February 3, 2026

Six students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) were awarded scholarships as part of the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Scholarship Plus Initiative.

Scholarship recipients Anthony Nelson, Garrett Waite, Casey Hartman, Ethan Rice, Megan Kennedy and Matiyos Theilman are electrical engineering majors with an electric power engineering concentration.

The IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative is focused on supporting students with great academic standing who are interested in careers in the power and energy field. This includes taking power courses during their undergraduate program as well as seeking out power-related summer internships or research opportunities.

PES scholars can receive up to $10,000 over three years. The application process is highly selective and is based on students’ academic performance; technical and personal interests in the power and energy engineering field; personal strengths, such as achievements, volunteer activities, work experience and an endorsement letter; and the institution’s power and energy engineering curriculum.

The scholarship process was facilitated by Assistant Professor Anna Stuhlmacher (ECE).

Lei Yin, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE), received two major honors at the 105th Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, held Jan. 11-15 in Washington, D.C.

Yin earned first prize in the Student Poster Competition at the 16th Annual Workshop of the International Association of Chinese Infrastructure Professionals (IACIP) for their poster titled “Influence of Rubber Treatment on the Rheology, Storage Stability, and Fatigue Performance of Asphalt Binders.” In addition, Yin was recognized with the 2026 IACIP Outstanding Graduate Student Award, which honors exceptional academic achievement and research excellence.

Yin is advised by Zhanping You, professor of civil engineering, and their research focuses on advancing sustainable, high-performance asphalt materials for pavement applications — particularly in challenging climates.

Congratulations to Yin and You on this outstanding achievement and for representing Michigan Tech with distinction on an international stage.

The Sustainability Demonstration House at Michigan Tech is hosting the Keweenaw’s seventh annual Waste Reduction Drive on April 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MTU Student Development Complex’s south parking lot (Lot 22). Students and community members can begin collecting eligible items now to join the effort to reduce waste and promote responsible disposal.

This year’s free collection items are clean Tetra Pak cartons, empty deodorant tubes and beauty products, socks, razors, and dental products of any condition.

New this year, fluorescent light bulbs can be recycled at a subsidized cost. Four-foot and eight-foot bulbs are $2 per pound (about $1 per four-foot bulb). Smaller compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs are $4 per pound (about $1 per CFL). Cash and card payments will be accepted, and the bulbs must be whole.

Email the Sustainability Demonstration House with any questions at sdh@mtu.edu. 

About the Sustainability Demonstration House
Michigan Tech’s Sustainability Demonstration House (SDH) is a living laboratory of sustainability projects in real-time. Students are working to retrofit a 1950s house designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. The house serves as a model of sustainable living for the campus and community, striving for low waste, energy and water use. Projects include aquaponics, hydroponics, rainwater collection, beekeeping, maple syrup making and three varieties of composting. The residents host four open houses, two workshops and a variety of on-campus events each year. Visit the Sustainability Demonstration House website to find your next opportunity to visit the house.

Due to Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival recess, the University Senate meeting on Thursday, Feb. 5, has been canceled.

The next University Senate meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12.

Zarna Garg: Winter Carnival Comedian
Friday, Feb. 6 | 10 p.m.
Rozsa Center
Late Night Programming
Rozsa Presenting Series

Late Night Programming and the Rozsa Center are excited to present this year’s Winter Carnival comedian, Zarna Garg, this Friday, Feb. 6, at 10 p.m.

An established presence in the comedy scene, Garg captivates audiences with her quick wit, relatable humor and fearless social commentary. This Indian immigrant mom turned stand-up comedy star is beloved by over 2 million social media followers. She has a Hulu stand-up special, “Zarna Garg: Practical People Win,” and an Amazon Prime special, “Zarna Garg: One In A Billion.” She is best known for her hilarious observations on the challenge of raising college-aged kids, and she is bravely vocal about criminalizing evil mother-in-law behaviors.

Originally scheduled to perform at Tech during the Rozsa’s 2024/25 season, Garg was rescheduled for this year’s Michigan Tech Winter Carnival due to a conflict in the production schedule for her highly publicized new television series currently in development. With Kaling International Inc. and Hartbeat Productions to executive produce, the series features Garg as a proud immigrant woman and mother searching for her own American dream.

Garg headlined a sold-out tour in 2023-24, opened for comedy legends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on their 2023/2024 Restless Leg Tour, hosts “The Zarna Garg Family Podcast,” and is featured on Amy Poehler’s new podcast, “Good Hang with Amy Poehler.”

This is a great opportunity to catch an internationally recognized and family-friendly talent on a rare visit to our community.

Get Tickets
Purchase tickets online or at the Rozsa Box Office during regular office hours. Both public Pay As You’re Able Tickets and Michigan Tech Student Rush tickets are still available. Don’t miss the show!

Are you looking for powerful ways to incorporate meaningful reflection and “folio thinking” into your courses? Join us for a series of three one-hour workshops designed to help you master Husky Folio powered by PebblePad.

While all are welcome, these sessions are highly recommended for anyone teaching Essential Education courses.

When choosing sessions to attend, consider how you plan to use PebblePad. For Essential Ed Option 1, where students create a page or portfolio and share a link to Canvas, “Husky Folio: Basics” is the perfect workshop for you. For Essential Ed Option 2, where faculty connect Canvas assignments to PebblePad, we recommend that you attend all three sessions.

Workshop Series Schedule:
Choose the series that best fits your schedule. All sessions run from 12-12:50 p.m. in Library 243.

1. Husky Folio: Basics — Monday, Feb. 9, and Tuesday, March 17
   Get familiar with the PebblePad dashboard, key terminology, and the various components of the tool from a learner's perspective.

2. Husky Folio: Structured Templates and Workbooks — Monday, Feb. 16, and Tuesday, March 24
   Learn to design and build structured learning materials for your students, guiding them through complex assignments or required portfolio components.

3. Husky Folio: Behind the Scenes — Monday, Feb. 23, and Tuesday, March 31
   Master ATLAS, the administrative side of Husky Folio. You’ll learn how to connect your course to PebblePad, link to it from Canvas assignments, review student work submitted to ATLAS, and provide feedback.

To attend one or more of these workshops, complete this Husky Folio Workshop Registration Form. Can’t make these dates? Please contact Husky Folio Director AJ Hamlin at ahamlin@mtu.edu so we can notify you of future sessions.

Prefer Self-Paced Learning?
This year, PebblePad is offering free self-serve training! This is a great option if you prefer to learn to use PebblePad on your own schedule. To learn more and sign up, please visit PebblePad Self-Serve Training.

We’re here to support you in integrating Husky Folio into your courses. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Hamlin at ahamlin@mtu.edu if you need any assistance!

Tuesday, Feb. 3
• Michigan Tech Hockey Radio Show, 10 a.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ
 
Thursday, Feb. 5
• Women's Basketball vs. Lake Superior State, 5:30 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Men's Basketball vs. Lake Superior State, 7:30 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
 
Friday, Feb. 6
• Blue Line Luncheon, 11:45 a.m.
• Hockey vs. Augustana, 7:07 p.m. at MacInnes Student Ice Arena on Mix 93 WKMJ & Midco Sports Plus
 
Saturday, Feb. 7
• Women's Basketball vs. Saginaw Valley State, Noon at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Men's Basketball vs. Saginaw Valley State, 2 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ & FloCollege
• Hockey vs. Augustana, 5:07 p.m. at MacInnes Student Ice Arena on Mix 93 WKMJ & Midco Sports Plus

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Athletics News
Read more in the MTU Athletics weekly update.

Lanrong Bi, professor of chemistry at Michigan Tech, recently served as a panel reviewer for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) special emphasis panel ZRG1 NV-L (91), a study section on neurodegenerative disease therapeutics and diagnostics. 

This highly selective role reflects national recognition of Michigan Tech faculty leadership in translational biomedical research. By evaluating cutting-edge proposals targeting Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS and related neurodegenerative disorders, Bi helps shape federal research priorities in areas of urgent public health need. Her continued service as an NIH reviewer since 2012 underscores Michigan Tech’s growing national visibility and sustained influence in biomedical and translational neuroscience research.

The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Jill Olin (BioSci) and Ph.D. student Greyson Wolf (biological sciences) in a story about a Michigan Tech and Department of Natural Resources partnership surveying anglers to better understand and manage recreational burbot fishing in the Lake Superior basin.

Michigan Tech students Andrew Hemstreet and Ethan Rice (both electrical engineering) were guests on the “Copper Country Today” radio program. The episode, titled “Winter Carnival Preview,” aired on Feb. 1. Hemstreet and Rice are Blue Key’s current president and vice president, respectively.

WLUC TV6 quoted MTU student Dominic Cutajar (engineering and engineering management), Blue Key special events committee member, in a story about the Winter Carnival broomball tournament held Feb. 1. The tournament, one of many events leading up to Carnival’s official start, featured approximately 20 co-ed and men’s teams.

The Daily Mining Gazette quoted Michigan Tech student Adeline Doyle (civil engineering) in a story about preparations for the 2026 Winter Baja, a student-built off-road vehicle competition held in MTU Parking Lot 24 on Jan. 31.

The Daily Mining Gazette quoted Suzanne Sanregret (ATH) in a story on the passing of Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame member, Jerry MacInnes.

The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech football players Dante Basanese and Nic Nora in coverage of their selection to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team, recognizing their academic and athletic achievements.

Purdue University Northwest mentioned Michigan Tech alum John Durocher ’96 ’04 ’08 (A.S. Applied Science, B.S. Biology, Ph.D. Exercise Physiology) in a story announcing his selection as a 2026 Fellow of the American Physiological Society.

Crain’s Detroit Business quoted Michigan Tech alum Ashley Kern ’15 ’17 (B.S. Mathematics, M.S. Data Science) in a story about Detroit-based startup MeetYourClass acquiring SightLine, the data science and consulting firm Kern founded.

The Detroit Free Press mentioned Michigan Tech alumni Deedra Irwin ’15 (B.S. Exercise Science) and Alex Petan ’16 (B.S. Sports and Fitness Management) in a roundup of Michigan-connected athletes competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Calling for Nominations for Lab Safety Stewardship and Research Safety Culture Awards

In recognition of Michigan Tech’s first annual Husky Lab Safety Awareness Week on Feb. 9-13, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) invites departments, staff and students to nominate a Husky student, faculty/staff member and research group for awards recognizing individual safety stewardship and group safety culture.

This is an exciting moment for our campus — a moment where our identity as Huskies and our commitment to safety come together with purpose.

Lab Safety Awareness Week provides an opportunity to highlight individuals who actively promote a culture of safety through leadership, innovation, training or day-to-day safe laboratory conduct. It will be held in partnership with the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA) as part of their national Lab Safety Awareness Week drive.

Husky Lab Safety Awards:

• Husky Student Safety Stewardship Award
  This award honors an undergraduate or graduate Michigan Tech student who demonstrates exceptional dedication to fostering a safe, responsible and community‑minded laboratory environment. Recipients of the Husky Student Safety Stewardship Award consistently model best practices, support their peers, identify improvements, and embody the shared responsibility that defines Michigan Tech’s safety culture. Their leadership reflects the integrity, stewardship and commitment to excellence that strengthen our research and learning spaces.

• Husky Safety Stewardship Award
  The Husky Safety Stewardship Award recognizes a Michigan Tech faculty or staff member who exemplifies exceptional leadership in fostering a safe, ethical, and supportive research and learning environment. Honorees consistently model best practices, mentor others with patience and clarity, and champion continuous improvement in their labs, shops or workspaces. Their commitment strengthens Michigan Tech’s culture of shared responsibility and reflects the integrity, stewardship and community values that define us as Huskies.

• Exemplary Husky Research Safety Culture Award
  The Exemplary Husky Research Safety Culture Award recognizes a Michigan Tech research group that demonstrates outstanding collective commitment to safe, ethical and responsible research practices. This team models what it means to build a culture of shared stewardship — integrating safety into daily routines, supporting one another, proactively identifying improvements and fostering an environment where every member feels empowered to speak up and contribute. Their leadership strengthens Michigan Tech’s identity as an R1 research institution where world‑class research and world‑class safety go hand in hand.

Please submit your nominations by Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.

The Husky Lab Safety Awards will be presented on Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. in MUB Ballroom B. Nominators will be entered into a prize drawing for taking the time to recognize a person or group. Everyone is encouraged to attend the event and participate in week-long activities.

Find out more about activities and how to participate on the Husky Lab Safety Awareness Week website.

We appreciate your support in recognizing the efforts of those who help keep our campus safe. If you have any questions, please contact ehs-help@mtu.edu.

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Apply Now To Be an Undergrad Research Faculty Fellow!

Michigan Tech’s College of Engineering (COE) and College of Sciences and Arts (CSA) invite applications for faculty to develop a Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU) this summer 2026 semester. 

Two faculty fellows will be awarded, one from each college, to collaborate on creating the summer REU. Fellows will coordinate and recruit faculty mentors, create professional development opportunities for students, write and submit a National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Site proposal, and help build a pathway to graduate school for Michigan Tech students.

See the full Request for Applications for more details.

Submit your application by Thursday, Feb. 5!

Award amount: $10,000 discretionary funds, $5,000 program funds, one semester of tuition for a Ph.D. student.

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

Women's Rights are Human Rights: International Posters on Gender-based Inequality, Violence, and Discrimination Gallery Exhibit - Rozsa Art Galleries

Tuesday, February 3, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. | Rozsa Art Galleries, Rozsa Art Galleries A-Space

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Women’s Rights are Human Rights is a fitting title for an exhibition of women’s rights and advocacy posters, as it was a term used in the women’s rights movement and was the title of an important speech given by Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1995 at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. This exhibition features posters created by artsit of all genders to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role that all citizens should play in protecting and promoting human rights while challenging gender inequality and stereotypes, advancing reproductive and sexual rights, protecting women and girls against brutality, and promoting women’s empowerment and participation in society. These poster images challenge patriarchal attitudes that subordinate, stigmatize or restrict women from achieving their fullest potential. These images argue for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls enabling empowerment of women and achievement of real equality between women and men that fosters societal stability and human dignity. Learn more at womensrightsarehumanrights.org Things to know ROZSA ART GALLERIES HOURS | M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and…

HuskyGOLD Information Session

Tuesday, February 3, 12–2 p.m. | MUB Alumni Lounge A

Learn about Michigan Tech’s new HuskyGOLD program, designed to prepare students for lifelong engagement in their communities. With a variety of options, you can shape your own HuskyGOLD path based on what matters most to you. This session will cover what the program is, how it works, and how you can join. Find more details about HuskyGOLD on the Student Leadership & Involvement website.

ICC Faculty Research Tech Talks

Tuesday, February 3, 12–2 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

The Institute of Computing and Cybersystems is hosting a lunch featuring faculty tech talks on ongoing research from ICC members around campus. Check out the lineup below and join us on February 3rd @ Noon in Conference Room 202 of the Great Lakes Research Center! Food and refreshments provided! Tech Talks from Tan Chen, Electrical and Computer Engineering Geordan Gutow, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Jason Harman, Psychology and Human Factors Hoda Hatoum, Biomedical Engineering Neerav Kaushal, Applied Computing Wei Wei, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Huskies Swim Training - Session 2

Tuesday, February 3, 4–6 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Huskies Swim Training is a program that provides additional attention and competitive guidance to advanced swimmers looking to focus on stroke technique and efficiency. Sessions will be designed to improve swimming through stroke drills and swimming sets focused on endurance, speed, and race strategy. Coaches will provide feedback and stroke correction in a group environment with an emphasis on promoting a love for competitive swimming and lifelong skills such as discipline, dedication, and teamwork. Come be part of the pack! Competitve swimming opportunities are now availabe to current Huskies Swim Training participants!

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons - Session 1

Tuesday, February 3, 5–7 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons provides aquatic education for the beginner to intermediate swimmer who is looking to become more comfortable in the water and learn the fundamental four strokes.

Adult Huskies Swim Training - Session 1

Tuesday, February 3, 5–7 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Training provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness levels in a group setting. Each session is programmed with warm-up, and variations of a workout for the beginner, intermediate and advanced swimmer. Participants will be provided coaching and guidance to meet their individual swimming goals!

BSA Study Session

Tuesday, February 3, 5–10 p.m. | Canterbury House

Come join BSA for a study session at the Canterbury House!

Copper Country Robotics General Meeting

Tuesday, February 3, 6–8 p.m. | DOW 642

Interested in volunteering for FIRST Robotics in the Upper Peninsula? Come and join Copper Country Robotics for our general meeting on February 3rd at 6PM in DOW 642. We will be covering information about volunteering at FIRST Robotics events in the upper peninsula and go over what it takes to get YOUR travel and housing paid for. Can't wait to see you there!

KYCA Weekly meeting

Tuesday, February 3, 6–8 p.m. | Fisher 129

Join KYCA for our weekly meetings! We will go over what has been happening in the organization and then break into our two projects that are working to tackle different local climate issues. Everyone is welcome!

Student Community Meal

Tuesday, February 3, 6:30–8:30 p.m. | Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Join us for our weekly free student meal, held Tuesdays during the semester at Good Shepard Lutheran Church. Come to cook, serve, eat, clean up, or all of the above! Cooking begins at 5pm and anyone is welcome to help cook. The meal is served from 6:30pm-7:30pm and any students are welcome to eat at the church and visit with friends or take a to-go box! If you would like to help with the meal but can't be there at 5, we also welcome people to help clean up from around 6:30pm to about 8pm. To stay up to date on weekly menus, follow the LCM instagram @lcm.mtu