MTTI and RTP News

Tracks to the Future 2024: Support Student Travel

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Please give by March 20, 2024.

We will be making initial selections for the campus locations during the week of March 18.

The third iteration of Tracks to the Future program registrations are rapidly progressing. This year we have 200 slots at 10 different Universities! One of our goals is to have the program available for students regardless of their financial status. FRA covers the program costs, but transportation to the host sites is not covered. Last year, 1 in every 6 students received transportation support. If you want to help the students to learn of rail transportation, below is how to provide a corporate donation that supports student travel. All donations come to Michigan Tech, who will reimburse students requesting assistance across all 10 campuses either fully or partially (depending on amount available) based on students’ actual travel expenses.

How to Support Travel

Make a Donation

Donate to the Michigan Tech Fund by March 20, 2024. Please give to the Rail Transportation Program General Support fund, which supports student travel and its administration.

How to Give

If you would like to support Tracks to the Future student travel, please select the level of contribution below. The fund designation “Rail Transportation Program General Support (CEGE)” is already selected for you. Please fill out the contact information and billing address, then select Give Now. Send email to Amanda (alkerttu@mtu.edu) to confirm your donation. Please send your company logo. Thank you in advance for supporting the next generation of railroaders.

Levels of Support

Platinum: $2,000 and up supports eight students. (Panel Discussion Slot and Logo in Materials)

Diamond: $1,000 supports four students. Brand Representation (Logo in Materials)

Gold: $500 supports two students. Brand Representation (Logo in Materials)

All companies who support are recognized on the website and in program materials.

Confirm Your Donation

Send email to Amanda (alkerttu@mtu.edu) to confirm your donation. Please send your company logo.

Print the Support Flyer

Student Action

Students submit “travel cost estimate” to Tech for approval prior to the event.

Students submit expenses for Tech reimbursement after the event.

Map of the US with several states colorized to show origin of participating students.
Students from many states in the Great Lakes, New England, South, West Coast, and Texas regions participated in 2023.
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CN, Alumni, and Friends Scholarship Winners 2022–2023

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Michigan Tech Alumni and Friends – $1500

AJ Lehnert

AJ Lehnert

Major: Civil Engineering with Rail Minor
Hometown: Hartford, MI

“I’m AJ and I’m a 4th year civil engineer major, minoring in rail transportation. I am active in REAC and have just accepted a chair position with the club. I have had a few construction internships and experienced rail engineering last year in my internship with HDR. This coming year I will be doing the same and graduating in the fall. I’m excited about the opportunity this scholarship affords me in continuing to pursue my education and the rail minor.”

Justin Micillo

Justin Micillo

Major: Civil Engineering
Hometown: Rochester, NY

“My name is Justin and I am a 5th year civil engineering major. I have been involved with REAC since my first semester at Michigan Tech and have held the positions of media chair and president along the way. For the past three summers I have been an intern for Bergmann Associates now Colliers Engineering and Design out of their Buffalo, NY office. During these internships I have inspected railroad bridges, supervised public projects on behalf of CSX, assisted with the surveying of a transmission line project and have done some track design. After graduation in April, I will be working full time with Colliers Engineering and Design out of their office in my hometown of Rochester, NY.”

Jack Moon

Jack Moon

Major: Civil Engineering
Hometown: Oswego, IL

“My name is Jack Moon. I am a 2nd year Civil Engineering Major. REAC has been a phenomenal source of great people and knowledge of the rail industry and has encouraged me to explore future career opportunities that the industry has to offer. I have attended many REAC sponsored and related activities like guest speaker meetings and the Rail Night gatherings. Over the past years, I have worked with Terracon Consultants and the Public Works Department of the Village of Oswego, IL. At Terracon, I conducted concrete cylinder compression tests and soil thermal resistivity and moisture content tests. At the Public Works Department, I worked as an Engineering Intern for the Village and Project Engineer by managing key assets of village infrastructure and developments. This summer, I am going to work for Ardmore Roderick Civil Engineering Firm in Chicago with Transportation Engineers.”

Abby Smith

Abby Smith

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Houghton, MI

“Hi there, my name is Abigail Smith and I am a 3rd year Mechanical Engineering Major. On campus, I am the President of REAC, and attended the most recent AREMA conference in Denver, Colorado. This coming summer, I am participating in the Dynamic Summer School at Los Alamos National Lab. Outside of campus, I enjoy reading, exploring the outdoors, and watching documentaries.”

Learn more about the Michigan Tech Alumni and Friends Scholarship.

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2024 Michigan Tech RTP Railroad Scholarships

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Deadline: January 10, 2024

Michigan Tech Rail Transportation Program scholarships are proudly sponsored by the CN Endowment Fund and by generous donations from our alumni, other industry supporters, and friends. This year, we are also the benefactors of Albert J. Reinschmidt Memorial scholarship. Michigan Tech became only the third university eligible university for the scholarship.

The exact number and size of scholarships (except AJR scholarship) will depend on the level of donations we receive, but we have traditionally awarded 3–4 scholarships annually for Michigan Tech students with interests in the railroad industry.

Award Information

$2,500 – Albert J. Reinschmidt Memorial Scholarship (one)

Eligibility: Applicants for the Albert J. Reinschmidt Memorial Scholarship must be pursuing an academic interest in the railway industry.

$1,000-1,500 each – CN Endowment Fund and Michigan Tech Alumni and Friends Scholarships

Eligibility: Applicants for the Railroad Scholarships must be an undergraduate student at Michigan Tech University in good standing and interested in the railroad industry. Open to all disciplines.

Application Process

To apply for Railroad Scholarships, complete the Google form and email your transcript to Pam Hannon by January 10, 2024.

Please also visit RTP Scholarships for more information or see Pasi Lautala.

Application package must include:

Successful applicants will be informed of awards by the early part of the Spring 2024 Semester.

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2024 AREMA Educational Foundation Scholarship Application

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Deadline: December 29, 2023

The AREMA Educational Foundation provides scholarships to engineering students who are specializing in the railway industry and supports other educational and training endeavors that help to ensure the future of the profession.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must be enrolled in a Graduate or Undergraduate program leading to a degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology in a curriculum which has been accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (or comparable accreditation in Canada and Mexico).

AREMA membership is required, and applicants should apply for complimentary Student Membership here before attempting to submit a scholarship application.

Learn more at the AREMA Foundation and apply.

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