Alumni Director Olsson Moves On

Steph Olsson '90 has a lot of great memories and good stories to tell about his eight years as director of alumni relations. Some of them are so good that he won't even share them. But as he leaves to run his in-law's insurance and real estate business in nearby Hancock, he recounts what it's like to travel the country visiting with hundreds of his favorite people and bearing the Copper Country's signature meat-and-potato pie—the pasty.

Olsson has been at the University since 1996, and he can't say enough good things about the University's friends and former students. Perhaps the only thing he might not miss about his years getting to know Michigan Tech's sixty thousand-plus graduates is bringing them pasties.

Not that he doesn't like pasties. "I love them," he insists. "But I've been thinking of writing a book, and I could devote a whole chapter just to traveling with pasties."

"I've had a pilot say, 'I apologize for the smell on the plane, but we have the alumni director from Michigan Tech here with four hundred pasties,'" he laughs. Even at that, hauling pasties by the gross as far away as Anchorage, Alaska, has had its compensations. "People just loved it," he says. "All the work was OK, because everyone really appreciated them."

With so much experience, does he want to weigh in on the great pasty debate?

"No!" declares Olsson, who prefers to sidestep such hard-edged controversy. "I never say whether I like them with gravy or catsup. They're good both ways."

Pasties join pickled eggs and snow as ties that bind Michigan Tech alumni to their college days. "They are proud to have survived the winters," he says. "Even if they end up in Arizona, they still look fondly on the climate here. Some cringe when they remember the winters, others are envious of us who still get to live here, but everyone appreciates the experience."

After years of interacting with alumni directors at other schools, Olsson has concluded that Michigan Tech's alumni are a breed apart. "I've tried to put my finger on it, and I think it's because of the quality of people who decide to come to Michigan Tech: hardy, analytical, and smart," he says. "And they are committed-you have to be to come here."

Michigan Tech's work ethic serves alumni in good stead when they enter the job market, and they often repay the University through gifts and goodwill. "When I'm wearing my MTU hat, people will step out of a crowd and say, 'Hey! Michigan Tech! I went there,' or 'My dad went there,'" says Olsson.

Getting to know these people, from major donors to the Alumni Board to the greenest of new graduates, has been the best part of the job, he says, and he'll miss it.

"It's going to be a real challenge to put my truck in a different direction every morning."

Editor's note: We've appreciated working with Steph over the years and wish him much success in his new endeavors.

Theta Tau Celebrates a Century of Leadership

Theta Tau's 1965 first-place Winter Carnival statue.

In 1904, the world's first professional engineering fraternity was established at the University of Minnesota. Called the Society of Hammer and Tongs, the fledgling fraternity quickly spread to Michigan Tech—then the Michigan College of Mines—when, in 1906, a new group on campus, the Rhombohedron Club, was invited to become the fraternity's Beta Chapter.

Soon renamed Theta Tau, the fraternity kept as emblem the hammer and tongs, which are ancient tools and symbols of the engineering profession, and these remain prominent today in the group's graphics and on its fraternity pin. Members of Theta Tau are still known as "H and Ts."

The life of the Beta Chapter has been closely interwoven with the history of Michigan Tech. The J. R. Van Pelt Library, the R. L. Smith ME-EM Building, and Fisher Hall all stand in tribute to Theta Tau members: J. R. Van Pelt, fifth president of Tech; Raymond L. Smith, sixth president; and James Fisher, legendary physics and math professor.

A. E. Seaman

Further, A. E. Seaman, who headed the Department of Geology and the mineral museum that today bears his name, was an H and T, as was James Klungness, who chaired Michigan Tech's campaign that built the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts; James Mitchell, former chair of the Board of Control; several other board members; several Michigan Tech Fund presidents; and numerous trustees and professors.

The H and Ts have contributed steadily to the legend and lore of Michigan Tech, especially during the 1950s and 1960s when they were feisty competitors in Tech's Winter Carnival, frequently winning the overall Winter Carnival trophy. H and Ts also have served in student organizations, including Undergraduate Student Government and Blue Key National Honor Fraternity.

Having survived a chapter house fire on College Avenue in the spring of 1962, Theta Tau now resides on Anchor Hill, in the stately home originally built by James Dee, of Dee Stadium renown. The Administration Building now occupies the former site of the Theta Tau chapter house.

In mid-September, H and Ts from around the world gathered on campus to celebrate the group's centennial. The crowning event was the initiation of David House, class of '65, electrical engineering, as an honorary member. The ceremony was followed by a reception and banquet in the Memorial Union. House, who is prominent in the computer industry, is a member of Michigan Tech's Hubbell Society. As an honorary member of Theta Tau, he joins H and T alumni who have brought honor to Michigan Tech through their contributions to science and industry.

Your IRA—An Opportunity to Support Michigan Tech

After providing for yourself and your family, IRA and other retirement plan assets can be a very tax-effective way to support Michigan Tech. Leaving surplus retirement plan assets to individual heirs can subject these funds to both estate and income taxes. On the other hand, a bequest of all or a portion of your IRA assets to a charitable organization avoids this double taxation so that 100 percent of these assets can be used by Michigan Tech for the department or program of your choice.

And, if you are age 701¼2 or older, you can begin your legacy now!

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 provides a new charitable-giving opportunity for those who are at least age 701¼2. You can give up to $100,000 annually from your IRA to qualified charities like the Michigan Tech Fund—in years 2006 and 2007 only—without increasing your taxes. These gifts will count toward your required IRA minimum distribution. Also, this is a great way for those taking a standard deduction to avoid the income tax otherwise payable.

To learn more about this new opportunity and other tax-benefiting uses of IRA assets, call our Office of Gift Planning at 906-487-3325, send an email to ehalonen@mtu.edu, or visit our web site located here.

       © 2006, Michigan Tech Magazine

       Michigan Tech Magazine | Fall 2006 | http://www.mtu.edu/