Does anyone remember the amphibious “duck” that the Houghton County Office of Emergency Measures purchased back in the 1970s? This flashback image from October 17, 1973, from the Daily Mining Gazette Photograph Collection shows the multipurpose vehicle, driven by Ed Hoyer, as it emerges from the water at the Portage Lake Marina. The duck was utilized for keeping the channel clear of debris and logs and at the time, was being prepared for firefighting as well as search and rescue efforts. If you remember this unique vehicle, or any others, on the canal let us know!

In November of 2019, Bill Roberts, Michigan Tech’s vice president for advancement and alumni engagement, published an article in Tech Today foreshadowing the Campaign for Michigan Tech. The campaign officially launched in 2021. Last Friday, we announced that we exceeded our $350 million goal by $24 million and did so two years ahead of schedule.

That announcement, coupled with the groundbreaking on the Chang K. Park Center for Student Wellness, made for a historic day for Michigan Tech. 

As we conclude the public phase of The Campaign for Michigan Tech—the most ambitious capital fundraising campaign in our university’s history—we celebrate not just numbers, but the real, human impact of philanthropy across our entire campus.

Because of this campaign, thousands of students will receive life-changing scholarships and fellowships, allowing them to pursue their dreams as Huskies. Our faculty will have expanded resources to push the boundaries of research and innovation. And our physical campus continues to be modernized with dynamic spaces that foster collaboration, discovery, and community. 

None of this happened by accident. It took shared vision, relentless energy, and extraordinary leadership, especially our Campaign chairs, Mike ’86 and Liz ’88 Pulick. Their unwavering commitment to Michigan Tech has inspired our entire community. 

I would also like to thank Mr. Chang Park ’73. Mr. Park’s vision to create a state of the art wellness center for our students is truly transformational. 

There are many, many others who supported the Campaign for Michigan Tech, especially those who served on the Campaign Executive Committee and our Advancement, Alumni and Engagement staff.  To our donors: Thank you. Your gift is a testament to your belief in our mission, programs, and students. Your support has touched every facet of this university—scholarships, professorships and chairs, outdoor adventure programs, student organizations, professional development, facilities, and athletic programming to name a few.  

It’s truly an exciting time for Michigan Tech—made possible by the generous support of our donors and the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students. Thank you! 

Greetings: 

It has been an exciting start to the fall semester at Michigan Tech. In addition to classes starting last week for over 7,000 students, we had the opportunity to welcome US Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson and US Senator Elissa Slotkin to campus.

Assistant Secretary Robertson was here to learn more about the University’s mining engineering program and our unique history in helping to shape America’s mining industry. Michigan Tech has educated nationally and internationally recognized mining engineers and, at one point in our history, graduated 40 percent of the industry’s mining engineering workforce.

The following day, Michigan Tech hosted U.S. Senator Slotkin for a tour of our research facilities, meetings with faculty, and a student meet and greet. Suffice to say, I could not have been more proud of our students, faculty, and community. They did an excellent job representing Michigan Tech and showcasing our unique talents.

Speaking of talent, this fall’s Career Fair on September 29 will feature the largest industry turnout in University history, with more than 415 booths and nearly 400 participating organizations, representing an extraordinary breadth of opportunity for Huskies across disciplines. 

Demand for Michigan Tech talent remains at record levels. More than 70 percent of Career Fair recruiters are seeking Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering majors, more than 60 percent are recruiting students from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Applied Computing, and more than half are engaging with the College of Business. Nearly 57 percent are hiring for roles in Michigan, and one in four is new to recruiting at MTU. We expect to welcome more than 1,000 recruiters on campus—many of them proud alumni returning to invest in the next generation of Huskies.

Thanks for partnering with us and thanks for your continued support of Michigan Tech. 

Sincerely, 

Rick Koubek 

President 

Where is your favorite place for fall adventures or fresh air dining? Let us know in the comments!

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).

From celebrating the Golden M Class of 1976, to cruising the Keweenaw Waterway on the historic Ranger III, to cutting the ribbon on the McLean Brownell River Trail—it was great to welcome our many alumni and friends back to campus for Michigan Tech’s annual Alumni Reunion earlier this month. Thanks to all of you who brought your family and friends to join in the festivities.

At the end of August, MTU will welcome our incoming Class of 2030 for the start of the fall 2026 semester. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, our students have access to opportunities beyond the classroom to help them realize their full potential at Tech.

For example, Michele and Jim ’73 Bernier have established a named scholarship in the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science to support undergraduate students who will responsibly manage forests, wildlife, water, and soil. Sam Stertz is the first recipient of the Jim and Michele Bernier Endowed Scholarship. He is a senior studying environmental science and sustainability as well as a student-athlete competing on Tech’s Nordic ski team. Thanks to the Berniers’ support, Sam can focus on his studies and athletics, and also work toward fulfilling his career goal of starting his own environmental consulting office.

Also, thanks to the generosity of Mike ’86 and Liz ’88 Pulick, Michigan Tech’s chapter of Blue Key National Honor Society now has an endowment dedicated to shaping the leaders of tomorrow. And in the next few years, our students will have access to a new state-of-the-art wellness center thanks to the generosity of Chang K. Park ’73.

None of this would be possible without your continued support of our students, faculty, and programs. I am eager to welcome our newest Huskies and share all of the wonderful things Tech can offer them.

Sincerely,

Rick Koubek
President

Thursday, July 30

Friday, July 31

Saturday, August 1

July is always a special time in the Copper Country. Temperatures are enjoyable and the UP always puts on the best July Fourth showing. It’s also a time of both retrospect and prospect. The Class of 2026 said their goodbyes and are well on their way to their next adventure in life. Meanwhile, the Class of 2030 joined our community for the first time at Summer Orientation.

This July we also celebrate our alumni at MTU’s annual Alumni Reunion. We are especially excited to welcome the Golden M Class of 1976. Reflecting on 1976, the hockey team made it all the way to the NCAA national championship for the second time in a row. The theme for Winter Carnival was “1776—Icy Blasts from Our Frozen Past” and we celebrated the opening of the EERC. Notable seniors celebrating Winter Carnival that year included Brenda Ryan, who is a former Board of Trustees member, current member of the Michigan Tech Fund Board and founder of Ryan Industries, John Soyring who went on to become Vice President of IBM, and John Calder, who is the former owner and CEO of Dorsey-Alexander Inc. and Cincinnati Controls, just to name a few.

Throughout the decades, our alumni prove time and time again the value of a degree from Michigan Tech. Many have founded their own successful companies, patented new technologies and achieved tremendous success in their respective fields. What I so much appreciate is that they always credit Michigan Tech for being a key part of their success.

I look forward to celebrating with our alumni on July 30 through August 1 at MTU’s 80th annual Alumni Reunion. It’s always a great time to reconnect, reminisce and rejoice in how far we’ve come as an institution.

Hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Rick Koubek
President

In Memoriam for July 1 – December 31, 2025

According to the Daily Mining Gazette, “A fascinated and astonished audience crowded the shores of Portage Lake… Every performer, both male and female, was a professional as well as a champion, and each was outstanding in his difficult acts.”

Do you remember the Tommy Bartlett show coming to the Keweenaw? Or do you have a favorite way to cool off on a hot summer day? Share your memories in the comments!

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).

Do you have a favorite four-legged friend to frolic on the beach with? Let us know in the comments, and think summer!

Congratulations, Lindsay!

About the Archives

The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).