Posts under the ‘Student Spotlight’ category

Eric Kinonen

Eric Kinonen, a 5th year Management major within the School of Business and Economics and a member of the Efficiency Through Engineering and Construction (ETEC) group, discussed a project that he worked on with Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad (LS&I), helping to make their iron ore train operations more efficient. The 120-car trains currently need to slow down to get weighed, and one of the team’s solutions was to move them off the main track to get weighed on a side track.

“There’s some abandoned track here from Canadian National,” the business management major said, pointing to his poster. “This is near the Dead River Bridge, and they could pull off to the side to let the empty trains pass.”

Read the article, “But Can You Use It? Usability Day Involves Students Across Campus.”

Senior finance students, Eric Tangko and Ed Drouillard, in the School of Business and Economics at Michigan Tech were selected to receive 2009-2010 LSGI Mentoring Work-Study grants. The LSGI grant is awarded to students who display excellent academic achievement and demonstrate high moral and ethical characteristics.LSGI Advisors Inc. is a Texas corporation that acts as general partner for the LSGI Technology Venture Fund L.P., a private mutual fund for SEC accredited investors.

LSGI serves as an advisor to the Michigan Tech Applied Portfolio Management Program, overseeing finance students responsible for managing $1 million of the University’s endowment. They also instruct oil & gas and environmental law programs at Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas.

Eric Tangko and Ed Drouillard

Announcement featured in Yahoo! Finance.

More about LSGI Technology Venture Fund L.P.

SherAaron Hunt

SherAaron Hunt, a student in the School of Business and Economics, is participating in the Women of Color Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference.  This is the conference of choice to recognize the significant accomplishments of minority women in the digital world, and attract and leverage talent in innovation, professional, and technical positions.

A leading, high-level meeting of minority women in information technology, computer science, information science, bioinformatics, digital arts, and the system, the Women of Color STEM conference ist he place to connect with the key issues in U.S. job growth diversity, the critical shortage of women in IT careers, technological innovation, and women-owned IT ventures.

SherAaron will travel to Dallas, Texas over the weekend to connect with women mentors and employers in technology careers.

Last Thursday, the Applied Portfolio Management Program presented their outlook and investment strategy to the advisory board for approval of fund management for the school year. Students presented their prediction of the economic situation over the course of the next year and their specific approach on portfolio management and received approval from the board.

“The students had the opportunity to practice their presentation and information delivery skills,” stated APMP advisor, Dean Johnson.

For more information on the program or to join, visit the APMP website.

About APMP

The Applied Portfolio Management Program provides the unique opportunity for senior students to manage an investment portfolio comprised of funds provided by the Michigan Tech Endowment fund as well as other generous donors. APMP was initiated in 1998 through generous contributions of alumni and friends of Michigan Technological University. APMP enjoys the gracious support of many firms, the University, The School of Business and Economics, and the School of Business and Economics National Advisory Board.

Orientation week was a blast but I had my doubts that the fun would continue once reality hit. I kept forgetting that I was going to have classes to go to and homework to do every day. However the fun did not end. At Michigan Tech, the first week of classes is called welcome week. Throughout the week there are activities such as movies, concerts, a photo booth, trips, and free plants for you dorm. But in addition to all of these official events organized and advertised by Tech, there was simply a lot going on around the campus…things to do with new friends.

The first week of classes was a lot to take in. It takes a little adjustment. Some of the classes pose a challenge while others may seem pretty easy. It is important to make sure your schedule and classes will work out, as it is best to make changes in the first week. Your advisor becomes a very important resource, plus the advisor for the business program is awesome and very helpful. One of my favorite classes so far, despite the fact that it was the class that I was the least excited for it, is business law. Sounds boring, I know! But it’s not. We do have to do a lot of reading for the class, but the professor is really animated and there is a lot of class participation in discussions of past court cases. It makes you think.

Outside of my classes I have stayed plenty busy. I am worming my way into a few university club and organizations that I want to be part of. There are so many on campus that it is impossible not to find at least one that sounds interesting. Michigan Tech also ran a blood drive during the week. It’s an awesome opportunity to volunteer and do some good. My roommate and I went on a trip to Hungarian Falls on the weekend with the Outdoor Adventure Program. It ended up being more of a trickle then a fall but was really beautiful. I finally got a chance to check out the Tech Trails. A new friend took me mountain biking. It was my first time riding single track and I survived! The trail system is awesome up here. If you are into mountain biking, you are in for a treat! They have some crazy obstacles speckling the trails. You just can’t beat it if you’re into adrenaline rushes!

I have also gotten to know my hall a little bit better. There are ninety people but it feels like an extended family. There is always someone to go eat with or who wants to go out and do something. We have had movies going on in the common room nearly every night. Not to mention cookies, slushies, and popcorn. My hall has also gotten quite into slackline. If you know what that is, props to you, if not, just imagine walking a tight rope between two trees but imagine it more difficult. We also had a challenge course facilitated by our resident assistants, followed up by a barbeque. And last but not least Frisbee!

Over Labor Day weekend the school hosted a concert by Chris Cagle. The tickets were free, yes free, for all students. It was pretty awesome! During the weekend we also had Schoolyard Olympics, where halls compete as teams in different events including sidewalk chalking, musical chairs, relay race, water balloon toss, and steal the beacon. The competition gets fierce! It is a ton of fun to watch and even more fun to be part of.

This next Friday is K-day where classes are cancelled and pretty much the whole school is bussed out to McClain state park on Lake Superior for a day of fun in the sun! (Fingers crossed for the sun part.) Not to mention, that means this week everyone only has three days of class!

Our guest blogger, Danielle Boettger, is from Dearborn, MI and is majoring in Economics at the School of Business and Economics at Michigan Tech.