
Pride in the moment.
Entering the SDC just before the Midyear Commencement ceremony, I ran across some family members anxiously awaiting the event.
Ruth and Don Suchomski, from Wausau, Wisconsin, were waiting to watch their son, Mike, get his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
"He'll be working with Nexteer in Saginaw," she said. "He'll be working on electrical power steering systems." Grandparents Ray and Arlene Suchomski were also in attendance. Ruth was going to remind Mike to phone home, often.
Matt Swanson was getting photographed in the Multipurpose Room with wife, Anna, by sister-in-law Emily Thompson. Somehow, Matt got his PhD in Materials Science while they raised two children, now ages three and one!
Matt will be working at the CERL (Construction Engineering Research Laboratory) in Champaign, Illinois, focusing on energy systems.
A Chassell couple I knew was hurrying to their seats. The Violas, Tim Sr. and Audrey, were awaiting Tim Jr.'s walk on the stage to get his bachelor's in mechanical engineering.
"He'll be working with [local engineering firm] GS Engineering, starting Monday," the elder Tim said. Audrey was happy that their son could remain close to home after getting his degree.
Finally, Kim DeBusshere was waiting with her husband, Paul, outside the Multipurpose Room. Their son, Sean, was getting his bachelor's in mathematics at age 20 and looking at graduate school at Tech or elsewhere. From Traverse City, Kim said that they are inspired by Sean."It was hard, though," said Paul.
"It's a hard school," I responded, with pride.
You can share your commencement stories through the 125th anniversary website or the Alumni Association Facebook page. You can send me your memories, too, of course.
***
Snowfall Contest
The Alumni Relations Office is kicking off their first Snowfall Contest, and you are invited to participate!
They'll be looking for total number of inches for the year and the last measurable snowfall at the Keweenaw Research Center (where we get our snowfall stats).
You'll have until January 15 to enter, and winners will be announced by June 1, 2011.
The grand prize will be a free hotel stay at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. There will also be prizes of winter survival kits: chooks, scrapers, etc.!
Simply go to www.mtu.edu/snowfall and enter your best guesses.
Then, sit back (and laugh, if you wish), as the Keweenaw gets buried (or not) this year.








Hey Dennis, I'm wondering if the B. F. Sager who sent the photo of the
KD


He
is one of the top 100 inventors under 35-years-old in the world according
to MIT. He is a 1990 Michigan Tech graduate in metallurgical engineering.
He is a holder of seven patents and an author of 40 refereed publications..