At Michigan Tech, we want to to hear from and stay engaged with all our alumni! Class Notes are your go-to source for reading about the latest happenings in the lives of fellow alumni, including new jobs, promotions, news coverage, awards, government appointments, retirements, weddings, and more.
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Share your milestones with the Michigan Tech alumni community. Stay connected and let your fellow alumni know what you’ve been up to!
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Recent Submissions
Brad J. Uren '98 (BS Biological Sciences) of Pinckney, Michigan, has been reappointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as chair of the Michigan Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Brad 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
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) recently reunited while sailing the Danube River near Krems, Austria. The group of Tech engineering graduates enjoyed their European cruise and shared a photo of the Husky gathering on social media.
Posted 10/2025
Class Notes
1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s
1960s
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
1970s
Robert Tolfree '76 (BS Medical Technology) has retired from Cooley LLP after 10 years as the firm’s principal worldwide database administrator. He now enjoys retirement in beautiful Golden, Colorado.
Posted 10/2025
Mark L. Johnson '75 (BS Mechanical Engineering)
Mark recently published a book titled Tracks Across America: "Caterpillar" Tractors and the Growth of a Nation, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Caterpillar Inc. He spent 37 years with the
company before retiring in 2009.
Posted 02/2025
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
1980s
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
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
1990s
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
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.
Kaet will serve as the board’s representative for Upper Peninsula ski areas.
Posted 08/2025
Andy Londo '92 '00 (BS Forestry, PhD Forest Science)
Andy was named chair of the Forestry Department at Francis Marion University in Florence,
South Carolina. He previously spent 12 years at The Ohio State University.
Posted 10/2025
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
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
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
2000s
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
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
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
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
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
Peipei Zhao '09 (MS Applied Natural Resource Economics)
Peipei was honored by Automotive DRIVE with the 2025 Visionary Leader Award, an international
recognition within the automotive industry. Zhao, president of RoboSense North America,
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
2010s
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
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
Haley (Vingsness) Jarasz '10 (BS Scientific & Technical Communication)
Haley '10 and Michael Jarasz '16 were married on February 15, 2025, in Bloomfield
Hills, Michigan. Their shared Huskies spirit brought them together—and Heikki Lunta
delivered four inches of snow for their wedding day. The couple resides in Milford,
Michigan.
Posted 04/2025
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
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
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
2020s
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
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