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1. Tech Today Takes a Holiday |
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Tech Today will not be published during the weeks of Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. We will resume publication in the New Year, beginning with the Jan. 6 issue. Happy holidays! |
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2. Student Strives for a United World |
by John Gagnon, promotional writer
Amy Storer is a small-town person with big-time dreams--and an opportunity that she calls "an amazing experience."
Storer is one of 12 college students nationwide, and the first from Michigan Tech, to participate in the Ford Motor Company Global Scholars Program in Washington, DC.
The auto firm partners with The Washington Center on Internships and Academic Seminars, a nonprofit organization, to prepare college students for civic leadership and sustainable development around the world.
The program also enrolls another 12 students from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.
Storer earned the honor of participating in this semester-long initiative, in part, by describing herself in the application as strong and compassionate. "Hopefully I can combine these traits with my education to pursue my calling as an advocate for human rights"--especially, she added, "gender equality and empowering women worldwide."
All of the 24 students in the educational program also participate in internships. Storer works 32 hours per week at the Department of Commerce. The job ranges from updating databases to promoting the interests of US businesses.
"I really like working for the government," she says. "It makes me proud to be an American."
Besides the internship, the students have course work, seminars and lectures that promote the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which address such world issues as poverty, hunger, HIV, women's equality and environmental sustainability.
"Everything we do here relates to these goals," Storer says. She describes herself as "passionate" about them.
She has met with congressional representatives, toured the capital, visited embassies, talked with ambassadors and listened to leaders and professionals from government and industry. "They see us as an investment," she says. "They tell us, 'Go out and be successful.'"
In November, she attended a three-day Model United Nations Conference. Five-hundred students from around the world participated. They debated issues--from poverty to child soldiers--for which she had to bone up on Zambia, the country she was assigned to champion. Besides debates, the students garnered support for policies and fashioned resolutions--all to familiarize them with world affairs and international discourse as a way to improve society.
Storer is a third-year student, from Hudson, Wis., who majors in social sciences. She also is in the Law and Society program. She began the scholars program in August and will return to campus for spring semester, when she will give a campus talk about the internship.
"It's been the greatest experience--absolutely," Storer says.
She aspires to be a lawyer and work for the government, and she describes herself as a person of "conviction."
"I live by the golden rule," she says. "And I believe what Gandhi said: 'Be the change you wish to see in the world.' I definitely try to live by that. I try to do what's right."
She loves being in Washington, but she misses autumn in Michigan's north country. "I love the fall," she says. "It's like nothing I've ever seen." Actually, Upper Michigan winters also are like nothing she's ever seen; originally daunted, now she's warmed up to them. "Embrace the weather and enjoy the great snow," she says.
On campus, she's in the Honors Institute and the Law Club and has played on the varsity women's basketball team. She says Tech is "a great place to study and to start my career." She especially likes the faculty, who, she says, provide much "attention and guidance." As well, she likes the campus and community. "People are friendly. There's a lot of diversity. It's a social campus with a hometown feel."
When she returns to Tech in January, she will bring along a lesson: "I've learned to always be open to opportunity."
In the meantime, her experience in the nation's capital has helped make her self-assured. "I got a taste of the real world, and I fit right in," she says. "I love it, and I'm handling it great. I realize what I want in life--to make a difference."
Storer singles out Susanna Peters (Social Sciences) for facilitating her adventure in the nation's capital. Peters, coordinator of Tech's Law and Society program, brings personal experience to bear on this initiative. She has a JD from the University of Pennsylvania and worked in DC as both a student and a lawyer. "Exposure to that world was very helpful and useful to me later," she says.
Peters says that the Washington Center has a wide range of internships in areas such as international affairs, media and communications, science and environmental policy, law and criminal justice, and business to name a few. After the internship, students are expected to bring back a portfolio and a research paper and to make a presentation on campus. Peters calls the program "a job experience that is really an educational and cultural experience"--all of it "broadening."
The students live in dorms. The tuition is about the same as a semester on campus and students can use their financial aid, but the housing is $2,000-$3,000 more, for which Storer received a $3,000 scholarship from Ford. Peters hopes to involve alumni as sponsors to offer scholarships to get the overall cost "equivalent" to being on campus.
Peters envisions several Tech students participating each year. It will help them both jump-start their careers and get an insider's view of Washington, she says. "If our students get out there and people get to know them, they're going to get good jobs. We tend to get the kind of students, who, once people see them, they want them." |
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3. Memorial Union Holiday Schedule Now Online |
A holiday schedule for the Memorial Union building and its individual offices is available at www.mub.mtu.edu/semester_break_08_hours.pdf .
The Memorial Union will hold the following building hours during the semester break, Friday, Dec. 19, through Monday, Jan. 12:
* Friday, Dec.19: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
* Saturday, Dec. 20, and Sunday, Dec. 21: CLOSED
* Monday, Dec. 22, and Tuesday, Dec. 23: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
* Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Thursday, Dec. 25: CLOSED
* Friday, Dec. 26: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
* Saturday, Dec. 27, and Sunday, Dec. 28: CLOSED
* Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
* Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1: CLOSED
* Friday, Jan. 2: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
* Saturday, Jan. 3, and Sunday, Jan. 4: CLOSED
* Monday, Jan. 5, through Friday, Jan. 9: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
* Saturday, Jan. 10: 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
* Sunday, Jan. 11: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
* Monday, Jan. 12: 7 a.m.-1 a.m. |
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4. Printing and Mail Services Holiday Hours to Begin Dec. 24 |
Semester-break service hours for printing and mail services follow:
Printing Services
Closed
Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Friday, Dec. 26
Wednesday, Dec. 31, through Friday, Jan. 2
Open
Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30
7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Mail Services
Closed
Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Thursday, Dec. 25
Wednesday, Dec. 31, through Friday, Jan. 2
Open
Friday, Dec. 26, Monday, Dec. 29, and Tuesday, Dec. 30
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Regular hours of operation will resume on Monday, Jan. 5.
UPS and FedEx will have normal delivery on Monday, Dec. 29, and
Tuesday, Dec. 30. If you are expecting a next-day package, call mail services for pickup at 487-2348.
Any overnight packages to be delivered between Dec. 24-26 or Dec. 31-Jan. 2 will go to Public Safety for pickup. |
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5. Tribal Technical Assistance Program Receives Funding From Roadway Safety Foundation |
The Michigan Tech Tribal Technical Assistance Program has been awarded $25,000 in technical assistance from the Roadway Safety Foundation's public education campaign "Safer Roads: Building Safety into Your Drive."
The technical assistance will be used to undertake a public education campaign to raise awareness among Native Americans of the safety benefits and the need for road safety features. |
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6. SBE Entrepreneurial Competition Winners Receive Local Prizes |
The following School of Business and Economics undergraduates placed in the business-plan competition hosted by the School on Dec. 4 and 9 and received locally donated prizes.
First Place
Team LaundryDoneRight
Members: Jessica Sherman, Lauren Begin, Josh Taggart, Scott Truskowski and Andrea Brzostowski
Prize: $100 donated by the Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union
Second Place
Team EnviroPave
Members: Mike Asiala, Tyler Sturos, Chad Elder, Jake Heikkinen and John Hyrkas
Prize: $70 worth of entrepreneurship-related books donated by Up and Running Software
Third Place--Tied
Team Sentimental Stories
Members: Aimee Butler, Leah Enking, Landon Helmuth, Dan Shottenkirk and Tracy L. Payne
Team Computer Guru
Members: Sean Geary, Robby Springborn, Brady Morris, Riley Strehlow and Kyle Newberry
Prize: $20 gift certificate from by the Java Shop and $20 donated by John Leinonen, program manager at the SmartZone
For more information on the competition, visit www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/ttoday/previous.php?issue=20081209#5 . |
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7. Short Named MVP, Athletes Honored at Football Recognition Banquet |
by Wes Frahm, director of athletic communications and marketing
Michigan Tech handed out its football awards Friday, Dec. 12, at the Annual Football Recognition Banquet in the Memorial Union. Junior quarterback Steve Short earned the Alan Bovard Most Valuable Player Award for the second straight year, and the Huskies' seven seniors were honored during the event.
Short set a school record for pass completion percentage (64.3), while accumulating 2,192 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season. He guided the Huskies to an 8-3 record with 29.2 points per game--the third-best scoring offense in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Junior David Carmody, an All-GLIAC Second Team pick, earned the Fred Baird Memorial Award as the team's top defensive player. The free safety recorded 97 tackles including 61 solos, which is the most by a Tech player since 1996.
Two seniors took home the other two defensive awards. Cornerback Robert Haynes was named defensive back of the year. He posted 39 tackles and a team-high 11 pass breakups in 2008. Linebacker Sean Spellman, with 60 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, earned the defensive lineman of the year award.
Offensive awards went to sophomore running back Phil Milbrath, senior wide receiver Keith White and senior left tackle Travis Coughlin. The offensive player of the year went to Milbrath, who led the GLIAC in both rushing (134.3 yards per game) and scoring (12.8 points per game). He rushed for 1,343 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2008. White was named offensive back of the year after posting 63 catches for 944 yards and eight touchdowns. Coughlin gained offensive lineman of the year accolades after helping the Huskies rank fourth in the GLIAC in both total offense and rushing offense.
White, an Academic All-American, also garnered the Omer LaJeunesse Scholastic Achievement Award with his 3.97 grade point average in mechanical engineering.
The Daniel Dopp Memorial Award for the special teams player of the year was awarded to freshman Akeem Cason, who tallied nine tackles on kick coverage.
Rookie cornerback Quinn Parnell earned the outstanding freshman award after posting 21 tackles and an interception.
Senior defensive lineman Derek Harter was selected as the Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award recipient. Fullback Michael Macpherson took home the Iron Man Award.
The scout team players of the year were tight end Bryan LaChapelle on offense and linebacker Justin Armstrong on defense.
Tech's seven seniors who were recognized were linebacker Matt Anderson, Coughlin, Harter, Haynes, wide receiver David Peterson, Spellman and White. The group leaves the program with four straight winning seasons and a combined record of 20-15. |
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8. Job Posting |
Staff job descriptions are available in the Human Resources Office or at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings . For more information regarding staff positions, call 487-2280 or email jobs@mtu.edu .
Faculty job descriptions can be found at www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/facpers/facvac.htm . For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.
Staff Job Postings
12/16/08-12/22/08
Office Assistant 5
Office of Student Records and Registration
UAW internal and external posting
Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer. |
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9. Sports in Brief |
What's Happening This Week in Athletics
All times are Eastern, and home sporting events are italicized.
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Cager Club Luncheon, noon (Grant Hockey Ed Center)
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Huskies Drive Time, 7:30-8 a.m., live on 93.5 FM
Thursday, Dec. 18
* No. 14 women's basketball hosts Northwood, 5:30 p.m., live on Mix 93.5 FM
* men's basketball hosts Northwood, 7:30 p.m., live on Mix 93.5 FM
Friday, Dec. 19
* Blue Line Club Luncheon, noon (Grant Hockey Ed Center)
* hockey hosts Northern Michigan, 7:07 p.m., live on Mix 93.5 FM
Saturday, Dec. 20
* Nordic skiing at CXC Sprints (Minneapolis, Minn.)
* No. 14 women's basketball hosts Wayne State, 1 p.m., live on Mix 93.5 FM
* men's basketball hosts Wayne State, 3 p.m., live on Mix 93.5 FM
* hockey at Northern Michigan, 7:35 p.m., live on Mix 93.5 FM
Sunday, Dec. 21
Nordic skiing at CXC Sprints (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Last Week's Results
Hockey (2-14-2, 1-11-2 WCHA)
Dec. 12: at Minnesota Duluth 3, Michigan Tech 1
Dec. 13: Michigan Tech 1, at Minnesota Duluth 1, OT
Women's Basketball (6-1, 3-0 GLIAC)
Dec. 10: at No. 14 Michigan Tech 91, Finlandia 30
Dec. 13: at No. 14 Michigan Tech 74, Northern Michigan 43
Men's Basketball (4-4, 1-2 GLIAC)
Dec. 13: Northern Michigan 69, at Michigan Tech 67
Nordic Skiing
Dec. 13-14: Michigan Tech at CXC Opener (Ironwood), no official team scores kept
Top News of the Week
Tech-Northern Rivalry Hits the Ice This Weekend
Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan will play their annual home-and-home series this weekend with a Friday, Dec. 19, game in Houghton and a Saturday, Dec. 20, tilt in Marquette. The Huskies are coming off an overtime tie at Minnesota Duluth last Saturday, Dec. 13, where freshman Brett Olson scored the game-tying goal in the third period. Sophomore Jordan Baker, who had a goal and assist on the weekend, leads the team in points with 8-3--11.
Skiers Enjoy Success at CXC Opener
The Nordic skiing teams enjoyed a weekend filled with great performances at the CXC Season Opener. Sophomore Jackie Pribyl finished fourth in the five-kilometer freestyle, and junior Jenna Klein was fourth in the 10-kilometer classical in 34:04. On the men's side, junior Jesse Lang was sixth in the 10-kilometer freestyle race in 25:43, and freshman Petter Sjulstad was sixth in the 10-kilometer classic race in 28:14. The ski teams will race at the CXC Sprints in Minneapolis Dec. 20-21.
First Cager Club Luncheon Set for Tuesday
Michigan Tech's first Cager Club Luncheon of 2008-09 will take place Tuesday, Dec. 16, at noon in the Begg Conference Room of the Grant Hockey Educational Center. Huskies basketball coaches Kevin Luke and John Barnes will be on hand to talk about their teams. A light lunch will be served. All Cager Club Luncheons are open to the public free of charge.
Tech to Host Familiar Foes in Basketball
Michigan Tech will host Northwood and Wayne State in a pair of doubleheaders at the SDC gym this week. The Huskies have already faced both opponents in the last two weeks. The No. 14 Tech women's team swept the two opponents, while the men split with a win at NU and a loss at WSU. In a quirky GLIAC schedule, Tech plays the same three teams (Wayne State, Northwood and Northern Michigan) twice each in its first six league games. |
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