June 7, 2016, Vol. 22, No. 20

Stay Local Through Tech Social

TW New Logo No Text Yellow

For the more than two billion people around the world who use social media, there’s probably billions more reasons why. Maybe it’s to feel connected to grandkids. See photos of your next vacation destination. Or maybe it’s a format that’s replaced a good cup of coffee and the daily newspaper. Michigan Technological University uses social media—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube—every day.

What’s our why? Well, it’s you.

Once our alumni leave campus, social media is sometimes the best way to keep in touch. We love to keep our graduates updated about our latest news and research (like when first-year student Jill Poliskey 3-D printed prosthetic hands and the Huskies brought home the MacNaughton Cup). Heck, we even like to remind you of our weather (yup, STILL snowing!).

There’s real people (a team of 12, actually) behind these screens. Not only do we love sharing with you, but we love hearing from you. Like when you comment on Facebook about that one time at K-Day. Or when you share a photo of your daughter’s high school graduation (sporting black and gold socks!). It’s your likes, loves, comments, and shares that keep the Michigan Tech story going. We’re way up here in Houghton, and we have a lot of exciting things to share, what better way to tell the world?

How big is Michigan Tech’s social media?

Facebook 32,000+
Twitter 8,500+
Instagram 4,800+
LinkedIn 40,000+

Show your Husky Pride—like and follow our pages. Want more? Check out our more than 80 affiliated University pages here or email social@mtu.edu. Use #MichiganTech on Instagram and Twitter and—who knows—we just might share YOUR story with the world.

Shannon

–Shannon Rinkinen
Social Media Manager

At Tech

image135848-fshorizw

History and Science Meet in the Keweenaw

History is important to Copper Country communities—sharing that history with youth even more so. As the site of the nation’s first large mining boom, the Keweenaw Peninsula preserves and interprets a unique chapter of the US story. During 2016, to commemorate the National Park Service’s Centennial, Michigan Tech and Keweenaw National Historical Park collaborated . . . [ Full Story ]

image135718-fshorizw

Leaving the Electrical Grid in the Upper Peninsula

Known for snow rather than sun, the region could still support a significant network of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems. Solar energy alone in the Upper Peninsula is seasonally restricted. However, solar coupled with cogeneration and batteries could overcome any cloudy, cold winter day.

Michigan Tech engineers and sociologists explored what this new triple-threat technology, . . . [ Full Story ]

image135820-fshorizw

Michigan Tech Praises Legislators for Capping Universities’ Retirement Liability

The retirement plan, known as the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS), was instituted in the 1940′s. Michigan Technological University and six other universities exited MPSERS for the majority of employees in 1996 but continued to pay for both employees and retirees already in the plan.

Since then, university payments to MPSERS were increasing, . . . [ Full Story ]

Keweenaw Tread

Volunteers Needed for 2016 Keweenaw Tread Fest on June 18

Jun 02, 2016

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech Athletics is looking for volunteers to work the 2016 Keweenaw Tread Fest Mountain Bike Race, which will take place June 18 at the Tech Trails.

A variety of roles are available for interested volunteers, including race

. . . [ Full Story ]
KSEF 135

Keweenaw Science & Engineering Festival

The Keweenaw Science & Engineering Festival (KSEF) is a great family-friendly event filled with fun for all ages. Through hands-on activities, informative talks, and other fun events the Keweenaw Science & Engineering Festival will show everyone how incredible science, technology, engineering, and math can be!

www.superiorideas.org/projects/ksef

Alumni Around the World

Alumni reunion

Register for Alumni Reunion, August 4-6

Explore a Coast Guard vessel, try paddleboarding, make your own stuffed Husky, learn something new at a Tech Talk, run/walk a 5K, and more! There’s fun for Huskies of all ages during Michigan Tech’s Alumni Reunion—August 4-6, 2016.

The featured groups will be the Golden M’s (those who graduated 50 plus years ago), the classes . . . [ Full Story ]

W. Mich Chapter

W. Michigan Chapter Dinner with President Mroz

On May 19, alumni and friends met at Egypt Valley Country Club for the West Michigan Alumni Chapter annual meeting and spring dinner. Guest speaker President Glenn D. Mroz, spoke on the current state of the University and his vision for its future.

An auction was held for a signed Husky hockey stick won . . . [ Full Story ]

Malta

Meetup in Malta

While on a recent visit to Malta, alumnus Tom Wilson ’68 met up with students from the Pavlis Institute who are doing their international experience there. From left to right: Joe Aldape (CS), Alex Undlin (Biomed), Chris Matetich (ME), Rachael Fernstrum (STC), Tom Wilson (Civil), Alex Whydell (History), and Shelby Marter (STC)

They are in . . . [ Full Story ]

Mark Musculus_photo

Musculus elected as a 2015-16 SAE Fellow

Mark Musculus ’92, (BS in Mechanical Engineering) was elected as a 2015-16 SAE Fellow and inducted at the 2016 SAE World Congress this April.

Dr. Musculus was recognized for pioneering research on in-cylinder processes of conventional and low-temperature combustion direct-injection engines and the international leadership he has brought to the field.

His contributions are . . . [ Full Story ]

Justin Jones

CCM grad’s work wins at DePaul Premiere Film Festival

Justin Jones ’12 a Tech Communications, Culture, and Media alumnus and currently a graduate student in Cinematography at DePaul University in Chicago was selected as one of 15 students to have his work shown at the DePaul Premiere Film Festival last week.

His entry The Farm on Rice Lake Road was nominated for four . . . [ Full Story ]

Social image

Still Time to Give to the Annual Fund

As we near end of the 2015-16 fiscal year, we want to take a moment to remind our alumni and friends that there is still time to make an annual contribution in support of Michigan Tech – and place your name on the annual Honor Roll of Donors.

You can phone the Michigan Tech . . . [ Full Story ]

Calling all 1970s women engineering graduates

Calling women engineers who graduated from college in the 1970s! Consider taking a short survey about your experiences.

Your story matters!

Laura Ettinger, Associate Professor of History at Clarkson University, will be using this information for her book on your generation of pioneering women engineers.

The survey will be conducted for six weeks starting . . . [ Full Story ]

Alumni Profile

James Cooper ’39

image17345-mthumb

During World War II, James Cooper ’39 cheated death. In a bomber over the flak-fierce skies above Germany, his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The bomber and its crew of ten had to crash-land in a field in Holland. “The day we went down, the group lost two planes. There were no survivors of . . . [ Full Story ]

Tech Sports

Hockey Raffle

Hockey Spring Carnival a Success; Raffle Winners Announced

May 27, 2016

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech hockey hosted its annual Spring Carnival at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena last Friday (May 20) with a great turnout of children and families. Over 300 people attended the event to experience free food, door prizes, games

. . . [ Full Story ]

Fill in the Blanks

SYP Fill in the Blanks

Summer Youth Programs return

Our Summer Youth Programs return this month, attracting young people from around the country ready to experience Michigan Tech, a lot of STEM, and a little of summer in the Keweenaw. Did you attend SYP (like this young person pictured from 2009) and if so, what are your best memories? Did you know Tech . . . [ Full Story ]

From the Email Bag

Dennis

Dennis Walikainen tosses an update

A note from former “TechAlum” editor, Dennis Walikainen responding to the letter from Bob Brown featured in the May 24 edition:

I wanted to respond to Bob Brown’s note about Julius Nachazel. Many alumni will recall Frisbee tournaments taking place up here when they were in school. Well, the International Frisbee Tournament (IFT) is still . . . [ Full Story ]

Featured Alumni Benefits

Alum license plate

Show your pride! Order your Michigan Tech license plate today.

When you purchase a Michigan Tech license plate, not only do you show your Husky Pride, but you also support programs for alumni and students. For an additional fee, your Michigan Tech plate can be personalized.

Don’t live in Michigan? Then you need a collector Michigan Tech license plate!

Whether you purchase a regular plate or collector plate, a portion of the fee is given to the university to support programs for students and alumni.
To order visit: www.michigan.gov/documents/orderform_mtu_16221_7.pdf

Around the Keweenaw

Job Opportunities

On Campus

Miss the great Keweenaw lifestyle? If you’re looking for a way to get back to this awesome corner of the world, check out these positions available right here at Michigan Tech.

View a listing of our on-campus career opportunities.