Category: Student Organizations

Beta Gamma Sigma Induction Ceremony

On Monday, April 18th fifteen students and one faculty member were inducted into  Michigan Technological University’s chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma.  The ceremony was lead by Chapter Advisor and faculty, Sheila Milligan.  Beta Gamma Sigma was founded in 1913 as the first national honor society in business, and was a merger of three separate societies established to honor academic achievement in business at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Illinois, and the University of California.  Today Beta Gamma Sigma is an international honor society that provides the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive in an undergraduate or graduate program at a school accredited by AACSB International.

New Inductees include: Rachel Chard, XiaXiao Chen, Sarah Clements, Jing Feng, Kelli Guy, Jena Hale, Kaitlyn Ietala, William Hrabinsky, Nicholas Kean, Ryan Lindstrom, Jessica Muonio, Stephanie Oja, Amanda Rantala, Gina Roose, Brady Tervo.  The faculty inductee this year is Dr. Junhong Min.

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APMP Travels to NYC

Four students from the Applied Portfolio Management Program traveled to New York City for the Quinnipiac Global Asset Management Education Forum.  This two and a half day experience provided students and faculty from 47 states and 36 countries the opportunity to interact with industry leaders while learning the best practices in investment management. Zachary Bedell, Matthew Mateer, Kendra Rasner and Dallas Bond traveled by car from Houghton Michigan to attend this forum.

The forum included key note presentations, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities.  Kendra Rasner even had the opportunity to close the Nasdaq alongside other students attending the forum.

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Senior Dallas Bond shares his perspective on the experience:

We left Monday March 28th at 2:00 pm, it was the usual trip except we were headed to the big apple. We reminisced in the car and joked around like most college students would. First we had to get through Pure Michigan which takes forever in itself and then we crossed into Ohio and drove the turnpike all the way to Pennsylvania and through Pennsylvania to New Jersey onward to New York.  We had many stops throughout for the usual bathroom break and food. Once we arrived into New Jersey and into New York everything seems so crazy. You’re sitting in bumper to bumper traffic and everything is almost so overwhelming. It can be a bit frustrating but it is a really good learning experience. While in New Jersey and New York once we got settled at the Hotel we used public transportation which took us the first day to get the swing of things but by the end of the week we had it pretty down pat. While in New York we got to see the Statue of Liberty, the NYSE, the Nasdaq, Times Square, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the World Trade Center, the Empire State Building and just the crazy city that is packed with 8 million people all trying to do their daily routines. Traveling and experiencing a city so big can be tiring and stressful but it also teaches to many different things. It takes you out of your comfort zone and no matter where you travel you always learn something new. You learn more by traveling and doing then by staying exactly where you are. I think we all enjoyed New York but we were also at the end just happy to get back to our lives and be home here at Michigan Tech. Always take the opportunity to journey into a foreign land as it will teach you many lessons you may have not learned otherwise.

 

 

American Society for Engineering Management – Spring Industry Tour

ASEM Group

Nine students from the Michigan Tech chapter of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM) recently returned from a two-day industry tour.  Students toured five plants in Marinette, Wisconsin and Iron Mountain, Michigan.

ASEM made their first stop at MJ Electric where they had face-to-face time with the company’s president, and an opportunity to interact with seven panelists.  Nearly 25% of MJ Electrics’ current employees are Michigan Tech graduates!  The company is excited to come to fall career fair as well as participate in a career fair panel.

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  MJ Electric Facility Tour

Next stop was at Boss Snowplow where students observed their manufacturing process.  Another company with many proud Michigan Tech alum!  Some of their current employees even mentioned they wished they had had the opportunity to study engineering management during their time on campus.

Stop number three took students to Systems Control where they received an introduction to the company, and saw a lean manufacturing example of the 5S process.  This extended plant tour showed System Controls’ manufacturing process from start to finish.

From there, ASEM made their way to Tyco Products.  Students learned about the background and history of the company before moving on to witness a fire suppression test.  Tyco Products has their own fire school in their facility.  This is where fire fighters and fire brigades come to learn how to operate Tyco’s equipment.  Nearly 40% of their current employees received their degree on our campus!

 

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 Fire suppression test

Before coming back to Houghton, students visited Waupaca Foundry.  The facility was shut down for Good Friday, which provided the opportunity to see the whole process up close.  Students learned about the company’s new technologies including their robotic crimping tools.

 

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Waupaca Foundry

President of the local chapter, Tim Spehar described ASEM as “a professional group of students looking to advance the practice, principles and theory of engineering management”.  Students who join the society have the opportunity to attend conferences, competitions and conferences as well as gain professional certifications and choose guest speakers to bring to campus.

ASEM meets monthly on Wednesday evenings.  For more information about ASEM, please contact Tim Spehar tmspehar@mtu.edu or faculty advisors Dr. Dana Johnson dana@mtu.edu  and Roger Woods rhwoods@mtu.edu .

 

 

 

Accounting Students providing Income Tax Assistance

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Accounting majors provide FREE income tax preparation assistance for students and members of the community who could not otherwise afford the services of a CPA tax professional. This service has been offered at Michigan Tech for over 20 years.

Attend a Volunteer Session
No appointment is necessary to receive assistance just go to the Tidwell Center Conference Room, G010D in the Academic Office Building during one of the session times listed below.

Bring your W-2’s, form 1099’s, 1098T’s, etc., to one of our sessions. Also bring a copy of last year’s tax return, if possible.

Monday and Wednesday 2 – 4 pm
Thursday 3 – 5 pm
Friday 11 am – 1 pm
Volunteer sessions will be offered each week from Monday, March 14, 2016 through Friday, April 8, 2016.

For more information contact:
Joel Tuoriniemi, jctuorin@mtu.edu, 487-1877

VITA wins Tech’s Exceptional Program of the Year

Outstanding students, staff and a special alumna were honored on Friday, April 17th at Michigan Tech’s 21st Annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony. The event’s keynote speaker was also the winner of, perhaps, the most prestigious award presented. Britta Jost, ’02, ’04 received the 2015 Outstanding Young Alumna Award. Jost is senior engineer in large structures design engineering for Caterpillar. In her remarks, Jost recalled the changes that have occurred since her days as a student, most of them in technology and social media.

“Back then, if a speaker looked out and saw the audience looking down, she would have thought they were bored or disinterested,” she said. “Now I know you’re posting my remarks on Twitter.”

Jost said the most important aspects of a Michigan Tech education have not changed since her time here a decade and half ago.

Perhaps the most prestigious undergraduate award, the Presidents Award for Leadership, was presented to Kim D’Augustino, a double major in Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. President Glenn Mroz cited D’Augustino’s numerous accomplishments including serving as vice president of the biomedical engineering society, mentoring students through the Wahtera Center and the ExSEL program and acting as event coordinator at the recent, highly-successful, campus Relay For Life.

Dallas Linville, was the recipient of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement Award for Service, Nate Peterson received the Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award, the Exceptional Enthusiasm as Student Leader Award was presented to Luke Dalton and the Student Employee of the Year was awarded to Taylor Driscoll.

The Rising Star of the Year, presented to a first or second year student showing great potential for leadership, was awarded to Keagan Fortier. Britta Anderson was named Outstanding Future Alumnus or Alumna. The award is presented to a student already living the Alumni Association’s motto of “Celebrating Traditions, Creating Connections.”

Other awards handed out included:

Exceptional Program of the Year: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

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Members of VITA present their award for Exception Program of the Year alongside their advisor, Anne Warrington

 

Most Improved Student Organization: Mu Beta Psi

Exceptional Community Service Project: Society of Women Engineers, Homecoming Spirit Sprint

Claire M. Donovan Award: Susan Liebau, Director of the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success

Student Organization of the Year: Broomball Committee

Student Organization Advisor of the Year: Jeremiah Bauman, Broomball Committee

The Provost’s Award for Scholarship was selected from the Departmental Scholars. This year’s recipient was Melissa Michaelson, Departmental Scholar from Social Sciences.

Award recipients who received their awards at previous ceremonies were also recognized. They include:
Percy Julian Award: Taylor Driscoll
Exceptional Graduate Student Leader: Abhilash Kantamneni
Exceptional Graduate Student Scholar: Xu Yang
Outstanding Graduate Mentor: Dr. Gregory Odegard
Greek Man of the Year: Jonathan Iafrate
Greek Woman of the Year: Erica Morley

 

This article was originally written by Mary Wilcox and posted in the April 22, 2015 edition of Tech Today.