The Voyage of the Good Ship Unicorn

Ten Michigan Tech students pose on a beach with their cardboard boat, as other teams stage their boats in the background and race organizers survey the scene. There are sailboats moored in water in the background, along with a large orange buoy.

Take a deep dive into the art of cardboard boat building alongside the long-standing Husky tradition’s newest competitors!

East Hall, Michigan Tech’s newest residence hall, made its inaugural splash at the University’s annual Cardboard Boat Race during Homecoming Week 2025 with the Unicorn, a distinguished vessel sporting Baby Pink duct tape and a seven-foot cardboard tube horn at its bow.

Meet East Hall’s 2025 build crew and follow the Voyage of the Good Ship Unicorn at Stories from Husky Nation — and check out cardboard boat building essentials in “The Making of a Cardboard Boat” in this year’s Michigan Tech Magazine.

Today's the Day: Michigan Tech's Annual Design Expo Showcase

Michigan Tech’s annual Design Expo will take place today in the Van Pelt and Opie Library, and everyone is welcome to attend! Senior Design and Enterprise Teams will showcase their projects and compete for awards between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. During that time, student project teams and first-year engineering teams will present their design work next door in the Memorial Union Building’s ballroom.

In addition to viewing projects in person, you can learn more about all of our teams and their projects and watch their Design Expo team videos posted at mtu.edu/expo

Design Expo Reception and Awards Ceremony
After the judging concludes at 2 p.m., everyone is invited to a social hour at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts starting at 2:30 p.m., with snacks and refreshments, entertainment and door prizes. Then, at 3:30 p.m., we will begin the Design Expo Awards Ceremony, where student teams, faculty and advisors will be recognized for their hard work. 

Design Expo is made possible by generous industry and University sponsorships, as well as volunteer judges and organizers. All events are free and open to the public. For more details, visit our Design Expo website.

Thank You for Supporting Give Back to the Pack 2026

Thank you to all Michigan Tech alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students who participated in Give Back to the Pack 2026. Together, our community raised $863,588 from 949 gifts, representing donors from 45 U.S. states and alumni from 73 individual class years.

With your participation, this year’s event also served as the official launching point for the public phase of The Campaign for Michigan Tech, the institution’s largest-ever fundraising initiative.

We are grateful for your involvement and invite you to learn more about campaign priorities and the impact of your incredible generosity at mtu.edu/campaign

To all our valued community members, thank you for your continued support — and for proving once again that Huskies are part of a pack that cares.

Engineering Fundamentals Honoring Retiring Faculty

The Department of Engineering Fundamentals invites you to join us for a celebration congratulating AJ Hamlin and Brett Hamlin on their upcoming retirement from Michigan Tech. A Retirement Open House will be held from 4-6 p.m. on April 28 in MUB Ballroom A1. 

Campus and community members who wish to honor AJ’s and Brett’s many distinguished contributions to the Department of Engineering Fundamentals and the Michigan Tech community are invited to stop by. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served, with a short program taking place at 5:15 p.m.

RSVPs are appreciated by next Tuesday, April 21. Please complete the RSVP form, email Darlene Saari at dfsaari@mtu.edu, or call 906-487-3057. We hope to see you there!

2026 Annual Power Outages

Facilities Management has developed a five-year rotating plan to service the 12,470-volt switchgear and associated circuit breakers on Michigan Tech’s campus. Our campus electrical distribution system depends on this equipment being in good working condition. This work requires a two-night power outage that affects the least number of buildings possible.

We understand that shutting off power can be inconvenient, but we believe that by taking a proactive approach, we reduce the chance of an unplanned failure during the academic year that is even more inconvenient or disruptive.

Please note: In most cases, elevators, fume hoods, exhaust fans, ventilation equipment, normal lighting, plug-in appliances and plug-in equipment will not operate during the outages. Only items connected to the building emergency generator will have power during the outages. The building emergency generators and battery systems that supply power to emergency/egress lighting and special equipment should function as normal. If you are unsure if your equipment connects to the building emergency generator, please contact the Facilities Management building mechanic for your building.

Additionally, Michigan Tech IT will be turning off all network equipment in the affected buildings for these outages, starting at 5 p.m. You should plan to save any work, shut down your computer systems and exit the buildings before the outages.

Buildings affected by the power outages will have the power shut off during the scheduled outages. Some buildings with power will be without phone or internet service.

First power outage:

  • Starts: Wednesday, April 29, at 6 p.m.
  • Ends: Thursday, April 30, at 6 a.m.

Second power outage:

  • Starts: Thursday, April 30, at 6 p.m.
  • Ends: Friday, May 1, at 6 a.m.

Buildings affected:

  • Hillside Place
  • Daniell Heights
  • Douglass Houghton Hall
  • Wadsworth Hall
  • McNair Hall
  • Great Lakes Research Center
  • Central Heating Plant
  • Facilities Management
  • Electrical Energy Resources Center 
  • Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building
  • Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
  • Walker Arts and Humanities Center
  • East Hall

Buildings with power but no internet or phone:

  • Honors House
  • Sustainability Demonstration House
  • Tech House
  • Portage Lake Golf Course

If there are questions or concerns with this plan, please contact Facilities Management at 906-487-2303.

2026 Annual Steam Shutdown

Facilities Management’s annual steam shutdown for 2026 will take place during the week following Spring Commencement, from April 26 to May 1, weather permitting.

This outage is required to maintain and service the boilers and steam distribution system on campus. This planned maintenance improves the reliability of our system and reduces the likelihood of an unplanned failure during the winter heating season.

Please be advised: During the steam shutdown, affected buildings will experience a complete loss of heating and hot water. Distilled water will not be accessible from the steam-powered stills, and steam-driven autoclaves and sterilizers will be nonoperational.

Annual steam shutdown dates/times:

  • Starts: Sunday, April 26, at noon
  • Ends: Friday, May 1, at noon

Buildings affected:

  • Academic Office Building
  • Administration Building
  • Annex Building
  • Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building
  • Central Energy Plant
  • Douglass Houghton Hall
  • Grover C. Dillman Hall
  • Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building
  • Electrical Energy Resources Center
  • Facilities Management
  • Fisher Hall
  • U. J. Noblet Forestry Building
  • Great Lakes Research Center
  • Hillside Place
  • H-STEM Engineering and Health Technologies Complex
  • J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library
  • McNair Hall
  • Memorial Union Building
  • Minerals and Materials Engineering Building
  • Kanwal and Ann Rekhi Hall
  • R. L. Smith Building
  • ROTC Building
  • Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
  • Student Development Complex
  • Wadsworth Hall
  • Walker Arts and Humanities Center

If there are questions or concerns with this plan, please contact Facilities Management at 906-487-2303.

University Senate Meeting 736

The University Senate will meet on Thursday, April 16, at 12:30 p.m. in Chem Sci 102. Virtual attendance is also invited via Zoom. Please note that you will need to log in to your MTU Zoom account to join the virtual meeting. 

Join the University Senate Meeting on Zoom.

View the Meeting Agenda.

Senators are responsible for making their constituents aware of the agenda for this meeting. Senators who are unable to attend should arrange for their alternates to attend in their place.

HR Connect Session

April’s Monthly HR Connect session spotlights Benefits & Experience. Join us virtually on Zoom today, April 14, from 1-2 p.m. EDT for the discussion.

Why You Should Join:

  • Stay Informed: This will be a walk-through of Michigan Tech’s Experience online service dashboard and managing your benefits online.

  • Open Forum: Bring your questions for our live Q&A session at the end of the hour.

Join the April HR Connect Session on Zoom.

This Week's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Join Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University for the C-Cubed Luncheon, being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday, April 16:

  • Fajita Style Chicken Thighs (PR)
  • Steak Fajita (PR)
  • Portobello Fajita (VG, CF)
  • Flour Tortillas (VG)
  • Tortilla Soup (V, AG, PR) 
  • Sopapillas 
  • Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese (V, AG), Pico de Gallo (VG, AG), Sour Cream (V, AG), Cuban Black Beans (VG), Spanish Rice (VG, AG)

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by the catering culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea and desserts are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $16 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office (MUB 101). Meals are dine-in only and personal containers/tupperware or to-go meals are not permitted.

Job Postings

Job Posting for Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Workforce Relations Specialist or Workforce Relations Senior Specialist (Hybrid/Remote), Human Resources.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment or for an interview at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.

In the News

Kette Thomas (HU) and Jared Anderson (VPA) were quoted by WLUC TV6 in a story about the 40th anniversary celebration of Michigan Tech’s Walker Arts and Humanities Center.

The Daily Mining Gazette and the Iron Mountain Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Junior Achievement Girls’ Dream Fair, a hands-on STEM event for middle school students being held on campus in May.

The Daily Mining Gazette and Mining Journal quoted Michelle Scherer (COE) and Will Cantrell (GS/Physics) in a story about the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings, which placed Michigan Tech’s graduate engineering program among the Top 100 in the nation.

Ohio’s WFMJ 21 mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the American Society of Civil Engineers Student Symposium, where student engineers from 20 universities competed in events including the ASCE Student Steel Bridge Competition.

The Daily Mining Gazette quoted Michigan Tech students Nolan Wright and Emma Goodman (wildlife ecology and conservation/applied ecology and environmental science) in a story about a local protest related to data center development in the Upper Peninsula.

Reminders

Third Thursday Webinar: 'Online Manufacturing Engineering Programs'

Michigan Tech Global Campus invites you “Online Manufacturing Engineering Programs”, a live Third Thursday webinar this Thursday, April 16, at 11:30 a.m. ET featuring Michigan Tech’s online graduate degrees (M.S., Ph.D.) and online certificate in manufacturing engineering.

Get a practical look at how these programs support advanced manufacturing, Industry 4.0, leadership and hands-on problem-solving for today’s technical environments. 

What You’ll Get:

  • Details on the three online programs
  • Insight on career pathways for manufacturing engineering experts
  • Guidance on admissions and next steps
  • Questions answered live by faculty and enrollment advisors

Who Should Attend:
This webinar is a great fit for:

  • Michigan Tech students exploring graduate school
  • Alumni and community members interested in advanced manufacturing
  • Engineers and technical professionals looking to grow their skills
  • Anyone curious about online options in a high-demand field

Register for the Third Thursday Webinar.

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Husky Folio Launchpad: From Dashboard to Delivery

Integrating Husky Folio into your course doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Join us for the Husky Folio Launchpad on April 30. This supportive, hands-on workshop is designed to help you explore the tools, ask questions, and start building at your own pace. With a mix of targeted morning sessions and an open, guided implementation studio in the afternoon, you can choose the experience that fits your needs — and leave with practical progress you can use right away.

  • PebblePad Basics: Get familiar with the PebblePad dashboard, key terminology, etc.
  • Templates & Workbooks: Learn to design and build structured learning materials for your students.
  • Behind the Scenes: Master ATLAS, the administrative side of Husky Folio.
  • Implementation Studio: A dedicated "working hour" to build your actual assignments with our team on hand to help.

Register Now for Husky Folio Launchpad. Refreshments and lunch included. Don't forget your laptop!

Today's Campus Events

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

Beyond the Frame: Spring Student Art Showcase - Rozsa Art Galleries

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Please join us for an end of semester showcase of artworks produced by the students of the Art on Site (ART2110) and Scenic and Entertainment Design classes at MTU. Students create an interactive art installation, based on beloved children's books including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Fancy Nancy, I Spy, and Chicken Little.. The exhibit is immersive, and child-friendly. Things to know ROZSA ART GALLERIES HOURS | M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays 1-8 p.m. EXHIBIT DATES | April 10-14, 2026 RECEPTION | Friday, April 10, 2026 | 5-7 p.m. ADMISSION| Free and open to the public CONTENT GUIDANCE | None Plan your visit with information about parking, accessibility, and more. Rozsa Art Galleries are open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F and 1-8 p.m. on Saturdays. Closed during academic recesses. Contact the Rozsa Box Office for more information. Thanks to Our Sponsors Support for this Michigan Tech Art Event provided by: and the Visual and Performing Arts Circle of Supporters. About the Presenter Professional exhibitions in the Rozsa Art Galleries. Student showcases. Artist Talks with Studio Here Now. Cross-campus collaborations…

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PhD Defense: Kobina Akyea Ofori

Chemical Engineering Advisor: Lei Pan Extraction of Critical Metals from Nickel-bearing Silicate Minerals using Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/s/87437622059

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ICC Executive Director Candidate Anwar Walid: Leadership and Vision Seminar

Title: Enabling Interdisciplinary Research and Impact: A Vision for the ICC A Fellow of the ACM, IEEE, and AAIA, Anwar Walid is a recognized leader in cyber-physical systems, AI, distributed systems, and cybersecurity, with a career spanning industrial research and academia. As Director of Network Intelligence and Distributed Systems Research at Bell Labs, he led multiple research departments and has also led strategic AI programs across cyber-physical systems, telecommunications, defense, finance, and e-commerce. His contributions include developing network technologies deployed across millions of devices and large-scale AI systems serving users worldwide, with partnerships that enabled their adoption. He has secured research funding from DARPA and NSF and has collaborated with leading universities. He holds 20 patents in networking, computing, and cybersecurity. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, where he has developed and taught graduate courses. In this seminar, Anwar Walid will outline a vision for the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC) as an integration and enablement layer supporting research and learning across Michigan Tech. Drawing on his…

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Design Expo 2026

Hosted annually by the Enterprise Program and the College of Engineering, Design Expo highlights hands-on, discovery-based learning at Michigan Tech. More than 1,000 students from Enterprise and Senior Design teams showcase their work and compete for awards, allowing students to gain valuable experience and direct exposure to industry-relevant problems. Questions? Contact the Enterprise Program Office at designexpo@mtu.edu. Design Expo 2026 is generously supported by our sponsors, including the Enterprise Program, the College of Engineering, and the Pavlis Honors College. Together with more than 100 project and program supporters, these partners strategically invest in our educational mission at Michigan Tech.

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PhD Defense: Michael Maurer

Electrical Engineering Advisor: Christopher Middlebrook DESIGN OF ELECTRO OPTIC ANTENNAS AND CHARICTORIZATION OF ACTIVE ELECTRO OPTIC POLYMERS Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/89786800323

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Master's Defense: Aidan Earll

Materials Science and Engineering Co-advisors: Walter Milligan and Sriram Vijayan Combinatorial High-Throughput Synthesis and Characterization of W-Alloys for Plasma Facing Materials

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Monthly HR Connect

Jess Palek is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Monthly HR Connect Time: Apr 14, 2026 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/83477904027 Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923 or +1 646 931 3860 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 305 224 1968 or +1 309 205 3325 or +1 719 359 4580 or +1 253 205 0468 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 360 209 5623 or +1 386 347 5053 or +1 507 473 4847 or +1 564 217 2000 or +1 669 444 9171 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 689 278 1000 Meeting ID: 834 7790 4027 International numbers available: https://michigantech.zoom.us/u/kcwkokBtEh

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Boys' Basketball Little Huskies

Learning skills, working as a team, and having fun: that's Michigan Tech's Little Huskies Boys' Basketball Camp! It's about the best introduction to basketball you can imagine—personalized coaching that emphasizes both individual skills and team play, with plenty of time for gently competitive games in the SDC Varsity Gym. And Michigan Tech's campus is a great environment for meeting new people and making friends. This camp is open to boys in grades 2-5. Daily sessions are 2 hours, and players will leave with fundamental basketball skills like ball-handling, shooting, team play, and defensive play. Boys, Grades 2-5 (age 7-11)

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Huskies Swim Training - Session 3

Huskies Swim Training is a program that provides additional attention and competitive guidance to advanced swimmers looking to focus on stroke technique and efficiency. Sessions will be designed to improve swimming through stroke drills and swimming sets focused on endurance, speed, and race strategy. Coaches will provide feedback and stroke correction in a group environment with an emphasis on promoting a love for competitive swimming and lifelong skills such as discipline, dedication, and teamwork. Come be part of the pack! Competitve swimming opportunities are now availabe to current Huskies Swim Training participants!

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Adult Huskies Swim Lessons - Session 2

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons provides aquatic education for the beginner to intermediate swimmer who is looking to become more comfortable in the water and learn the fundamental four strokes.

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Adult Huskies Swim Training - Session 2

Adult Huskies Swim Training provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness levels in a group setting. Each session is programmed with warm-up, and variations of a workout for the beginner, intermediate and advanced swimmer. Participants will be provided coaching and guidance to meet their individual swimming goals!

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ASME Welcomes C-Tech to Campus

Join ASME for their meeting this month. This month's meeting will feature a guest speaker from CTECH Manufacturing.

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KYCA Weekly meeting

Join KYCA for our weekly meetings! We will go over what has been happening in the organization and then break into our two projects that are working to tackle different local climate issues. Everyone is welcome!

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Sips & Succulents

Join us in the MUB Commons from 6-8 pm on April 14th for a chill painting and potting event. With decoration supplies, succulents, and terracotta pots provided. You will be able to design your own unique pot, and then pick a succulent to take care of. But that's not all, there will be refreshing beverages provided for all to enjoy, from lemonade to tea to soda. This event is free for all students. Come while supplies last!

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Student Community Meal

Join us for our weekly free student meal, held Tuesdays during the semester at Good Shepard Lutheran Church. Come to cook, serve, eat, clean up, or all of the above! Cooking begins at 5pm and anyone is welcome to help cook. The meal is served from 6:30pm-7:30pm and any students are welcome to eat at the church and visit with friends or take a to-go box! If you would like to help with the meal but can't be there at 5, we also welcome people to help clean up from around 6:30pm to about 8pm. To stay up to date on weekly menus, follow the LCM instagram @lcm.mtu