on Michigan Tech's Board of Trustees from 1993-2001, including three years as its chair. His service to the university also includes a 1975-1985 stint as a trustee . . .