Welcome to the Laker E-ffect, the monthly newsletter from the LSSU Office of Alumni Relations. Please note: Due to length, this email may be clipped by your email provider. To ensure you’re viewing the full content, scroll to the bottom and click “[Message clipped] View entire message.” Thank you for staying connected with LSSU!

Save-the-Date for GLSW 2026!

The LSSU Alumni Association is excited to announce Great Lake State Weekend, happening October 23–24, 2026! We’re kicking things off early again with Great Lake State Week, starting October 18, packed with fun activities for LSSU students.

Mark your calendars for an event full of excitement — Laker hockey vs. Bowling Green, the Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame ceremony, the annual Board of Trustees Tailgate Party, and so much more. Stay tuned for all the details — we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

$3 Million Gift Fueling CFRE Initiatives

Thanks to the generosity of Richard and Theresa Barch, Lake Superior State University has received a transformative $3 million gift, establishing the first-ever named Director position in the university’s history: The Richard and Theresa Barch Endowed Executive Directorship. Dr. Ashley Moerke is honored to serve as the inaugural holder of this prestigious position.

The Barches’ donation will also create the CFRE Excellence Fund, helping to financially support new initiatives including graduate student research, equipment acquisition and repair, and a new research vessel.

Top Photo: Dr. Ashley Moerke (center) will hold the inaugural Richard and Theresa Barch Endowed Executive Director Position. Bottom Photo: Board of Trustee Chair Williams congratulates Dr. Moerke on the endowed position.

LSSU Hosts Annual Snowman Burn

Lake Superior State University students and community members have once again said goodbye to winter and hello to spring celebrating the 55th Annual Snowman Burn on Friday, March 20. The event featured the annual Community Poetry reading, food, drinks, live music by the Dynamic Duo (winners of the Arts Center 2025 Battle of the Bands!), and of course, fire.

To read the Snowman Burn Community Poetry click here .

This year, the snowman burn included the EUP Snowman Burning Open House for prospective students and their families, who were able to explore everything LSSU has to offer, from academics to fun.

LSSU Hosts First Renaissance Faire

LSSU may have started a new tradition with the first-ever Lake State Renaissance Faire on March 13! Held in the Norris Center’s Student Activity Center, the event featured music, pasties, a photo booth, dress-up costumes, hair braiding, live sword dueling, mocktail potions, trinket sales, and more. Over 300 students, clubs, community groups, and members of the public packed the space, bringing a lively mix of renaissance-themed costumes and good vibes.

Check out more photos below!

LSSU Hosts Hockey Games as Part of

Annual Katie Robinson Memorial Showcase

On February 13–14, LSSU welcomed the community to join the men’s and women’s D1 hockey teams for games as part of the Katie Robinson Memorial Showcase. The games drew over 860 and 1,000 attendees, many of whom also participated in the showcase event held in the Student Activity Center prior to the games.

Katie Robinson was a talented hockey player who had attended Aurora University and was planning to transfer to Lake Superior State University (LSSU) to continue her career with the women’s hockey team. She was known for her dedication to the sport, her teammates, and her encouraging personality. Her life and passion for hockey inspired the creation of this annual memorial event.

The Katie Robinson Memorial Showcase is a year-round, community-focused initiative that promotes confidence, growth, and sportsmanship while supporting meaningful causes. It is collaboratively organized with Katie’s parents, Kevin and Nancy Robinson, and supported by partners including the U.S. Coast Guard, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, the Sault Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Sault Hockey Association, and others. To date, nearly $14,000 has been raised for the Diane Peppler Resource Center, with additional scholarship donations in Katie’s name continuing through the Chippewa County Community Foundation.

This year’s showcase hosted 23 hockey teams and generated significant engagement across campus and the community. Student groups — including the School of Nursing and the Business Investment Club — interacted directly with athletes and families, while the Admissions Office hosted a recruitment table. At least three applications were submitted during the event, and one women’s hockey student-athlete committed to LSSU.

The Katie Robinson Memorial Showcase continues to honor Katie’s legacy by bringing together the hockey community, inspiring young athletes, and raising funds for causes she cared about.

CAMPUS/COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

LSSU Advances Water Research and Headwaters North Partnership

LSSU's Freshwater Innovation Hub has begun a collaboration with the School of Engineering faculty and students focusing on CFRE’s MiWaterNet sensor network. The collaboration will help identify solutions to improve reliability and ease of use, increasing the potential of MiWaterNet technology as a consumer-oriented product.

Additionally, we’ve continued to strengthen the partnership with Headwaters North and are working with them to produce marketing materials that highlight CFRE’s equipment and facility capabilities for supporting research and innovation.

LSSU Criminal Justice Professor Herb Henderson Honored by Sault Schools for Student Support

LSSU Professor Herb Henderson was honored by The Sault Area Public Schools as the “Helpful Teacher of the Month” for February 2026.

As a Criminal Justice instructor and Chair of the School of Criminal Justice, Fire Science, and Emergency Services, Professor Henderson is commended for his dedication, adaptability, and student-centered approach, consistently supporting student success and career readiness. He is noted for building and sustaining strong community and postsecondary partnerships, including developing articulation agreements between Sault Area Schools and Lake Superior State University that create early college and career pathways for students. In addition to his instructional and leadership responsibilities, he is recognized for his professionalism, collaborative spirit, and willingness to support program continuity, making a lasting impact on the school community.

Congratulations Herb!

LSSU/Bay College BPA Raises $800 for Local Special Olympics

The Bay College and LSSU Regional Center chapter of Business Professionals of America (BPA) club raised $800 for Local Area 1 Special Olympics through their annual Chain of Love fundraiser.

The BPA organization works to provide members with opportunities for growth through education, competition, personal development, and community service. The Bay College/LSSU chapter had displayed these qualities time and time again as they attend competitions and raise money for good causes in their community. The proceeds from the Chain of Love fundraiser helps to cover costs for the local Special Olympics, including uniforms, equipment, and travel costs for athletes.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

LSSU Alumna Dr. Julia Grenn '20 Elected VP of U.S. Aquaculture Society

LSSU Biology alumna Julia Grenn, Ph.D. was recently elected as incoming Vice-President of the U.S. Aquaculture Society (USAS). USAS is a chapter of the World Aquaculture Society, a worldwide professional organization dedicated to the exchange of information and networking among the constituencies interested in advancing the aquaculture industry. The organization provides services and professional development opportunities for members, including students.

Julia was also recognized for her role as an aquaculture mentor in a recent article in Aquaculture North America, which can be found here .

LSSU Alumnus Paul Boyer '94

Celebrates 2,500th Career NHL Game With Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings Head Equipment Manager Paul Boyer, a 1994 LSSU graduate, reached an incredible milestone this season, working his 2,500th career NHL game on March 14, 2026. Over his 32 seasons with the team, Boyer has been a cornerstone of the Red Wings’ operations, supporting players and fostering a close-knit “family” culture behind the scenes.

Reflecting on his career, Boyer describes the experience as a blur of memories, milestones, and relationships built over decades. His dedication and passion exemplify the commitment that keeps the Red Wings performing at their best.

Congratulations Paul!

Boyer shares the milestone with close friend and coworker Piet VanZant (left), the team's head athletic trainer.

School of Chemistry, Environmental, and Geosciences

LSSU faculty and students have teamed up for a storm history reconstruction study of Lake Superior.

Dr. Nalaka Ranasinghe, Dr. Paul Kelso, Dr. Hari Kandel, Ella Moses, Logan McQueen, and Avery Walters intend to understand the relationship between past climate changes and storm frequency, which will help predict future scenarios amid ongoing climate changes. Reconstructing thousands of years of storm history is possible by studying sand layers deposited in coastal wetlands by storm surges. Understanding changes in the frequency and intensity of storms and storm surges is important for coastal and environmental management around the Great Lakes, including mitigating hazards and planning human activities. Initial Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys and coring have revealed that many sand and gravel layers, laden by past storm surges, are preserved in swales in the Vermilion Point Nature Preserve on the Lake Superior shoreline. Dr. Ranasinghe and the team plan to expand the project to multiple locations and develop a robust storm history for the region by obtaining ages of the events.

Preliminary studies of the project were funded in part by the David M. Knowles Glacial Lake Study gift.

College of Business, Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics

Seven Lake Superior State University students represented LSSU's engineering program and Team AMORE at RoboBoat 2026 from February 19-24 in Sarasota, FL.

These Lakers competed against 36 teams from 10 different countries. The team from Lake State placed 16th in the Design and Documentation category and received the Team Engagement Award for their strong social media presence, excellent community building, and outstanding commitment to their craft.

College of Health and Emergency Responders

Senior nursing students Allie Shaw and Abigail Johnson presented their health education project on Marijuana Use in Pregnancy to attendees at the Region 1 Perinatal Quality Collaborative quarterly meeting.

The Michigan Perinatal Quality Collaborative brings together perinatal partners in regular meeting to the address the most significant concerns within each region through focused, individualized attention. The organization seeks to improve birth outcomes for mothers, infants, and families through data-driven quality improvement efforts tailored to the strengths and challenges of each region, and authentically engage families and communities by seeking and incorporating guidance from families statewide and within specific Regional Perinatal Quality Collaborative (RPQC) catchment areas.

LAKER ATHLETICS

LSSU Announces Inaugural Laker Hockey

Ring of Honor Class

Lake Superior State University Athletics and the Laker Hockey program are proud to announce the inaugural class of the Laker Hockey Ring of Honor. The inaugural class will be recognized annually on the ice during Great Lake State Weekend. Each honoree will receive a permanent place on the Honor Wall inside Taffy Abel Arena, along with a prominent commemorative display celebrating their contributions to the program.

The Laker Hockey Ring of Honor is presented to Lake Superior State Hockey alumni, staff, and members of the community who represent Laker Hockey in the highest regard. Members are selected by their peers based on their leadership, dedication, and long-standing commitment to the program, the University, and the surrounding community.

As an outward symbol of Laker Hockey prestige, each inductee will also be fitted with a distinctive Laker Blue Sport Coat, reserved exclusively for members of the Laker Hockey Ring of Honor, representing their lasting place among the program's most respected figures. The inaugural Laker Hockey Ring of Honor Class of 2026 honors four distinguished figures in program history: Daniel Angelelli, Bill Crawford, Jim Dowd, and Domenic Monardo.

For more information, click here.

LSSU's Mironov Races Three Times

in Lakers' Swim & Dive National Debut

As Fedor Mironov stepped up to the starting blocks on March 11, Lake Superior State stepped onto the national stage.

For a Swimming and Diving program in just its second year of competition, the moment represented a pinnacle. The Lakers, a young team with a first-year head coach, stepped up to challenge at the height of NCAA Division II competition. It was the first step into that upper echelon of Division II Swimming. And the team plans on staying for a good, long while.

Mironov became the first NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships competitor in LSSU's brief history in the pool. He raced in the 100 Yard Butterfly, 100 Yard Freestyle and the 50 Yard Freestyle. On March 11, he raced in his first national event, the 50 Free, finishing in 20.39. On March 12, he swam the 100 Fly, the event he primarily qualified for, in 47.95. Then on March 14, he finished the 100 Free in 45.44.

Mironov recognized the significance of the event for himself and the team, telling LSSULakers.com after learning of his qualification, "It's probably the biggest meet I've had in my life, and I'll try to do my best."

"This was a great experience for Fedor," Head Coach Tim O'Neill said. "I am so proud that we could represent Lake State at the national level."

Read more about LSSU's national debut here .

Superior Give-A-Thon: We're Halfway There!

Thanks to our generous donors, we’re already halfway to our $20,000 goal in the Superior Give-A-Thon! There’s still time to join the effort — the campaign runs through May 1, 2026.

Our student call team is in the home stretch and excited to connect with Laker alumni and friends. If you haven’t had the chance to speak with one of them yet, they’d love to hear from you soon!

Every gift—big or small—helps LSSU students achieve their goals and sets them up for success. The incredible commitment of our donors, coming together to support Lake Superior State University, is truly inspiring.

For more information on the Superior Give-A-Thon or to make a donation, click here.

Join the Laker Club & Support Laker Athletics

Upcoming Events

Golden Graduate Reunion

Golden Graduates are invited to participate in Lake Superior State University’s 2026 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The Golden Graduate Society honors alumni who graduated or last attended LSSU 50 or more years ago (1976 or earlier).

Golden Graduates are also invited to attend a special brunch on Friday, May 1, at 10:30 am at the Barch Center for Freshwater Research and Education.

For more information about the weekend click here.

Lake State Day

at the Detroit Tigers:

Save the Date!

Plan to join us for Lake State Day at the Tigers on Saturday, July 25, at Comerica Park. The Detroit Tigers will take on the Kansas City Royals in what is always a popular event filled with baseball, Laker pride, and great company.

More details coming soon, including ticket link and a pre-game social registration!

Leading What’s Next: How LSSU’s Professional MBA Is Shaping Tomorrow’s Business Leaders

The future of business is being written right now — and LSSU alumni are uniquely positioned to help lead it.

Across industries, organizations are searching for professionals who can combine strategic thinking, ethical leadership, and technological fluency. At Lake Superior State University, the Professional MBA at the Lukenda School of Business is evolving to meet that moment head-on.

With the first cohort graduating in Summer 2026, the program is already demonstrating how LSSU prepares professionals for leadership in a rapidly changing world.

A Program Designed for the Modern Workplace

Today’s MBA students are tackling:

AI-supported decision tools
Digital marketing strategy
Global business expansion
Sustainability and ethics
Innovation and entrepreneurship

Students describe the experience as transformational:

“This program changed how I think about leadership. I’m more strategic, more confident, and much better prepared for what’s coming next.” — Current MBA

Student

Another added:

“The cohort model is huge. Learning from classmates in different industries has been just as valuable as the coursework.”

Learning With—and From—Fellow Lakers

One of the defining features of the LSSU MBA is the professional network students build along the way.

“I didn’t just gain new skills—I gained a trusted group of professionals I know I’ll stay connected with long after graduation.” — MBA Candidate, Class of 2026

For alumni returning to campus—virtually or in person—it is an opportunity to reconnect with LSSU while positioning themselves for the next stage of their careers.

An Invitation to Step Forward

If you are ready to sharpen your leadership skills, reposition your career, or explore new possibilities, LSSU invites you to take the next step.

The application deadline for the next Professional MBA cohort is July 15, 2026.

Your Laker journey does not have to end with your undergraduate degree. For many alumni, it is only the beginning of a powerful new chapter.

For more information on the MBA program at LSSU, visit our webpage by clicking the button below.

Visit our Website

Lead What’s Next with LSSU.

Learn about the Professional MBA at the Lukenda School of Business.

Apply at: lssu.edu/mba

Deadline: July 15, 2026

Join the next generation of Laker leaders.

Update Us & Stay

in the Loop

Stay connected with LSSU by updating your mailing and email address so you don’t miss important news and events. Share your life milestones — career changes, weddings, births, military service, and more — for the next Laker Log Class Notes. And don’t forget to subscribe to alumni emails to get the latest updates, including highlights from events like Great Lake State Weekend!

To stay in touch, click here.

Photo of the Month

Photo of the Month: This month’s Photo of the Month features LSSU President Dr. David Travis and Captain Bruce Beeker aboard the Tug Dirk S. VanEnkevort, the first vessel to pass through the Soo Locks and kick off the 2026 shipping season.

Visit us online for information about alumni events and programs, to update your information with LSSU, and to become an Annual or Lifetime Member of the Alumni Association.