Alumni

Susan received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Tech in 1981. After graduation she accepted a position with General Motors Corporation. In 1982, Susan left GM and went to work for Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas. She stayed with TI from 1982 to 1988 and during this time worked as Deputy Program Manager, Lead Mechanical Engineer, and Mechanical Design Engineer for various Fire Control . . .

Pike Lake, Minn. — Chais Eliason was among the throng of fans pressing up against the glass that separated them from the Hendrick Motorsports team during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway in January 2011. He peered into the garage area and took photos of NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. "I was thinking, 'How cool would this be?' " said Eliason, who lives just outside of Duluth, Minn., . . .

Immediately following World War II and as the Cold War was beginning, Marian "Smitty" Smith became the first female mechanical engineering graduate at Michigan Tech. The year was 1948. Seventy-five years later, Marian Smith Scott is 95 years old living in Gaylord, MI. After completing junior college in 1946, Marian chose to continue her education at Michigan Tech. Given her strength in math, she thought engineering . . .

Abbie Maki earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Tech in 1948. He spent three years in the gas turbine division of General Electric, then four years on the staff of the vice president for manufacturing at North American Aviation. In 1955, he joined AVCO, where he was the program manager for the Titan and Atlas reentry vehicle program. Under his direction, the company performed the research, development . . .