Great Traditions and Important Initiatives
Meeting Notice
Election of directors and officers of the Alumni Association Board of Directors will take place at the biennial meeting of the Michigan Tech Alumni Association on Friday, August 8 in the Memorial Union Ballroom on the Michigan Tech campus.
Regional Alumni Event Schedule
- May 3
- Spring Commencement
- May 10
- Chicago Cubs alumni outing, Chicago, IL
- May 15
- KAC Keweenaw Brewing Company Warehouse Tour, South Range, MI
- May 17
- Golf Outing, Green Bay, WI
- May 31
- MPR Radio Show Taping Don Chouinard, Café Europa, St. Paul, MN
- May 31
- West Michigan Golf Outing, Grand Rapids, MI
- July 11
- Golf Outing, Sawmill Golf Club, Saginaw, MI
- July 13
- 3rd Annual Detroit Tiger Outing, Detroit, MI
- August 7–9
- Michigan Tech Alumni Reunion
One of the great things about meeting fellow Michigan Tech alumni as I had an opportunity to do during a recent trip to Los Angeles, is that regardless of how many years separate our campus experiences, our Tech traditions connect us! K-Day, Homecoming Hobo Parades, Winter Carnival, Spring Fling, Senior Walk, bonfires on the beach, skiing Mont Ripley, golfing at Portage, and even pickled eggs and pasties with ketchup or gravy (whether you love them or not!). These common experiences are unique to Michigan Tech alumni.
Your Alumni Association is working hard to develop programs that allow our members to play a role in helping to create engaging learning opportunities for Michigan Tech students. Our goal is to help alumni
- Stay involved with the University
- Get connected with fellow alumni and students
- Contribute time and resources to support the University
A key initiative is the development of campus programming to make students aware of the value of their Michigan Tech alumni network. Whether it is getting information on a new community to live through our Husky on the Move website or connecting with a Tech grad within the corporation they will be interning with, alumni are valuable resources for students.
Michigan Tech alumni have a proud history of service to the University. Sharing your experience and talents with the institution, the students, and each other benefits us all. I encourage you to get involved any way you can.
As always, I welcome your comments, care of the Office of Alumni Relations, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931 or by email alumni@mtu.edu.
Romuald J. LaPointe '92 (Rom)
President, Michigan Tech Alumni Association
Save the Date for Reunion '08
Remember, reminisce, and reconnect at Michigan Tech's 2008 Alumni Reunion, August 7, 8, and 9. Featured classes will be the Golden M's (those who graduated fifty-plus years ago) and the Classes of '58, '68, '78, '83, '88, and '98. We will also be hosting a Huskies football alumni reunion. We recommend that you book your travel and accommodations early. Visit the alumni reunion page for event details.
First in the Family
Dennis Staley '57 was the first in his family to attend college. He chose Michigan Tech, and he's never regretted the decision. After earning his bachelor's degree in metallurgical and materials engineering, he spent most of his career in the energy industry with Panhandle Eastern Corporation in Houston.
This man of few words sums up his Tech education as excellent, his guiding philosophy as honesty, and the key to his success being hard work. "I grew up on a farm. I know what it takes to get an education and succeed. You've got to work."
His career with Panhandle culminated as group vice president. He retired in 1991 and now has two hobby shops: one for woodworking; one for restoring old tractors and cars from the 1920s and 1930s.
He and his wife support his alma mater through the Dennis and Barbara Staley Endowment. He wants to help students, in perpetuity, to get an education that prepares them to compete "in the world, not just the US."
Dennis sees Michigan Tech's role in society as vital. "We have to create opportunity," he says. And he and Barbara are doing just that.
If you, too, want to create an enduring legacy, please contact our Office of Gift Planning to learn about the many ways to build your own Michigan Tech endowment. Call 906-487-3325, send an email, or visit the Office of Gift Planning website.
Why the Credit Card Offers?
Your Alumni Association forms partnerships with organizations to provide a wide range of member benefits and services. The selection and approval of these corporate partners is undertaken by a volunteer group of alumni who evaluate and review each partnership opportunity based on the following:
- Benefit to the members (alumni, students, faculty, and staff)
- Product or service value and quality
- Stability of the partner organization and ability to provide service across the country
- Impact on Alumni Association and University resources
In addition to providing services and products to our members, corporate partnerships also generate revenue. As a direct result of alumni participation in these affinity services, your Alumni Association is able to fund numerous initiatives in support of Michigan Tech students and alumni.
For example, your Alumni Association was able to support a number of new initiatives in 2007, such as the HuskyLink online community, a post-commencement reception for new graduates and their families, an enhanced website, and new regional and professional networking programs.
Demonstrate your Michigan Tech pride! Visit here for details.
