Category: Alumni

Alumna Kristen Mariuzza on Mining Operations

Kristen Mariuzza
Kristen Mariuzza

HOUGHTON — Kristen Mariuzza, Michigan Technological University alumna and Eagle Mine general manager, visited campus Monday to discuss mining and the company’s operations and case studies.

Mariuzza spoke to members of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s students, staff and faculty, as well as community members.

Professor Eric Seagren said the purpose of the seminar was to showcase the kind of opportunities that are available for students.

“It shows that you’re not just limited to the environmental field,” he said. “There are other opportunities as well.”

Read more at the Mining Gazette, by Katrice Perkins.

2017 Best Paper Award of ASCE Journal of Aerospace Engineering Goes to Michigan Tech Collaborators

dai-personnel
Dr. Qingli Dai, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
Xiao 2
Xiao Sun, graduated PhD, Civil Engineering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Qingli (Barbara) Dai and her former PhD student, Xiao Sun (first author) along with Mechanical Engineering faculty, Dr. Fernando Ponta and Mechanical Engineering graduate student, Muraleekrishnan Menom have been selected to receive the 2017 Best Paper Award of ASCE Journal of Aerospace Engineering (JAE).

The award will be received at the awards banquet of the 2018 Earth and Space Conference, held in Cleveland, Ohio in April for their paper “Design and Simulation of Active External Trailing-Edge Flaps for Wind Turbine Blades on Load Reduction” by Xiao Sun, Qingli Dai, Muraleekrishnan Menon and Fernando Ponta –  https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)AS.1943-5525.0000771.  The research done for this paper was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Humanitarian Award for Nick Schreiner

Nicholas H. Schreiner
Kari Henquinet, John Gierke, Blair Orr, Nicholas H. Schreiner and his parents, and Dave Watkins

Eight individuals were recognized by the Michigan Technological University Alumni Board of Directors at its annual Alumni Dinner and Awards Ceremony Friday evening. The event was the centerpiece of the Alumni Reunion, which took place August 3-5, 2017.

Nicholas H. Schreiner is a recipient of the Humanitarian Award. The award honors alumni who, through their outstanding involvement and dedication, have made a significant contribution of volunteer leadership or service that has improved or enriched the lives of others and the welfare of humanity, and whose accomplishments reflect admirably on or bring honor to their alma mater.

Schreiner, who earned a master’s in environmental engineering at Michigan Tech, has served as a water and sanitation engineer with Medecins Sans Frontieres (also known as Doctors Without Borders). He was part of a team that responded to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014.

Schreiner came to Michigan Tech to learn and develop as an engineer but also to provide service to at-risk people and communities. He accepted the award on behalf of all of the people in need and serviced by Doctors without Borders.

The best decision I made was to come to Michigan Tech, in the out-of-the-way corner of the UP.Nick Schreiner

“And, I thank my parents for their unconditional love and support.”

Read more at Michigan Tech News, by Sarah Williams.

Humanitarian Engineering

Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) alumnus Nick Schreiner ’11 is an example of someone using his engineering skills to make an impact in some of the most troubled spots on the planet: fighting Ebola in Sierra Leone, supporting displaced populations in a Protection of Civilian (POC) zone in South Sudan, and working with refugee populations in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic (CAR).

I found my former Peace Corps service in Mauritania and Mali had planted a seed calling me to do something more with my life.Nick Schreiner

In fall 2014 as the Ebola epidemic continued to spiral, Schreiner was asked to join a MSF team in Sierra Leone.

“This was a different kind of insecurity,” he says. “You can’t see Ebola. It is both everywhere and nowhere.”

Read more at Michigan Tech Magazine, by Kari Henquinet.

Remembering Harbans Singh

On August 27, 2016, our father and Michigan Tech grad from the Class of 1962, Harbans Singh, left this beautiful earth. Our father was a great man and a once in a generation business man.

He very fondly remembered his time in Houghton and made sure we remembered that he received a great education and wonderful experience at Michigan Tech. His dealings with the Deans and Presidents were great. He was the first man to graduate with a turban from your school. He was super proud of that.

In 1960, our father came from India to the U.S. with no money. From California, he ended up at Michigan Tech at a time when he was unhappy and unsure he would succeed in America. Michigan Tech was a great experience, and he met many wonderful friends and teachers. He completed his degree very confidently.

After his Civil Engineering degree in 1962, our father worked for the State of Illinois until he founded and created Eagle Grips, the world’s largest producer of custom hand gun grips.

Tej M. Singh, MD, MBA
Chief, Vascular Surgery
Director, Mitchell Vascular Center
Palo Alto Medical Foundation


Harbans Singh left India in 1960 to pursue a better life. He enrolled at Michigan Tech, graduating as the first Sikh at the school in 1962 with a BS in civil engineering. He married Ms. Indira Sodhi in 1965 and started Art Jewel Enterprises (aka Eagle Grips) in 1978. Eagle Grips became a large international leader in custom, handmade grip production. His family considered him to be a wonderful role model, ultimate doer, optimist, and advisor.

Harbans Singh

Harbans Singh

Portrait of Environmental Compliance Engineer Krissy Guzak

Krissy Guzak

Michigan Tech alumnus Krissy Guzak is helping Ford look toward an eco-conscious future through a variety of projects and nonprofit work. Guzak received both a BS and MS in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Tech. She is now an environmental compliance engineer in the Environmental Quality Office at Ford.

I work on a handful of things, but my two main responsibilities are acting as the plant waste subject matter expert and maintaining the paint emissions reporting system.

Read more and watch the video at Ford Go Further.

Steven Tomaszewski Appointed to Board of Trustees

Steven M. Tomaszewski
Steven M. Tomaszewski

LANSING, Mich. (WLUC) – Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the appointments of Derhun Sanders of Redford Township and Steven Tomaszewski of Howell to the Michigan Technological University Board of Control.

The eight-member board is the governing body of the university.

“I thank Derhun and Steven for their commitment to serving on this board. I am confident they will help the university continue its success,” Snyder said.

Read more at WLUC TV6, by Alyssa Barker.

Steven Tomaszewski is a ’91 Tech graduate in Environmental Engineering.

Snyder makes appointments to university boards

Six Michigan universities will be getting new members of their governing boards after Gov. Rick Snyder announced appointments this afternoon.

Tomaszewski is the director of global facilities for General Motors. He is a board member of the Hartland Area Youth Athletic Association (HAYAA) and the MTU advisory boards for the College of Engineering and Environmental Engineering. He worked with MTU to establish the GM Rides the Waves program. Tomaszewski holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Michigan Technological University and a master’s degree in hazardous waste management from Wayne State University. He will replace Paul Ollila.

Read more at the Detroit Free Press, by David Jesse.

Governor Appoints Two Tech Alumni to Board of Trustees

Governor Rick Snyder has announced the appointments of Derhun Sanders of Redford, Michigan and Steven Tomaszewski of Howell, Michigan to serve on the Michigan Tech Board of Trustees. The eight-person board is the governing body of the University. Both men are alumni of Michigan Tech.
Read more at Tech Today, by Mark Wilcox.

Environmental Engineering Alumna and the Tacoma Storm Water Treatment Facilty

Jessica Knickerbocker

Tacoma city engineer and ’02 Environmental Engineer alumna, Jessica Knickerbocker,  was the project manager on the $2.4 million Point Defiance Regional Storm Water Treatment Facility.  The facility was designed to improve the quality of storm water flowing into Commencement Bay by funneling storm water and filtering it before it enters the Puget Sound.  To watch Knickerbocker discuss the project, visit:

http://www.king5.com/mb/news/local/tacoma-stormwater-treatment-facility/225304212

For more information on the Green Infrastructure Bill that Washington Congressmen Danny Heck and Derek Kilmer are proposing, visit:

http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/article/heck-kilmer-cut-ribbon-on-new-storm-water-treatment-plant

Environmental Engineering Alumna Named ACEC New York New Principal of the Year

Josephine Zurica

 

Josephine Zurica has been named the 2016 American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC New York) New Principal of the Year.  She is only the second woman to receive this award given to an ACEC New York member who has been a principal for less than five years.

Zurica received a Peace Corps International MS from Michigan Tech in Environmental Engineering in 2006 and joined Dagher Engineering in 2007 after serving in the Peace Corps in Panama.  She became principal for Dagher in 2013 at the age of 34.

For more information, visit: https://dagherengineering.wordpress.com/2016/06/09/dagher-engineerings-josephine-zurica-named-acec-new-york-new-principal-of-the-year/