Michigan Technological University’s 2023 Midyear Commencement ceremony takes place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, in the Varsity Gym of Michigan Tech’s Student Development Complex (SDC).
Undergraduate speaker Aerith Cruz, of Chaska, Minnesota, and graduate speaker Sushree Dash of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India will share memorable Michigan Tech moments and advice for the future at the event, which honors the achievements of approximately 350 graduates — including Cruz, who majored in management information systems with a minor in statistics, and Dash, earning her Ph.D. in applied physics.
Both Huskies said they were honored to lead professional organizations and mentor fellow Huskies. They also cherish iconic Tech experiences like skiing at Mont Ripley and exploring the Keweenaw.
Graduate speaker Dash, whose inspirations include Taylor Swift, Priyanka Chopra and Krishna, India’s mythical master of strategy and management, said her experience at Michigan Tech shattered the preconceptions she had about the difficulties women face when pursuing advanced academic degrees. “I aim to highlight the power of resilience, mentorship and the spirit of community that defines our time here,” she said.
Undergraduate speaker Cruz says her mother, Joana Cruz, and MTU Society of Women Engineers Section Advisor Gretchen Hein have been instrumental influences. “With every opportunity that has been presented to me, I have always challenged myself with a simple question: ‘Why not? Let’s just go for it.’ I hope to inspire my fellow graduates to continue challenging themselves in their future endeavors,” she said.
Comments