See our right-hand column for announcements and news briefs. Scroll down the right-hand column to access the Archives -- links to articles posted in the main column since 2007. See details about our site, including a way to comment, in the yellow text above the Archives.

Friday, February 09, 2018

Winter Carnival statue winners announced: Tau Kappa Epsilon takes overall first place

From Michigan Tech News:

Tau Kappa Epsilon's massive snow statue "Behold a Frozen Thor, Mighty God of Viking Lore" captured the overall first prize in Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival. The statue is located alongside US 41 near the University's Administration building. This was Tau Kappa Epsilon's second win over the last three years. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

By Mark Wilcox, Michigan Tech News Writer

HOUGHTON -- The winners have been announced in the Snow Statue Competition at Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival. This year’s theme is "Myths and Tales of the Past in Our Frigid Forecast."

Judging took place early Thursday morning following Wednesday's all-nighter.

For the second time in the past three years, Tau Kappa Epsilon took first place in the month-long statue division. The winning entry, located along US-41 in front of the Administration Building, is "Behold a Frozen Thor, Mighty God of Viking Lore."

Once again this year there were three divisions in the month-long competition -- men, women and co-ed. Prizes were awarded to the top three statues in each division. The top three scores among all the statues were placed in the "Overall Month Long" section.

Second place in the overall section went to last year’s winner, Phi Kappa Tau, for "A Sword is Drawn from a Stone and a King Ascends an Icy Throne." Their entry is located in front of their house at 1209 Quincy St. in Hancock.

Phi Kappa Tau in Hancock took second place this year with their creation of Camelot -- with King Arthur and his knights of the round table, Merlin the magician, and a threatening dragon. Phi Kappa Tau has taken first place nine times in 11 years and second place to Tau Kappa Epsilon twice. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Third place overall went to Delta Sigma Phi, "βπ in its Prime Frozen Time." All three groups competed in the men's division of the month-long competition

In the women’s division, Delta Phi Epsilon took the top spot with "A Creature of Purity and Grace Caught in This Frozen Place." Second place was awarded to Delta Zeta for "Tangled in the Wind and Snow, to Houghton Rapunzel Must Go." Alpha Sigma Tau took third with their entry "Beware of the Brrr-muda Triangle."

In the co-ed division, the winner was the team of Sigma Tau Gamma and Theta Chi Epsilon for "Epic Written in Ice and Snow Showing Heroes and Dragons from Long Ago." Four Wheelers of Michigan Tech captured second place in the co-ed division with "The Myths at Tech are Commonplace, You Can Always Find a Parking Place."

In the all-nighter category, St. Albert the Great University Parish repeated as the overall all-nighter winner, followed by the Lutheran Campus Ministry-ELCA and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in third place. All three groups competed in the co-ed division.

Moose Lodge captured the top spot in the men's division followed by Sigma Kappa Upsilon Mu, with the Men's Rugby Club in third.

Phi Delta Chi was the lone entry in the women's division of the all-nighter competition.

Editor's Note: For a short video and photos of all the winners, as well as a link to Saturday's schedule of events click here.

Wednesday, February 07, 2018

Winter Carnival set to begin with Wednesday All-Nighter

From Michigan Tech News:

Members of Phi Kappa Tau in Hancock put the finishing touches on their statue during the 2017 All-Nighter. Last year the fraternity captured the month-long competition for the ninth time in 10 years. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

By Mark Wilcox, Michigan Tech News Writer

More than 16 feet of snow has fallen in Houghton, Michigan, this winter. While that is indeed impressive, what Michigan Technological University students do with it is nothing short of magical.

Building on a tradition that began in 1922 as the "Ice Carnival," the latest rendition of Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival shifts into high gear Wednesday with the All-Nighter carnival-like activity on the campus and elsewhere. Winter Carnival is sponsored by Blue Key National Honor Society.

This year’s theme is "Myths and Tales of the Past in our Frigid Forecast." Blue Key President Sarah Jo Martens says the theme is meant to open things up and challenge creativity. "With this very broad theme, we’re hoping students get out of the box," she says. "These myths and legends could go back to ancient times or might even include campus legends. I’m excited to see what the groups come up with." ...

Click here to read the rest of this article on the Michigan Tech News.