Alumni News

Share Your Writing Center Memories!

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From late-night study sessions to finishing that final paper, we all remember when a little extra help made all the difference. For many Tech students over the past 50 years, that help came from the Michigan Tech Writing Center.

Founded in 1975 as the Language Skills Lab, the Writing Center has evolved in various ways since opening. Currently located in 107 Walker, the Writing Center is host to Michigan Tech’s Student Newspaper The Lode and the Creative Writing Club. It serves hundreds of visitors each year and employs student coaches from 13 different majors.

Nancy Grimm, Professor Emerita and former Writing Center director, played a key role in raising the center to national recognition. Reflecting on its mission, she once said, “Our goal has always been to help students find their voice and gain confidence in their writing.”

Today, we’re inviting alumni to share their Writing Center experiences. Did you have a favorite coach or a memorable experience that shaped your writing journey? We’d love to hear your stories!

Please share your memories in the comments below or email the Writing Center at writingcenter@mtu.edu.

Humanities Professor Emerita Nancy Grimm meets with one of her students in April 1994.
Nancy Grimm meets with one of her students in April 1994

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Celebrating 10 Years of the Husky Statue

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Celebrate the 10th birthday of the Husky statue from wherever you are. Share a comment and tell us why you chose to purchase a paver and what Michigan Tech means to you.

Located across from the J. R. Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, a larger-than-life, nine-foot-tall bronze Husky statue stands proudly on a Baraga County boulder, surrounded by benches, planters, and paver stones. The great campus tradition was unveiled on October 13, 2014, with nearly 1,000 people in attendance including the Pep Band, Husky student-athletes, faculty, staff, and community members.

The statue at the center of Husky Plaza has been a visible and lasting tribute to the spirit of Michigan Tech. Over the past 10 years, the Husky statue has served as a location for events, a welcome spot for campus guests, a backdrop for photos, and a meeting spot between friends. The tradition will continue for many years to come. The dedication of the John Rovano Plaza in October 2013 launched the Alumni Way project, which has continued to grow and span across campus with the Husky statue, the Clock Tower (donated by the William (Bill) ’69 and Ilene Bernard Jr. Family), and the Alumni Gateway Arch which was made possible through a lead gift from Mike Trewhella ’78.

The statue was made possible by a gift from the late Dan Lorenzetti and wife Joan Lorenzetti and their family. Additional contributions to the Husky Plaza came from Roland Huhtala ’74 and Pete ’53 and Shirley Meyers.

More than 1,000 alumni and friends left their mark on Michigan Tech with personalized, engraved stones that encircle Husky Plaza. If you purchased a paver, we invite you to leave a comment sharing what made you decide to purchase a paver and what Michigan Tech means to you.

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A Message from President Koubek

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Rick Koubuek
Rick Koubek, President

Greetings!

It’s always a delight to be on campus when students return for fall classes. This year’s entering class averages a 3.83 GPA and an SAT score of 1234. This is one of the largest, most diverse incoming student classes to Michigan Tech. Notably, for the second time in school history, women make up nearly 30 percent of the student body.

Speaking of extraordinary students, I’d like to congratulate our hockey team for winning the Great Lakes Invitational and the Mason Cup and going on to compete in the NCAA Tournament for a third straight year. That is a feat no other team in the conference and only five other teams nationally accomplished.

But, the winning does not stop there. Undergraduate student Marielle Raasio received the university President’s Award for Leadership this past spring, and MTU professor Charles Wallace won the 2024 Michigan Association of State Universities Distinguished Professor of the Year award.

On the academic side, our faculty have been working on a revision of our general education curriculum. The retention rate for returning students is on track to exceed 88 percent, which is a new record and highlights our intense focus on student success. We also welcomed 30 new faculty members and three new deans.

Andrew Barnard returned to Michigan Tech in July as our new vice president for research. We are excited to congratulate our Michigan Tech researchers for once again beating last year’s records. Preliminary numbers indicate over $110 million in research expenditures and a double-digit increase in research awards over 2023’s impressive number.

The annual ratings blitz season is upon us. I am proud to share the Princeton Review named MTU as the No. 2 on the list of Best Schools for Internships, No. 9 for Best Career Placement, and No. 18 for Best Schools for Financial Aid. In the Best Value Colleges category, solely based on return on investment, or ROI, Michigan Tech was ranked No. 33. These are remarkable statistics for a university of our size.

Finally, thank you to our donors. In fiscal year 2024, Michigan Tech friends and alumni contributed $48.5 million, beating our annual fundraising goal by 13 percent. And, we’ve increased our endowment by 50 percent in the past five years. This support from our alumni and donors is simply incredible and reflects a shared dedication to our students, faculty, and staff.

It’s a great time to be a Husky. I hope you can join us at one of the many alumni events planned this fall.

Sincerely,

Rick Koubek
President

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Fall Flashback: A Campus View from 1962

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Just like the seasons, Michigan Tech’s campus has a way of evolving over time. As enrollment, technology, and campus needs shift, so does the architecture that makes campus function. This fall image from 1962, found in the Archives postcard collection, shows a view that’s quite different from what you’d see today.

Can you name this building and spot the differences between 1962 and 2024? We’d love to hear your thoughts—let us know in the comments!

A campus view from 1962
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Reminiscing on K-Day Traditions

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With Reunion behind us and summer quickly fading, classes will soon begin and K-Day is just around the corner.

Today’s image takes us back to K-Day 2009, when the event was still held at McLain State Park. Whether it was the excitement of outdoor activities, the chance to meet new friends, or simply enjoying the beautiful surroundings, K-Day is a cherished tradition that has always been a fantastic way to kick off the semester and build community among students.

As we look forward to this year’s K-Day on September 6, we’re reminded of how K-Day has left lasting impressions on many of us. What were your favorite K-Day moments? Do you have any advice for incoming first-year students? Share your stories in the comments!

K-Day 2009 at McLain State Park
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Umbargers Consistent in Giving Back to Tech

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Alison (Springer-Wilson) ’11 and Adam ’09 Umbarger have more than a dozen consecutive years of giving back to support Michigan Tech. We recently caught up with Alison to find out where that passion for their alma mater comes from.

Alison ’11 and Adam ’09 Umbarger

What was your Michigan Tech experience like?
I loved my experience at Michigan Tech. The school was small enough to know my professors, but large enough to offer a lot of interesting classes. I took Spanish and German as well as all the Chemical Engineering classes. I also ran Cross Country and Track and Field and had a great time competing for Michigan Tech and running on the Tech Trails. Adam and I were both involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, where we met.

How did Michigan Tech help you in your life/career?
While I can’t say I use calculus or thermodynamics in my career, I feel like the skills learned in my Michigan Tech classes have served me well in my engineering career. Communicating effectively, presenting well, and knowing how to make good engineering decisions based on the information available to you are all things that I learned at Michigan Tech and have honed after I left Tech. I will also say that living in Appleton, Wisconsin, there are a lot of Michigan Tech grads in the area. When I meet someone else who graduated from Michigan Tech, it’s an easy conversation starter since every alumni I have talked to enjoyed their time at Michigan Tech.

Why do you give back to Michigan Tech?
Michigan Tech gave us so many good experiences and we think others should have the chance to get a degree from Michigan Tech.

What areas of campus do you give to and why?
We usually give to the Annual Fund so the money can be used where it is most needed.

Why is it important to you to be consistent in giving every year?
We are happy to give back to an institution was important to us in so many ways. Giving to Michigan Tech is a line-item in our budget every year, and I make sure I fill out the company match as well.

What are your current employers/job titles?
I am an engineering team leader at a Kimberly Clark pilot facility. Adam is a campus staffer for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Where do you live, and how often have you made it back to campus?
We live in Appleton, Wisconsin. We take our young kids back to the Michigan Tech area usually twice a year–once in the summer to eat thimbleberries and go hiking and once in the winter for cross country skiing. I have been back to recruit several years and Adam occasionally returns to the area for bike race or to speak at the MTU InterVarsity chapter.

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Alumni Reunion 2024: Honored Class Year Slideshow

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Last weekend, Michigan Tech celebrated Alumni Reunion 2024, bringing together graduates from a variety of decades, including our honored class years: 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2014. The following photos were displayed in a slideshow at various events throughout the weekend. We invite you to explore the slideshow below and relive the special moments that have shaped our Michigan Tech community.

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Lighthouses in the UP

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Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state and the Upper Peninsula has over 40 of the structures dotting its unique waterways. Some of the lighthouses in the UP are inactive relics of the mid- to late 1800s when they were built; however, many continue to guide ships and boats safely into harbors and around dangerous areas and shoals. Summer is a great time to tour the landscapes and waterways of local lighthouses, and some even offer public tours.

Do you have a favorite lighthouse? Better yet, can you name the mystery lighthouse in the photograph from the Michigan Tech Archives? Let us know in the comments!

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Remembering Former Curator George Robinson

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George W. Robinson Jr., age 78, of Ogdensburg, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at his home, surrounded by the love of his wife.

Survived by his devoted wife Susan Robinson, George leaves behind cherished cousins Sandy (Bill) Wilkins of Gansevoort, NY, Larry Gillis, Leonard Gillis, Dave Robinson, Steve Robinson, Stanley Robinson, and Jeanne Robinson, all of the Glens Falls area.

George was born on February 7, 1946, in Glens Falls, NY, to the late George W. and Gladys (Purdy) Robinson. He graduated from Glens Falls High School and pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in geology from Potsdam State in 1968, followed by a PhD in geological sciences from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, in 1978.

Throughout his distinguished career, George made significant contributions to the field of mineralogy and geology. He began as a high school earth science teacher in Heuvelton, NY, from 1968 to 1974, before venturing into self-employment as a mineral dealer from 1974 to 1982. His passion and expertise led him to serve as curator of mineralogy at the Canadian Museum of Nature from 1982 to 1996 and as curator of the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum and professor of mineralogy at Michigan Technological University from 1996 to 2013. Even after retirement, George continued his academic pursuits as a research associate in the department of geology for St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.

George’s influence extended beyond his professional accomplishments. He served as an associate editor for esteemed publications such as the Mineralogical Record and the Canadian Mineralogist, and as a consulting editor for Rocks and Minerals. He was a committed member of the Rochester Academy of Science, contributing significantly to the Mineralogical Symposium.

An accomplished author, George published over 100 professional papers and popular publications, along with 8 books, including the renowned “Minerals” (Simon & Schuster, 1994). His dedication to the field was recognized with numerous accolades, including the dedication of the George W. Robinson Laboratory of Mineralogy at SUNY Potsdam in 1985, the naming of the rare lead chromate mineral “Georgerobinsonite” in his honor in 2009, and the prestigious Carnegie Mineralogical Award in 2012.

Beyond his academic pursuits, George found joy in collecting minerals and faceting gemstones, playing the piano, and birdwatching. His passions enriched the lives of those around him and left a lasting impact on the world of mineralogy and geology.

George W. Robinson Jr. will be dearly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and the scientific community at large. His legacy of scholarship, dedication, and love for the natural world will continue to inspire generations to come.

As we bid farewell to George, may we find solace in the memories shared and the knowledge that his spirit will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Memorial contributions have been requested to the A.E. Seaman Museum at Michigan Tech. Condolences and fond memories can also be shared online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com.

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