Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

College of Business Celebrates Academic Year Achievements at Awards Ceremony

Published May 14, 2025

Eight students stand smiling with framed awards certificates at the annual College of Business ceremony and banquet in the Rozsa Center at Michigan Tech. Behind them, faculty, staff, alumni, and student attendees stand and sit at tables in the lobby, mingling. — The College of Business recognized outstanding students in each of our degree programs as well as the overall student of the year. From left are winners Jaylen Body, marketing; Morgan Carilli, accounting; Leiland Leiter finance and Outstanding Student in Business; Jakob Christiansen, construction management; Ryan Miller, Outstanding Student in Business; Skyler Spitzley, management; Ethan Semenchuk, engineering management; and Max Schramm, management information systems.

New members of Beta Gamma Sigma were inducted at the College’s annual awards ceremony. — Students smile with their honor cords, along with chapter advisor Jonathan Leinonen.

Students, faculty, staff, distinguished alumni, and industry advisors came together at the end of spring semester for the second annual College of Business Student Awards program. Highlights included the induction of students into the Michigan Tech Chapter of the international business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma and recognition of an outstanding student in each degree program, along with presenting the Outstanding Student in Business and Teacher of the Year awards. Here’s a look at the winners and what nominators had to say about their accomplishments:

Beta Gamma Sigma is the honor society for AACSB-accredited schools. AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, is a professional organization founded in 1916 to provide accreditation to business schools that meet standards of excellence in education.

To see who qualified for the honor, joining the ranks of what honor society advisor Jonathan Leinonen described as “the best of the best,” access the full list of Beta Gamma Sigma inductees and members.

Huskies Provide Marketing Solutions Close to Home

Published April 24, 2025

By Cyndi Perkins

17 people stand on the porch of a model mini home surrounded by snow including a dozen students from Michigan Tech’s marketing capstone class, their professor, and Brockway Mini Homes team with a blue sky in the background and a car passing by on the road. — The College of Business marketing capstone class, complete with professor Soonkwan Hong, joins Brockway Mini Homes on the porch of the company’s model home.

Michigan Tech students are known for working with real clients to develop their professional skills and bring fresh perspectives to clients. That’s what Soonkwan Hong’s capstone course in marketing strategy is doing for a local construction company branching out into the small homes market.

Her Best Investment: Future Financial Planner Leverages Everything Tech Has to Offer

Published April 22, 2025

By Cyndi Perkins

A smiling soon-to-be Michgan Tech graduate in a suit smiles at the year-end College of Business Awards banquet with groups of students and other attendees in soft focus behind her. — As Sydney Lurvey looks forward to the next step in her career as a financial advisor and planner, she’s also looking back on the experiences and opportunities at Tech that allowed her to thrive.

When Sydney Lurvey crosses the commencement stage on Saturday, the award-winning College of Business student knows exactly where she’s headed: Wausau, Wisconsin, where she’ll pursue a career in financial planning and advising through the post-grad program at Northwestern Mutual.

Campus and Community Invited as Project Management Students Spotlight Local Buildings

Published April 1, 2025

By Cyndi Perkins

Competitions

The Houghton City Center in downtown Houghton, Michigan, with blue sky and puffy clouds overhead and the cityscape as a background. — The Houghton City Center is one of two historic area buildings that project management students are reimagining in professional presentations on Monday, April 7.

Project management is a crucial career skill—and the best way for students to nail it is by doing it themselves. That’s been Teaching Professor Roger Woods’ approach for the past seven years at the helm of a College of Business capstone course that challenges Huskies to take on a real-world scenario and provide solutions in the form of a professional project plan.

Small UP Businesses Get Huge Boost Thanks to Regional SBDC Office at Michigan Tech

Published March 19, 2025

By Cyndi Perkins

Outreach

From left, College of Business intern Jaylen Body with Small Business Development Center Associate Regional Director Daniel Yoder and SBDC Business Consultant Jordan Craven onsite at Dina Mia Kitchens, one of the U.P. businesses that the center has assisted. Both Yoder and Craven are Tech alumni. (All images courtesy Michigan SBDC)

The Upper Peninsula Regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) office hosted at Michigan Tech is making a difference across the U.P. and joining in SBDC Day celebrations across the country.

March 19, 2025 marked the ninth annual national SBDC Day, designed to raise awareness about how centers around the country contribute to job creation and measurable economic growth.