Pavlis Honors College Blog

Meet Kyle Ludwig…

Published October 24, 2017

By Amy Karagiannakis

Planning meals and eating healthy can be challenging for college students. Sometimes finding the time (and money) to go grocery shopping and cooking your own meals can seem like impossible tasks. Yet, studies show that meal planning can lead to healthier eating habits, a more active lifestyle, and a great amount of savings. If there was a mobile app that could recommend healthy meals that you actually want to eat, provide recipes, and generate grocery lists, while tracking your nutrition progress automatically, would you download it? Kyle Ludwig expects you will, and not just students, but also busy, young professionals. He plans to launch his app, Looma on Indiegogo this coming December. Looma didn’t just happen overnight, and really not even in the last year. Looma has been through many iterations, design concepts, ideas, and names since Kyle came to Tech as a transfer student from Traverse City, MI in 2015.

Kyle joined Pavlis Honors College in 2015 as a Custom Pathway student with a focus on entrepreneurship. His Pavlis mentor and advisor, Jim Baker recalled how far Kyle has come, “Kyle has done an amazing job of developing a network of advisors, mentors, and team members to bring his company through a series of transformations and accomplishments on the path from idea to reality. Entrepreneurship and taking someone’s ideas into the market requires a constructive balance of persistence and agility which Kyle has exemplified and which will serve him substantially throughout his career and life.” Kyle participated in Michigan Tech’s I-Corps Site Program in 2016 with a very different version of Looma, then called TRU. TRU was merely an idea at that time that focused more on personal medical diagnostics than nutrition and wellness. Kyle’s long-term career goal is still to work on blood diagnostics technology for personal health applications, but Looma has taken him on an unexpected, but welcome detour. “The I-Corp Site Program at Michigan Tech helped me realize the direction for my business by introducing me to processes which inspire product development around the customer.”

Kyle Ludwig and Adam Weber accepting their check for Best Technology at the Bob Mark Elevator Pitch Competition.

Since his participation in I-Corps, Kyle has competed in numerous pitch competitions all over the state of Michigan. He won $1000 for Best Technology at the Bob Mark Elevator Pitch in 2016 and competed in the New Venture Competition at Central Michigan University. TRU was also one of 27 semi-finalists out of 70 student company applicants from across Michigan that was selected to compete for up to $20,000 in cash prizes at the 2016 Accelerate Michigan Competition. While TRU did not walk away with a check, the startup’s founder did gain experience and new ideas for how to improve. Now a 2017 semi-finalist, Kyle will have the chance to compete at the Accelerate Michigan competition again, but this time with Looma.

SemiFinalPresentation — Ludwig competing at Accelerate Michigan 2016 in Detroit

Kyle was named University Innovation Fellow (UIF) by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school) last October, along with two other Michigan Tech students. This global program trains student leaders to create new opportunities for their peers to engage with innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking and creativity. The Pavlis Honors College Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship funded the fellow’s six week online training and their travel to the UIF Silicon Valley Meetup last March. Kyle, along with the other Tech UIFs are committed to creating opportunities for students across campus to engage in more activities and events that inspire innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking and creativity.

UIF Meetup in Silicon Valley, March 2017

This past summer, Kyle had the opportunity to intern at Ford’s Research and Innovation Center in Palo Alto, CA. Ford is currently looking to expand into all modes of transportation. Palo Alto focuses on developing technologies that will come in the next 5-10 years, including working closely with self-driving vehicle technology that’s announced for release in 2021. Through his work with Ford, Kyle was able to collaborate with individuals from IDEO at Greenfield Labs, Stanford University, and Argo. While in Palo Alto, he developed mobile apps to improve efficiency for Ford employees. Kyle also conducted a team study to improve Agile workflow and led groups in patent ideation using the design thinking practices he learned from his UIF training.

Kyle is expected to graduate in May of 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. While he always makes time for his school work, Looma has been monopolizing most of his waking hours. When asked about the anticipated upcoming launch, Kyle responded, “We’ll be on Indiegogo in December, just in time for New Year’s resolutions. Looma will launch for iOS after the campaign in 2018.” If you’d like to learn more about Looma or sign up for the limited iOS pre-release, visit https://livelooma.com/.

Rekhi Innovation Challenge

Published October 24, 2017

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Competitions

The Rekhi Innovation Challenge is a crowdfunding competition to promote and support student innovation and entrepreneurship through the use of Superior Ideas.

The team that raises the most money will receive a monetary match, up to $5,000, and additional awards will also be offered. The challenge will run from November 10 through March 31.

Projects must be submitted by 3pm November 3 in order to enter into the competition. For additional information on the challenge, contact Natasha Chopp.

NOAA Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunities

Published October 23, 2017

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Scholarship

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently announced the availability of scholarships for undergraduate students majoring in disciplines related to oceanic and atmospheric science, research, or technology, and supportive of the purposes of NOAA’s programs and mission. Over 100 students are selected each year for participation in the Ernest F. Hollings (Hollings) and Educational Partnership Program (EPP) scholarship programs. These scholarships include support for two years of undergraduate study and summer internship opportunities at NOAA facilities across the country.

For information on program benefits and how to apply, visit the following web sites:

Educational Partnership Program Undergraduate Scholarship: www.noaa.gov/eppscholarship

Application Deadline: January 31, 2018

Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship: www.noaa.gov/hollings

Application Deadline: January 31, 2018

Eligibility Requirements:

US Citizen
3.0 GPA (Hollings) or 3.2 GPA (EPP)
Full-time second year student at an accredited four-year undergraduate program or third year student at a five-year undergraduate program
Majoring in NOAA mission disciplines, including but not limited to: atmospheric science, biology, cartography, chemistry, computer science, education, engineering, environmental science, geodesy, geography, marine science, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography, physical science, photogrammetry, physics, etc.
Enrolled at a Minority Serving Institution (EPP Scholarship only)

For further information, contact the Office of Education Scholarship Programs at: StudentScholarshipPrograms@noaa.gov or (301) 628-2913.

Keweenaw National Historical Park is offering a year-long internship focusing on community engagement.

Published October 18, 2017

By kdjuntun

Community Volunteer Ambassadors (CVA) serve with the National Park Service in field offices across the country working to engage diverse groups in volunteerism, service-learning, and community activities. As a CVA, you will help grow volunteer programs in National Parks, build new community partnerships, and promote the NPS. Application deadline October 23!

For specific questions about the position please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Valerie Newman at valerie_newman@nps.gov or 906-483-3028.

Laura Kasson Fiss and Andrew Fiss Interviewed on The Anthill

Published September 15, 2017

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The Anthill, a podcast of news outlet The Conversation (UK), ran an interview with Laura Kasson Fiss (Pavlis Honors College) and Andrew Fiss (HU), as well as recordings of songs they performed as part of their presentation at the British Science Festival. Their research considers songs as science communication, in this case nineteenth-century women using parody to defend their right to study traditionally male subjects such as mathematics. Check out this link to hear more about their presentation and the British Science Festival.

Meet Sarah Martens…

Published September 11, 2017

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PHC Students

Sarah Jo Martens is fascinated by water. Learning how to conserve this precious resource is one of the reasons that led Sarah to choose a major in Environmental Engineering. The human impact on the Earth and its resources is getting increasingly more difficult to ignore. Sarah is committed to addressing these environmental issues in the field once she graduates, and plans to lead the way to a sustainable future.

Sarah is enrolled in the Pavlis Honors College as part of the Custom Pathway. Sarah has volunteered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Water Department compiling data on water and soil quality. In 2016, Sarah spent seven months participating in a co-op with Expera Specialty Solutions as an environmental engineer. This hands-on experience not only taught her regulatory standards and processes for the industry, but also lessons that you can’t learn in a classroom, such as project management and the confidence to lead. “The opportunity to be a part of real-world projects and see first-hand the impact of what is taught in the classroom was extremely beneficial to solidify the theories I had previously learned,” Sarah shared.

This past summer, Sarah completed an internship with GEI Consultants, Inc in Green Bay, Wisconsin as an environmental engineer and staff. The experience focused on technical and communication skills necessary for some of the projects completed by environmental consultants for government and industrial clients. Sarah wrote and contributed to many Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, and completed soil & groundwater sampling & analysis.

33989970546_1057641ca2_o (2) — West Side Story (2017)

In addition to majoring in Environmental Engineering, Sarah is also minoring in Theatre. She recently wrote a play entitled “Leaving” that was chosen as a regional finalist in the Kennedy Center American Collegiate Theatre Festival. Her play advanced to the regional finals where college theatre students from schools in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana competed in acting, playwriting, design, and more. “Leaving” was inspired by Sarah’s relationship with her sister Rachel, and was given a fully-staged reading, along with four other finalists at the Region III Festival this past January in Indianapolis. Sarah has also been nominated and participated in the Irene Ryan Scholarship Program acting competition three times. Sarah is a member of the Tech Theatre Company and is regularly seen at McArdle and the Rosza acting with the group. Last year, Sarah assisted with starting Michigan Tech’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, a national theatre honor society.

15783556676_c19f0ae666_k — Alternate Realities (2014)

Sarah also plays flute in the Michigan Tech Huskies Pep Band and is President of the Blue Key Honor Society – Michigan Tech Chapter. In 2016, Michigan Tech’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts honored Sarah with the Woman of Promise Award. Women of Promise recognizes current female Michigan Tech students from each academic department who go above and beyond what is expected of them in terms of being well-rounded. It honors students who have demonstrated academic achievement, campus and community leadership, good citizenship, creativity, and other characteristics of high-achieving individuals.

This past spring, Sarah had the opportunity to complete a short term study abroad adventure with The Green Program and Reykjavik University in Iceland. The ten day sustainability and renewable energy program included lectures, site visits, and experiences focused on the topics of hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, biomass production & usage, and the overall history & geology of Iceland that makes it unique. With nearly 100% of the country’s electricity drawn from renewable sources, the program was a playground of real-world examples of sustainable development. Sarah completed a capstone project with a team of 4 other students from Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, and South Africa tying in concepts related to hydroelectric power discussed during the experience. The team completed a feasibility study for micro-hydroelectric power for small communities in rural Nepal where only 49% of the population is serviced by electricity. The project included research into the current electrical state of Nepal, resources available, cultural expectations, analysis of potential equipment, and cost analysis. The project was presented at Reykjavik University to a panel of professors who provided lecture series to the students throughout the week.

What’s next for Sarah? She is in her fourth year at Tech, and looking forward to graduation in December of next year. After graduation, Sarah plans to continue her education in the field of environmental engineering by pursuing her Master’s degree. “As an environmental engineer, I will work toward solutions restoring and protecting the Earth from human interaction. I hope to be out making a significant impact on the world and environment.”

The Pavlis Honors College uses Seelio, a higher-ed portfolio solution for managing and organizing student works and projects. Seelio provides a platform for students to easily and beautifully document their works, projects, and passions. Students can tell their professional story, share their personal brand and improve their online presence. Sarah Marten’s profile has been highlighted by Seelio as being exemplary of what students can do with the technology to better showcase their professional talents and accomplishments.

Info Session on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Published September 6, 2017

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Fellowship Opportunities

The Research Development Office is hosting an overview session on the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) for eligible students. The session is at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in the Administration Building, room 404.

To be eligible for the NSF GRFP, students must:

•be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident
•intend to pursue a research-based Master’s or Ph.D. program in an NSF-supported field
•be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited United States graduate institution, with a US campus, by fall 2018
•have completed no more than twelve months of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent) as of August 1, 2017, or meet the criteria for the extenuating circumstance described in Section IV of the Program Solicitation.
•meet all other eligibility requirements as set forth in the current Program Solicitation

Award benefits:

•a three-year annual stipend of $34,000
•$12,000 cost of education allowance for the cost of tuition

If you know a student who has research and leadership experience and meets the eligibility requirements, encourage them to consider applying for this prestigious fellowship. Eligible students who already have internal University/department funding are strongly encouraged to apply.

If eligible students cannot attend this overview session, but would like to be invited to the follow-up sessions, please contact Jessica Brassard (jnbrassa@mtu.edu) or Natasha Chopp (nichopp@mtu.edu).

Constitution Day Student Essay Contest

Published August 29, 2017

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Competitions

The Michigan Tech Van Pelt and Opie Library is facilitating a student essay contest to celebrate Constitution Day, which will take place this year on Sunday, September 17th. Michigan Tech undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to submit an original essay.

In 600 words or less discuss these boundaries and the principles you would use in defining them. What is an example of a situation that might justify placing such limits on speech and/or on an organized march? What problems might arise due to such limitations?

Essays must be submitted by email to library@mtu.edu in the form of a .doc or .pdf by midnight, September 10.

Prizes will be determined by a committee of faculty and librarians:

First Prize: $300.00 certificate to the Bookstore/University Images

Second Prize: $250.00 certificate

Third Prize: $200.00 certificate

Fourth Prize: $100.00 certificate

Fifth Prize: $50.00 certificate

The Adventure Concludes

Published August 9, 2017

By Jessie Neece

Hello everybody!

We have departed Tanzania after 5 weeks of incredible cultural immersion and sustainable project development. The experience of traveling to a foreign country and working with the people is something that we will never forget. We learned so much from all of the Tanzanians we met along the way and we hope that you got to learn something from us.

Asante Africa, Tesha, Joe, Mama Mcha, Mama Faraha, Mama Cecilia, thank you for welcoming us into your homes and schools in Boma. We enjoyed the time we spent working, playing and dancing with your students.

Eva and the Foot2Afrika foundation, thank you for hosting us for our time in Moshi, and for providing us the opportunity to work with the administration and youth of Tumona Secondary School and KITAYOSCE. (As a side note, the food at the hostel was amazing!)

We are so tired, and happy to be going back to our families, but at the same time sad to be leaving the places we’ve called home in Africa for the last 5 weeks.

Asante sana, thanks for going on this adventure with us through our blog posts, and we hope you all had great summers (or winters, if you’re in Tanzania!)

Team Tanzania, signing off

Elephants!

Baby Hippo with Mama — Baby hippo with Mama

Class 6 after science, and talking about the US — Primary school Class 6 after science and talking about the US

Rachel and Raspberry Pi

Published August 8, 2017

By Jessie Neece

During week 5, we spent our time with the extended family of our in country contact Emmanuel Opuni at their family compound in Babianeha.

While staying with the family, the plan was to have two women’s health clinics, one in the local school, and the other at a government women’s health building along the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire border, to have an engineering workshop at the local school, and to set up and teach community members how to use the Rachel Pi and Raspberry Pi’s in the community center that was built by a previous Pavlis team a few years ago.

The focus of this blog post is on the Raspberry Pi’s. The project involved using the Rachel Pi as an offline repository of teaching videos, books, articles, and life skills exercises for the school kids and the community to use. The Raspberry Pi’s were to be used as a means to access the Rachel Pi, and also supplement the netbooks that are already within the community center while allowing two more students to have a workstation they can use during ICT class.

Due to the nature of the Raspberry PI project (project lead – Daniel), the ‘measure of success’ is mainly if the items work during setup, because it is up to the teachers how and when they integrate this tool into their teaching arsenal. It is our hope that the students can use the modules like Khan Academy Lite to reinforce things they learn in class like algebra and biology with informational videos and the little quizzes it provides.