If, Then: The Origins of Handshake

Garrett Lord

Today, Handshake is the career app of choice for every Fortune 500 company, every Ivy League school, and 92% of the nation’s top-ranked colleges and universities. Valued at $3.5 billion, the company is leading the revolution in connecting talent with employers in the artificial intelligence economy. Fifteen years ago, Handshake was just an idea that no one believed would work — no one except its three visionary founders, who were students at Michigan Tech.

Travel back to the days when the future Forbes 30 Under 30 company was a dream fueled by cheap pizza, marathon coding, and a trio of computer nerds willing to grind hard days one after another to sell an idea that forever changed how college grads get hired.

Explore the origins of Handshake in the 2026 Michigan Tech Magazine — and find out where the Husky-built tech start-up is headed next.

One Week Until Give Back to the Pack 2026!

We’re one week away from Give Back to the Pack! Michigan Tech’s 24-hour giving challenge begins at noon next Tuesday, April 7. As a valued member of the Husky community, here’s how you can get involved:

  • Become an Ambassador: Help spread the word by signing up as a Give Back to the Pack Ambassador and receive exclusive access to the Ambassador Toolkit. New this year, ambassadors can also take part in the HUSKY Ambassador Challenge. Winners will be awarded after the giving challenge ends!

  • Celebrate With Us: Join us for an on-campus celebration next Tuesday in the Van Pelt and Opie Library to kick off the first day of Give Back to the Pack!

    • Give Back to the Pack Kickoff Celebration
      Tuesday, April 7, from 12-2 p.m. — Van Pelt and Opie Library

      Stop by to snag some swag and write down what you're most grateful for at Michigan Tech on our gratitude board. Sign thank-you cards for our generous donors and see the impact our Husky community can make by coming together.

If you have any questions about Give Back to the Pack or the ambassador program, please reach out to Sana Dicks, director of annual giving, at sdicks@mtu.edu. Thank you in advance for supporting Michigan Tech during Give Back to the Pack 2026!

Essential Education Experience Request For Proposals

Michigan Tech's Essential Education Experience manager is inviting proposals for the design and development of 3-credit Essential Education Experience (E3) courses over the summer.

E3 courses aim to provide students with immersive, experiential learning opportunities that foster critical reflection, interdisciplinary approaches and ethical engagement with communities or stakeholders.

For more information about E3 course requirements and the proposal process, please view the E3 Request for Proposals document.

Proposals should be sent to E3 Manager Cassandra Reed-VanDam at cmvandam@mtu.edu, and will be reviewed as they are received. Projects received by a deadline of April 24 will receive initial first consideration.

Student Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey

Yesterday, March 30, all Michigan Tech undergraduate and graduate students over age 18 were invited to participate in a Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey. This survey is designed by Grand River Solutions and utilized by institutions across the country. Students received an email with a link to the survey and we ask that staff and faculty encourage student participation. Students will receive reminder emails on April 7, April 13 and April 16, and the survey’s closing date is April 17.

The goal of the survey is to provide Michigan Tech with important information on campus sexual misconduct prevalence and responses. Preventing and remedying sexual misconduct is essential to maintaining a safe environment in which students can learn. We are committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to fully benefit from our programs and activities.

Students will have the option to voluntarily participate in a drawing to win a $25 Amazon gift card (20 available).

If you have questions or comments about this survey, please contact Abbi Halkola, executive director, Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX, at 906-487-3310 or titleix@mtu.edu.

Payroll Process Updates Effective for BW8

Payroll Services is implementing two process updates that will go into effect for Bi-Weekly Pay Period 8 (BW8) to improve efficiency, accuracy and processing timelines.

  • Manual Timesheet Deadline Change — Effective for BW8, the manual timesheet deadline will move from Tuesday at noon to Monday at 11:59 p.m., aligning with all other timesheet deadlines.

    This change allows all time submissions to be completed at the same time so Payroll can begin processing Tuesday morning without delays. For BW8 specifically, manual timesheets are due on Monday, April 13, at 11:59 p.m.

  • Transition Away from Paper Submissions — Effective April 13, Payroll Services will no longer accept paper drop-offs at the Lakeshore Building, including Direct Deposit forms, W-4 forms, manual timesheets, and labor reallocations. All documents must be digitized and submitted to payroll-help@mtu.edu.

    Submitting via email creates a ticket in the payroll system, providing confirmation of receipt and a trackable record for processing. This change reduces paper handling across campus, supports remote processing when needed, and allows Payroll to better track submission volume and workload.

Use of Self-Service Tools
Employees are strongly encouraged to use the self-service tools available in the Experience online service dashboard to update Direct Deposit and W-4 information. This reduces processing time, minimizes errors and improves security by eliminating paper handling of sensitive information.

We appreciate your support as we continue improving payroll processes for accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness.

For questions, please contact payroll-help@mtu.edu.

University Senate Meeting 734

The University Senate will meet on Thursday, April 2, 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.

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 2:

  • Chicken Tikka Masala (AG) (PR)
  • Potato, Garbanzo and Pea Coconut Curry (VG) (AG)
  • Basmati Rice (VG) (AG)
  • Garam Cauliflower and Chickpea (VG) (AG) (CF)
  • Garlic Naan (V) (PR)
  • Kachumber Salad (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.

Career Champions Workshops: Join the Network!

Student career readiness is the core of the work in Career Services — but we know we are not alone. Many others across campus, both as a direct function of their role on campus and as people who care about Huskies, are deeply committed to ensuring that students are ready for what comes next following graduation.

The Career Champions network (formerly Career Coaches) is intended to help faculty and staff build their foundational knowledge of career readiness topics in order to better support students. Members complete an in-person training workshop that covers career coaching resources and helps the group refresh themselves on current hiring trends.

After the training workshop, network members will also receive ongoing support in the form of a Canvas course, access to additional short-form workshops, and a regular email digest with concise updates targeted to Career Champions. 

Career Services is offering three options to attend the Career Champions training workshop as the spring 2026 semester wraps up:

  • Wednesday, April 8, from 8:30-11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 22, from 2-4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 7, from 12:30-3 p.m.

Register for Spring 2026 Workshops and learn more about Career Champions on the Career Services website. Contact Liz Fujita at liz@mtu.edu with further questions.

Michigan Tech Archives Travel Grant Virtual Talk with Eric Gollannek

The Michigan Tech Archives are proud to partner with the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library to host the next presentation in our longstanding Travel Grant Speaker Series. Please join us for the free online presentation on Zoom next Tuesday, April 7, at 4 p.m.

Join the Archives Travel Grant Talk on Zoom.

Eric Gollannek, Ph.D., from the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center, will join us to share his research related to rural life in the Copper Country during the Depression Era. The title of the presentation is “Great Depression Era Agricultural Buildings and the Transformation of Rural Life in the Keweenaw Region in the 1930s and 1940s”.

Rural communities across the country suffered from large scale economic and environmental crises during the 1930s. This talk explores some of the ways agricultural engineering research and New Deal-era government programs helped people across the Keweenaw Peninsula during this period. Research conducted in fall 2025 with support from an Archives Travel Grant led to new insights into the local administration and personal stories behind New Deal programs. This research, combined with earlier work with archival and material culture collections at Michigan State University, helps explain changes in rural life through farm modernization.

The evidence for farm modernization comes through analysis of 50 surviving architectural models, extensive archival materials and records of completed demonstration projects built cooperatively by university extension agents and farmers across the state of Michigan. This program focuses on rural landscapes and farmsteads in Houghton and Baraga counties.

For more information, please reach out to University Archivist Lindsay Hiltunen at copper@mtu.edu.

In the News

Adam Meckler and Drew Kilpela (both VPA) and Michigan Tech student musicians from MTU’s Workshop Brass Band and Jaztec Jazz Combo ensembles appeared on two WLUC TV6 segments about Michigan Tech’s jazz program and the Don Keranen Jazz Festival. The first ran on “Upper Michigan Today,” highlighting the bands’ upcoming performances. The second covered a jazz masterclass held at the Rozsa Center ahead of the festival’s final performances. 

The Alpena News and Iron Mountain Daily News quoted Rolf Peterson (CFRES) in stories about a study finding that most wolf deaths in Michigan are caused by humans, including illegal kills, vehicle collisions and legal hunting.

The Escanaba Daily Press quoted Robert Nemiroff (Physics) in a story about the Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival, happening April 16-18 at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. Nemiroff will present a talk about the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day project at 1 p.m. on April 17 during the festival. The story was picked up from the Mining Journal.

Keweenaw Report mentioned Yun Hang Hu (MSE) in a story about his receipt of the Morris Cohen Award from The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society for his contributions to materials science. The announcement appeared in Tech Today on March 27.

The University of Michigan featured Reid DeVoge (PSPS) in a story about using extreme risk protection orders as a tool to prevent firearm-related tragedies. DeVoge discussed how Michigan Tech has worked with statewide partners to implement training and apply the law in real-world situations.

WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech in coverage of the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library’s annual used book sale, held March 26-27.

My UP Now mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about $1.19 million in grants awarded to the University to support research on scrap tire reuse, including projects involving rubber-modified asphalt and waste conversion.

The Daily Mining Gazette and The Traveler mentioned Michigan Tech in stories about the inaugural Michigan Sustainable Tourism Summit, to be held May 20-23 in the Keweenaw. The event will highlight sustainable tourism practices and include sessions at Michigan Tech’s McArdle Theatre.

Travel + Leisure mentioned Michigan Tech in a feature naming the Keweenaw Peninsula as a destination for outdoor recreation and natural scenery. The story highlighted the Michigan Tech Trails as a top destination for cross country skiing.

Reminders

Register Now for the Essential Education Symposium

Join colleagues from across campus on April 29 in the Memorial Union Building for the Essential Education Symposium, a full-day event focused on advancing student learning through Michigan Tech’s Essential Education program. Open to faculty, staff and community partners, the symposium offers opportunities to connect, share ideas and explore effective practices that support student success.

The day begins with check-in and coffee at 8:30 a.m., followed by a range of interactive sessions, including workshops, panel discussions and collaborative conversations. Topics will include student reflection and metacognition, community-engaged learning, artificial intelligence in teaching, and strategies for integrating Husky Folio into coursework.

A networking lunch will provide time to connect with colleagues, and the day will conclude with closing remarks and recognition of faculty and staff contributions to Essential Education over this past year.

Please register for the Essential Education Symposium by April 17. To view the full agenda and session descriptions, visit the Essential Education Symposium website.

Questions? Contact essentialed@mtu.edu.

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Summer Youth Programs Staff Applications Now Open for Summer 2026

The Center for Educational Outreach is excited to announce that counselor and program support staff applications are now open for the 2026 season of Summer Youth Programs (SYP)!

Each summer, SYP welcomes more than a thousand middle and high school students to campus for an unforgettable experience filled with hands-on learning, discovery and adventure. We’re looking for college students from Michigan Tech and beyond who are excited to help create a fun, welcoming and meaningful environment for the thinkers, doers and problem-solvers of tomorrow.

A wide range of positions are available, including roles focused on youth engagement, residence life, evening programming, transportation, and daily operations. Staff begin paid training in early June, and programs will run through July 18.

If you know a college student (at Michigan Tech or elsewhere) seeking an impactful summer opportunity who enjoys working with youth and wants to be part of a positive, energetic campus community this summer, please encourage them to view our website to learn more and apply through our hiring portal.

Questions? Reach us at outreach@mtu.edu or 906-487-2219, or stop by Suite 217 of the Administration Building.

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Volunteers Needed for Michigan Tech’s Annual Design Expo

The countdown to Michigan Tech’s Design Expo is on! As we prepare for this year’s showcase on April 14, we invite faculty and staff to join us as event volunteers and help make this campuswide celebration of student innovation a success.

Each year, Design Expo highlights the creativity and problem‑solving of our undergraduate students, featuring more than 70 Enterprise, Senior Design, and capstone projects from across all colleges. To ensure a smooth, engaging experience for students, judges and guests, we rely on volunteers to support key event operations.

Volunteer roles include:

  • Event setup and teardown (shifts available between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.)
  • Name tag and judge check‑in
  • Giveaway coordination
  • General event support

Volunteering is a meaningful way to engage with students, connect with industry partners and contribute to an event that showcases the best of Michigan Tech. Whether you can assist for an hour or for a full shift, your support is invaluable and very much appreciated.

Sign Up to Volunteer

Sign Up to Judge

Thank you for helping us celebrate innovation and student achievement.

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Sign Up for Lean White Belt Virtual Workshop

The Office of Continuous Improvement (OCI) is offering a virtual workshop where you can earn a Lean White Belt.

The workshop, "Processes, Flow, and Waste: Lean Fundamentals," will be offered tomorrow, April 1, from 9 a.m. to noon.

In this fun and interactive workshop, you’ll practice visualizing the fundamental Lean concepts of a smooth workflow and the types of waste that may interrupt that flow, and see how you can apply these concepts to your job right away. These tools can assist you in your efforts to create the best possible experience for students, faculty, staff and other customers. Lean White Belt certification is awarded to those who satisfactorily complete all requirements for this workshop.

To see the workshop description and register, complete our brief Upcoming Michigan Tech Lean Workshops form or visit our website. Once registered, we'll add you to a calendar event for the course.

In this workshop, we’ll use some online tools, Zoom and Miro, that will enable us to work as a team to solve a problem together. Miro is a virtual collaboration tool, similar to a virtual whiteboard. Learn more about how to use Miro at the Miro Academy Essentials course. The course is considered complete after attending the workshop and submitting a couple of brief activities to demonstrate application of concepts. There’s no cost to Michigan Tech employees.

This stand-alone workshop is part of the Lean Basics workshop series. It can be taken independently, or, if you complete the requirements for all five workshops in the series, we’ll award you a Lean Yellow Belt certificate!

For more information, email improvement@mtu.edu.

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Annual Study Away Photo Contest: Public Voting

The Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education has received over 100 photos from students in our annual Study Away Photo Contest, and we’d like your help in choosing a winner for the People’s Choice category!

We’ve narrowed the field to 13 final photographs, which you can view and submit your vote for at the Study Away Photo Contest 2026 Public Voting form.

This contest showcases the diverse and enriching experiences our students have encountered during their study away programs, capturing moments that reflect cultural immersion, academic exploration and personal growth.

Thank you for your time and commitment to enhancing our students’ educational experiences! Your participation as a judge not only honors their efforts but also underscores the importance of global learning within our University community.

Voting will be open through Thursday, April 2.

Today's Campus Events

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

PhD Defense: Anusha Kannan

Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors Advisor: Elizabeth Veinott Designing with Foresight: Premortem and Human-Centered Evaluation of Emerging Technologies

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PhD Defense: Yi Xu

Statistics Advisor: Yeonwoo Rho Change point analysis in high-dimensional data using random projections

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ICC Executive Director Candidate Seminar: Leadership Experience and Vision

Advancing Cyber-Physical Excellence This seminar will explore strategies to elevate Michigan Tech’s leadership in computing, cybersecurity, and data-driven intelligence. Drawing from a deep portfolio in protecting critical infrastructure, including transportation, logistics, smart cities, healthcare, commerce, finance, government, etc.,Jack Zhang will discuss how to bridge the gap between AI, cryptography, and real-world cyber-physical systems. Beyond technical insights, the session will highlight a vision for interdisciplinary collaboration and inclusive research culture designed to accelerate R1 growth and prepare the next generation of leaders to solve complex societal challenges through technological innovation.

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Magical Mask, Music and Mime of Japan by Kuniko Yamamoto - Rozsa Class Acts

CLASS ACTS EVENT Tickets available by request for education groups serving Pre-K and/or K-12 Charming Japanese folktales are combined with traditional musical instruments, magical masks, origami and mime to create a spellbinding story. Kuniko’s marvelous performance captivates students while opening a window into new storytelling styles. CONTENT GUIDANCE | None Things to know EST. RUN TIME | 45 min., no intermission STUDENT, EDUCATOR, AND CHAPERONE TICKETS| $1 per ticket, and for every 20 student tickets, we will give you a free educator/chaperone ticket. There are no public or Michigan Tech Student Rush tickets available for this Class Acts Educational event. Contact the Rozsa Box Office with any questions about this event. The Rozsa Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and is available in person, via phone at 906-487-1906, or by email at rozsa@mtu.edu Related Events There are no additional activities scheduled for this Class Acts Event. Explore all upcoming Class Acts events. About Kuniko Yamamoto A native of Japan, Kuniko, an award-winning theatre performer, came to the United States in 1985 to study theatre with Tony Montanaro. For the last…

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NSF CAREER Awardee Perspectives (NSF CAREER Series)

Please join us for the next in our NSF CAREER Series — an informal, Zoom-based discussion with prior NSF CAREER award winners from Michigan Tech. In this session, we'll hear from PIs who have navigated the CAREER proposal process firsthand. Topics will include: Integrating research and education activitiesTiming your initial submissionCrafting broader impactsOrganizing your narrativeWorking through reviews, revisions, and resubmissionsWhether you're planning to submit in July 2025 or are simply exploring the CAREER program for the future, this conversation will offer valuable insight. Come prepared to share your questions and ideas. Questions or know someone who should be included? Contact rd-l@mtu.edu. This is part of our NSF CAREER Series designed to support faculty in developing strong proposals.

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PhD Defense: Shahriar Alam

Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Advisor: Jeffrey Allen Coupled Multi-Physics Transport in PEMFC Electrodes: A Microstructure-Resolved Network Modeling Approach Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/2329068698

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Gwen Bridge - Visiting Scholar Seminar

Gwen Bridge is a King-Chávez-Parks Program visiting scholar focused on Indigenous issues and practical, community-led solutions. Her work emphasizes respectful partnership, Indigenous sovereignty and knowledge systems, and the design of financial solutions—including funding models and resource strategies that better align with Indigenous priorities. Her talk will highlight actionable approaches for institutions to build trust, share benefits, and support long-term, self-determined community outcomes. Ms. Bridge is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada and as an Indigenous business owner, her consulting firm leads many initiatives to advance Indigenous issues in the U.S. and Canada. She also works with the Ecological Society of America and acts as an Indigenous advisor to governments and NGOs on relationships with Indigenous Peoples, reconciliation, Ethical Space, and UNDRIP implementation policy development, facilitation and engagement strategies. Many Indigenous nations call upon Ms. Bridge to build strategies and programs for Indigenous rights assertion across North America. This program/lecture is partially funded/sponsored by the Visiting Professor Program…

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Master's Defense: James Halverson

Mechanical Engineering Advisor: Gordon Parker Experimental Rate Feedback Control of a Model-Scale Hourglass-Shaped Heaving Point Absorber Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/83613941336

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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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Koto Green Tea Ceremony hosted by Kuniko Yamamoto - SOLD OUT

NOTICE: No more tickets are available for this event. Kuniko Yamamoto, an award-winning theatre performer, is coming to the Rozsa Center to bring her solo show, “Japanese Storytelling with Magical Mask, Mime and Music” to local school children as part of the Rozsa's Class Acts Series. In addition to her Class Acts performances, Kuniko has graciously offered to lead a Japanese Tea Ceremony in an intimate Rozsa Backstage event for a limited group of participants in an effort to help raise funds to support future Class Act opportunities. Kuniko’s Koto Green Tea Ceremony is half storytelling and lecture demonstration and half musical performance. Fascinating stories of Zen, Samurai and Tea and how they are connected are shared along with the history and demonstration of the Tea Ceremony. In this experiential presentation each audience member will have a cup of green tea to taste that is special in Japan. The presentation is 30 minutes followed by Q&A and can range from 45-60 minutes in total run time. Due to the intimacy of this presentation, it is limited to 50 people. The process of serving the tea is part of the presentation. Similar to how a participant would enter and be received…

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WGC Simulator Event

A 2-hour event at the Mineshaft simulators to enjoy some winter golfing! Rides will be leaving Wadsworth Hall at 5:15 PM! Please fill out THIS form if you will be needing a ride or to borrow clubs, and meet under the awning outside the main doors. Please mark "Yes" on this event if you plan on attending, as this is how we determine reservations and event planning.

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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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Wildland Fire Radio Workshop

The Wildland Fire Club will be hosting Tim Peters of the Husky Amateur Radio Club for a Wildland Fire Radio Workshop! We will be covering the basics like; how to change channels, change groups, and other radio procedures from the Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG). The workshop will take place after our general meeting this upcoming Tuesday, March 31st, 6-7pm in room 144 in the forestry building. We hope to see everyone there!

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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

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Women's History Month Karaoke

Join SoundGirls as we celebrate women's contributions to the music industry by singing some karaoke! All are invited and welcome to this event.