(Max Seel to Rostrum)
Good evening!

My name is Max Seel, Dean of the College of Sciences and Arts. It is my pleasure and great privilege to welcome you here tonight for a very special evening. The Ten Year Celebration of The Academy of Sciences and Arts, the recognition of some of our most outstanding alumni and their induction into the Academy of Sciences and Arts is indeed a proud moment for the departments and the College. By looking back into our history and celebrating some of our most distinguished alumni and friends we recognize that we cannot build a safe road into the future without the solid foundation of the past.

It was in 1968 that the College of Sciences and Arts came into existence. It has evolved dramatically over the last 37 years and has become a strong partner in change for the university. More than 4000 alumnae and alumni pursue highly diverse and remarkable careers. Ten years ago we started to publicly recognize these remarkable careers through the induction into the Academy. We finally started to honor the most distinguished of our alumni and alumnae. Tonight, I have the pleasure of welcoming four previously inducted Academy members and to honor two new distinguished alumni from the department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry with the induction into the Academy.

Before we go any further I would like to thank the students from our very own award-winning Jazz-Program: Ken Riedel – tenor sax/clarinet, Jon VanRegenmorter - Alto Saxophone, Josh Richardson - trombone , Brandon Maurisak - Bass, Colin Osenroth - Drums, and a guest appearance by Jenni Toutant, vocalist, for providing the very enjoyable music prior to the start of this ceremony. (Applause)

A special recognition needs to go to Karen Salo for the time and effort she put into the preparation of this evening. She organized everything, from the hotel reservations to programs to tonight's dinner planning including the wonderful table decorations. Karen is here tonight with her husband Dan. Thank you very much, Karen. (Applause)

Now, I would like to recognize some special guests. I am pleased to introduce to you the President of the University, Dr. Glenn Mroz and his wife, Gail Mroz, CFO and Executive Director of Operations of the Michigan Tech Fund. Glenn and Gail, thank you very much for coming. (Applause)

Next, I have the pleasure of introducing our Provost and Vicepresident for Academic Affairs, Dr. Dave Reed, and his wife Beth Reed, Lecturer and Assistant Chair in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Dave and Beth, my thanks for joining us tonight. (Applause)

Next, I would like to introduce the Vice President of the Michgan Tech Fund, Shea McGrew and his wife Trudy. Shea and Trudy, thank you so much for coming. (Applause)

Finally, I would like to introduce Steph Olsson, Director of Alumni Relations and his wife Cathy. Thank you for coming. (Applause)

For the sake of brevity, I will stop here with the introductions. Family members and other guests of our inductees will be recognized later. But I would like to thank all the department chairs, faculty and their guests for coming tonight and for celebrating this event.

And now to the business at hand.

Tonight's ceremony marks the Ten Year Anniversary of the induction of some of our most distinguished alumni and alumnae into the MTU Academy of Sciences and Arts. The Academy's purpose is to honor distinguished alumnae and alumni who have graduated from one of the programs of the College or its predecessor units. Election to the Academy gives public recognition to those men and women who have brought distinction to themselves, the College of Sciences and Arts, and Michigan Technological University through their participation, commitment, and outstanding leadership in their profession, and through public service.

This award recognizes exemplary achievements and professional excellence. Some of these distinguished alumni and alumnae who have been inducted before came for the reunion and the anniversary symposium we held this morning. I would like to take a minute to introduce them to you:

Suzanne Jurva who graduated in 1982 with a degree in Scientific and Technical Communication, worked as Feature Film Development Executive for Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks Studios, then founded Starcut securing the mobile rights for Universal's and MGM's biggest blockbusters, and then linked up with Nokia to deliver branded content via mobile network operators thus steering the evolution of digital media. Suzanne was inducted in 1998 and is here tonight with her parents, Roy and Ruth.

Nick Matwiyoff, who graduated in 1959 with a B.S. in Chemistry; he had a distinguished academic career leading from Stanford, Penn State, Los Alamos to the University of New Mexico where he was professor of cell biology, and Director of the Center for Non-Invasive Diagnosis and Deputy Director of the University of New Mexico Cancer Center. Nick was inducted in 1996 and is here tonight with his wife Janet.

Jan Olsson graduated in 1972 with a degree in Technical Writing and went on to become the National Advertising Strategy & Media Manager for TOYOTA , Vice President of Advertising & Promotion for Michelin Retail Tires, and Vice President and Account Director for the Oldsmobile and Rockport accounts with Leo Burnett in Chicago, one of the top five most creative global networks in marketing communications. Jan was inducted in 2002 and is here tonight with her special guest Tom Kornrumpf.

Joseph Roti Roti who graduated from Tech in 1965 with a B.S. in Physics became Professor of Radiology at the Washington University School of Medicine, adding to his titles Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Chief of the Section of Cancer Biology, and Associate Director of the Radiation Oncology Center. Joe was inducted in 2000 and is here tonight with his wife Stephanie

Others had plans to come but were prevented due to illness or, as is the case with some last minute cancellations, due to the devastating effects and consequences of hurricane Katrina. My thoughts are with them.

Two more outstanding examples of our distinguished alumni: the late Melvin Calvin, the 1964 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, was inducted into our Academy in 1996. Donald Saari who was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2002 was inducted in 1995.

An engraved plaque with a photograph of these Academy members is displayed here in the Walker Arts and Humanities Center and in the home department to serve as an inspiration for our current students. Michigan Tech must graduate individuals who are highly competent in their chosen profession. We have to graduate specialists who can articulate and communicate the needs of their profession. We have to prepare students for the ever increasing demands of professional schools. We have to graduate leaders who can function productively within competing technological and cultural contexts, and they must have a sense of the power that science and technology, language and literature, emotions and art exert on the lives of human beings.

The members of our Academy who are here tonight and the distinguished alumni who will be inducted tonight have shown these qualities in their exemplary careers. They have set a splendid example. They all are, in their own distinct way, inspirational role models.

Each Academy member will receive a small memento to remember this occasion. This year, it is a plaque and a framed original photograph, a beautiful Keweenaw scene, by local artist and photographer Joe Kirkish who some of you might remember as faculty member. The plaques and pictures are displayed on the wall to my left.

It is our tradition that the department chair will recognize and induct the alumni. I therefore would like to ask now Dr. John Adler, Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, to continue with the proceedings.

(John Adler to Rostrum, Max Seel back to seat)
John Adler=s presentation of the distinguished alumni:

It is my privilege, this evening, to honor one distinguished alumnus of our department and to induct him into the MTU Academy of Sciences and Arts. As spokesperson for the department let me say how delighted we all are that we can recognize one of our graduates with that honor.

Would Dr. Jeffrey Jentzen please come forward.

A resident of Ypsilanti, Michigan and graduate of Ypsilanti High School, Dr. Jentzen is a 1975 graduate of Michigan Technological University. He received a B.S. degree in biological sciences. While at Tech he also played varsity football and competed in wrestling. He was the 1971 Outstanding Freshman Athlete.

After attending Michigan Tech, he began his medical career attending the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico from 1975-77. In 1977 he attended Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. Following an internship at the University of Michigan, he completed a four-year residency in pathology at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and a one-year fellowship in forensic pathology at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Minneapolis under the direction of Drs. Garry Peterson and John I. Coe.

Dr. Jentzen has been the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin since 1987. He is active in the National Association of Medical Examiners. Dr. Jentzen is active in numerous national, state, and local professional organizations relating to forensic pathology, and toxicology. He has developed a specialized training program in forensic death investigation.

Dr. Jentzen has academic appointments in the pathology departments at the Medical College of Wisconsin and provides fellowship-training programs in forensic pathology and forensic toxicology. He has an appointment as clinical professor in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Jentzen’s areas of special interest include the investigation of childhood deaths, pharmacogenetics and the molecular autopsy. Jentzen has been active in promoting consistency in death investigation, training and national standards for forensic pathology. Of particular interest, Dr. Jensen has published on a number of pediatric topics including: shaken impact syndrome, co-sleeping, viral surveillance, and retinal hemorrhages. He created a child death review team for Milwaukee County in 1990 and was instrumental in establishing a state team.

Prior to today’s induction into the Academy of Sciences and Arts, Dr. Jentzen has been recognized previously with Michigan Tech’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in 1988, with the June M. Dobbs Award for Outstanding contributions for the Welfare of Children in 1996, with the Outstanding Service Award from the National Association of Medical Examiners in 2001, and with the Outstanding Service Award from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators in 2002.

He also is currently completing a doctoral degree in medical history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jeff met Dorianne, his wife of 31 years, at Michigan Tech. Dorianne is here tonight together with her father, Howard Otto and it is my pleasure to introduce Dorianne and Howard to you.
( Applause)

Jeff, it is now my great pleasure and privilege to extend the compliments and congratulations of my colleagues to your distinguished career and to recognize your achievements with the induction into the Michigan Tech Academy of Sciences and Arts.

(Adler congratulates Jeff Jentzen, leads applause)
Jeff, would you like to say a few words?

(Brief remarks by Jeff Jentzen) (Applause)
Jentzen back to table, Adler continues:

At this time, I would like to call on Dr. Sarah Green, Chair of the Department of Chemistry, to continue with the Proceedings.
(Adler back to table, Sarah Green to rostrum)

The person to be honored tonight from the department of Chemistry is Ms. Lina Taskovich. Unfortunately, her health does not permit her to undertake the travel from California to Houghton and she has agreed to be inducted in absentia.

Lina T. Taskovich earned a B.S. in Chemistry in 1952 from Michigan Technological University and an M.S. from the University of Minnesota. She is a retired research scientist from ALZA Corporation in Palo Alto, California.

A native of Ecuador, Taskovich distinguished herself from the outset of her career, when she set up the University of Minnesota’s first amino acid analyzer. She went on to prominence in the study of biological systems.

Beginning in 1957, she worked at Stanford University’s Physics Department, then the Biophysics Laboratory. She made significant contributions to cancer research in the Department of Dermatology of the Stanford Medical School.

In 1971, Taskovich jointed ALZA Corporation, as a senior biochemist, where her significant contributions to the understanding of drug permeation through human skin led to several patents, making the development of drug administration through “patches” possible. She is the co-inventor of six U.S. drug patents and the sole inventor of one. She was featured in Pfizer, Inc., advertisements in Newsweek and People magazines in 1994.

Throughout her career, Taskovich remained grateful to her parents for encouraging her to pursue an education in the scientific field when it was not considered appropriate for a woman.

Taskovich is a strong supporter of Michigan Tech, in particular the Department of Chemistry. She also established the Natale and Maria Louisa Tormen scholarship, a scholarship honoring her parents that allows deserving South American and Italian students to attend Michigan Tech. With the Natale and Maria Louisa Tormen scholarship, Ms. Taskovich is giving back to MTU, saying thank you for all that Michigan Tech has given her: “The education and training which I received at Michigan Tech helped me to excel in my profession, which in turn has helped me to help Michigan Tech.”

Ms. Taskovich has previously been honored with Michigan Tech’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

It is now my great pleasure and privilege to extend the compliments and congratulations of my colleagues to Ms. Lina Taskovitch’s distinguished career achievements and to recognize her with the induction into the Michigan Tech Academy of Sciences and Arts.

(Green leads applause)
Green continues:

At this point, I would like to ask President Mroz to come to the rostrum to give the concluding remarks.

(President Mroz to the rostrum:)

President’s concluding remarks.

Seel one more time to the rostrum:

Ladies and Gentlemen, this concludes the formal proceedings of the Induction Ceremony. On behalf of the College of Sciences and Arts I would like to thank you all for coming. I wish you a good night and a safe journey back to your destinations. Thank you very much.