Category: Student Success

Spring 2025 Professional Blueprint Workshops Announced

As a part of our Professional Blueprint Program the College of Business with support from our student clubs/organizations and staff host a series of workshops to assist students in preparing to be “career-ready”.

Join us this spring for a workshop or two. Most workshops do not required and RSVP. If an RSVP is required it is noted on the schedule.


If you are interested in hosting an upcoming workshop or have any ideas you would like to see presented please email business@mtu.edu

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.”

Internships and Co-ops? But why?

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Internships and Co-0ps are great for a number of reasons, resume builder (make yourself marketable), skill enhancer, career exploration, potential full-time employment and more.   Here is an article about why.

BUS3900 is an SBE course for internship credit.   Learn more about how to get academic credit here.

All of the SBE business programs offer an elective option for internship credit with BUS3900.   The course does require pre-planning, development of a proposal with a faculty member in SBE and committee approval.

Keep in mind the following deadlines if seeking academic credit for internship:

  • Spring Semester by Dec 1
  • Summer Semester by April 1
  • Fall Semester by July 1

Feel free to contact the SBE Academic Advisor, Jodie Filpus-Paakola, to discuss further.

Read emails from SBE and faculty for opportunities to apply to various internships as well as the university’s Handshake account with Career Services

Internship/Co-op? Want academic credit (BUS 3900)???

Have an internship or co-op?  
Want to complete an elective and get academic credit with BUS 3900?

internship-clipart-13-1Now accepting proposals for Spring and Summer Internships

Deadlines for proposal submissions are:
  • Summer Semester: April 1st
  • Fall Semester:  July 1st
Internships or Co-ops for Business and Economics students are becoming a “norm” for professional development.
Industry sees internships as a “trial” run for possible full-time professional employment and it is a chance for you to test the waters with a company or a particular job.
As a part of our curriculum with all of our majors (except Economics) we have “BUS3900: Business Internship” as an elective option.    So how do you get credit?
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Academic credit for internships are contingent upon school approval after you develop a proposal along with support from a faculty member in SBE whom agrees to work with you during your internship semester.
                                                                          *registration is completed by Academic Advisor following proposal approval
Here is our website that contains information about BUS3900  the proposal, employer agreement and more for you to earn credit for your internship.

*NOTE that academic credit MUST be earned during the time you are working for your internship