December 20, 2016, Vol. 23, No. 8

From President Mroz

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Hello Huskies,

You recall this time of year.

Walking across the stage for that hard-earned diploma. Or settling in for the drive home—ready to relax and reconnect with family and friends. Every Michigan Tech alumni remembers the finish line of another challenging semester.

After a week of finals that included three days of blizzard conditions, we welcomed more than 350 new Huskies into our alumni family at last Saturday’s Midyear Commencement. Like you, they worked hard and played hard. Now they will create the future.

I love Commencement. Yes, it’s pomp and circumstance, but it’s much more. For many, the end of a journey that started at O-Week, for others the pinnacle of academic achievement. For all, a true feeling of pride and accomplishment. For me, it’s the relationships, the stories, the memories, and the moments that make us all Huskies.

Thank you for leading the way and investing in our students’ success. Even if you weren’t able to attend graduation, you were there in spirit as we reminded students of your support as they join one of the finest networks of all—Michigan Tech Alumni! I appreciate everything you give back to Michigan Tech.

Gail and I wish you all the best this holiday season and a successful 2017.

Mroz

Sincerely,
Glenn D. Mroz ’74 ’77
President

At Tech

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Summer Youth Programs Adds Coding, Design Classes

SYP includes pre-college explorations and competitive scholarship programs featuring hands-on activities, field trips and team projects in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, as well as business, social sciences and outdoor adventures. The 2017 programs will include 40 explorations and seven competitive scholarship programs from students completing grades 6 through 11.

Competitive scholarship . . . [ Full Story ]

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Board of Trustees Gets Good Report Card on Research

Recently released National Science Foundation (NSF) rankings of universities by total research expenditures also placed mechanical engineering research 23rd in the nation, making it the highest ranked of all research fields at Michigan Tech, Reed reported.

In the NSF research expenditure rankings, which covered fiscal year 2015, Tech ranked 116th in the nation among public . . . [ Full Story ]

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Gappa Lunch Shares International Cultures

Three of Tech’s international students spoke about their home countries at the event. Among the speakers were Aseem Upadhyay, a graduate student in computer science from India, and Japanese first-year exchange student Yuika Fukui.

Upadhyay spoke on topics such as the geography, culture, ethnicity, traditions, society and religions of India.

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. . . [ Full Story ]
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Driving in a Winter Wonderland

Driving in Keweenaw winters is not for the faint of heart or rear-wheel drive. And while many of us at Michigan Technological University preach our ice-handling prowess and laugh about a proper Upper Peninsula left turn, driving up here is no joke.

How to Turn Left in the UP

Our community likes data. . . . [ Full Story ]

Alumni Around the World

GLI

Great Lakes Invitational – December 29-30

The Detroit Chapter invites you to join fellow alumni, Husky fans, and friends for the annual pre-game party* for one more year at the legendary Joe Louis Arena. Visit us downstairs in the Garden Room (outside the Olympia Club) and get your Doghouse pickled eggs and pick up tickets for a chance to win a . . . [ Full Story ]

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End of Year Giving Opportunities

As we approach the end of the 2016 calendar year, we want to take a moment to remind our alumni and friends that there is still time to make an annual contribution in support of Michigan Tech—and receive a 2016 tax deduction on your federal tax return (if you itemize.)

You can phone the Michigan . . . [ Full Story ]

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DC Alumni Chapter Tours Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

Alumni spanning five decades of graduates gathered in Washington DC’s Smithsonian Museum of Natural History for a special guided tour the Earth Sciences exhibit with Michigan Tech’s Dean of Engineering, and world-renowned geophysicist Wayne Pennington.

In addition to visiting some of the Keweenaw’s own precious metals within the Smithsonian collection, the group went behind . . . [ Full Story ]

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Superior Ideas: Sustainable Demonstration House

The Alternative Energy Enterprise at Michigan Tech will retrofit an existing, older home into an energy efficient residence, incorporating renewable energy generation. The sustainable house will be a part of the Engineering Enterprise program involving students to live in and continually improve the residence.

This project is about helping Western Upper Peninsula households reduce . . . [ Full Story ]

Broomball tournament

Grab Your Broom!

Do you long for the days of playing broomball on a frozen rink in the middle of a Copper Country winter? Gather up your team and dust off your gear, you’ll have your chance to relive the glory at the Alumni-Student Broomball Invitational over Winter Carnival 2017! A Tech tradition since 2009, this two-day tournament . . . [ Full Story ]

Alumni Profile

Heather J. Lewandowski ’97

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Heather graduated from Michigan Tech in 1997 with a BS in Physics. She went on to complete her MS and a PhD in Physics from the University of Colorado. She is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado and is currently Associate Chair of the Physics Department and Director of the Engineering . . . [ Full Story ]

Tech Sports

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GLI 2016

GLI Memories

Next week, the 52nd Annual Great Lakes Invitational will be held in Detroit, December 29-30.

Do you have a favorite GLI memory? Did you play in the tournament? Share your stories with us!

From the Email Bag

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Play, sing, or hum for the Huskies

Hi Scott,

When I started at MTU in 1969 we played all the games in the Dee. I remember the half-fingered gloves we wore in order to play any wind instrument and not have our entire hands freeze. There were nights when Don Keranen couldn’t make the game so at times I got to lead . . . [ Full Story ]

Featured Alumni Benefits

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Michigan Tech Estate Planning Tools

Michigan Tech alumni and friends can take advantage of complimentary educational tools to help you plan to provide for and protect you and your loved ones. If you would like to create a plan for your family or need to make updates to an existing plan, these tools can help you get started.

Guide to Planning your Will and Trust is a booklet you can download and fill out to bring to your attorney as they work to craft your will and trust. The purpose of this document is to prepare you to meet your estate planning attorney when creating or updating your estate plan.

The Online Wills Planner is an easy to use online tool that walks you through a number of questions that an attorney would ask you when crafting your will or trust. The Online Wills Planner is designed to help you create your financial snapshot you can review or update annually. You can also print out your Online Wills Planner or share your information with your attorney. Please know that no one will know you are entering this information aside from yourself and what you share with your attorney.

Both of these tools are free for you to use. If you would like more information on these tools or are interested in attending a complimentary estate planning seminar with a certified financial planner, please contact us at 906-487-3325 for the schedule of events.

Around the Keweenaw

Job Opportunities

On Campus

Miss the great Keweenaw lifestyle? If you’re looking for a way to get back to this awesome corner of the world, check out these positions available right here at Michigan Tech.

View a listing of our on-campus career opportunities.