Michigan Technological University renamed a section of its recreational trails during an Aug. 3 dedication ceremony — Core Loop will now be known as Littmann Gateway Loop in honor of the Jeffrey and Cynthia Littmann family.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Littmanns, three areas at Michigan Tech will benefit: the Tech Trails, Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) and the Mushing Club.
With more than 675 acres, Michigan Tech’s trail system is nationally recognized for quality, maintenance and variety of terrain, and has even hosted numerous cross country skiing championship races. The OAP provides students with the opportunity to get outdoors with more than 20 canoes, 25 kayaks, seven trailers, four vans, 12 mountain bikes and more than 100 pairs of both Nordic skis and snowshoes to rent to students for low cost. The Mushing Club is a student organization that offers everything from dog therapy for students needing to wind down after an exam to opportunities for students and community members to experience driving a dog sled.
“As we reflected upon how to bring joy to the students here at Tech, we naturally gravitated toward the sources of that joy in our lives — outdoor recreation, physical fitness and dogs,” said Littmann, the chair of Michigan Tech’s Board of Trustees. “We saw last winter the broad participation taking place here on the trails and the unifying effect this place can have. And what melts hearts faster than puppies?”
Dozens of people were in the crowd for the dedication in addition to a couple of dogs from the Mushing Club. The event was staged on the newly named Littmann Gateway Loop, which is the primary trail in the system. It connects the trailhead to dozens of other loops that provide miles of recreational opportunities.
“We thank Jeff, Cindy and their family for their gift to Michigan Tech,” said Bill Roberts, MTU’s vice president for advancement and alumni engagement. “The Littmann Gateway Loop is significant in that it connects all the other trails here. In the same way, we hope this will be the lead gift that others can connect with and find opportunities for their support.”
The dedication ceremony, occurring during Alumni Reunion, was followed by an Afternoon on the Trails event. Visitors walked the trails, took wagon rides around the Littmann Gateway Loop and enjoyed refreshments.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
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