Warm up the jet.

Most of the snow has melted around the SDC Gym. It's no wonder. The heat generated by the women's basketball team and their fan support is enough to cause some real climate change.

At the end of the Division II Midwest Regional Championship Game Tuesday night, the heat and noise was unreal. 3,131 people, the largest crowd ever to witness a women's game, were on their feet cheering as Sarah Stream stood alone bouncing the ball, one finger in the air.

Goose bump moment.

But this was no cakewalk. Drury University came to play, with two Division I-caliber guards, they kept creeping back into the game, down by only two points early in the second half. There was no relaxing until just under five minutes remained and the Huskies were up by fifteen.

Then there was time to look around appreciate what was happening: the community and campus was there as one voice, and they just kept getting louder. One fan, on the way out, remarked that the crowd went nuts instantly on the first Huskies basket and never stopped. He was right.

Believe it or not, it was hot enough, in mid-March, to open the doors to the gym to cool off the fans and team as they cut down the nets.

This is a special team, with five starting seniors who are all tremendously talented, a potential all-American and player of the year, one of the best three-point shooters in the nation, another leader in assists and steals, another clears the boards, and a coach who has marshaled all that talent into a team that does not ever quit.

Oh, and their defense is iron-clad. And, they play clean. And they can shoot: 65 percent versus Drury! And their team GPA is 3.6. And they have two Academic All-Americans, another first.

So, as I write this, a snowstorm is blasting St. Joseph, Missouri, home to the Elite 8 and the next game for the Huskies.

But, don't worry, Mizzou. We're sending down the cure for your cold weather. You can break out your t-shirts.

Dennis '92, '09

***

We are still collecting stories, and my Alumni Association connection notified me of a great discussion happening on Facebook about why alums chose Tech. And the action is picking up on the 125th anniversary website. Join in the conversations!

You can send your memories to me, too.

Snowfall totals
As mentioned, the Huskies have taken care of that!

Michigan Tech's snowmobile.

For the second year running, the University of Wisconsin–Madison rode to the top of both divisions of the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, held March 15-20 at Michigan Technological University. "It came down to having a running sled the whole time," said team captain Jacob Mauermann. "The warm weather made it difficult for everyone, so at the end of the day, it was about reliability as much as design." More

Michigan Tech has received $650,000 in federal stimulus funding to support a pilot project to reduce ash tree mortality in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The project, called SLAM (SLow Ash Mortality), is designed to slow the spread of the emerald ash borer and protect the UP’s ash trees. The emerald ash borer, an invasive species from Asia, has been discovered in Michigan—including Houghton County—and threatens at least 15 species of native ash. More

A busload of Michigan Tech students will join college and university students from across Michigan at a massive rally in Lansing on March 25. They will gather on the lawn in front of the Capitol to protest higher education funding cuts and to urge Michigan's legislators to support higher education adequately. "Lansing's math doesn't add up," they will tell the state's policymakers. More

Michigan Tech students Kara Oikarinen and Nicole VanBelle have been named winners of prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships for study abroad. They were among 900 undergraduates selected for the competitive scholarships from more than 3,000 applicants nationwide. More

The Coca-Cola Foundation has donated $10,000 on behalf of Coca-Cola of Hancock to support the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge. The SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, set for March 15-20 at Michigan Technological University, is a collegiate design competition of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Engineering students from 19 participating schools are reengineering stock snowmobiles to reduce emissions and noise while maintaining or boosting performance. More

Alternate Spring Break in Florida.

2010 saw a huge number of Alternative Spring Break Trips with enthusiastic participation!

The Student Activities Office hosted four Alternative Spring Break trips supporting a total of 125 Michigan Tech students who volunteered their time to help others for a total of 5,000 hours served in one week!

A group of seven students returned to Panama City Beach, Florida to "Keep the Beach Clean."  As they did previously in 2009, students cleaned up litter and educated other spring breakers about the impact of beach litter on the local ecosystem.

Mullens, West Virginia hosted a small group of skilled students who helped fight poverty with a variety of projects including mechanical and wood working tasks.  The Mullens Community Center is run by the Rural Appalachian Improvement League (RAIL).  Students are highlighted working and being interviewed about their project  in this video.


Working hard in Puerto Rico.

Tech students stayed at the University residence in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, and assisted the campus and local community through a new National Exchange collaboration established with the Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico. 

And finally, a group of students constructed a building to benefit the local community, while learning about sustainable adobe construction in Guatemala. 

Tech’s Outdoor Adventure Program and various student organizations also hosted a number of Spring Break trips for students.  There are opportunities for alumni to participating in some of the Alternative Spring Break activities.

If you would be interested in learning more, contact alumni@mtu.edu.

A recap of all trips
10 – EcoDevelopment Puerto Rico
3 – Repairing Homes in West Virginia
7 – Sustainable Construction in Guatemala
7 – Keeping the Beach Clean in Florida
6 – Canoeing the Buffalo River, OAP
10 – Hiking in the Grand Canyon, OAP
20 – Habitat for Humanity in Texas
28 – Campus Crusade for Christ in Florida
3 – Campus Crusade for Christ in Mexico
3 – His House Christian Fellowship in Mexico
7 – InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Chicago
15 – St. Albert the Great in Chicago
6 – St. Albert the Great in Wisconsin

This old view of Van Orden's hill took me back. You can see the old roundhouse, too. Any memories? Email me.

IT Oxygen meeting from 2006. It's clickable. Email me.

Michigan Tech Headed to Elite 8 Again after 84-68 Win over Drury!
Senior Danae Danen poured in 30 points to go with 12 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Michigan Tech women’s basketball team to an 84-68 NCAA Midwest Regional Championship victory over Drury and a return trip to the NCAA Elite 8. The homestanding Huskies blistered the nets at a 65-percent clip in front of 3,131 crazy fans—the largest crowd to witness a women’s basketball game at the SDC Gym. Tech, which claimed its school-record 31st win on the evening, will face Emporia State in a national quarterfinal game in St. Joseph, Mo., on Tuesday (Mar. 23) at 9:30 p.m. (ET). More

Michigan Tech will play in its second straight NCAA Women’s Basketball Elite 8 starting next week. The Huskies face Emporia State on Tuesday (Mar. 23) at 9:30 p.m. (ET) in a national quarterfinal game. Click on the link for details on how Michigan Tech fans and alumni can follow the Huskies at the Elite 8 and the full schedule of games. More

Michigan Tech senior Eli Vlaisavljevich was named the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year the league announced Thursday (March 18). Vlaisavljevich joins Geoff Sarjeant (1992) as the only Huskies to earn the award. Vlaisavljevich, a senior defenseman from Shoreview, Minn., has been named a WCHA Scholar-Athlete three times and to the All-WCHA Academic Team three times during his collegiate career at Michigan Tech. He currently carries a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average in biomedical engineering. More

If you fall through the ice, it's good to have people to pull you back up. That was the case the evening of March 13 on Otter Lake, when two people were pulled from the ice, including one of the rescuers. About 10:45 p.m., Steve Nash, who was vacationing at a cabin on the lake, heard a snowmobile out on the lake. After stepping outside, he heard a cry for help. More

Area schools outperformed the rest of the state overall in the Michigan Education Assessment Program released Friday, while also improving on last year's scores in most areas. In each of the 16 tests, more than 70 percent of local districts had a above-state-average percentage of students meeting or exceeding state proficiency levels. In fourth-, fifth- and seventh-grade math and ninth-grade social studies, the state average was bested by all but one district. More

The Copper Harbor Trails Club is spearheading a project to build a dream trail along Keweenaw Point, and set out for Washington, D.C. to help make their dream a reality. The trail, which will follow the Lake Superior Shoreline at the tip of the Keweenaw, would be a non-motorized, multi-use trail with primitive campsites dotting the Keweenaw Point, Dan Kauppi, member of the trails club, said. More

Hi Dennis,

I have more of an extended family legacy...

My dad, Tom Byle, graduated in 1972 in Civil Engineering.

I (Jennifer Byle) graduated in 2005 in Civil Engineering (people tell me the apple didn't fall too far from the tree, haha)

My uncle, Brian Horstman (my dad's brother in law), graduated in 1979 in Liberal Arts.

My dad's cousin, Eric Lambers, graduated in 1974 in Metallurgy.

My dad also had a bunch of second cousins that graduated from MTU:
Tom Geske, 1980, Electrical Engineering
Brian Bueche, 1981, Civil Engineering
Maureen Bueche, 1981, Civil Engineering
Joseph Bueche, 1983, Electrical Engineering
Louis Bueche, 1986, Computer Science

In addition, Brian's wife, Mary Jo Bueche (Williams), graduated in 1979 in Nursing Technology.

The picture I've attached is of my dad and I on my graduation day in 2005 :-)

Jennifer Byle

***

My Father graduated in 1966 with Chemical Engineer Degree, Robert C Kramer
My sister was born in Hancock right after my father Graduated
My Uncle graduated in 1957/58? with Electrical Engineer Degree, Jack Kramer
My Husband Graduated in 1993 with Electrical Engineer Degree, Andrew J. Monique
My Brother-In Law Graduated in 1992 With a Biology Degree, Greg Denoyer. (He currently works with computers)
I graduated in 1993 with an Environmental Engineer Degree, Eileen C. Kramer (Monique)

Hope this is helpful.

Eileen Monique 93

***

Hi,
Here's our story:
My husband~~Thomas Russell Duvendack, Forestry '72
Nephew George Duvendack, Geo Engineering (early 90s?)
Nephew Paul Thomas Duvendack, Elec Engineering
Geo and Paul are brothers, attended Tech because Uncle Tom did.
Kelly Brugillo (sp) Duvendack, Mech Eng, met and married Paul Duv.

Thanks,
Marianne Britt Duvendack (Alma College '77)

PS Tom retired after 30 years as Manager/Ranger with the Metroparks of the Toledo Area, Geo is a Manager with Waste Management in Portland OR. Paul is Project Engineer at Delphi (or whatever it's called this week) in Saginaw. Kelly is work-at-home- mom with 4 kids.

***

While not as impressive as some you will receive, we do have a strong MTU connection:

Richard G Cottrell, BSEE 1973, worked 36+ years for Consumers Energy until his retirement March 1st. Wife Ruth I Tyler [Cottrell] attended Michigan Tech 1969-70, before graduating with a BS Nursing from Northern in 1973

Son Jeffrey D Cottrell, BS Chemical Engr 1998, works for Eli Lilly in Indianapolis
his wife Kim V Loomis, BS Environmental Engr 1999 [I think], works for the State of Indiana

Grandchildren are all under 6 years of age, but we are working on them to go to Tech!! Only time will tell.

Rich Cottrell

***

I graduated in December 1971 in Metallurgical Engineering, following my Dad (Theodre John Albrecht ’48), and my cousin (L. E. Albrecht attended the same time I did (Bus Ad)).

M. C, (Mike) Albrecht, P.E.(Az)

***

I come from a Tech family. I was an infant when my father, Jay Lutey, was a student at MTU from 74-77, and attended Tech myself in the 90s, graduating with the class of 97. My great uncles, Hans Lutey and Stan Arducant both attended MTU, as did my uncles Bruce Harma and Joe Vizanko, and my cousin Steve Vizanko. My son was born while I was a Tech student, and he's got one year of attending they Summer Youth Program under his belt.

Amanda Lutey

***

My son, Keith J. Antosh will graduate this year with a degree in Economics. My cousins, so Keith’s second cousins, Glen Eriksson (MTU grad ’83?) and Alan Eriksson (’85 or ‘86?) both in Engineering, I think Civil.

Diane

***

There have been a couple of Bittners at da tech.

Daniel Bittner '41, BSEE
David Bittner '69, BSEE, Daniel's son
Kathy (Bittner) Evens '74, BS Med Tech, Daniel's niece
James Bittner '08, BSCE, Daniel's grandson, David's nephew

***

Hi, Dennis!
My father (Thomas Carmody) was a Tech Grad (Civil Engineering in the early 60’s). My Mom’s brother (Michael Drewyor) is also a Tech Grad (Civil Engineering & Land Surveying in the early 70’s). I graduated from Tech in 1993 and 1995 with a BS & MS in Civil Engineering. Mike’s daughter (Jennifer Drewyor) graduated from Tech (Scientific and Technical Communication in the mid 2000’s).

I picked Tech because it was a great school, in a cool location and near family. It ended up being one of the greatest experiences! I not only got a great education, I made life long friends and developed an incredible bond with my Aunt, Uncle & cousins in Houghton. They are my 2nd family.

My Aunt Judy (Mike’s wife) worked at Tech prior to them marrying & leaving Houghton. They returned and she worked at Tech again before leaving to raise their children.

My Uncle Mike is now a lecturer in the Civil Engineering Department and my cousin Jenny is applying to grad school.

My Tech connection does not run very deep or wide. I would like to see that change! But, I think it will be tough to convince a Florida born child to venture to Houghton for college! My daughter is only two, but flip flops are a way of life for her!

Have a great week!

Sarah Wicker

Hi Dennis, I may be a little late, however, I can add a little light on the pic. The year was 1966 or 67. The team wearing the lettered jerseys is Kappa Delta Psi, and I can identify some of my brothers.` From left to right on the Blue Line ; # 1= Tom Worley....# 4= Dick Sieradzki....#5= Dennis Huculak...#6 and standing in front of the Blue Line= Bob Wozniak...at the very bottom of the pic, wearing #2=Jim Hansen....at the right of the action is Al Hartman.....The KD's won 6 to Zip, just kidding....Great guys, I wish we could all party tonite.....

Great Job Dennis, keep them coming....

Thanks, Paul Butkovich

Denny, Wow, that is an easy one.Doc had a part in a presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” and this was a picture from a rehearsal. He always spoke very fondly about that event. Even I am too young to have seen this presentation as I am sure all Phi-Phi’s are.

Bill 60’ (MTU ’89 and Lambda Chi Alpha – Phi Phi 138)

***

I was a grad student in chemistry starting in Jan 1966 til June 1967. Of course, I taught freshmen chem lab which meant I interacted with Doc Berry. Shortly after I came to the Tech campus, Doc Berry invited me to his home one evening "just to get to know me a bit better".

He met me at the his door in some sort of red smoking jacket with the obligatory cigarette in hand. In fact, everything smelled strongly from cigarette smoking. For whatever reason, nobody else in his family was home at the time. We sat for awhile in his living room and talked about how I was getting along in the department and if all was as expected. Out of the blue he started telling me about his family history and that some of his relatives were written about in Ivanhoe, much to his and his son's joy. After a brief, at least on my part, discussion of Ivanhoe and the relevant relatives, we went on to other things and eventually Doc Berry proceeded to show me his agate collection and to give me pointers on how to tell an agate from other "rocks" found primarily on the shores of Lake Superior. One of the tests was to lick the rock and if it was very smooth, it could be an agate. After having licked, profusely I might add, a specific rock from his collection, he then handed it to me so that I could lick it and see how smooth it felt. I was not enthralled with the idea of licking a spit covered rock after his demonstration but being the new guy and not wanting to alienate one of my department's professors, I with some reluctance licked the agate by just barely touching the tip of my tongue to the rock. It was not much of a lick and he told me, not asked, to give it a good lick so that I could get a real feel for the smoothness. Finally, I gave up all hope of minimizing my involvement and gave the rock a good lick. Yes, it was smooth.

I never accepted another offer to visit him nor did I ever lick another rock until years later when I visited the chemistry department and Dean Luehrs, his wife, and I went to Superior and actually looked and found agates fresh "from the shore". As I write this I am getting a strange feeling in my mouth and will never forget Doc Berry because of that evening lesson.

Back to the News Letter, you wondered if there was any info concerning the picture of Doc Berry engaged in some sort of sword play, although speculation, perhaps Doc Berry was giving some other student a few pointers of sword play based upon his family background.

Ken Abate, MS '67

***

If memory serves correctly.. IF....

I believe Doc was the faculty advisor for the fencing club. Although this could be another one of his "motivational" techniques.

Doc was a great and gentle man... had the greatest memory of any person I have ever met.


Rod Kuncaitis
1986 ish

Dennis, I was surprised to see myself with Dr. Bredekamp, Fred Olesek, and Bill Carmody on the scrolling photos in the March 8 Newsletter. It brought back some fond memories of all nighters to prepare the unit operations reports in the Chem E Senior Lab. My we were once young.

I also was interested in Merle Potter's comment on the Portage lake (canal ?) bridge. There may have been two incidents with the old turning bridge. In either the fall of 1960 or spring of 1961 I witnessed the following incident while waiting on the bridge to close so that we could get to Houghton. The bridge was open. During construction of the new bridge, the north channel (Hancock side) was for ship traffic and the south channel had a caisson located right in the middle of it. An empty ore boat was heading straight for the caisson in the wrong channel. The bridge attendant and the ship's captain were yelling (maybe swearing) at each other as the ship just touched ever so lightly the caisson and began backing off. I believe the ship also dropped anchor in trying to stop and tore up communication cables. Luckily, or unluckily, the bridge closed and we arrived at out classes on time.

I did take statics and dynamics during Merle Potter's tenure at Tech but I believe I was in other sections. I hope to get to the 2011 reunion.

Thanks for the interesting remembrances.

Dave Knoebel, CHE '61

Hello Dennis, The “bridge house” was on the SW corner of Bridge and Montezuma. It was owned by a family called Provenchure. Bernard was graduated from Houghton High in 1957, along with Hugh Makens and Jim Pruner (MTU ’61). I lived two blocks from that house but Dan Matero (MTU ’62) was even closer.

Thanks for the newsletter.

Don Nancarrow (MTU ’64)

Good Morning, Dennis.

I'd like to ask for support from my fellow alumni as my family and I walk to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research and support.

Since my MS diagnosis in 2005, we have been active in working to find a cure and to help raise funds for the National MS Society to continue providing services to those whose lives are affected by this unpredictable, disabling disease. Donations of even $5 or $10 can make a huge difference. My fundraising page is at this site.

Thank you in advance and thanks for the newsletter!

Michelle (Schwerha) Baker
EGE, 1995

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***

More Alumni Benefits and Services information http://www.mtu.edu/alumni/products/gear/

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

Assistant Professor in Genetics, Biological Sciences, Tenure Track

Laboratory Supervisor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Pruett Postdoctoral Fellow, Fixed Term Position, Chemistry

Non-Tenure Track Position in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics/Keweenaw Research Center, Research Assistant/Associate/Professor and Project Manager

Coordinator, Outdoor Adventure Program, Student Activities

Complete Job Descriptions are available on the Human Resources website.

Off Campus

Looking for a recent graduate BS Metallurgical Engineer. My client is a Grey & Ductile Iron Foundry in Pennsylvania. Hands on floor position 1st shift working with the melt crew.

Nick Kadamian
Vice President and
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262-886-8000 x224
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www.mrracine.com

***

http://www.informa.com.au/conferences/transport/rail/rail-careers-2010-P10M18

Thought this might be of interest. Great idea. Get to work in a foreign country that speaks English, get paid ex-pat wages and stay for a year and not pay any income tax in US. Of course, they drive on the wrong side of the road.

Bob

Robert E. Brown, Publisher
Magnesium Monthly Review
226 Deer Trace
Prattville, Alabama 36067

***

http://www.keweenawprofessionaljobs.com/