Gregory chooses Michigan Tech

Theresa Peterson/The Daily News Photo Kingsford’s Jeff Gregory will play basketball at Michigan Tech University.

KINGSFORD – Kingsford High School standout Jeff Gregory set a goal of playing college basketball.

That place will be Michigan Tech University in Houghton.

“Jeff told me that he really wanted to play ball somewhere,” Flivver coach Dan Olkkonen said. “He was not really recruited hard by any Division II schools, so I told him that he had to be able to sell himself to those programs.”

Gregory, a two-time Great Northern Conference Player of the Year, was able to work out for Michigan Tech and Lake Superior State coaches.

“Both coaches had very good things to say about him,” Olkkonen said. “Coach (Kevin) Luke was impressed with the way he handled himself, and he looks for Jeff to develop within a few years.”

Gregory will join the Huskies as a non-scholarship player.

“I told Jeff that if he is passionate about playing basketball, then he has to accept the position he is in and work on what the coaches feel he needs to do to be able to contribute in a few years,” Olkkonen said. “Coach Luke said he is a Tech-type-kid, and that is a big compliment coming from a coach as well respected as Kevin Luke.”

The 6-foot-1 point guard averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals this past season. The All-U.P. “Dream Team” pick helped the Flivvers to their first Great Northern Conference title since 1999.

“There’s a great tradition at Michigan Tech that I want to be a part of,” said Gregory, who will major in business finance.

Gregory was a three-year starter for the Flivvers.

“I am very proud of him and I wish him well at Tech,” Olkkonen said.

Michigan Tech, 16-12 in 2012, won the GLIAC North Division title for the first time since 2003.

This article was originally published on May 29, 2012 by the Iron Mountain Daily News.

Kasza Hired as Women’s Assistant Basketball Coach

Maria KaszaMichigan Tech head women’s basketball coach Kim Cameron announced Monday that former Husky Maria Kasza has been hired as the team’s new assistant coach.

“I am extremely excited to have Maria on staff,” said Cameron. “Since she came to Michigan Tech in 2007, she has continuously shown an insurmountable passion for this school and this team. Her competitive nature, energy and her basketball mind will be huge assets to our team’s ultimate goal.”

Kasza has spent the previous two seasons coaching high school girls’ basketball in Michigan. She spent the 2010-11 season as the varsity assistant coach at Kalkaska High School where she helped the Blazers to a 23-2 record. That season she also coached the seventh-grade boys’ basketball team at Kalkaska Middle School. Last season she was the head coach of the freshman girls’ basketball team at Williamston High School.

Kasza was on the Tech squad for three years, competing only one season due to injury and transfer rules. She was an integral part in two of the team’s NCAA Division II Elite Eight Appearances.

“I am so excited for the opportunity to be back with Michigan Tech basketball, and I can’t wait to get up to Houghton and start working with Kim and the Huskies,” said Kasza. “I believe in everything that this program is, and I’m thrilled to be a part of continuing Tech’s tradition.”

She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Michigan Tech. Kasza was a member of the Dean’s List and Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Fraternity.

In addition to coaching, she spent the past two years working as a project lead for the Michigan Public Health Institute.

Kasza will begin her duties on June 1.

by Ian Marks, assistant director, athletic communications and marketing

Custodian Darlene Corrigan Retires

Tanya Maki cutting the cake at Darlene Corrigan's Retirement Party.

After a 37 year career with Michigan Tech, the School of Business and Economics says goodbye to long time custodian Darlene Corrigan.  Darlene kept the Academic Office Building unofficially the cleanest building on campus since 1993 and will be greatly missed.

“Darlene attacks dirt.  If you’re going to have a heart attack on campus, do it our building,” noted Professor Emertis Jim Gale. “The doctors can come here; Darlene keeps it more sterile than an operating room.”

We thank Darlene for the time she spent with us and wish her well in all the glory of retirement.

You will be missed. Congrats!

Research Presentation on Inter-Sourcing

Dr. Mari Buche speaks during panel discussion.

Associate Professor of Management Information Systems Mari W. Buche and graduate student Gareth Johnson (ME/MBA) traveled to Green Bay, Wis., to attend the Midwest Association for Information Systems (MAIS) annual conference May 18-19. They presented “Inter-sourcing: Partnerships Between Businesses, Universities and Student Interns.” Buche, treasurer of MWAIS, also participated in a panel discussion on the future of the Midwest AIS organization and chaired a session on organizational issues relating to information systems.

Associate Professor of Management Information Systems Mari Buche and Gareth Johnson

Economics Graduate Accepted into top 100 Law School

Coleman Segal to attend McGeorge School of Law.

The School of Business and Economics wants to congratulate Coleman Segal for his acceptance into the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. We’re so proud!

Despite being accepted to UC Berkeley out of high school, Segal chose to pursue his undergraduate degree at Michigan Tech.  After visiting his Aunt and Uncle in the Houghton as a child, he has always loved the area. The wild, beautiful surroundings, the opportunity to participate in the vibrant folk music scene, and the impressive academic reputation were all factors in his decision to come to Tech.

After researching universities, he learned of the Economics program at Michigan Tech.  Economics interested Segal in high school because it can be applied to so many different aspects of life.  Segal said, “The study of economics is in large part an effort to understand the mechanics of a functioning society, and so it relates to many different fields. It also provides a good background for law school, which I have planned to attend since high school.” 

Segal is a California native and will soon return to his home state to pursue his law degree from one of the top 100 Law Schools in the nation.   Applying and being accepted to five law schools –Marquette University in Milwaukee, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Albany Law School– Segal selected the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and will begin classes next fall. In addition to their impressive reputation, Segal said he chose McGeorge School of Law based on their location in Sacramento, California.  He finds the area interesting as a center of government, with multiple courthouses at different levels in the immediate area. 

Crediting his experiences with extracurricular activities such as the iOMe Challenge and the Pavlis Institute for advancing his goals of attending law school, Segal noted that Michigan Tech prepared him well for continuing his education.  Mastering skills such as writing and researching papers, in many different subjects, have been instrumental for the pursuit of his law degree.