Congratulations Huskies—you did it! The pride you have now grows stronger with time. Every Husky remembers their MTU graduation. Your Michigan Tech family joins you and your loved ones to celebrate completion of this journey.
Spring 2025 Commencement
Graduate Student Ceremony
Friday, April 25, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in the John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena of the Student Development Complex (SDC)
Undergraduate Student Ceremony
Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in the John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena of the Student Development Complex (SDC).
A Few Things To Note
- Guests are provided audience seating and do not sit with the graduates.
- The ceremony generally lasts around two hours.
- The SDC is a tobacco and alcohol-free facility.
- For the safety and security of the graduates and their guests, please be advised that all bags are searched prior to entering the event. Public Safety and Police Services are present.
- Show your Husky Pride and tag @michigantech when posting on social media.
Commencement Speaker: Deedra Irwin ’15
Deedra Irwin is a distinguished professional biathlete representing Team USA. She set a national historic milestone at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, placing seventh in the 15-kilometer individual event—the best result in Olympic history for US Biathlon. She is a proud graduate of Michigan Technological University, coming to MTU from Pulaski, Wisconsin. She attended Tech from 2010 to 2015, earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and graduating summa cum laude, with a minor and a certificate in coaching.
As a Husky, Irwin competed in three sports as a student-athlete: cross country, Nordic skiing, and track and field. In her senior year, she skied for Team USA at the 2015 World U23 Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She also distinguished herself as the top classic skier in the Central Region and participated in the NCAA Championships, earning All-CCSA and All-Region honors. In track, Irwin shattered school records in the 800, 1,500, 5,000, and 10,000 meters, and was a part of the record-setting 4x400 relay squad. As a top Husky runner, she was honored as an All-GLIAC selection in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention in the 800, and was also named the GLIAC Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year in 2011.
After graduating from Michigan Tech, Irwin relocated to Ketchum, Idaho, to train and compete with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation for two years. She switched to biathlon after a talent identification camp in 2017 and has since trained full-time with the US Biathlon Association. Irwin joined the Vermont Army National Guard in 2019 to support her Olympic aspirations and was named the 2021 Vermont Soldier of the Year. After the 2022 Olympics, Irwin joined the US Army World Class Athlete Program. As a WCAP soldier, she is tasked to be a positive role model, motivate her fellow soldiers, and give Americans another reason to get excited about the Army while training and competing for success in the Olympics.
Irwin consistently demonstrates exceptional talent in and dedication to the sport of biathlon. Rigorous training, strategic mindset, and unrelenting determination position her as a leading figure in American biathlon and the top female biathlete in the country. Her historic seventh-place finish in Beijing underscores her commitment to excellence and showcases her ability to compete at the highest levels of international sport. With her eyes set on future competitions and the 2026 Olympics, she continues to inspire athletes and contribute to the growing legacy of biathlon in the United States.
Graduate Student Speaker: Tabasum Hamdard ’25
Tabasum Hamdard is graduating from Michigan Tech with a master’s degree in data science and a graduate certificate in applied statistics. Originally from Afghanistan, she has demonstrated resilience and excellence throughout her academic journey in the US.
At Tech, Tabasum developed The Infinite Loop, the University’s first online journal for undergraduate research in computing. She has also worked in the Graduate School and served as an ambassador for Women in Data Science (WiDS), representing Michigan Tech in the global effort to increase women’s participation in data science and related fields.
After graduating, she plans to begin a summer internship and continue her career in the field of data science.
Undergraduate Student Speaker: Mary Christine Stevens ’25
Originally from Menominee, Michigan, Mary Christine Stevens is an Upper Peninsula native. After graduating from Menominee Area Public High School, she chose to attend Michigan Tech because it was close to home and because she loves all the outdoor opportunities the U.P. has to offer. She is graduating from Tech with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in French.
As a Husky, Stevens has published her first book, started a short-form news podcast, and been heavily involved in her campus community, serving as a resident assistant and participating in Greek Life. She chose to major in English because of her love for stories and writing. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in journalism, starting off at the Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton.
Stevens’ favorite memory at Tech was representing Tau Kappa Epsilon as a Winter Carnival Royalty candidate in 2024, which allowed her to work with a group of fellow intelligent and inspiring women.