July 19, 2024

Michigan Tech's much-anticipated 2024 Parade of Nations is set to take place on Sept. 21, and the Parade of Nations Committee is thrilled to announce a call to action for local business vendors and community organizations to join us in this vibrant celebration of cultural diversity. This year, we aim to make the parade bigger and better than ever before, and we need your participation to make it a resounding success!

The MTU Parade of Nations is an annual celebration hosted by Michigan Tech dedicated to promoting cultural diversity and understanding within our community. The parade features vibrant floats, traditional music, dance performances and an international food festival. It is a day of unity, learning and celebration for people of all ages.

Apply To Be a Vendor
Local businesses have a unique opportunity to showcase their products and services to hundreds of attendees. We invite all vendors to apply for a spot at Dee Stadium during the Parade of Nations Multicultural Food Fest. This is an excellent chance to connect with the community, increase your visibility and be a part of a beloved local tradition. From food to local business, we welcome all applications.

To apply, contact Katie Draves at kadraves@mtu.edu.

Join the Parade with a Float
Community organizations and businesses are also encouraged to apply to have a float in the parade. This year’s theme is “Holidays Around the World.” This is your chance to creatively display your organization's spirit, values and cultural heritage. Floats can be an engaging and dynamic way to interact with the community and contribute to the colorful, festive atmosphere of the parade. Whether you are a school, nonprofit, local business or cultural group, your themed participation will help us celebrate the diversity that makes our community so special.

To register a float, please visit the Parade of Nations website. The application deadline is Sept. 6. Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to apply early to secure your spot.

For any questions or to request additional information, please email paradeofnations@mtu.edu.

Let’s come together to celebrate and showcase the diverse cultures that enrich our community. We look forward to your participation in making the 2024 Parade of Nations an unforgettable event!

Human Resources will be hosting a Lunch and Learn for staff members who handle student hiring for their departments to learn about recent updates to the process. Please join us from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, in the Alumni Lounge of the MUB.

Please RSVP for the event no later than Monday, July 22. Light lunch items will be available for those who attend.

If you have any questions, please contact us at hr-help@mtu.edu or 906-487-2280.

Department of Computer Science (CS) graduate student Ronald Stempien will present a final oral examination (defense) for his M.S. in Computer Science on Thursday, July 25, at 8 a.m. in person in Rekhi 101 and virtually via Zoom online meeting.

The title of Stempien's defense is "A Virtual Time Driven Simulator for DEVS Models."

Join the Zoom meeting.

Read the defense abstract on the Computing News Blog.

The Michigan Tech volleyball team has received the AVCA Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, earning the honor for the 12th straight season. Tech held a 3.55 team GPA for 2023-24.

Seven Huskies were named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team while four others made the GLIAC All-Academic Team. Lindy Oujiri held a 4.0 for her career. Kate Walch, Meg Raabe, Riley Stichter and Kaycee Meiners had a 4.0 for the academic year. And, Zoe Rhines, Amelia Albers and Tricia Kennedy each had a 4.0 semester.

The award was sponsored by INTENT.

Read more at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Jung Yun Bae (ME-EM) was quoted by UpNorthLive and Mid-Michigan Now in a story about an Otsego County farm partnering with Michigan Tech engineering students to create a robot to harvest lavender plants. The goal is to automate Lucky Clover Farm’s harvesting of not just lavender, but other delicate plants as well.

*****

Pasi Lautala (CEGE/MTTI) was quoted by Powder.com in a story about the lack of ski trains in America. The story noted that many European countries consistently invest in passenger trains and railways. The outlet also mentioned MTU in the listicle “10 Surprising Colleges with Ski Resorts Nearby.” 

*****

Sarah Fayen Scarlett (SS) was mentioned by The Keweenaw Report in a story about the Quincy Mine Hoist Association’s summer programs. Scarlett spoke at the History on the Hill series about the neighborhoods that make up East Hancock and company suburbs.

*****

Sarah Hoy (CFRES) was quoted by Michigan State University’s Spartan Newsroom in a story about how moose can teach us about human aging. A study co-authored by Hoy earlier this year linked periodontitis to severe forms of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis in moose. The research highlights the similarities between human and veterinary medicine. The study was the subject of a story on MTU’s Unscripted Research Blog in January.

*****

Michigan Tech undergraduate students Ben Vanderheide (civil engineering) and Brett Bruner (mechanical engineering) were quoted by Detroit’s WDIV-TV in a story about their summer business, retrieving items lost in the deep bodies of water around Grand Traverse County. The story was picked up by more than 25 regional news outlets.

*****

The Daily Mining Gazette and The Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about 23 local high school students who participated in a culinary cook-off as part of TRIO Upward Bound’s summer program at MTU. Husky Eats partnered with TRIO to hold the event. Students learned the basics of cooking, baking, kitchen safety and more during the 12-session program.

*****

Flintside mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), a trip across the Upper Peninsula taken by 50 students from the Lower Peninsula. Participants visited Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan University, Lake Superior State University, Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island.

*****

The Hockey News mentioned Michigan in a feature story on former Husky defenseman Matt Roy, who recently signed a six-year $34.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals. He previously played for the LA Kings, and the story discussed how difficult it might be for the Kings to replace him next season. The story was picked up by Yahoo! Sports.

*****

Interplas Insights published a press release from Zeus, a polymer extrusion and catheter manufacturing company, about the hiring of Chris McHugh ’95 (B.S. Mathematics/Physics) as senior vice president of integrated supply chain. The press release was picked up by MidlandsBiz and Medical Device News Magazine.

Production System Maintenance on Sunday

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for Sunday, July 21, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• Apps.mtu.edu
• Banner
• Banweb
• MyMichiganTech
• Aspire
• Course Tools
• Fischer/mylogin.mtu.edu
• mtu.edu/tips
• OAP Rental System
• Oracle Reports
• Papercut Printing
• Perceptive Content (Imagenow)
• Pinnacle
• Sunapsis
• UC4/Appworx
• Virtual Cashiering
• WebFocus

If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Contact us at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

*****

MS Defense: Tucker Nielsen, HU

Please join the Department of Humanities (HU) for M.S. in Rhetoric, Theory, and Culture student Tucker Nielsen's master's thesis defense, held in person in Walker 120A and virtually via Zoom today, July 19, from 2-3 p.m.

Nielsen's master's thesis is titled "Four lessons to build upon: A study of postsecondary composition classroom curriculum."

From the abstract:
Soft skills in technical professions may be valued by employers, but post-secondary students engage with a dichotomy arguing against the blend of soft and hard skills. This study utilized activities with LEGO® bricks to determine how plausible kinesthetic learning methods are within university composition classes. Four in-class activities based on the class’s four core assignments were spread across the Spring 2024 semester at Michigan Technological university. Through written reflections, lists, posters, and photos of students’ builds, students practiced and demonstrated engagement with identified composition and critical thinking skills.

*****

CEGE Offering New Course in Fall 2024: Applied Boundary Layer Meteorology

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) announces a new course being offered in fall 2024:

ATM5512/CEE5512 Applied Boundary Layer Meteorology
Fall 2024 Course Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-4:45 p.m.

Join us for this exciting and field-intensive course in the cities of Houghton and L’Anse!

What You’ll Learn:

• Hypothesis Testing
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Fluid Mechanics and Turbulence
• Use of Remote Sensing Instruments

Through the support of the National Science Foundation, you'll engage with atmospheric scientists operating the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Space Science and Engineering Center's Portable Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC). Together, we'll study how temperature inversions (temperature increasing with altitude) can trap pollutant emissions along the coastal regions of Lake Superior.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to dive deep into the fluid dynamics of the lower atmosphere, also known as the boundary layer.

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

Volleyball Summer 2024 High School All-Skills Camp

Friday, July 19, 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Varsity Gym

This camp is open to girls entering grades 9-12 as of Fall 2024. This camp is designed specifically for players with goals of improving their overall technique and tactical...

Master's Defense: Tucker Nielsen

Friday, July 19, 2–4 p.m. | Walker Arts and Humanities Center, 120A

Rhetoric, Theory and Culture Advisor: Holly Hassel Four Lessons to Build Upon A Study of Postsecondary Composition Curriculum Attend Virtually:...