December 15, 2021

An electrical engineer whose mastery of business skills supercharged his career and a graduating civil engineer on his way to an MBA are featured speakers at Michigan Tech’s 2021 Midyear Commencement.

Learn about alumnus Michael Pulick’s extraordinary family ties to Tech and graduating Husky Jay Czerniak’s foundation of faith and family.

The ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 18) in the Student Development Complex Varsity Gymnasium.

Get the full story, including a livestream link and ceremony logistics, at Michigan Tech News.

The Army and Air Force ROTC invites you to the Fall 2021 Commissioning Ceremony on Saturday (Dec. 18) at 7:30 a.m. at the Rozsa Center.

This semester we have 11 Army cadets and three Air Force cadets commissioning!

Those commissioning are from the following departments:

Civil Engineering | Engineering Fundamentals | Mechanical Engineering | Exercise Science | Biomedical Engineering | Computer Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Finance

We will also be streaming the ceremony if you prefer to watch it live on YouTube.

Congratulations to Everhett Biland, Jay Czerniak, Mason Dyke, Leah Goldman, Julia Jenaway, Stephanie Klaysmat, Carleigh Lenard, Owen Mattila, Adam Pulter, Lauryn Roberts and Anthony Vang for taking the Obligation of an Engineer.

By taking the Obligation, the new initiates pledge to uphold the dignity of the engineering profession, to practice ethically and to protect society while preserving the earth's natural resources.

The guest speaker for the event was Jason Pickel, who is a senior project engineer with RS&H.

Thanks to Kris Mattila, Audra Morse, Andrew Swartz and Stan Vitton for participating in the event; and thank you to Liam Johnson, who organized the event.

Michigan Tech's section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) celebrated the end of the semester with a banquet sponsored by Oshkosh.

Graduating seniors recognized at the event are:

• Kat Miller (biomedical and electrical engineering — double major)
• Lisa Downie (mechanical engineering)
• Eve Kaczkowski (mechanical engineering)

The section also awarded two $1,000 scholarships to our upper-division students. The scholarships were sponsored by Ruby & Associates Inc. and Deployed Technologies to recognize students for their contributions to the SWE section and the University community.

Scholarship recipients are:

• Josie Edick (senior, chemical engineering)
• Julia Westfall (junior, mechanical engineering)

Audra Morse (CEGE) has been elected to be a trustee with the Texas Civil Engineering Foundation.

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and private foundation that supports the professional, technical and educational activities of the Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Ph.D. in Geology candidate Emily E. Gochis (GMES) will present her doctoral defense at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Dec. 15). This virtual defense will be presented online only. Virtual attendance is invited via Zoom.

Gochis' defense is titled "Building Interest and Knowledge in Geosciences through Place & Field Based Teacher Professional Learning Programs: A Comparative Multi- Case Study."

She is advised by John Gierke.

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) is pleased to invite the University community to attend the fall 2021 Senior Design team presentations.

This semester, students have undertaken a wide range of projects to fulfill the department’s Senior Design requirement.

Presentations will run from 8 a.m. until noon on Friday (Dec. 17) in the Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), Rooms 100 and 103.

Zoom links are also available for some presentations, and can be found on the CEGE Undergraduate Advising Blog.

Following a successful fall season, Michigan Tech football announced their team awards in a presentation last week.

Team award recipients are:

Offensive Scout Player of the Year — Drew Collins
Defensive Scout Player of the Year — Jeffrey Price
Defensive Back of the Year — Michael Bates Jr.
Offensive Lineman of the Year — Hayden Huttula
Omar Lajenunesse Academic Award — Jordan Janssen and Keegan Delforge
Daniel Dopp Memorial Special Teams Player of the Year — Michael Munderloh
Iron Man Award — Nate LaJoie
Offensive Back of the Year — Will Marano
Freshman of the Year — Austin Schlicht
Fred Baird Defensive Player of the Year Award — Sam Kinne
Defensive Lineman of the Year — Nate LaJoie
Outstanding Offensive Player — Darius Willis
Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award — Will Ark
Al Bovard Most Valuable Player — Marvin Wright
Ted Kearly Award — Hunter Richards

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Postings for Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email mtujobs@mtu.edu.

For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted. 

Manager – Dining Services, Dining Services. Apply online.

Marketing and Communications Manager, Residence Education and Housing Services. Apply online.

Food Service Helper (nine months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #21346, Dining Services (AFSCME posting Dec. 15 to Dec. 21, 2021 — internal AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal AFSCME posting dates). Apply online.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or mtujobs@mtu.edu.

Face Coverings Required Indoors on Campus

While Michigan Tech is at Health and Safety Level Two, face coverings must be worn indoors. This applies to all students, employees and visitors, regardless of vaccination status. 

Michigan Tech strongly recommends that all employees and students continue with handwashing and hand-sanitizing practices, especially in light of the virulence of the COVID-19 delta variant. Please be aware that if you are exposed to COVID-19, quarantine guidelines vary depending on vaccination status. 

In Level Two, students and employees are not required to monitor their symptoms daily prior to coming to campus. But, individuals should be mindful of their own symptoms. A useful monitoring tool is available from the CDC. 

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On-Demand COVID-19 Testing Available on Campus

Walk-in, on-demand COVID-19 testing is available to Michigan Tech students and employees during the fall 2021 semester. 

Testing is located in the Datolite Room at the MUB. Regular testing hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. There is no cost to be tested, and no appointment is needed. 

The last day of testing for the semester is tomorrow (Dec. 16).

Read more COVID-19 Testing Information on the MTU Flex website.

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EHS Offering Authorized OSHA Certification Courses

Michigan Tech Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is pleased to be able to offer authorized Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety certification courses through our online Safety Skills Learning Management System.

For details and pricing, please visit our touch net store.

These programs are 10-hour and 30-hour online training programs that focus on general industry and construction. Training programs lasting 10 hours are designed for entry-level workers, while 30-hour programs are more advanced and intended for supervisors and workers with some safety responsibilities.

Training covers workers' rights, common workplace hazards and controls, and other high-level information about workplace safety. Topics include fire safety, electrical safety, hazard communication, walking/working surfaces, personal protective equipment and others specific to the chosen program.

Our 100% online OSHA-authorized courses give you 24/7 access to vital workplace safety training. You can complete the course at your own pace and earn an official OSHA 10 or 30 card from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) — a common requirement for employment in construction and other industries.

All questions can be directed to EHS at ehs-help@mtu.edu.

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Portage Lake Golf Course Holiday Shopping

Holiday shopping at the Portage Lake Golf Course Pro Shop will be offered from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow (Dec. 16) and Monday (Dec. 20).

Sales include 25% off all clothing, accessories and other fun gifts.

The golf course will be closed after Monday and will reopen in March 2022.

Best wishes for merry and happy holidays!

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

UP & Moving Lunchtime High Noon Activity Break

Wednesday, December 15, 12:00 p.m.–12:20 p.m.

We are a group of Michigan Tech graduate students who are focused on improving the health of our community. We are contributing to the COVID-19 response by providing health...

UP & Moving Lunchtime Noon-Thirty Activity Break

Wednesday, December 15, 12:30 p.m.–12:50 p.m.

We are a group of Michigan Tech graduate students who are focused on improving the health of our community. We are contributing to the COVID-19 response by providing health...

PhD Defense: Emily Gochis

Wednesday, December 15, 2 p.m.–3 p.m.

Geology Advisor: John Gierke Building Interest and Knowledge in Geosciences Through Place & Field Based Teacher Professional Learning Programs: A Comparative Multi- Case...

MTU Pub Night at Tripelroot Brewery

Wednesday, December 15, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. | Tripelroot Brewry

Join area alumni and friends for an MTU Pub Night at the Tripelroot Brewery. The alumni-owned brewery is located at 146 E Main Ave in Zeeland, MI. The event is on Wednesday,...

(Men's Basketball) Finlandia vs. Michigan Tech

Wednesday, December 15, 6 p.m.–9 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Men's Basketball: Finlandia vs. Michigan Tech, SDC Gymnasium

Open Rock Climbing

Wednesday, December 15, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multipurpose Room Climbing Wall

All ages (we can allow all ages to climb as long as we have the proper fitting equipment). No need to sign up, just stop by the Climbing Wall between 6 and 8 pm Monday through...