1. CAMPUS TOURS: THE BEST WAY TO SEAL THE DEAL

By Dean Woodbeck

In a land of statistics, this one can't help but stand out.

Campus tours make a difference.

From last fall's freshman class, 99 percent of those taking a campus tour applied to Michigan Tech. Of those who toured and were accepted, 90 percent enrolled.

"It is people taking a moment and sitting down with visitors," said Bill Roberts, who coordinates the campus visit program in the admissions office. "I can't tell you how many times visitors have said, 'the people here made us feel at ease.'"

Some of it stems from a campus and community culture that says it is OK to smile and say hello to a stranger as you walk across the campus. "That really impresses visitors," Roberts said. He also cited one father who was impressed after talking with a Michigan Tech student working on the clean-up crew at a local hotel.

But a lot of it comes from experience (more than 58,800 visits since 1987), good training and attention to detail.

The admissions office hires nine or ten students at a time to give campus tours. They study a 27-page handbook, go on training tours and learn about Michigan Tech and its history. Then the guides are ready to lead groups down the campus mall and into buildings and labs.

"The visitors love going into an Enterprise lab, having a student give them a smile, then show off the FutureTruck or other project they're working on," Roberts said.

Academic departments play a large role in the campus tour, as well. Morning visitors spend two-and-a-half hours on a campus tour and lunch, then spend an hour in the afternoon in a department tour. Afternoon visitors start with the department tour, then move on to the campus tour.

"As an example, mechanical engineering gets very high marks for their visits," Roberts said. "Our follow-up cards generally say things like, 'he helped us understand what to expect.'"

"In many cases, it is the department tour that makes or breaks a visit," said Rob Forget, director of undergraduate recruiting. "It is an opportunity for our academic departments to really sell the students and parents on their area of interest."

Those visitors can also become advocates for Michigan Tech, if they have a good visit, or vice versa. Since not every visit will be ideal, Roberts follows-up with those who indicate a less-than-satisfactory tour. "Sometimes we find things we need to correct," he said, "and sometimes it is a student who filled out the evaluation and his girlfriend really wants him to go to Central."

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2. MICHIGAN TECH RECEIVES PT CRUISER

Michigan Tech's Keweenaw Research Center has received a 2003 PT Cruiser from the DaimlerChrysler Corporation. The donated vehicle will join the fleet of cars used for the KRC's Winter Driving School.

"DaimlerChrysler does winter testing of vehicles at KRC, so this is a natural fit," said Jay Meldrum, KRC director. "They had a winter press show of their new 300 series at KRC, as well."

The PT Cruiser, with a 2.4-liter-turbo engine, will be used for educational purposes--specifically educating drivers on how to control a car in ice and snow. The popular Winter Driving School takes place every Saturday of the winter, beginning in January.

Michigan Tech's Keweenaw Research Center has extensive testing and engineering facilities at its site near the Houghton County Memorial Airport. KRC provides engineering solutions to industries both foreign and domestic. A number of companies use KRC for their cold-weather testing projects.

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3. TECH SCIENTIST TRACKS EMERALD ASH BORER INVASION

If emerald ash borers had to come to the U.P. under their own power, the tree-killing insects might never make it north of Traverse City. However, since people could be spreading them throughout Michigan, Assistant Professor Andrew Storer (SFRES) has launched an effort to find out where they may be taking hold.

The glossy green beetles, which are devastating the ash tree population in southeastern Michigan, aren't strong flyers and can't travel more than a couple miles in their lifetime. Thus, says Storer, a six-mile-wide ash-free zone surrounding infested areas is being planned in an attempt to quarantine the exotic pests.

Fortunately for emerald ash borers, humans can provide taxi service almost anywhere. The borers are native to China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia, and probably hitched a ride to the U.S. in wood packing material used in cargo containers. Once here, faced with few natural enemies, they began attacking all native ash trees, young and old, healthy and sick.

The beetles lay eggs on the bark, and their larvae tunnel underneath, eating the living portion of the bark and outer layer of wood. Eventually, the tree dies.

In Michigan, the borers have a chance to expand their range whenever anyone hauls infested firewood to an area that contains ash trees.

Storer cringes when he sees a pick-up load of wood traveling north from downstate. "Nothing good happens when you move firewood around," he says.

Despite an aggressive public information campaign to discourage those living in borer-ridden areas from bringing wood elsewhere, the practice continues. "I was in St. Ignace, and I saw a truck that had come up from Ann Arbor loaded with firewood," he said. When questioned, the driver said he hadn't heard about the warnings. "And there's been all kinds of publicity," Storer says in frustration. "I told him to burn the wood as fast as possible."

To determine how far the beetles have spread, Storer is leading a USDA Forest Service-funded program to set up trap trees throughout Michigan, from the Indiana border to the western U.P. From now until the end of June, forestry professionals and researchers are installing sticky traps on ash trees near campgrounds. Every two weeks throughout the summer, these trees will be visited to see if they've caught any emerald ash borers.

Storer is also co-leading a related study with the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Graduate students from both schools are studying plots of ash trees throughout the state. Storer hopes the study will run for years and provide baseline data, including information on what conditions seem to weaken trees or strengthen them against borer attacks.

The study could provide the data needed to someday resurrect a resource. "When we study exotic insects and pathogens, we usually don't have much information on what was there before the infestation," Storer explains. "We have no idea what we've lost."

For more information on the projects, visit http://www.emeraldashborer.org and http://www.michiganash.org/ .

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4. PAT MIKESCH NAMED ASSISTANT HOCKEY COACH

Pat Mikesch, who was a standout forward for the Michigan Tech men’s ice hockey team from 1992-96, has been named assistant men’s ice hockey coach at MTU it was announced today by Huskies' Head Coach Jamie Russell.

"Pat brings a lot to the program," said Russell. "He has the qualities we were looking for--a great work ethic, passion for the program and area and loyalty--to name a few. He has good connections in the USHL and has established contacts in Michigan through his work with USA Hockey.

"Having coached against Pat when I was an assistant at Ferris State, it was very evident he had tremendous hockey sense and that will certainly help him in his new role. I'm very excited about him joining our staff."

Mikesch has spent the eight years since graduating from Michigan Tech playing professional hockey. After his final campaign at MTU, he left school and played seven games for the Louisville Riverfrogs of the East Coast Hockey League. The 1996-97 season found Mikesch playing for the Kentucky Thoroughblades of the American Hockey League before stints with the Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League in 1997-98 and New Haven Beast (AHL) and Florida Everblades (ECHL) in 1998-99. He then went to play in Germany for five years. He started in the German 2nd League where in 1999-2000 he competed for the Iserlohn Roosters. He then moved up to play in the German Elite League where he spent three seasons with the Kassel Huskies (2000-2003) before finishing his professional career in Dusseldorf with the Metro Stars in 2003-04.

A native of Hancock, Mikesch finished his four-year stint in a Michigan Tech uniform as the seventh all-time leading point getter in school history with 169 points on 57 goals and 112 assists. He helped the Huskies reach the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five in three of his four campaigns, including his senior season in which Tech lost in the title game of the event and just missed advancing to the NCAA Championships. He was a three-time member of the WCHA All-Academic Team and was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team in 1992-93.

Mikesch has been involved with USA Hockey the last two years. In 2004, he was a coach and evaluator at the Michigan Midget Festival and also was an evaluator at the Southeast Regional Select Camp. In 2003, he served as assistant coach for the All-Region team in the Select 16 Festival. In addition, Mikesch played on USA Hockey’s entry in the Deutschland Cup in both 2002 and 2003, serving as assistant captain on the '03 squad.

"I grew up with my ear to the radio listening to Michigan Tech hockey games," said Mikesch. "It's really hard to put in words how excited I am to be a part of the coaching staff at Michigan Tech ... and my family is just as excited. I really look forward to learning from Ian and Jamie and helping them advance the program forward."

Mikesch and his wife Aimee reside in Hancock with their son Austin (5) and daughter Kallianne (3).

He will officially begin his duties July 1.

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5. GALE ISSUES DEANS’ CHILI CHALLENGE

Peg Gale, dean of forest resources and environmental science, has issued a challenge to the other deans to show their stuff on Friday, August 6, at the University's first-ever Deans’ Chili Challenge.

The Deans’ Chili Challenge will be held in conjunction with Michigan Tech's Alumni Reunion events. Each dean is invited to accept the challenge by e-mailing Carrie Richards (csrichar@mtu.edu) with the name of their team and type of chili. Each chili team (headed by a dean) will prepare five gallons of chili for the event.

Samples of each of the chilies will be served in the atrium of the U.J. Noblet Forestry Building on Friday, Aug. 6 at noon. The chili should be made in advance and warming appliances will be provided as needed.

Everyone is invited to attend from noon until the chili runs out. (RSVP through Alumni Relations, mtu_alumni@mtu.edu). Voting will be ongoing with one dollar equaling one vote. The dean whose chili gets the most votes will be declared Chili Dean of MTU 2004. The proceeds will go into scholarship funds for the departments who participate.

The popularity of the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science’s past chili challenges during alumni weekend was the basis for expanding the challenge campus wide.

"It's nice to have a fun event where alumni, friends, faculty and staff can participate in an informal way. It has really been a hit for our school; It has been a big draw. We are happy to take the event to the next level and we hope the university shares the same kind of success we have had," said Gale.

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6. MICHIGAN TECH WOMEN'S BASKETBALL YEARBOOK 7TH

Michigan Tech's women's basketball yearbook has been judged seventh in the nation among NCAA Division II schools by the College Sports Information Directors of America. A total of 276 schools participate in NCAA II women's basketball.

"I'm pleased that we're consistently able to be among the best in the country," said Rick Yeo, director of athletics at Michigan Tech. "We have some very talented people on our campus and it's good to see their work recognized nationally."

The 48-page publication, produced by the Athletic Communications and Marketing division of University Relations, was written and edited by Wes Frahm, assistant director of athletic communications and marketing, and Dave Fischer, assistant athletics director for communications and marketing.

Diane Keranen of design and publications at MTU, designed the cover of the yearbook, while Joe Pyykkonen of MTU's photography staff provided the pictures for the publication.

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7. JOE HAGGENMILLER NAMED PRESIDENT OF CCSA

Joe Haggenmiller, head Nordic skiing coach at Michigan Tech, has been named president of the Central Collegiate Ski Association.

Haggenmiller, who is also head coach for MTU's cross country and track and field teams, recently completed his first year guiding the Huskies.

"Joe has been just a tremendous addition to our staff," said Rick Yeo, MTU's director of athletics. "It's quite an honor to be named president of any group and for Joe to gain the confidence of his colleagues after just one year as our head coach is a tribute to him."

The CCSA consists of 10 member schools, including Alaska Fairbanks, Gustavus, Macalester, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, St. Cloud State, St. John's, St. Benedict, St. Olaf, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

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8. BOY'S BASKETBALL TEAM CAMP GETS UNDERWAY

A record 45 teams converged Tuesday on Michigan Tech's Student Development Complex for the four-day boy's basketball team camp.

The event, directed by highly-successful MTU men's basketball coach Kevin Luke, includes both varsity and junior varsity level teams.

"It's an exciting time," said Luke, who in 2003-04 was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career. "There'll be some great competition over the next four days."

Among those bringing teams to the camp are L'Anse, Houghton, Escanaba, Westwood, Gwinn, DePere (Wis.), Norway, Kingsford, Ishpeming, Calumet, Marquette, Iron Mountain, Crystal Falls, North Dickinson, Ontonagon, Carney-Nadeau, Stephenson, Niagara, Chassell, Superior Central, North Central, Hancock and Republic.

Each team plays 12 games. Play began Tuesday and runs through Friday.

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9. MICHIGAN TECH ATHLETICS TO BE INVOLVED IN BRIDGEFEST

Student athletes and staff from Michigan Tech's athletic department will be active participants in this weekend's Bridgefest and Seafood Fest activities.

Many members of Michigan Tech's football team will be busy assisting in the set-up of Seafood Fest Friday morning at Kestner Park on the Houghton waterfront.

The focus Friday evening will shift to the Bridgefest Parade. Members of various athletic teams will help make up MTU's entry into the parade. Beach towels, free admission coupons, and candy will be among the items distributed from the athletic "float" by MTU's student athletes and Blizzard T. Husky. A separate group of student athletes will assist in security for the parade.

Throughout the weekend, members of various athletic teams will be assisting the Houghton Rotary in preparing food at Seafood Fest.

"Our student athletes have been terrific in stepping up to assist in community endeavors," said Rick Yeo, MTU's director of athletics.