Recent Corporate Support | Merit Award Winners | Herbert Fluharty | Another Theory of Relativity

Recent Corporate Support Provided to Michigan Tech

Another Theory of Relativity

For more information, call the Office of Planned Giving at 906-487-3325, send an e-mail to ehalonen@mtu.edu, or click here to fill out a Planned Giving Form.

If you have already included Michigan Tech in your estate plans, please let us know so that we can honor you as a member of our McNair Society. The McNair Society was established to recognize all those who have provided for Michigan Tech through a specific bequest or a planned gift.

Two Seniors named Merit Award Winners

Jennifer Bzura and Jason Gillespie are the recipients of the 2005 Michigan Tech Fund Award. The selection committee named six other Michigan Tech students as "nominees of distinction".

The Michigan Tech Fund recognizes two seniors-a woman and a man-for their academic and service achievements.

Bzura has a 3.50 grade point average in chemical engineering. She served as president of the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and vice-president of the honorary society Omega Chi Epsilon. She also organized the "Make-A-Difference-Day" at Michigan Tech.

In addition to several cooperative education assignments with Dow Chemical and BASF Corporation, Bzura also found time to serve as Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival queen. Her hometown is Wyandotte, Michigan.

Gillespie hails from Oscoda, Michigan, and received a degree in mechanical engineering, graduating with a 3.97 GPA. He was actively involved with campus and community activities through the MTU Peer Mentoring Program, a coach with Chemistry Learning Center, an Orientation Team Leader, member of the Varsity Cross Country Track team, MTU Concert Choir, and Campus Crusade for Christ.

Nominees of Distinction include Mark Griep, Travis Hutchins, Melissa Kanzelberger, Kristen Karnowski, Meghan McGee, and Sakiko Suzuki.

Each Merit Award recipient receives a framed photo of the campus and awards of $1,000 each for their departments' scholarship funds. The Nominees of Distinction receive awards of $250 each.

During 2003-04 the Michigan Tech Fund, which operates the university's giving program, raised $18.9 million.

Herbert (Herb) Fluharty

Herbert (Herb) Fluharty, 62, is a native of Rosebush, Michigan. He and his wife Christine, a native of Hancock, live in Traverse City, Michigan, and Scottsdale, Arizona. They have four children. Fluharty graduated from Tech with a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering in 1965. After working for several years in industry, he and his wife founded Mears Engineering, in Rosebush, in 1970. It started out as civil engineering and surveying firm. Today it specializes in horizontal drilling, which features drilling beneath wetlands or water-an "environment-driven" technology. In 2000, Mears became a part of Quanta Services Group. Fluharty is a member of the Michigan Tech Fund Board of Trustees and the 1885 Society. He also has hosted get-togethers with other alumni at his home-occasions that he hopes spurs others to support Tech.

Why did you come to MTU?

My brother came up earlier and he gave me the good word: Tech was the best for civil engineering.

What were your goals and dreams at the time?

 I didn't endeavor to be anything in particular. I just wanted to graduate and get a good job.

How did you pay for your schooling?

My father paid for my tuition and books. I also bartended.

Who was your favorite professor and why?

E. P. Wiedenhoefer. He stood out for practical reasons. He encouraged you to become a professional engineer and pushed you in that direction.

What are your hobbies and other interests?

Skiing. Travel. Habitat for Humanity. Golf. I still work.

What was the last book you read?

A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush, by David Aikman.

What is your fondest memory of your college days?

Some of the guys in our fraternity were mentors. They were Korean War veterans. They were older and kept you out of trouble. They gave you stability. Plus I met my soul mate, and she grew fonder as the years went on.

What was hardest for you?

The amount of study and time and effort that should be put in. I wasn't particularly a good student. I wasn't a bad student, but I didn't excel. I quit school twice. The first time with encouragement from Michigan Tech. The second time because I got married. After the second time I made the Dean's List. That was unusual for me. That's how motivated a little child can make you.

How well did Tech prepare you for your career?

Outstanding. Of course, I didn't realize when I was there that Tech was among the elite engineering schools. When I started my own business, I really was confident that, because I graduated from Michigan Tech, I had added credentials.

What did it take to get you where you are now?

People trusting you. I would say that everybody who accomplishes anything has to have a sponsor along the way-somebody to give you the opportunity to do something you've never done but they are going to take a chance on you.

What has been your most significant accomplishment?

I don't know if I have one. Maybe taking a business from zero and building it into a public company. One thing we did do-we allowed people to do what they do best and that's what makes a business grow.

What is your motto or philosophy of life.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

What advice on how to be successful would you give to Tech students and young alumni?

I think success is doing something well that is helpful to other people. To do that, you have to take two paths simultaneously-the faith walk and the professional walk. Do what you do well and enjoy it. I think people are attracted to that.

Why do you give to the University?

Tech was the place where I realized that I could be anything I wanted to be. It was a wholesome place. The university had the credentials and an intimate size. They cared for you. It had such an impact on the rest of my life.