Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Students and company recruiters mingled at Michigan Tech’s Spring Career Fair on Tuesday.

HOUGHTON – Scores of companies and hundreds of students gathered at Michigan Technological University’s Student Development Complex Tuesday for Michigan Tech’s Spring Career Fair, which ran from noon to 5 p.m.

More than 150 employers from across the country were on hand for the event, said Cody Kangas, MTU’s executive director of Career Services. Companies range from local organizations, like Superior Technologies, located in Houghton, to corporations such as ITC Sports Company to US Steel and Marathon.

“These (companies) are our career services strategic partners,” Kangas said. “These are companies that are investing in the institution, investing in career services. We’re expecting a great day for our students to connect with all the opportunities out there to launch their careers,” Kangas said.

Companies are searching for students in fields from wildlife ecology to surveying, engineering management, electrical mechanical, to biomedical engineering.

Regardless of which college or the major students are in, said Kangas, demand is high for Husky talent.

“Michigan Tech is an institution that is carrying a lot of momentum right now,” he said. “We spread a whole number of industries. Generally speaking for the spring fair, it’s a little bit smaller than our fall fair, but the employers that are here are looking for internships, they’re looking for co-ops, they’re looking for full-time hires.”

Kangas said when considering the number and range of companies at the fair, their partnerships speak for the quality of education at Michigan Tech.

“I think when you look at our peers across the country, we hold our own,” he said. “When you have this turnout of employers coming up to Houghton, Michigan, in respect to the predicted winter storm, it’s a good sign that the demand for Husky talent is high.”

Among the companies at the career fair was Nucor Corporation, America’s largest steel manufacturer and recycler. Nucor has a strong, long-term partnership with Michigan Tech, focusing on recruiting engineering talent and supporting hands-on education.

Brian Pohl, representative with Nucor, said his corporation is looking for good students for internships and full-time employment.

“We have a pretty good partnership with Michigan Tech, so we get our name out. We go into classrooms and all that kind of stuff. That really helps with driving up the interest to get some good candidates.”

Evelyn Smith, third-year cyber security major at Michigan Tech, was taking full advantage of the available opportunities the career fair provides. She said she is seeking a summer internship or a co-op.

“I’m hoping to have some really good discussions with recruiters and learn more about the companies here and what they’re offering,” she said.