A corner of McNair Hall area gets just a touch of spring, like the rest of the campus and the Keweenaw.

At the local drive-in restaurant Tuesday, the carhops wore mittens. We had snow in the UP Wednesday, and my latest golf game last week featured 93 degrees and 40 mph winds. The next day it was 47.

The furnace still runs every night, and June begins today. All the leaves aren't out yet, and the lilacs are just beginning to break out.

But, we don't complain too much since the bugs aren't out, and, on campus, the weather is conducive to studying (so my son tells me).

We were able to enjoy visiting with another great nephew at our house recently, and we celebrated another wedding of a great, old friend over the weekend (with more cool temps on the drive home Sunday).

Life is good, in spite of the nonspring.

Dennis '92, '09

More than ever in today's economic climate, student loans are a fact of life, and they're getting a lot of media attention. Last week alone, the Chronicle of Higher Education published a thorough analysis of who is borrowing and how much. US News & World Report examined which colleges leave students with the most debt, concluding that it is the for-profit providers such as the University of Phoenix. And newspapers all over the nation, from the Los Angeles Times to the Boston Globe, published hand-wringing features about students going ever deeper in debt. More

A Michigan Tech student has investigated a possible link between two serious medical conditions, atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. As a senior, Wennie Paladino worked with a pioneering group of sleep apnea researchers at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn. She studied 173 patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who had been referred to the clinic for sleep evaluation between 2003 and 2008. More

Should environmental scientists be advocates for environmental policy? To a wildlife ecologist from Michigan Technological University and an environmental ethicist from Michigan State University, the answer is a resounding yes. More

Michigan Tech is realigning programs and support services for a broad range of students to create an outreach and multicultural affairs center. The center will focus on diversity, providing services for all students, including ethnic minorities, women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. More

Chemical engineering senior Benjamin Faubert (blue shirt) answers questions about campus life and assists with the raffle. Click photo for larger view.

Eighty Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw area alumni, family, and friends attended the Great Lakes Loons Baseball game at the Dow Diamond on Saturday, May 30. In the longest game in the history of the Great Lakes Loons franchise, the Peoria Chiefs prevailed, 7-5, in 14 innings at Dow Diamond in Midland.

Alumni ranging from the Class of 1957 to 2008 shared their best Michigan Tech stories to win a wide assortment of Tech Gear in the raffle. Not surprising, many stories involved snow, traveling in snow, and shoveling snow.

Thirtieth Annual Green Bay Golf Outing a Success

More than forty-five alumni and friends ranging from the classes of 1958 to 2008, showed their support for Michigan Tech Athletics on May 20 by attending the thirtieth Annual Green Bay Golf Outing. A record breaking heat for most of the Midwest brought in 86 degrees and sun for the golfers. Luckily the Huskies were well hydrated throughout the eighteen holes.

After golf, everyone enjoyed a great steak dinner with a few an update on Michigan Tech Athletics from Head Football Coach Tom Kearly. The evening was capped off with an amazing assortment of raffle prizes with all proceeds going to Michigan Tech Athletics. Special thanks to Green Bay Chapter leaders Suzanne Berkovitz '85 and Jerry Hintz '79 for another great outing.

Michigan Tech's Pavlis Institute for Global Leadership is offering a special leadership program for high school students from August 8 to 12. This five-day program is designed to expand leadership abilities and enable participants to make a difference in their school, community, and even the world.

• Explore a variety of different leadership styles through hands-on activities.
• Learn from role models working in leadership programs.
• Discover your leadership abilities and how to apply them to your daily life.
• Investigate qualities of strong leaders and find out what makes them effective.
• Meet and discuss leadership traits with current industry leaders.
• Receive firsthand advice from student leaders about international experiences and how their roles affect the lives of others.
• Meet other talented students with similar interests.

Deadline extended until June 8! Program brochure and application form here: http://youthprograms.mtu.edu/docs/Pavlis_bro.pdf Scholarships also available.

Contact the Youth Programs office at (906) 487-2219 or yp@mtu.edu for more information.

A Michigan Tech alumnus has pledged $50,000 in Annual Fund support this fiscal year if we can attract an additional 2,000 Annual Fund gifts by June 30, 2009. Be assured, your gift matters and makes a difference in many ways. Please help us take a step closer to receiving this generous challenge gift which will benefit both current and future Michigan Tech students!

To make your gift to the Annual Fund,

www.mtf.mtu.edu/give

Toll-free 1-877-386-3688

Michigan Tech Fund
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1295

Michigan Tech Nordic skier Jenna Klein (Ely, Minn.) and men’s tennis player Brett Girard (Marquette, Mich.) have both been named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District At-Large by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Klein earned Academic All-District College Division First Team while Girard was selected to the Academic All-District Second Team. More

Eli Vlaisavljevich, a member of the Michigan Tech hockey team, recently added two academic awards to his collection this spring. The Shoreview, Minn, native who already has been honored nationally with a Goldwater Scholarship, recently earned Michigan Tech’s Provost’s Award for Scholarship as well as ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District First Team accolades. More

Michigan Tech athletics has named its major award winners from the 2008-09 season. Jen Jung (Andover, Minn.) and Keith White (Rhinelander, Wis.) were named Raymond L. Smith Award winners as the school’s outstanding senior female and male student-athletes of the year. Petter Sjulstad (Krokstadelva, Norway) and Molly Wiltzius (Kingsford, Mich.) both earned the Terry Wilson Awards as the top freshman student-athletes of 2008-09. Mike VanWagner (Traverse City, Mich.) was selected as the department’s Rick Webster “SISU” Award winner. More

The third annual Superior Showcase, the 45th annual Great Lakes Invitational and a Winter Carnival series vs. Minnesota Duluth highlight Michigan Tech’s upcoming men’s ice hockey schedule, which was announced today by head coach Jamie Russell. The Huskies’ 2009-10 schedule consists of 34 regular season games including 28 Western Collegiate Hockey Association tilts. More

The first brick of the Shelden Avenue streetscape project sat in the Houghton City Council chambers Wednesday night. Next week, it's going on the street. City Manager Scott MacInnes updated the council on streetscape progress during their bi-monthly meeting Wednesday. More

Construction is also underway on the Tech campus, left, including the new watermains under US41/Townsend Drive. Traffic will be rerouted onto Cliff Drive, starting today, Monday, June 1.

Getting the United States to switch over to low- or non-polluting energy sources will probably take many years, and some people and organizations are working to assure that happens sooner than later. Environment Michigan, based in Ann Arbor, is working with the national nonprofit Fund for the Public Interest research organization to conduct a public information campaign about alternative energy. Shelley Vinyard, environmental associate for both groups, said organization representatives will be in Hancock and Houghton during June to explain what they're doing. More

Plans for the eighth annual summer Arts & Music Festival are coming together. The day-long festival will be held on June 13. In a change from previous years, this year's event will be held on Shelden Avenue. Six musical groups will perform at this year's festival, planner Todd Brassard said at Wednesday's Downtown Merchants Association meeting at the Lunch Bag in Houghton. More

As I recall the Sig Rho house burned down at its original location in Houghton just across from the Sherman Gym in 54 or 55.

I remember it was a great loss even though I was a KD. We were kind of similar as a frat and got along very well.

I think they relocated to Chassell at that time and escaped the scrutiny of whatever the group was named that eliminated "social parties at frats".--no beer.

Jim Nyquist

I believe the guy to the right of the miner's cap is Tim Crosby.

Kurt Hintz

Dennis,

I graduated from Tech in 1975. My father, John Walter graduated around 1950. He was a classmate of Dr. Smith (Past President) and Harold (Dean) Meese. I couldn't get away with anything. I could not convince my son to attend Tech. He graduated from the University of North Florida.

Mark Walter (1975)

***

Dennis - Regarding how many family members are Tech alum. Our family has 6 with a 7th attending Tech now. They include myself - Greg Schurig '72, my brother Doug Schurig '73, my wife June Huhtala Schurig '74, our daughter Jennifer Schurig Dykhouse '94, her husband Tony Dykhouse '94, our son Greg Schurig '97 and our nephew (Doug's son) Ryan Schurig is attending Tech now. Hopefully, in another 21 years we can add Jen and Tony's son Liam to that list.

Greg Schurig

***

Dennis,

FYI - Just found another family with many ties to Tech, some School of Business and Economics.

David Williams is President & CEO at Upper Peninsula State Bank in Escanaba. He graduated from business in 83. According to his profile, we have the following:

• Father, George H Williams, 1952 MTU grad
• Brother, George H Williams Jr, 1978 MTU grad
• Brother, Richard W Williams, 1972 MTU grad
• Brother, Daniel J Williams, 1978 MTU grad

Darrell Radson

I read with interest, Gene Foco`s comment. I graduated with Gene and also shared many moments on the football field with him. I also spent many hours in this great building and through an old alumni-Tony Phillipich--40-42 I have a piece of the building.

Jim Nyquist

Editor's Note: We connected Gene and Jim.

Engineering jobs tough to fill, Manpower finds

By Don Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: May 28, 2009

A new survey by Milwaukee-based Manpower Inc. says engineering jobs are the toughest to fill in the United States.

After engineers come nurses; skilled trades; teachers; sales representatives; technicians; drivers; IT staff; laborers; and machinists and machine operators.

"In the four years we have performed this research, the same positions appear on the list again and again," said Jonas Prising, president of the Americas for Manpower. "Despite the current economic instability and high unemployment, there are still skills that the U.S. workforce seems to lack."

"While talk has slowed in the U.S. about the pending talent shortage, it is becoming more clear that there is a talent disconnect," said Melanie Holmes, vice president, world of work solutions for Manpower North America. "Our workforce needs to be more open to retraining and upskilling for jobs that are in demand."

The U.S. findings are part of a Manpower global study in January that surveyed more than 39,000 employers across 33 countries and territories. Positions in the skilled trades, sales, technical work
and engineering remain the most difficult for employers to fill globally.

Manpower surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. employers.

Scott D Hartz

Youth Programs is gearing for another summer of innovative and interactive programming. We offer over seventy different Explorations in areas such as: Bridges, Dams, and Skyscrapers–Building Big; Catapults, Rockets, and Robotics–How Stuff Works; Sports Science; Stop the Hackers! Computer Network and Security; Wolf Ecology; Aquatic Ecology; Digital Photography; Mechanical Engineering; Geology; Aviation and Aerospace; Creative Writing in Nature and History; Journalism; Theater; Mountaineering and Orienteering; Michigan Tech Motor Sports; General Engineering; and Be Smart Be Rich, just to name a few. Travel to our web site at www.youthprograms.mtu.edu to continue exploring the rest of our exciting programming.

As an alumnus or alumna of Michigan Tech you have earned your son or daughter a $50 discount off our normal program fees. Our programs are filling up quickly and we work on a first come first serve basis. Book your adventure today!

Michigan Tech Youth Programs: Where college begins…………….

Michigan Tech alumni exploring new employment opportunities can take advantage of a wide range of career services including:

• Post your resume, search for jobs online using NACElink.
• Attend resume and interviewing seminars, Michigan Tech Career fairs, company information meetings, and career networking events.
• Join the exclusive Michigan Tech Alumni Linkedin group.
• Use the video and career library.

Visit http://alumni.mtu.edu/careertools/ or contact the Career Center (906) 487-2313 career@mtu.edu for more information.

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More Alumni Benefits & Services information http://www.admin.mtu.edu/alumni/products/

Class Rings
Diploma Frames
License Plates
University Images Michigan Tech Clothing and Giftware

Research Associate, Michigan Tech Research Institute, (Based in Ann Arbor, Mich.)

Recruiter and Outreach Coordinator, School of Business and Economics

Complete Job Descriptions are available on the Human Resources website.

Off Campus

http://www.keweenawprofessionaljobs.com/