Class Notes

Lester E. Hendrickson, PhD '63 '64 (BS MS Metallurgical Engineering)
Lester was recognized by the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University for his dedication to ASU's materials science and engineering program with an endowed award established in his name, the Dr. Lester E. Hendrickson Leadership & Teaching Excellence Award.

Posted 01/2025

Helmuth Wilden '65 (BS Civil Engineering) and K. Peter Wilden '64 (BS Civil Engineering)
Helmuth recently spent time in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with his brother K. Peter who was visiting from Woodbury, New Jersey. The brothers enjoyed time with their families and recalled the great education they got at Michigan Tech that served them well during their careers. "GO HUSKIES!”

Posted 12/2025

John Ryder '76 (BS Civil Engineering)
John and a group of Tech alumni who first met in Co-Ed Hall (now McNair Hall) in 1973 reunited in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a 50-year reunion. The gathering included Pete Volk '74, Sieg Hein '76, Bill Quade '74, Mark Kuehl, Dave Gustafson '75, Les Miller '75, Steve Manett '74, and Richard Gady '75.

Posted 01/2025

Thomas Lograsso '80 '83 '86 (BS MS PhD Metallurgical Engineering)
Tom was named 2025 R&D Leader of the Year by R&D World. Director of the Critical Materials Innovation Hub at Ames National Laboratory—where he joined in 1988—Tom was recognized for his leadership, mentorship, and groundbreaking work in materials discovery, including co-inventing the rare-earth-free alloy galfenol.

Posted 09/2025

Fred Koerschner '81 (BS Mechanical Engineering), Lou Anne Koerschner '81 (BS Chemical Engineering), Steven Gardner '82 (BS Chemical Engineering), and Dave Anderson '80 (BS Metallurgical Engineering)
Fred, Lou Anne, Steven, and Dave, all Michigan Tech engineering graduates, recently reunited while sailing the Danube River near Krems, Austria. The group enjoyed their European cruise and shared a photo of the Husky gathering on social media.

Posted 10/2025

Dennis C. Brewer '81 (BS Business Administration)
Dennis, a retired veteran, is enjoying retirement while continuing his work as an author. He has published 15 books, including titles with Wiley, Cengage, and Kaplan, and credits the humanities courses he took at Michigan Tech for helping shape his writing skills. "Who knew that paying attention in a required class would pay off!"

Posted 05/2026

Kurt Larson ’82 (BS Mining Engineering)

Kurt completed two books in 2026. The Takeover Diaries: Take Two is a in-depth take on the hostile takeover of the largest independent company in the minerals sector in 2006. Kurt had first-hand experience with the company, having started working on exploration drill rigs and working his way up to Operations Director in a 25-year career. The Skiing Diaries is a celebration of Kurt’s alpine skiing adventures around the world, including his time at Tech. Kurt was a three-year letterwinner at Tech in alpine skiing and saw the program dropped before his senior year. He writes about the triumph from adversity with his teammates forming a club and going on to win the National Collegiate Ski Association national championship in 1981­­—the last time a Tech team has won a national title in any sport.

Posted 08/2026

Amiee (Larchar) Modic '84 (BS Chemistry)
Amiee has received the 2025 James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching from the American Chemical Society. She teaches at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas, and is currently president-elect of the American Association of Chemistry Teachers. Amiee’s story was featured in Michigan Tech Alumni and Friends Stories.

Posted 05/2025

Costas Balaras '84 (BS Mechanical Engineering)
Costas was honored with the Andrew T. Boggs Service Award by ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. His good friend, roommate, and Tech classmate John Walch '84 (BS Chemical Engineering) was there to celebrate the achievement.

Posted 08/2025

Doug Lansky '86 (BS Surveying)
Doug has been named senior survey project manager at Spalding DeDecker's Grand Rapids office. Spalding DeDecker is a consulting engineering, planning, and surveying firm, headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, specializing in infrastructure, land development, urban planning, and surveying.

Posted 01/2025

Dan Aird '88 (BS Computer Science)
Dan has been named assistant vice president, operations finance, at SRC, Inc. He has been at the company since 2012, starting as a manager in program finance.

Posted 01/2025

Kerry Sutton '89 (BS Environmental Engineering)
Kerry was appointed executive director of NEU: An ACI Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete. Bringing more than 25 years of experience in the concrete industry to the role, Kerry will lead global collaboration to accelerate the adoption of reduced-carbon concrete technologies.

Posted 12/2025

Kaet Johnson '92 (BS Electrical Engineering)
Kaet was elected to the Board of Directors of the Michigan Snowsports Industry Association (MSIA), the trade organization representing the state’s ski and snowboard industry. She will serve as the board’s representative for Upper Peninsula ski areas.

Posted 08/2025

Richelle Frank '93 (BS Manufacturing Engineering)
Richelle has been appointed general manager of Red Dot Corporation’s facility in Puyallup, Washington. Red Dot is an international leader in heavy-duty mobile HVAC and thermal management solutions for construction, agricultural, and military vehicles.

Posted 08/2025

Diane Chamberlain Cesarz '94 (BA Scientific & Technical Communication)
Diane was appointed foundation treasurer of the board of trustees for the Delta Zeta Foundation on July 1, 2024. Her term will run through June 30, 2026.

Posted 01/2025

Norm Kapala '96 (BS Mechanical Engineering)
Norm was appointed vice president of Grid Operations, Restoration, and Work Management at Consumers Energy. He's been with the company since 2008, holding leadership roles across both electric and gas operations.

Posted 10/2025

Steve Horenziak '97 (BS Chemical Engineering)
Steve was a guest on the August 1 episode of Freakonomics Radio podcast, titled “Why Do Candles Still Exist?” President of the National Candle Association, Steve shared insights into the evolution of the candle industry, highlighting how a seemingly obsolete technology continues to thrive in the modern era.

Posted 10/2025

Emily (Constantine) Mercurio '98 (MS Geology)
Emily received the 2025 Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Geology and Environmental Science, recognizing her career accomplishments as a geoscientist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of the geospatial engineering firm CivicMapper.

Posted 10/2025

Brad J. Uren '98 (BS Biological Sciences)
Brad, of Pinckney, Michigan, has been reappointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as chair of the Michigan Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. He has served on the committee since 2016 and is also an associate professor of emergency medicine at Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s academic medical center.

Posted 10/2025

Aimee Giacherio 99 (BS Civil Engineering)
ITE Michigan Section honored Aimee with its President’s Award for 26 years of service dedicated to the traffic engineering industry. ITE—A Community of Transportation Professionals works to improve mobility and safety for all transportation system users, helping to build smart and livable communities. The President’s Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to traffic and/or transportation engineering. Aimee is a Vice President and Senior Project Manager for Wade Trim in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Posted 08/2026

Michelle O'Neill '99 (BS Civil Engineering)
Michelle was honored as one of six recipients of the 2024 Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director's Award, the department's highest recognition for outstanding employee service.

Posted 01/2025

Tony Gonzalez '00 (BS Surveying)
Tony has been promoted to partner at Giffels Webster, a Detroit-based civil engineering firm. With 24 years at the company, he has advanced from survey crew chief to senior project manager, overseeing land surveys for private and public developments across Southeast Michigan. A former tight end for Michigan Tech’s football team, Tony now lives in Sterling Heights with his wife and two daughters.

Posted 02/2025

Andrew Nicolas '01 (BS Mechanical Engineering)
Andrew was appointed CEO of Prinoth's US Snow Grooming Division, where he will oversee snow grooming services and product distribution for the US market. He previously spent 17 years with John Deere Construction and Forestry in sales, marketing, and leadership roles and also held positions with equipment distributors Honnen Equipment Co. and RDO Equipment Co.

Posted 03/2026

Eric Morris '02 (BS Civil Engineering)
Eric was appointed Great Lakes Division president of HNTB Corporation in February 2026. He began with the firm as an intern in 2001 and now leads more than 1,100 employee-owners across seven states. Eric lives in Grand Ledge, Michigan, with his wife and four daughters.

Posted 03/2026

Scott Blecke '04 '13 (BS Electrical Engineering, Tech MBA®)
Scott has been named CEO of Yampa Valley Electric Association, a member-owned electric cooperative based in Colorado serving over 23,000 members. He previously served as the chief strategy officer for the Great Lakes Energy Co-operative headquartered in Boyne City, Michigan.

Posted 01/2025

 Paul Brandes '04 (MS Geology)
Paul was awarded the 2024 Michigan Notable Author award for his book Michigan Rocks! A Guide to Geologic Sites in the Great Lakes State, which takes readers to 56 sites of geologic significance. He is also involved with other similar books and just completed the full-color revision to the Roadside Geology of Texas.

Posted 06/2025

Paul Brandes '04 (MS Geology)
Paul recently completed the color revision of Roadside Geology of Texas for the Geological Society of America. Now available online, this is his second book with GSA, following Michigan Rocks (2023). For his next project, Paul will be photographing for Utah Rocks, the next book in the series he and his wife, Nathalie, are developing together.

Posted 11/2025

Jim Hansen '05 (BS Social Sciences)
Jim has been appointed president and CEO of WSI Technologies, a leading provider of technology solutions for the public safety and child advocacy sectors. Hansen brings decades of experience to the role and will guide WSI into its next phase of innovation and growth following its recent acquisition by Valsoft Corporation Inc.

Posted 09/2025

Megan Rose '05 (BS Biological Sciences)
Megan Rose was reappointed vice chair by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Library of Michigan Board of Trustees. The board advises the Michigan Department of Education on the library’s services, budget, and governing rules. Megan is the director of the Dickinson County Library in Kingsford. Her new term runs through October 2028.

Posted 10/2025

Drew Vettel '05 '06 (BS, MS Mechanical Engineering)
Drew co-founded the Kohler WasteLAB, an initiative born out of a "what if" workshop during an Innovation for Good retreat. The WasteLAB focuses on transforming manufacturing byproducts into functional, sustainable products.

Posted 03/2025

Jillian Rothe '06 (BS Mechanical Engineering, BS Business Administration)
Jillian advanced to the top 1 percent of participants in the 2026 Entrepreneur of Impact competition, earning a spot as a quarterfinalist among more than 11,000 individuals. The competition recognizes entrepreneurs for innovation, leadership, and business impact, with finalists competing for a cash prize and mentorship opportunity with Shark Tank's Daymond John, CEO of FUBU. Voting will conclude for the quarterfinal round on May 14, 2026, and the final round May 28.

Posted 05/2026

Kevin Field '07 (BS Materials Science and Engineering)
Kevin received the 2025 Henry Russel Award from the University of Michigan, where he is a professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences. He was recognized for his groundbreaking research on radiation-tolerant materials that enhance nuclear reactor safety.

Posted 07/2025

Steven C. Fantetti '07 (BS Social Sciences)
Steven recently published his first book, Across the Knoll, a historical fiction novel exploring the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A former wide receiver for the Huskies football team, Steven is an attorney, certified NFL player agent, and founder of Fantetti Legal LLC and the Athlete Empowerment Agency, where he represents NCAA and NFL athletes in contract negotiations, NIL agreements, and business matters.

Posted 06/2026

Maruthi Devarakonda '08 (PhD Mechanical Engineering)
Maruthi was elected a 2024 Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a prestigious honor recognizing outstanding contributions to the engineering profession.

Posted 02/2025

Dan Hagerman '08 (BS Accounting)
Dan was named to Crain’s Detroit Business 2025 40 Under 40 list. A certified public accountant, Dan serves as a managing director in BDO’s tax consulting practice and previously held roles at Deloitte and EY. Based in southeast Michigan, he also serves on the Michigan Tech College of Business Accounting Advisory Council.

Posted 01/2026

Peipei Zhao '09 (MS Applied Natural Resource Economics)
Peipei, president of RoboSense North America, was honored by Automotive DRIVE with the 2025 Visionary Leader Award, an international recognition within the automotive industry. He received the award at the 2025 Automotive DRIVE Honours event held by Reuters.

Posted 09/2025

Peipei Zhao '09 (MS Applied Natural Resource Economics)
Peipei was named to Automotive News' 2024 Champions of Diversity list alongside 10 individuals from companies across the auto industry who lead their employers' efforts to achieve greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Posted 01/2025

Niigaanii-Animikii Inini Kalvin Hartwig '10 (BS Social Sciences, AA Humanities)
Kalvin was cast as the voice actor for Red Leader in the Ojibwe-language dubbing of Star Wars: A New Hope—the first major Hollywood film to be dubbed in Ojibwe. Kalvin’s involvement in the project was featured in Michigan Tech Alumni Stories.

Posted 01/2025

Jen Julien '12 '15 (BS Civil Engineering, MS Environmental Engineering)
Jen and her husband, Jon Julien, who also studied at Michigan Tech, were both named to Crain’s Detroit Business 2025 40 Under 40 list. The Houghton-based couple, co-founders of the real estate development company Braveworks Inc., were also named winners of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Michigan and Northwest Ohio Award earlier this year, and have been nominated for the national Entrepreneur of the Year Awards set to be presented in November.

Posted 10/2025

Brittany (Barry) Feria '13 (BS Accounting)
Brittany published her first children’s book, Sammy Goes to the Doctor. The book helps prepare young readers for visiting a doctor through the adventures of a lovable goldendoodle named Sammy.

Posted 05/2025

Brittany (Barry) Feria '13 (BS Accounting)
Brittany has earned multiple honors for her debut picture book, Sammy Goes to the Doctor, including a Gold Mom’s Choice Award and a Literary Titan Award. The book was also featured in Kirkus Reviews’ collection of top indie titles of 2025.

Posted 12/2025

Alexandra Cereska '15 (BS Biomedical Engineering)
Alexandra successfully reached Mount Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak in Tanzania, Africa, the continent's highest point at 5,898 meters above sea level. She celebrated the climb by taking a picture with a Huskies flag at the summit, sharing the moment (and some serious Husky pride) with fellow alumni on social media.

Posted 09/2025

Deedra Irwin '15 (BS Exercise Science)
Deedra has been named to Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, where she will compete in biathlon. A three-sport athlete at Michigan Tech, Deedra previously earned a seventh-place finish at the Beijing Winter Games, the best-ever Olympic result by a US biathlete. She joined the US Army in 2019 and currently serves as a staff sergeant.

Posted 01/2026

Rev. Matthew Berry '16 (BS Psychology)
Matthew is celebrating his fifth year as pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, Missouri. He has led the congregation since 2021, and is also pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

Posted 05/2026

Hannah Weeks '17 (BS Geological Engineering)
Hannah Weeks recently published her debut novel, Strange Breathless Days, under the pen name Hannah Layne. The book is the first installment in the Lift Bridge Series, a hockey romance series set in Houghton, Michigan.

Posted 05/2026

Audra Thurston '18 (BS Chemical Engineering)
Audra was named to the Fierce Electronics Forty Under Forty list, which honors young leaders advancing innovation in the electronics industry. She is Chief R&D Engineer at Calumet Electronics, where she has worked since 2017.

Posted 05/2025

Nathan Sodini '22 (BS Engineering Management, BS Finance)
Nathan was named Milwaukee Tool’s 2025 Rookie of the Year for product development. A product manager with the global product management team, Nathan leads new product development across multiple high-value categories. He joined Milwaukee Tool through its competitive Operations Development Program and now works with teams across the U.S. and internationally.

Posted 12/2025

Chris Woods '23 (BS Marketing)
Chris was promoted to vice president of the Willmar Stingers after serving as the team’s director of promotions. The Willmar Stingers are a Minnesota-based baseball team that competes in the Northwoods League, a developmental collegiate summer wooden-bat baseball and softball league.

Posted 10/2025

Ricardo Nuñez '24 (BS Computer Science)
Ricardo launched a new company called PaisaTax, an AI-driven tax preparation platform inspired by his own challenges filing taxes as an international student. With early support from the I-Corps program and Global Detroit, PaisaTax has since partnered with M&A Tax Group to expand its user base and now provides automated federal tax form generation for both international and US taxpayers.

Posted 12/2025

Abel Andre Reyes Angulo '25 (PhD Computational Science and Engineering)
Abel has joined Walmart Global Tech as a Senior Data Scientist on the Search team. While at Tech, Abel's PhD research focused on artificial intelligence and AI-driven solutions.

Posted 08/2025

Isaac Hein '25 (BS Civil Engineering) and Christian Moutsatson '25 (BS Exercise Science)

Isaac (left) and Christian (right) recently completed the US Army's Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course. After five months of intensive training in the field, the newly commissioned lieutenants earned their blue Infantry cords following an eight mile night march carrying 50-pound packs. Of course, they made sure to bring a Michigan Tech flag along for the journey.

Posted 06/2026

Landon Vojtech '26 (BS Civil Engineering) and Deborah Knapp, fourth-year construction management student

Landon and Deborah shared the exciting news of their engagement. The couple met in Chem-Sci 101 while attending the Navigators weekly Nav Night and began dating during the 2024–25 school year. After taking several classes together and discovering they could handle the stresses of engineering coursework side by side, Landon proposed in spring 2026. "I graduated this spring with more than a Tech degree," he wrote. "I graduated with a fellow Husky as my future spouse. Thank you Michigan Tech!" The couple says they can't wait to return to campus as newlyweds.

Posted 07/2026