Embracing Our Flat World

By Stephan Olsson '90
(sbolsson@mtu.edu)
Executive Director of Alumni Relations

Is it just me, or does it seem that the world is getting pretty crazy? The news is dominated with natural disasters, political intrigue, war, economic woes, terrorism, etc. We all seem to be moving towards the unknown. These times are unprecedented for the entire planet. No doubt, they are also unprecedented for Michigan Tech, our students, and the world we serve.

In reacting to the world we work in, many of us on campus recently read New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman's book, The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. In it, Friedman describes the unplanned cascade of technological and social shifts that have effectively leveled the economic world, and "accidentally made Beijing, Bangalore, and Bethesda next-door neighbors." This book really makes you think, and for those of us in higher education, it is a real shot across the bow. It is scary, it gets you thinking, and it makes me, an alum from the 1990s, feel like maybe I have not kept up with everything I should have.

On the other hand, I also consider where I work and the history we have at Michigan Tech. I frequently reflect on the point that our University has always had the uncanny ability to stay ahead of the curve in our ever-changing world. Think of how we have evolved in the last 120 years since the University first opened its doors. Michigan Tech took a leadership plunge in the human race's technological leap of the last century, and has had to literally change its face and outward reach continuously to stay a great institution. Our alums have played a key role in helping to change the world. They were prepared at an institution that understands and values innovation, creativity, leadership, and good old-fashioned hard work!

So, with all of the uncertainty in the world, and with all the near- and long-term challenges we face, I am bolstered with confidence in Michigan Tech. I work to keep caring and influential alums and friends a part of Michigan Tech. Our future looks bright because of our ability, our focus, our history, and our leadership. You can be proud, too. At Michigan Tech, we really do create the future!

Interested in learning more about how MTU is creating the future? Our website is filled with great information! www.mtu.edu.

Regional Alumni Event Schedule

"And the survey says."

The recent electronic survey of over 19,000 alums provided valuable insight that will help the Alumni Association and the University to move forward in providing alums with enhanced services, and highlighted areas where we need to make improvements.

Some of the highlights from the survey include the following:

• The response to the survey was phenomenal. We had close to 5,000 respondents. This simple fact highlights that our alums care about the institution enough to provide their input. A 25-percent response rate is simply unheard of, and deserves note.
• When ranking their academic experience at MTU, 97 percent indicated "good," "great," or "outstanding."
• 95 percent indicated their feeling about Michigan Tech to be "positive" to "loyal."
• 80 percent indicated that the best way to communicate with them is electronically.

The full results of the survey can be found online at www.mtu.edu/alumni.

STARnet Continues to Grow

The Student Alumni Recruitment Network (STARnet) is providing great results. This program, which is designed to engage and train alums in helping Michigan Tech to better recruit great students, is heading into its second academic year.

The results are incredibly promising:

• The list of volunteers is growing. We have had hundreds of alums express interest.
• This year, alumni volunteers will assist the University with recruiting students at national college fairs in places MTU hasn't traditionally gone.
• Spotlight Nights will be held in twelve cities in the Midwest this year. These are events where admitted students are encouraged to explore Michigan Tech and get their questions answered.
• In key markets, alums are leading the charge in getting the word out about Michigan Tech to key schools, community colleges, etc. In California, an alum volunteer is helping to coordinate visits to more than 150 different places.

You can get involved. We're looking for motivated alums who feel comfortable sharing the Tech story with high school student and parents.

Contact Kim Klender, Outreach Coordinator.
Telephone: 906-487-2400
Email: ksklende@mtu.edu
Website: www.mtu.edu/alumni/new/volunteer.

Association Seeks Award Nominees

The Alumni Association nominations committee is always looking for quality nominees for alumni awards, including the Outstanding Young Alumni, Distinguished Alumni, and Outstanding Service awards.

Award-winners are selected at the Winter Carnival meeting each year, with awards presented at the August Alumni Reunion. For more information on the awards and the nominating process, see www.mtu.edu/alumni.

Alumni Reunion 2006

The annual Alumni Reunion 2006 is scheduled for August 3-5 on the Michigan Tech campus. This year's featured classes include Golden M's (those who graduated 50+ years ago), 1956, 1966, 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1996. We will also be celebrating an alumni volleyball reunion.

We recommend that you make your travel and lodging arrangements early. Everyone is invited. Additional event information can be found at www.mtu.edu/alumni.

At the Alumni Reunion Awards Dinner held on August 5, 2005, the Alumni Association proudly recognized the following award winners.

Honorary Alumni Award
George J. Butvilas

George Butvilas is vice chairman of the board of Republic Bancorp in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is a long-standing supporter of Michigan Tech. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1967 and served seven years on active duty in the Navy, including two deployments to Vietnam. He also received an MBA from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and studied at Harvard University's Advanced Management Program. He subsequently served as executive vice president and a director of Boulevard Bancorp of Chicago.

In 1990, George became president and chief executive officer of D&N Bank, headquartered in Hancock. After Republic and D&N merged in 1999, he assumed his current duties.

George has many civic responsibilities. In 2002, he was appointed by President George Bush to the board of the National Veteran Business Development Corporation in Washington, D.C. He serves on the board of directors of Portage Health System in Hancock and was instrumental in establishing the Michigan Tech Enterprise SmartZone.

His ties with the University are strong. He has been involved as a member of the Forestry Honor Academy, the Forestry Advisory Committee, the Michigan Tech Fund Board of Trustees, the McNair Society, the MTU Community Advisory Council, and the Advisory Board of the Applied Portfolio Management Program in the School of Business. George and his wife, Barbara, have supported the Portage Lake Golf Course, the Rozsa Center, the cross-country and alpine ski teams, the football program, and the Seaman Mineral Museum.

Outstanding Service Award
Donald A. Daavettila '56

Don Daavettila earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in engineering physics from Michigan Tech in 1956 and 1958 respectively. He was named professor emeritus of physics in 2000.

Don began his career as a scientist at Argonne National Laboratory for more than five years. He then became a nuclear test engineer at the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Plant in Monroe, Michigan, before joining Michigan Tech's nuclear engineering program in 1964. He became an assistant professor in the physics department in 1969. He received the State of Michigan Excellence in Teaching Award in 1991 and Michigan Tech's Distinguished Teaching Award in 1994.

He has been involved in many athletic programs, including more than thirty years as the timing official and manager of off-ice officials for home hockey games and membership on the Athletic Council. He received an honorary varsity letter in 2002, was inducted into the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, and received an honorary varsity blanket in 2005.

Don was the graduate advisor for many master's theses related to nuclear engineering and organized a nuclear symposium during Tech's centennial celebration in 1985. He retired in 2000, but continued to teach in physics for several years. He serves as the University's radiation safety officer, a role in which he is the liaison with such governmental groups as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He is also the radiation defense officer for Houghton County, and has served as the faculty advisor of the student chapter of the American Nuclear Society.

Don has been faculty advisor for four fraternities and sororities and Omicron Delta Kappa, the national student leadership honor society.

Don was a volunteer for Tech's centennial fundraising effort in the mid-1980s. He and his wife, Charlotte, continue to support Michigan Tech.