Category: School Announcements

Cruz is Fall 2023 Undergraduate Commencement Speaker

Excerpt from Michigan Technological University blog by Cyndi Perkins.

Undergraduate student speaker Aerith Cruz, management information systems, enjoys skiing at Mont Ripley. A northern lights chaser and Keweenaw explorer, she carried out her goal to create and expand access to opportunities for others across campus by serving as a mentor to prospective students, an Orientation team leader and an ExSEL peer mentor at MTU’s Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success.

She also served on the Center for Diversity and Inclusion President’s Council, helping guide CDI initiatives and advocating for the needs of students across campus.

The Leading Scholar program brought Cruz to Tech. She’s been a proponent ever since, volunteering at 11 scholarship events and supporting prospective students as a Tech Pal mentor.

“My journey to Michigan Tech began in my junior year of high school, when I met an alumna while leading a FIRST Robotics demo at my former elementary school,” said Cruz, who hails from Chaska, Minnesota. “Her passion for Tech sparked my curiosity. When I explored what Michigan Tech has to offer, I discovered the Leading Scholar program. The application deadline was less than a week away! I challenged myself to pursue the opportunity. As a result, I was one of the six winners of Tech’s most prestigious and competitive full-ride scholarship award, which recognizes exemplary leadership and academic excellence.”

Cruz began paying the opportunity forward from the moment she arrived on campus, continuing to be involved in activities that challenge and nurture prospective Huskies competing in the scholarship program. 

“One of my Tech Pals from a 2020 Leading Scholar event recognized me in the dining hall years later,” Cruz said. “He acknowledged that I encouraged him to attend Tech and helped him be successful during his Leading Scholar event. It’s highly rewarding to see the impact of my leadership through the achievement of others.”

Cruz continued to challenge herself while at Tech, earning the 2023 President’s Award for Leadership and the Rising Star of the Year award.

As president of Michigan Tech’s section of the Society of Women Engineers, which has more than 200 members, Cruz presented at national conferences in 2021 and 2022, and was one of 10 students nationwide who received the Outstanding Collegiate Member Award at the 2023 SWE national conference. Cruz is only the second Michigan Tech SWE member to receive this award since the organization was established at MTU in 1976. 

Other highlights of Cruz’s term included hosting the event “Breaking Stereotypes for Women Engineers” and establishing the SWE Endowed Scholarship, which will award funding annually to a SWE member beginning in 2026. 

“I’m thrilled to leave a legacy in support of the future generations of women engineers at Michigan Tech.”Aerith Cruz, undergraduate student speaker, 2023 Midyear Commencement

-Aerith Cruz, undergraduate student speaker, 2023 Midyear Commencement

Cruz has also helped to further the cycle project, which provides menstrual products on campus at no charge, and created fundraisers for local Keweenaw organizations. She remains involved in FIRST Robotics, mentoring a team that advanced to the 2022 world championships semifinals, volunteering as a supervisor at competitions and serving as an executive board member of Copper Country Robotics.

Her philanthropy and leadership extends to her recreational activities. The former high school varsity fencer and coach became president of Michigan Tech’s Fencing Club, introducing beginner’s lessons, teaching at community events and creating a competitive training regimen. 

“Since then, more than 250 students and community members have tried the sport for the first time and active membership in the group has increased by 500%,” she said.

Cruz, who is completing her degree work in three and a half years, will begin her career as an associate technical project manager at 3M. “I look forward to moving with my family to Houston, Texas,” she said. “Our family — mom, dad, and younger sister — travel together. So far, we have traveled to 21 countries outside of the United States. I’m excited to continue our travels, exploring more of the world with my family.”

Cruz also credits faculty, family and friends for her success, including two particularly important influences. 

“My mother, Joana Cruz, is my inspiration and role model. She motivates and coaches me to strive to be the best version of myself. She supports me in every opportunity, activity and involvement I’ve pursued. I would not be who and where I am today without her,” she said. “I also extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Gretchen Hein — the SWE advisor, my mentor and friend — who nominated me for the national SWE award and many others. She is my biggest advocate at Michigan Tech.”

“I am incredibly grateful to be selected as the undergraduate student speaker,” said Cruz. “With every opportunity that has been presented to me, I have always challenged myself with a simple question: ‘Why not? Let’s just go for it.’ I hope to inspire my fellow graduates to continue challenging themselves in their future endeavors, and that there can be a lot of impact within that simple question.”

COB Golf Etiquette Outing (Sun, Sept 24)

We are excited to announce an upcoming event that will provide an excellent opportunity for both beginner golfers and those interested in learning about golf etiquette. Don’t worry if you’re new to golf; this outing is designed to be inclusive and educational for all skill levels. 

  • Event Details: Date: Sunday, September 24th 
  • Golfers will be placed on tee times from 3-5pm 
  • Location: Portage Lake Golf Course

During this outing, you will have the chance to:

Learn Golf Etiquette: Our experienced “mentors” will provide insights into golf etiquette, rules, and the dos and don’ts on the golf course, making it an ideal event for beginners. Network and Socialize: Golf is not just a sport; it’s a valuable tool for building relationships, both personally and professionally. You’ll have the chance to connect with fellow students who share your interest in golf and business.

Practice Your Swing: For those who are new to golf or looking to improve their game, there will be opportunities to practice your swing and get out on the course! 

To sign up for the outing, please fill out the Google Form linked below: 

https://forms.gle/soCWRxNDMTNqji866

Space is limited, so make sure to secure your spot by registering early. We look forward to seeing you on September 24th for a day of learning, networking, and, of course, golf! If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact Roger Woods (rhwoods@mtu.edu) or Madison Mattila (mnmattil@mtu.edu). Thank you, and we can’t wait to tee off with you!  

Madison Mattila

3rd Year Undergraduate Student

Resume and Headshot Special Event by KSI

Mon, Sept 18, 2023

Refine your professional presence at KSI’s (Kappa Sigma Iota for Accounting) first event of the year!

Discover strategies for crafting a standout resume from experienced faculty in the COB. Additionally, get a headshot to enhance your profile. Elevate your personal brand and prepare to leave a lasting impact.

Join KSI for this exciting event ($15) and gain access to all club events for the rest of the year at no additional cost. Headshots are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. Show up anytime from 5-6:30!

Upcoming Information Sessions for Entrepreneurship and Supply Chain and Operations Management

The School of Business and Economics would like to invite all interested students to an open session to learn more about the opportunities within the two new Management concentrations, ask current students and advisors questions, and learn about career opportunities for each concentration.

Both sessions are being held in the Academic Office Building in conference room 101.

Dates and additional information for each session are provided below:

Supply Chain and Operations Management Concentration:

Wednesday, March 19th @ 4:00 pm

SCOM Info Session

Entrepreneurship Concentration:

Entrepreneurship Info Session

Monday, March 24th @ 3:30 -5:00

Both sessions will provide pizza and pop for attendees.

BUS3900: Business Internship

Internship procedures for BUS 3900 effective Spring 2014.

Procedures:

  • The student seeking BUS 3900 will contact a School of Business and Economics faculty member to support their internship. The student and faculty member will collaborate to complete the Internship or Co-op Project Approval Form and develop a study contract for the project. Note: BUS 3900 is not a substitute for required courses.
  • Projects must involve a minimum of 20 hours of effort for each hour of course credit. This applies to business internships or cooperative education experiences that are 2-3 credits. It does not apply to 1 credit experiences.
  • Required elements and examples of the contract can be provided by Academic Advisor, Carly Harrington.
  • All contracts require review and approval prior to the academic term in which the project is proposed. The semester submission deadlines are:
    • Spring: December 1st
    • Fall/Summer: April 1st
  • Completed forms must be returned to the Academic Advisor by the aforementioned deadlines for final approval by the Undergraduate Programs Committee.
  • Upon approval of internships by the Undergraduate Programs Committee, the Academic Advisor will register the student for the appropriate credit hours in BUS 3900.
  • Students must submit deliverables (as outlined in the contract) to the instructor for grading by the end of final exam week.

Attention Management Majors…and those who might like to be!

New Management Concentration now available in Supply Chain and Operations Management

The Supply Chain and Operations Management concentration, now an option in the B.S. in Management, will give you a tailored set of courses and skills that employers love. When an employer asks you what you are majoring in and you say Management, you can now add Supply Chain and Operations Management.  Students graduating with this major/concentration have some of the top salaries in the School of Business and Economics, as high as $60-70K.  The majority of students in this concentration have at least one internship.

Supply chain and operations management majors are highly sought after.  All it requires is to complete a four course concentration that includes cutting edge courses as Introduction to Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Supply Management, Six Sigma Fundamentals, and Transportation and Logistics.  If you are interested in learning more about career opportunities, you may speak with Dr. Greg Graman or Dr. Dana Johnson.  If you are ready to make the move, Carly Harrington will help you with your schedule.  In Spring 2014, OSM 3150 Intro to Supply Chain Management and OSM4650 Six Sigma Fundamentals are offered and will get you start towards an exciting career!

Hannover International Summer School of Economics and Managment

HISSEMA- Applications due May 15, 2013

The Hannover International Summer School of Economics and Management (HISSEMA) is in its eleventh year of operation taking place from July 8th to August 23th. It is conducted completely in English. Up to now, over 200 US-Students have participated in the HISSEMA. Hannover is a mid-size northern German town of 500,000 inhabitants, not far from Berlin and Hamburg. It is known to be a modern, green, safe secure city. Many company headquarters are located here and the world biggest IT-Fair take place in Hannover. Leibniz University Hannover has over 22.000 students.

Facts

When: July 8th — August 23th, 2013
Where: At the Business and Economics department of the Leibniz University of Hannover.
Program: HISSEMA offers courses in “Business Administration and International Finance”, in “German Economy” and in “German Culture, Business and Language”.
Accommodation: Students will stay in student dormitories close to the Faculty Business and Economics. Accomodation is in single rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens.
Costs in Hannover: Accommodation for six weeks: 400€ Public transport and immat. fee: 130€ Compulsory Excursions: 100€ Additional fees for optional excursions
Credits: All courses are worth 4 Creditpoints (ETCS). However, acknowledgement of credit hours depends on regulations at your home university.
Requirements: Students admitted to this program must be at least in their second year of university or college (sophomores) and be majoring in the fields of Business or Economics.
Trips: A trip to Munich (the city of the “Oktoberfest”) as well as other sightseeing trips in and around Hannover are offered.

Course Description

Business Administration and International Finance: This course will introduce students to the field of international finance, with special focus placed on emerging financial markets. Topics will include: Foreign Exchange Risk – Hedging– Country Risk Analysis – Financial Crisis – Lending Institutions in EM –Banking in EM.

The German Economy: Development, Institution and Regulations: This course will give a description of the performance of the German economy. Areas covered include historical background, the economic system and its sectors, the German labor market, constitutional elements of the social security system, Germany’s integration into the European Union and the World Economy.

German Culture, Business and Language: The course will provide basic German language skills as well as insights in German culture and history. Additionally, there will be four excursions to leading German companies and institutions in order to give insights into German business culture.

Visit the HISSEMA Homepage:
http://www2.wiwi.uni-hannover.de/hissema.html

Further contact Information:
At Leibniz Universität Hannover:
Malte Sandner
guest@wiwi.uni-hannover.de

School of Business and Economics Winter Carnival Statue

The theme for this year is “Heroes & Villains find their powers in these frozen winter hours…”

Some ideas that came about are:
the Superman symbol with $ symbol
Thor’s hammer with “Knowledge” on it, possibly on top of a briefcase

Some quotes to go along with the ideas:
“Give us money, we’ll double it in an hour with our super power”
“Super students have the power to double your money in an hour”

For ideas, a good start is the “Ultimate List of Super Heroes and Villains”:
http://www.comicvine.com/characters/

Also, 1-2 volunteers are needed to help Lynn & Carly with the snow sculpture logistics. This would require a hour meeting every week or so until Winter Carnival; please contact them for more info.

Career Fair Report

1. Employers at Career Fair Hungry for Tech Students
by Jennifer Donovan, director, public relations

Michigan Tech’s fall Career Fair last week attracted 888 recruiters representing 280 companies. They conducted 4,186 interviews for jobs, internships and co-ops.

The Career Fair was the third largest in the history of career fairs at Michigan Tech. “But the factor that made this fair unique was how hungry the employers were for our students,” said Jim Turnquist, director of career services. Prior to the Fair, many companies held special recruitment programs to attract students. Kohler sponsored a picnic on the lawn outside of the Memorial Union. Mercury Marine offered boat rides on Portage Lake, hosting more than 200 students. General Motors and Chrysler conducted “Ride and Drives,” offering students an opportunity to drive a 2013 Camaro, Corvette, Cadillac or other GM or Chrysler vehicle.

The day of the fair, students packed both the basketball gym and the multipurpose room of the SDC. Turnquist estimated that more than 3,000 students turned out, dressed in their best and with hands full of resumes, to meet potential employers.

“Many of the employers mentioned that Michigan Tech students were some of the best prepared students they have met at any job fair,” Turnquist said. “Usually, they said, they see students dressed in jeans, shorts and T-shirts, but not at Michigan Tech. Our students acted and dressed professionally. The employers even commented on how well most of the first-year students were prepared for the Career Fair.”

“Is the excellent turnout at our Career Fair a sign that the economy is turning around?” Turnquist added. “Maybe. Or it is a sign that Michigan Tech students offer the skills the companies want and need?”