Michigan Technological University will celebrate its 2024 Midyear Commencement with a combined ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Varsity Gym of the Student Development Complex. The SDC will open at 8:30 a.m. for ticketed guests, and free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in Lot 22 adjacent to the SDC and Lot 24 near the football field. Tickets are required to attend the commencement ceremony. Guests are encouraged to check the campus map for accessible parking locations. Guests can also watch the ceremony via livestream, with a recording available afterward.
The midyear commencement ceremony will honor more than 400 graduates.
Student Leaders Take the Stage at Commencement
Representing Ph.D. and master’s students, the graduate student address will be delivered by Mehnaz Tabassum, a Michigan Tech alumna and assistant teaching professor at Wichita State University. Tabassum completed her Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering in 2023, with research focused on vehicular communication and its role in advancing intelligent transportation systems. Tabassum’s innovative teaching methods combine theoretical concepts with practical applications, empowering students to meet the demands of an evolving technological landscape.
Commencement Logistics
- The SDC will be open by 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.
- Free parking is on a first-come, first-served basis in Lot 22 adjacent to the SDC and Lot 24 near the football field. See the campus map for accessible parking locations.
- Concessions and campus retail stores will be open.
- Can’t be here? Catch the commencement livestream.
- Show your Husky Pride and tag @michigantech when posting on social media.
During her time at Michigan Tech, Tabassum earned the Graduate Teaching Award and Graduate Student Service Award for her commitment to education and student engagement. She also served in leadership roles with MTU’s Graduate Student Government, and is the faculty advisor of Wichita State’s Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers student chapter, promoting a collaborative and service-oriented culture.
Representing the undergraduate Class of 2024 is Aliyah Maxwell-Abrams, a civil engineering student with a passion for sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy. Maxwell-Abrams plans to begin their career as a renewable energy engineer-in-training at Stantec in Chicago and pursue graduate studies in business, architecture or engineering in the future.
Maxwell-Abrams embraced resilience and innovation through their work in sustainability and leadership. They studied abroad in Costa Rica, where their experiences informed research into renewable energy access through the Sunny Buddy project, a theoretical solar-powered portable kiosk designed to provide sustainable energy solutions during power disruptions. Focused on Costa Rica’s Monteverde region, the project explores partnerships and strategies to accelerate renewable energy adoption, with the potential for broader applications in places like the Keweenaw region.
During their time at Michigan Tech, Maxwell-Abrams also participated in leadership programs like LeaderShape and Catalyst, and served on the executive boards of campus organizations such as the Alternative Energy Enterprise and Tau Beta Pi. Their dedication to sustainability and community engagement extended to membership in the Keweenaw Youth for Climate Action and volunteering as a makerspace coach.
For more information, visit the MTU Commencement website.
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.
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