A Golden Ticket to First Place: Phi Kappa Tau’s Chocolate Factory Wins Snow Statue Contest

By Cyndi Perkins, Michigan Tech Marketing and Communications

For the fifth year in a row, Hancock-based Phi Kappa Tau wins first place in the Michigan Tech Winter Carnival overall monthlong statue competition with their snowy creation of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

The snozzberries taste like victory for Phi Kappa Tau. The Hancock-based Greek organization extended its winning streak in Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival overall monthlong statue competition to five years in a row with the Willy Wonka-themed "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

The suspense was terrible -- but unlike Wonka’s sardonic wish in the classic movie, it didn’t last, as Blue Key National Honor Society announced the 2023 snow statue winners in the afternoon on Thursday, Feb. 9. Teams in monthlong and one-night categories created statues based on the overall Carnival theme "Tasty Foods for Wintry Moods." Within each category there are three divisions: co-ed, women’s and men’s. In both monthlong and one-night competition, the overall statue winner is determined by the top scores in each of the three divisions. ...

To read about the other winners see the rest of this article on Michigan Tech News.

Phi Kappa Tau wins Winter Carnival Statue Competition

Phi Kappa Tau fraternity in Hancock again wins first place in Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival snow statue competition! Their statue, "Futurama," was designed for this year's theme, "Our Favorite Cartoons for Snowy Afternoons." Click on photo for larger version. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

By Mark Wilcox, News Writer, Michigan Tech University Marketing and Communications

Posted Feb. 4, 2021, on Michigan Tech News
Reprinted in part with permission.

HOUGHTON -- Despite restrictions put into place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, entries in the month-long snow statue competition in MTU's Winter Carnival exceeded last year's.

For the fourth time in the last five years, Phi Kappa Tau is the overall winner of the month-long snow statue competition in Michigan Technological University’s Winter Carnival. This year’s theme is "Our Favorite Cartoons for Snowy Afternoons." Phi Kappa Tau’s statue, "Futurama," is located outside the fraternity’s house in Hancock. The statue also won the men’s division.

This photo shows some details in the Phi Kappa Tau scene from Futurama, an animated workplace sitcom about a Planet Express delivery company. A crew is loading four cryogenic tanks for interplanetary travel away from the lingering 2020 dangers on earth. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

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 category.

Second place in the overall category went to Alpha Gamma Delta and Sigma Tau Gamma for "Steamboat Willie and Mickey Mouse." The fraternity/sorority team also took first place in the co-ed division. Third place overall was awarded to Tau Kappa Epsilon for "Looney Toons." Click here for the rest of this article on Winter Carnival winners.

Winter Carnival 2016 begins with snow statue theme of 50 states

Winter Carnival 2016 logo courtesy Blue Key Honor Society.

HOUGHTON -- It’s Winter Carnival time! Student organizations at Michigan Technological University are perched on scaffolding under lights, working deep into the night on their gigantic snow statues, a month-long effort.

The theme this year is "As snow accumulates at alarming rates, we show our love for the 50 states." Statues are expected to reflect that theme.

Winter Carnival, sponsored by the Blue Key Honor Society, officially starts on Wednesday, Feb. 3, and runs through Saturday, Feb. 6, although some activities have already begun, including ice bowling at the Dee Stadium and curling at the Calumet Drill House.

In ice bowling, students curl up in giant plastic shells, while other students hurl them across the ice at oversized duckpins. Curling, of course, has nothing to do with hair. It is the Scottish sport of heaving a round stone down a lane of ice while teammates sweep furiously ahead of the stone with brooms, to help direct its movement and increase its speed.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, All-Nighter overnight statue building begins. The Alumni Association will serve hot chocolate from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Alumni House. Campus will be lit and lively all night, with karaoke from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and classic Winter Carnival snacks like chili and deep-fried Twinkies.

Thursday morning, Feb. 4, all statue building ends and judges make the rounds. with results announced later that afternoon. The raucous Beards Competition, with outrageous skits as well as impressive facial hair, is at 1 p.m. in Rm. 135 of Fisher Hall. A bit more sophisticated brand of humor is on tap at 7 p.m. in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, with the Stage Review Show. The show features witty, elaborate skits centered on this year's Winter Carnival theme. Stand-up comedian Jeff Scheen is the emcee.

Winter Carnival Sports will feature Women's and Men's Basketball against Ferris State, at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively Thursday in the wood gym and Broomball from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the outdoor broomball courts on campus.

For music lovers, the Brothers of Mu Beta Psi are sponsoring a Jazz Concert from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. The concert features Northern Standard Time and AstroSax with proceeds benefiting the John MacInnes Student Scholarship for students that have shown interest and participate in musical organizations at Michigan Tech. See the Orpheum Theater facebook page for details.

Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5 and 6, will offer outdoor activities ranging from snow volleyball to horsedrawn sleigh rides to downhill skiing, snowboarding and more. Click here for the full schedule.

Update: Parking on campus

• Lots 5, 9, and pay lot 27 will be open at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and will remain open through Sunday. You may park in these lots without a permit.
• Lot 11 will open at 4 p.m. on Friday and will remain open through Sunday.
• Overnight parking is in Lot 9 next to the Rozsa Center.
• All lots open Saturday - Sunday, with the exception of Resident Lots 4, 17, 17E, 10.
• Free parking at all metered areas begins Wednesday night.

The Transportation Services shuttle will run according to the regular schedule, along with weekday hours extended to 10 p.m. A Saturday shuttle will run from 1 p.m. - 10 p.m. Please note that the MTU shuttle buses are not equipped to handle children.

From Tech Today: Celebrate Winter Carnival at Michigan Tech this week

HOUGHTON -- It’s time to celebrate our snowy home: Winter Carnival is back with the snow statue competition judging on Thursday, Feb. 5.

The 2015 Winter Carnival theme is "While Frozen in the Ice and Snow, We Dream of Vacations on Which to Go."

The Winter Carnival tradition began in 1922. Organized by the Blue Key National Honor Society since 1934, Winter Carnival is Michigan Tech’s mid-winter celebration of the season in the Keweenaw. Festivities kicked off in January when the month-long statue-building competition got under way. Since then, speed skating, broomball, curling, ice bowling, ice fishing, snow volleyball and much more have gotten underway.

Carnival culminates in Wednesday night’s All-Nighter, Feb. 4, with one-night statue construction joining the month-long statue projects. Broomball, a smorgasbord of unique food treats, a snowy wall of speakers pounding out music, and much more will take place across campus well into the night.

The weekend brings a two-game series against Bemidji State in hockey, the Broomball Alumni Invitational and the Torchlight Parade with fireworks over Mont Ripley.

Click here for the complete schedule.

For additional information, visit the Winter Carnival website or contact Blue Key at 487-2818 or bluekey@mtu.edu.

(Winter Carnival logo courtesy mtu.edu.)

Parking during Winter Carnival and extended Shuttle Service

In order to accommodate the many visitors during Winter Carnival, the following lots will be available beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4 (Lot 11 opens at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6), free of charge, no permits required.

Lot 9 (commuter lot by the Rozsa Center)
Lot 5 (graduate student lot by the Rozsa)
Lot 27 (pay lot between the Administration Building and MUB)
Overnight parking -- You may park in Lot 9, the commuter lot by the Rozsa, without a permit.
Lot 11 (near the Administration Building) will be open at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Lastly, there will be free parking at all metered areas. Transportation Services will also extend its operations during Winter Carnival. The Michigan Tech shuttle service will run from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The City of Houghton shuttle service will run its regularly scheduled service. Please remember that the Michigan Tech shuttle bus is not equipped to handle children but you may use the on-demand service that the City of Houghton provides.

For any questions or comments regarding Winter Carnival parking regulations or shuttle bus service, call Transportation Services at 487-1441 or Public Safety and Police Services at 487-2216.

Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival 2014 is underway with lots of snow for statues

By Marcia Goodrich, Michigan Tech Magazine Editor

Michigan Tech students build statues during the All-Nighter during Winter Carnival 2013. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON -- This year's Michigan Tech Winter Carnival presents no shortage of snow for the construction material with more than 100 inches that have fallen this season. Mounds of the white stuff dot campus, more than enough for student organizations to build their signature statues of snow and ice, following the theme "Nostalgic Films of Childhood Days, Come to Life in Frosty Ways."

Last year's winner in the fraternity division, Phi Kappa Tau in Hancock, took first place with this giant snow structure and its icy details, inspired by "The Incredibles" animated movie. Fraternities and sororities have been working for a whole month on their creations this year, but have the advantage of more snow. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

The All-Nighter kicks off at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, when students put in a final push on their statues before judging the following morning. Crowds of people wander through campus, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying music and camaraderie. Eventually, they drift home, leaving students to labor until the statue-building deadline, 8 a.m.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (Hamar House, Building 13 on campus) will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5. During the All-Nighter, statue builders and friends are welcome to come in from the cold to warm up with free coffee and snacks.

On Thursday morning visitors will flock to campus to see the snowy dioramas. Among the entertainment offerings, sleigh rides begin at 9 a.m. and sled dog rides begin at 3 p.m., Feb. 6-8, near Douglass Houghton Hall.

Winter Carnival, sponsored by Blue Key, is about much more than statues, however.

Click here for a schedule of event highlights. You can also learn more at www.mtu.edu/carnival. Click here for a detailed schedule.

Parking during Winter Carnival and extended shuttle service

To accommodate the many visitors during Winter Carnival, Transportation Services will unlock the following lots at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5. This means you will be allowed to park in these designated areas without a permit:
Lot 9 (commuter lot by the Rozsa Center)
Lot 5 (graduate student lot by the Rozsa Center)
Lot 11 (near the Administration Building) Open at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7
Lot 27 (pay lot between the Administration Building and MUB)
Overnight parking: you may park in Lot 9, the commuter lot by the Rozsa Center

Lastly, there will be free parking at all metered spaces.

Transportation Services will also extend its operations during Winter Carnival. The shuttle will run from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. The City of Houghton shuttle service will run its regular scheduled service.

For any questions or comments regarding Winter Carnival parking regulations or shuttle bus service, call Transportation Services at 487-1441 or Public Safety and Police Services at 487-2216.

Winter Carnival is underway at Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival is underway and will continue through Sunday, Feb. 10. This year’s comic book-inspired theme is  "Heroes and villains find their powers, in these frozen winter hours."

The All-Nighter began at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, and continues until 8 a.m., while students who have been working for a month on their statues share the music, food and fun of this night as they put finishing touches on their creations before the judging on Thursday.

In addition to the snow statues, Carnival activities and competitions range from basketball and hockey to skiing, curling, the Bigfoot snowshoe event, ice bowling, human dogsled races and more.

Saturday night wraps up with a torchlight parade down the University's ski hill, Mont Ripley, and the semi-formal Sno-Ball.

Click here for the schedule of events.

Parking for Winter Carnival

Parking is allowed without a permit in these areas:

Lot 9 (commuter lot by the Rozsa Center)
Lot 5 (graduate student lot by the Rozsa)
Lot 11 (near the Administration Building) Open at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8
Lot 27 (pay lot between the Administration Building and MUB)

Overnight parking -- you may park in Lot 9, the commuter lot by the Rozsa.
Lastly, there will be free parking at all metered areas.

Transportation Services will also expand its operations during Winter Carnival. In addition to the regularly scheduled shuttle, an additional shuttle will be made available for rides between the SDC, MUB and Daniell Heights from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Additionally, the City of Houghton Transit will be on campus during Winter Carnival, or you can use their on-demand service.

For any questions or comments regarding Winter Carnival parking regulations or shuttle bus service, please call Transportation Services at 487-1441 or Public Safety and Police Services at 487-2216.