Sponsors:

Rail industry has shown remarkable support and interest toward Michigan Tech Railway Transportation Program through various methods which include:

• providing financial support through development grants and scholarships
• hosting Summer in Finland program field visits
• offering guest lectures and/or presentations.

Tech is actively working to increase the industry commitment level to program and looking forward to form new co-operative partnerships with companies to develop and expand the railway engineering program further.

Financial Sponsorship:

• In 2006 Union Pacific (UP) foundation donated $12,600 to support the development of Railway Engineering Program and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) joined Michigan Tech Career Center Partners Program. In 2007, UP continued their support with a donation of $20,000 to the program.
• In 2006 and 2007, CSX Transportation has donated $2,000 annually to establish four $500 CSX Transportation Diversity Scholarships for students at Michigan Tech with interest in the railroad industry.
• Members of the Western Railway Club sponsored Summer in Finland 2006 participants to their dinner meeting.
• The following individuals and organizations (in alphabetical order) have made donation(s) to the $1,000 Michigan Tech Alumni AREMA Scholarships:
• 2006 (one scholarship):
  
  • KennedyJenks Consultants
• 2007 (three scholarships):
  • Godlewski, Melissa (KennedyJenks Consultants)
  • Hay, Glenn (DesignNine)
  • Lautala, Pasi (MTU)
  • Leder, Bill (MTU)
  • Morehouse, Greg (BNSF)
  • Peterson, Eric (CSX)
  • Scherwinski, Chad (BNSF)
  • Schierloch, Pete (E80 Plus Constructors)
  • Sproule, William (MTU)
  • Whims, Michael (Michael Whims Consulting)

Guest Lecturers:
The following individuals (in alphabetical order) have offered their support by providing guest lecture(s) either as part of Summer in Finland program or in REAC organized events:

• Currie, Earl
• Bertrand, Jim - Transport Canada
• Eustice, Andrew - CSX Transportation
• Kraft, Robert - Union Pacific
• Pasterak, Phil – PB Transit
• Peterson, Eric - CSX Transportation
• Royston, Kevin - CSX Transportation
• Zuspan John - Trackguy

Field visits:
The following companies and individuals (in alphabetical order) have offered their support by hosting field visits as part of Summer in Finland program or as REAC organized events:

• Belt Railway Company of Chicago - Roy Gelder
• CN
• CSX Intermodal, Bedford Park facility – Doug Daun
• Finnish Railway Administration (Finland) - Miikka Makitalo, Heidi Niemimuukko
• LS&I Railroad - James Scullion, Robin Trembath
• METRA facilities - Bill Archer, Dave Fernandez and Joseph Riley
• Patrick Engineering - Chad Hewitt
• TranSystems – Bob Nastal
• VR Track, Ltd (Finland) - Mikko Nyha, Kari Koskinen

If you or your company are interested in sponsoring or partnering the development of Railway Engineering Education at Michigan Tech, please contact Pasi Lautala (906-487-3547, ptlautal@mtu.edu) or Dr. Bill Sproule (906- 487-2568, wsproule@mtu.edu).