MTU Class of 2025 Celebrates Spring Commencement

Michigan Technological University will honor students graduating this spring with two ceremonies held at the Student Development Complex's John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

The Graduate Student Commencement Ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, April 25, followed by the Undergraduate Student Commencement Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26.

Each ceremony will be livestreamed, with recordings available after the events. Tickets are required to attend both commencement ceremonies, 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. Guests are encouraged to check the campus map for accessible parking locations.

Together, the Spring Commencement ceremonies will honor more than 1,240 graduates.

Olympian and Alum Deedra Irwin to Deliver Commencement Address

Deedra Irwin '15, a trailblazing professional biathlete and member of Team USA, will return to campus as this spring's commencement speaker. Irwin made history at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics by finishing seventh in the 15-kilometer individual event, the best result ever for a U.S. biathlete in Olympic competition. She shared more about her journey to Beijing in an interview published in the 2023 Michigan Tech Magazine.

A proud alum of MTU, Irwin graduated summa cum laude in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science, along with a minor and certificate in coaching. Originally from Pulaski, Wisconsin, she enrolled at Michigan Tech in 2010 and made her mark as a standout three-sport varsity student-athlete in cross country, Nordic skiing, and track and field.

Irwin's decorated collegiate running career. She was named the GLIAC Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year in 2011. On the track, she broke school records in the 800, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters and was part of a record-setting 4x400 relay team. She earned All-GLIAC honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and an honorable mention in the 800. As a Nordic skier, Irwin was the top classic skier in the Central Region. She competed at the NCAA Championships and represented Team USA at the 2015 World U23 Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

After earning her Michigan Tech degree, Irwin moved to Ketchum, Idaho, where she trained and competed with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. In 2017, she became a biathlete after attending a talent identification camp. Since then, she has trained full-time with the U.S. Biathlon Association.

To support her Olympic goals, Irwin joined the Vermont Army National Guard in 2019. She was named the 2021 Vermont Soldier of the Year and, following her Olympic debut, became a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. In this role, Irwin continues to train and compete while also serving as a representative of the U.S. Army, inspiring others through her dedication and drive.

"I am honored and excited to return to Michigan Tech to send the graduates on to their next adventure. It feels like yesterday that I was getting ready for my graduation, nervous and excited about the next phase of my life," said Irwin. "It's going to be a special weekend and I feel privileged to be a part of it."

Huskies Reflect on their Journeys

Representing Ph.D. and master's students, Tabasum Hamdard '25 will deliver the graduate student address. Originally from Afghanistan, Hamdard is graduating with a master's degree in data science and a graduate certificate in applied statistics.

At Michigan Tech, Hamdard developed The Infinite Loop, the University's first online journal for undergraduate research in computing. She also served as an ambassador for Women in Data Science (WiDS), helping to raise awareness and support for women pursuing careers in data science and related fields. After graduation, Hamdard plans to begin a summer internship and continue her work in the field of data science.

Representing the Class of 2025's undergraduates is Mary Christine Stevens, who is earning a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in French. Originally from Menominee, Michigan, Stevens chose Michigan Tech for its proximity to home and the abundance of outdoor opportunities in the Upper Peninsula.

While at Tech, Stevens published her first book, launched a short-form news podcast, and was deeply involved in campus life as a resident assistant and active member of Greek Life. She plans to continue her journalism career at the Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton, for which she has served as an intern during the last year. One of her favorite memories from her time as a Husky was representing Tau Kappa Epsilon as a Winter Carnival Royalty candidate in 2024, an experience she described as a chance to collaborate with "a group of fellow intelligent and inspiring women."

For more information, visit the MTU Commencement website.

Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, 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.