December 6, 2024

Students in Michigan Tech’s College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science are known for getting their boots dirty as they study the natural world. Senior forestry student Veronica Blissick’s boots trekked all over Michigan’s Lower Peninsula this summer, gathering mud and experience with a variety of fungi, flora and fauna — including Smokey the Bear, who turned 80 this year.

Blissick’s adventures didn’t just fall in her lap, and she encourages her fellow students to take action, jump on opportunities and seek out real-world experiences in fields outside of their comfort zone.

Read about Blissick’s experiences, how they changed her perspective on college, and her advice to other students looking to try new things at Stories from Husky Nation.

Apply now for the spring 2025 Michigan Tech Faculty DC Trip, a long-standing tradition of connecting researchers to funding agencies and other collaboration opportunities in the nation’s capital city.

The Research Development office is helping to plan research theme-focused trips while keeping many of the programmatic staples from prior trips. With focused trips, we are expecting to have two to three smaller trips per year. This spring, the trip will have a health-related research focus. Health is broadly defined. Even if you don’t think you do health-related research, you are welcome to apply and join the trip. We look forward to working with potential participants on the logistics of pulling together an impactful experience.

Applications
For the 2025 DC Trip, we request all who are interested, even if you are unsure, to complete a short application. The application is a nonbinding submission that helps us understand the distribution of the group's characteristics. You’ll notice that the new interest form gives several weeks for you to give input. We will have a small group of reviewers look at the applications, which will inform the distribution of cost-share from MTU's Health Research Institute, colleges and VPR. We ask that interested researchers apply by completing the application by Feb. 26.

Check out our DC Trip Timeline for sessions, deadlines and expectations.

Next up in the timeline is: 

• Fill out the application form by Feb. 26.
• Plan on joining us on Jan. 16 at noon for a hybrid session featuring DC Trip info and a Q&A.
• Talk to chairs and deans about attending.
• Make a list of program officers.

If you have any interest at all in the DC Trip, please fill out the short application form. We will be limiting all future communications about the DC Trip to those who fill out the form.

The DC Trip website will continue to be updated.

The Air Force ROTC invites you to the Fall 2024 Commissioning Ceremony next Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Rozsa Center Lobby.

This semester, we have two Air Force cadets commissioning. The two commissioning are from the following programs:

• Environmental Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

The Tau Beta Pi Michigan Beta Chapter at Michigan Tech initiated 14 new members on Dec. 4. As the engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi recognizes engineers with excellent scholastic standing and exemplary character — values aligned with those of Michigan Tech: community, scholarship, possibilities, accountability, tenacity and leadership.

The newly initiated members of the Michigan Beta chapter are:

• Theophils Amo Asumah — Geological Engineering
• Greg Ballen — Mechanical Engineering
• Havanah Brockington — Biomedical Engineering
• Rachel Cole — Mechanical Engineering
• Sangyoon J. Han, Ph.D. — Biomedical Engineering
• Kevin Li — Mechanical Engineering
• Eric Buregeya Mababzi — Civil Engineering
• James Patterson — Chemical Engineering
• Phil Rigling — Electrical Engineering
• Carter Rodzik — Biomedical Engineering
• Sam Simon — Mechanical Engineering
• Job Siy — Electrical Engineering
• Andrew Van Lente — Mechanical Engineering
• Hayden Zoll — Mechanical Engineering

Tau Beta Pi is the oldest and most prestigious engineering honor society in the world. The association was founded in 1885 at Lehigh University, and the Michigan Beta chapter at Michigan Technological University was installed in 1904. We have welcomed 4,639 students and faculty alike into the society. This includes Class of 1931 graduate and Nobel Laureate Melvin Calvin, whose work has revolutionized our understanding of photosynthesis and plant biology.

For more information on the honor society, visit the Tau Beta Pi website.

With the University being closed from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 for the holiday break, Financial Services and Operations will not be processing payments during that time.

To ensure the timely processing of payments for the University and Michigan Tech Fund before the holidays, please submit check requests by Dec. 13.

Request for Invoice forms must be submitted to Accounts Receivable at mtuar@mtu.edu by Dec. 18 if you would like an invoice sent before the end of the year.

The Rozsa is gearing up for a weekend of musical masterpieces, offering a diverse lineup of performances this weekend, from festive holiday pieces to music from around the world:

“Hallelujah!” KSO and Choirs Holiday Concert — Saturday, Dec. 7
Rozsa Center | 7:30 p.m.
Michigan Tech Music Series

Conducted by Jared Anderson, the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, combined Choirs of Michigan Tech and outstanding vocal soloists make up over 100 musicians on stage for a concert of two beloved baroque masterpieces to celebrate the holiday season: Bach's Magnificat and Part 1 of Handel's “Messiah,” featuring classic holiday movements such as “For Unto us a Child is Born” and the iconic “Hallelujah Chorus.” Reserve Pay As You’re Able Tickets to “Hallelujah!”

*****

TubaChristmas — Sunday, Dec. 8
Rozsa Lobby | 6-7 p.m.
Hosted by TubaChristmas

Houghton TubaChristmas is part of a global celebration now in its 51st year. Created by Dr. Harvey Phillips in 1974, TubaChristmas honors the legacy of legendary tubist William J. Bell and celebrates the warm, rich tones of the tuba and euphonium. Performers aged 8-92 join together in cities worldwide to bring the sounds of the season to life. This event is free and open to the public.

*****

“Home and Away” Superior Wind Symphony Concert — Sunday, Dec. 8
Rozsa Center | 7:30 p.m.
Michigan Tech Music Series

Conducted by Jana Meckler, the Superior Wind Symphony performs “Home and Away,” a concert with music from around the world. The ensemble will take the audience on a musical journey around the globe, featuring pieces like “Street Tango,” three Latin dances and Korean and Japanese folk songs. The concert will feature the talents of Brass Quintech, the Superior Percussion Ensemble and a classical concerto by tenor saxophonist Kyle Usimaki. Reserve Pay As You’re Able Tickets to “Home and Away”

Michigan Tech football's senior punter Brenden Lach has been tabbed to the D2CCA All-Super Region 3 First Team (Defense) by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.

Lach has been one of the top punters in Division II this season, ranking second in the country with his 45.5-yard punting average. A First Team All-GLIAC Defensive Team selection, he recorded 65 punts (2,960 yards) for the season — just three punts shy of tying the all-time season record. His total yards surpassed the current record of 2,277 yards set back in 1979.

Lach's booming kicks resulted in seven touchbacks, 15 fair catches, 20 inside the 20-yard line, and an astounding 23 punts over 50 yards. His longest punt this season went 67 yards.

Read more football news at Michigan Tech Athletics.

Assistant Professor Amna Mazen (AC/MMET) represented Michigan Tech at the 50th Anniversary of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society's Conference, IECON, held Nov. 3-6 in Chicago, Illinois.

As part of the Mechatronics and Robotics track, Mazen served as a technical session chair and presented a paper based on her students’ Senior Design project, titled "Intelligent Warehouse Robot for Classifying, Sorting, and Transporting Goods' Boxes."

Rolf Peterson (CFRES) was quoted by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation’s Giving Tuesday event. Peterson discussed how the Wolf-Moose Foundation is using Giving Tuesday to support Isle Royale’s wolf-moose research project, funding activities like aerial surveys and a new Michigan Tech Fund endowment for long-term sustainability.

*****

Tim Scarlett and Roman Sidortsov (both SS) were quoted by My UP Now in a story about their research on pumped underground storage hydropower (PUSH) systems in the Upper Peninsula’s abandoned hard rock mines. Scarlett and Sidortsov highlighted the potential for PUSH systems to store renewable energy, generate power and even clean contaminated water, offering both environmental and economic benefits.

*****

The Keweenaw Report mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the InventCON Kickoff Event, where students prepare for the March 16 Invention Convention at Superior Makersfest. Tom Oliver (CSEO/CEGE) and MTU students are mentoring participants as they develop prototypes and ideas.

*****

CleanTechnica and the U.S. Department of Energy mentioned Michigan Tech in stories about the DOE’s $18 million investment in marine energy and offshore wind research. Michigan Tech received $598,800 to advance marine energy innovation as part of the initiative.

*****

Michigan Tech alum Dave House ’65 (B.S. Electrical Engineering) was a guest on the Dec. 4 episode of the Silicon Valley Podcast. In the episode, titled “Leadership and Decision Making with Dave House,” he discussed his career at Intel, the creation of the “Intel Inside” campaign, and key insights on leadership, decision-making and managing results.

*****

WLUC TV6 quoted Michigan Tech alum Rehab (Ruby) Alhajjar ’21 (Ph.D. Environmental Microbiology) and her startup, FlowShield-Nano. The company, launched through the Michigan Global Talent Initiative, is developing an easy-to-install device to detect bacteria and heavy metals in water.

Winter Weather Safety Reminder

With the return of winter weather, this is a reminder for departments to continue communicating procedures regarding weather-related absences.

During times when weather conditions deteriorate, each member of the University community must exercise personal judgment about their ability to get to or from campus safely. Interruptions in work due to weather are no different from other events that cause us to leave work early or arrive late.

If any employee’s work schedule is affected by winter weather, the first thing they should do is contact their supervisor directly and explain the situation. Hourly employees may use vacation or comp time to make up for hours missed due to bad weather. Exempt employees are expected to fulfill their regular job responsibilities.

Employees should contact Human Resources at hr-help@mtu.edu or 906-487-2280 with questions or concerns.

*****

Human Resources Office Closure Today

The Human Resources office will be closed today, Dec. 6, from 2:30-5 p.m. for a departmental meeting. The office will reopen on Monday, Dec. 9.

Questions during this time can be sent to hr-help@mtu.edu.

*****

Howl Into Finals with the Husky Spirit!

Feeling stressed about finals? Join your Michigan Tech students in this biannual tradition! Take a break and join the Husky Howl, Michigan Tech’s ultimate stress-relief tradition! Meet at the Husky Statue tomorrow, Dec. 7, the Saturday before finals, at 11:45 p.m., and get ready for an unforgettable night. At 11:59, we’ll all howl at the moon together, shaking off the stress and kicking off finals week with a burst of energy and Husky pride!

There’ll be music from a live DJ and the legendary Huskies Pep Band, a chance to meet Blizzard, and a selfie station to capture your howling moment. It’s the perfect way to connect with friends, let loose and get into the finals groove.

Don’t miss out — gather your pack, bring your best howl and make some memories under the Michigan Tech moonlight. See you there!

*****

Save the Date for Give Back to the Pack 2025!

Mark your calendars! Michigan Tech’s 24-hour giving challenge, Give Back to the Pack, will return on April 8-9, 2025. Hosted by the Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving team, Give Back to the Pack is an opportunity for every Husky — alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students — to celebrate their Husky Spirit by making a gift to the area of their choosing at Michigan Tech.

Stay tuned for more details after the new year about how the campus community can get involved. Feel free to reach out to alumni@mtu.edu in the meantime.

*****

Perceptive Content System Maintenance on Sunday

Perceptive Content will be unavailable on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. due to maintenance.

If you use the Perceptive Content Client to upload documents, please back up your existing profiles before the end of the day today, Dec. 6. On Monday, Dec. 9, if you have any issues with Perceptive Content, copy the profiles back into place. Instructions for backing up and restoring are at the Knowledge Base article “Backup and restore Perceptive Content capture profiles.”

Affected Departments:

• Advancement
• Admissions
• Business Support Center
• Campus Store / University Images
• Facilities
• Financial Services and Operations
• Graduate School
• Human Resources
• International Programs and Services
• Information Technology
• MTRI
• Rozsa Center
• Registrar's Office
• Residential Living
• Sponsored Programs
• Summer Youth Programs
• University Marketing and Communications

If you still have issues after restoring the files, we can help. Email IT at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

*****

Banner Production System Maintenance on Sunday

A production system maintenance window is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 8, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The following production services will be unavailable during that time:

• apps.mtu.edu
• Banner
• Banweb
• MyMichiganTech
• Aspire
• Course Tools
• OAP Rental System
• Oracle Reports
• UC4/Appworx
• Virtual Cashiering
• WebFocus

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

*****

Graduate School Announces Fall 2024 Awards for Outstanding Scholarship and Teaching

The Graduate School announces the recipients of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship and the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award for the fall 2024 semester. Congratulations to all recipients.

Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship
The following recipients of the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Scholarship have demonstrated academic or professional qualities that set them apart within their academic program.

• Nithin Allwayin — Physics
• Jeffrey Kabel — Physics
• Mohanish Chandurkar — Biomedical Engineering
• Ronald Stempien — Computer Science
• Shreya Joshi — Atmospheric Sciences
• James Juip — Social Sciences
• Hrishikesh Gosavi — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Eric E. Coon — College of Business
• Casey Majhor — Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Jhuleyssy Sanchez Aguilar — Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences

Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award
The following recipients of the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award are recognized for their excellence in teaching.

• Casey Aldrich — Physics
• Philip Cuthbertson — Mathematical Sciences
• Tom Panella — College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
• Keenan Rivers — College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
• Junyao Yang — Computer Science
• Joseph Teahen — Computer Science
• Yifu Deng — Computer Science
• Caitlyn Sutherlin — Social Sciences
• Jack Smitterberg — Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Ian Quin Mattson — Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Eugene Brown Agyei — Humanities
• Sepehr Mohammadi — Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
• Libia Hazra — Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
• Kipkorir Yano — Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
• Karl Schneider — Biological Sciences
• Kara Hardy — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Ellie Zimmerman — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Cora Taylor — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Troy Metz — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Sazzad Hossain — Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Laura Albrant — Psychology and Human Factors
• Fatemeh Razaviamri — Biomedical Engineering
• Sananda Ray — Geological Mining Engineering and Sciences

For details about each award, view our Awards and Honors page.

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

Graduating and Still Looking?

Friday, December 6, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

Are you graduating soon and need help finding a job? Come in for a coffee and chat with one of our career advisors. We can help tailor your search, review your resume, bounce...

Cookies & Coloring

Friday, December 6, 1–3 p.m. | CDI Basement

De-stress with an afternoon of adult coloring and learn more about what the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being offers! Located in the basement of CDI and hosted...

Non-invasive optical imaging of the human brain: Dual-slope techniques and coherent hemodynamics

Friday, December 6, 3–4 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 102

Biomedical Engineering Research Seminar Sergio Fantini Tufts University Abstract Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and diffuse optical imaging (DOI), in the wavelength...

Ornament Making! A Study Break

Friday, December 6, 5–7 p.m. | MUB Commons

Take a much needed break from your studies to make your own ornaments and warm up with hot chocolate! Stop by the MUB Commons from 5-7 PM on Friday, December 6th. Materials...

Men's Ice Hockey vs St. Thomas

Friday, December 6, 7:07–10:07 p.m. | John MacInnes Student Ice Arena

Men's Ice Hockey vs St. Thomas Houghton, Mich.