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A groundbreaking ceremony is being held today on the campus of Michigan Tech for the new Bernard Family Clock Tower.
The clock tower will be located outside the Memorial Union Building near the MEEM.
The clock tower and a student scholarship are being made possible by a donation from the William and Ilene Bernard Jr. family.
Bernard received his bachelor’s in metallurgical engineering in 1969 and is the CEO and Chairman of Surface Combustion, Inc., a leading manufacturer of thermal processing equipment, headquartered in Maumee, Ohio.
Bernard was born and raised in Houghton and says he is grateful for his Michigan Tech experience. “If Michigan Tech was not in Houghton, I would not have had the opportunity to attend college and then experience the success that my highly regarded Michigan Tech degree enabled,” he says. “My family and I are proud of our Copper Country roots and are grateful for how Michigan Tech enhances the community.”
The Bernard family hopes their donation inspires students to create new traditions through the “ringing of the bell” to acknowledge special events, historical holidays, and important accomplishments of the student body. With this gift, a portion of the donation was used to establish the William J. Bernard Jr. Family Endowed Scholarship Fund to provide support to Michigan Tech students.
The project is part of the ongoing “Alumni Way”, a Michigan Tech beautification project which began with the Garden Plaza off the library and the Husky Statue Plaza.
Groundbreaking for the Bernard Family Clock Tower will take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 27 on the campus of Michigan Technological University. The event will take place at the lawn circle between the Memorial Union Building and the R.L Smith Building (MEEM).
