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Finlandia International School of Business Updates

News and Notes from Finlandia's business school


  • Relive Graduation Day 2023 at Finlandia University | Photo Gallery & Livestreams

    Finlandia University held its final Spring Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 7, honoring 92 graduates in the Class of 2023. Following commencement, a commendation service was held for Finlandia University students, staff, faculty, alumni, neighbors and friends, commending the University and its 126 years of service.

    Full High-Res Photos from Spring 2023 Commencement:

    VIEW ALBUM ON FLICKR

    On-Demand Livestream of Spring 2023 Commencement:

    Full High-Res Photos from Service of Commendation:

    May 10

    Finlandia honors legacy, Class of 2023 with final commencement and commendation ceremonies

    Hirvonen Hall exterior

    Founded in 1896 as Suomi College, Finlandia University held its final spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 7, honoring 92 graduates in the Class of 2023. In March, the University announced the decision to dissolve the institution and not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    View PhotosWatch On-Demand

    President Timothy Pinnow congratulates student at FinnU’s Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony.

    Delivering the welcome address was Board Trustee Stephen Nikander, whose great-grandfather founded the institution and whose grandfather served [...]


  • Where to livestream Spring 2023 Commencement

    2023 Commencement YouTube Thumbnail

    On Sunday, May 7, Finlandia University held its Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. in Hirvonen Hall Auditorium. Whether rewatching from home, or on the go, here’s everything you need to know.

    Web: Livestream at finlandia.edu

    In case you missed it, an on-demand version is available below!

    ?

    Connected TV & Tablet: Livestream on YouTube

    For those watching from home, find the comfort of viewing commencement directly from your connected TV or tablet by visiting Finlandia University’s YouTube Channel. Simply go to your [...]


  • Everything you need to know about Graduation Week 2023

    Commencement 2023 Graphic

    Finlandia University’s baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies will be held on Sunday, May 7. 

    Here’s a complete run-down of when and where everything is happening during Graduation Week 2023.

    Rehearsal

    Commencement Rehearsal will be held on Friday, May 5 at 11:30 a.m., beginning in the Hirvonen Hall Gymnasium. 

    Baccalaureate

    On Sunday, May 7, all graduates are invited to Baccalaureate Worship at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock at 10:30 a.m. This is a service of prayer and blessing, specifically for this graduating class. 

    Commencement

    Finlandia University’s Spring 2023 [...]


  • Kaitlyn Lundeen named Class of 2023 Student Representative

    Kaitlyn Lundeen Portrait

    The 2023 Student Representative, Kaitlyn Lundeen, is a healthcare management major from Maple, Wisc. Lundeen earned a 3.92 grade point average and will be graduating Summa Cum Laude with an associate physical therapist assistant (PTA) degree, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management and a minor in psychology.

    “I think it’s an extreme honor to be able to be the representative for this class,” Lundeen said. “It means a lot to be able to help leave some parting words with [...]


  • Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony to be held May 7 at Hirvonen Hall

    Commencement 2023 Graphic

    Finlandia University’s Baccalaureate and Commencement activities for the Class of 2023 are scheduled for Sunday, May 7.

    Exercises on graduation day will begin Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. with the Baccalaureate Worship Service at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock. Finlandia University’s Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Hirvonen Hall Auditorium, with doors opening at 12:00 p.m. Immediately following commencement will be a reception for graduates and guests on Quincy Green. A livestream of the commencement [...]


  • Academic Achievement Committee names 2023 Honors & Awards recipients

    2023 Honors & Awards Ceremony medallion, tassel and cords.

    Finlandia’s Academic Achievement Committee hosted the university’s annual Honors & Awards Ceremony on Friday. Friends, faculty and staff gathered in Martha Wiljanen Hall at FinnU’s Finnish American Heritage Center to celebrate the students selected to receive honors and awards.

    The Sisu Award is given to graduating students who have shown courage, fortitude and perseverance in overcoming hardship to achieve academic and personal success. Brandon Hale and Elijah Emmer were the two recipients of this year’s Sisu Award.

    Membership in the Sampo Society [...]


  • Waterman selected for 2023 Ponsse Internship

    Madelyn Waterman

    Senior marketing student will take on new adventures in U.S. and Finland

    Finlandia University senior Marketing major Madelyn Waterman has been selected for the 2023 Ponsse Einari Vidgrén Foundation Internship. Finlandia and Ponsse are proud to welcome Waterman into this position as the first internship recipient since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    This internship aims to create an opportunity for Finlandia students to have hands-on experience aligned with their major, understand national and international work environments and develop a deeper [...]


  • Finlandia University will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year

    Finlandia Logo White Background

    On Thursday, March 2, Finlandia University’s Board of Trustees announced that Finlandia will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year. The decision follows months of continuous efforts to find pathways for the University to continue its mission.

    “I am deeply saddened to announce that due to a combination of demographic changes, with fewer high school graduates available, a steep decrease in interest in going to college among those graduates, and an unbearable debt load, Finlandia’s Board of Trustees met and [...]


  • Student Spotlight: Getting creative with Marketing major Stephanie Ollila

    Stephanie Ollila

    Stephanie Ollila is a junior Marketing major from Ontonagon, MI. The International School of Business at Finlandia University recently interviewed Ollila to learn more about her time at FinnU.

    Tell us a little about yourself!

    My name is Stephanie, but my nicknames are Stevie or Steph. I enjoy spending time outside hiking and downhill skiing. I love creating artwork and making new friends.

    Why did you choose Finlandia University?

    I chose Finlandia because of the beautiful location and the small class size. [...]


  • Diversity Dinner is back!

    Diversity Dinner 2023 Poster

    Join us February 6-10 at Finlandia Hall Cafe as we celebrate the unique backgrounds of Finlandia’s community with Diversity Dinner!

    CLICK HERE TO SEE MENU

    All are welcome to Diversity Dinner Week 2023! From 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., February 6-10, Finlandia’s Dining Services will be serving up traditional foods from around the world. Dinners are free for Finlandia University students with a meal plan and $10 for everyone else. Proceeds will be used by Finlandia’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion [...]


  • Exchange Student Spotlight: Abdi Bekele, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences

    Abdi Bekele

    Small class sizes and faculty mentoring reward business student with invaluable experience studying abroad at Finlandia University

    The International Exchange Program at Finlandia University allows students who study at partner institutions to attend Finlandia for a semester abroad. These students can immerse themselves in American culture while earning credit toward their degree.

    In this Q&A, Abdi Bekele, an aviation business student from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Porvoo, Finland, details his experience attending FinnU and living in Michigan’s Upper [...]


  • FinnU removes barriers to free tuition scholarship

    Photo of Students Raising Their Hands Together In The Air

    University relaxes requirements, extends deadline and opens Rise Together Scholarship to bachelor degree-seeking students

    Finlandia University will build on its boldest expression of affordability by easing eligibility requirements for the Rise Together Free Full Tuition Scholarship. 

    Now applicable to all four years of tuition at Finlandia, the Rise Together Scholarship will allow bachelor’s degree-seeking students with a minimum GPA of 2.25 to apply. Other significant changes include a May 1 deadline extension for filing the FAFSA and the removal of the Tuition [...]


  • Tuition made simple: Streamlining affordability

    Scholarship Table for Campus News

    Finlandia announces scholarship overhaul ahead of spring 2023 semester

    Finlandia University will build on its commitment to providing affordable higher education by awarding newly introduced scholarship packages to incoming spring 2023 students. Taking steps to simplify the cost of attendance further, Finlandia’s new Scholarship Calculator acts as a fast and easy-to-use tool for all.

    Within two to six questions, the calculator provides students with the minimum scholarship amount they will receive from Finlandia University. Minimum scholarships are then stackable [...]


  • Exchange Student Spotlight: Jesper Hagelberg, Business College Helsinki

    Jesper Hagelberg

    International partnership offers unique experience in return of study abroad programs

    Taking advantage of a student-exchange program between Business College Helsinki and Finlandia University, Jesper Hagelberg set off to Hancock, MI, from Finland in the fall of 2022 with an opportunity to compete in NCAA DIII athletics while expanding the boundaries of his education.

    An opportunity afforded by one of Finlandia University’s eight international partnerships with colleges and universities around the world, Hagelberg earned credit toward [...]


  • Voices on Vocation features alumni Ross Rinkinen (’04) and Travis Hanson (’08)

    Voices on Vocation w Ross Rinkinen & Travis Hanson

    Take time this holiday season to reflect on vocation and meaning with the Seaton Center’s Voices on Vocation podcast!

    Finlandia’s Seaton Center for Vocation & Career guides students through the discovery of self and meaning, bringing unison to both vocation and career. Voices on Vocation, produced by Dr. René Johnson and Emma Dorst of the Seaton Center, is a program that holds in-person discussions as well as podcast segments that share stories from Finlandia learning community members.

    These stories [...]


  • Student Spotlight: Beyond the gridiron with Austin Cover

    Austin Cover - Lions Football

    Finlandia Lions Austin Cover (9) prepares for a block during a game against Benedictine College.

    Austin Cover is a senior Management and Entrepreneurship major from Brown City, MI. He is also a linebacker for the Finlandia University NCAA Division III Football Team. The International School of Business at Finlandia University recently interviewed Cover to learn more about his time at FinnU. 

    Tell us a little about yourself.

    I’m from Brown City, Michigan and was raised by my grandparents, [...]


  • Finlandia Fridays explore exclusive Ponsse internship for FinnU students

    ISB Dean Kevin Manninen with busines student

    This week on Finlandia Fridays, marketing and management professor Kevin Manninen stopped by to talk about Finlandia’s International School of Business (ISB) and an upcoming internship opportunity for Finlandia students.

    Following an announcement earlier this week, the Ponsse Einari Vidgrén Foundation Internship application period is now open. The internship, exclusive to Finlandia students, features two to three weeks each spent at Ponsse North America in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and Ponsse Plc headquarters in Vieremä, Finland, in May and June 2023.

    With [...]


  • Applications now open for 2023 Ponsse Internship

    Ponsse Plc Logo

    Application deadline is Friday, January 27, 2023

    Finlandia University students can now apply for the Ponsse Einari Vidgrén Foundation Internship. The internship will consist of approximately two weeks spent at Ponsse North America in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and approximately three weeks at Ponsse Plc headquarters in Vieremä, Finland, in May and June 2023. 

    The internship will include accommodation while at Ponsse North America in Rhinelander, plus accommodation and two daily meals while at Ponsse Plc in Vieremä, Finland. In addition, the student will [...]


  • Michigan Achievement Scholarship for graduating high school students

    FinnU-Scholarships

    If you’re wondering what the Michigan Achievement Scholarship means for high school graduates looking to attend Finlandia University next fall, we’ve got you covered. 

    By the Numbers

    80 percent of students who attend an independent college or university in Michigan qualify. Students can qualify for up to an additional $20,000 over the course of their college education at an independent college or university, such as Finlandia University. Add in the current tuition grant and students can receive up to $35,000 over the course of [...]

  • Student Spotlight: Brendan Christian, Accounting; Management and Entrepreneurship

    Brendan ChristianBrendan, tell us a little about yourself.

    I am 21 years old. I come from a small town, which made the transition to Finlandia pretty easy, but I still had to adjust to not having some of the luxuries I have back home. I have played four years of soccer here at Finlandia and captained the team for my Junior and Senior year. I was a Resident Assistant for two years and I currently tutor students in general business subjects, specifically [...]


  • Finlandia Fridays: 2023 Scholarship Packages

    Anthony Schwass

    In last week’s episode of Finlandia Fridays, Dean of Enrollment Anthony Schwass joined the show to discuss FinnU’s all-new Scholarship Calculator. In part two of this featured series, Schwass dives deep into the new scholarship packages offered at Finlandia and what they will provide incoming students.

    “It is simply streamlined now. No longer are scholarships not stackable with each other, if you qualify for a scholarship, you get it, along with all of your other scholarships. Plain and simple,” Schwass [...]


  • Finlandia releases Scholarship Calculator

    Scholarship Calculator Button

    The Scholarship Calculator at Finlandia University is a fast and easy-to-use tool for any degree-seeking student looking to attend FinnU. In less than a minute, the calculator provides students with the minimum scholarship amount they will receive from Finlandia University. 

    In a recent feature with Finlandia’s Dean of Enrollment, Anthony Schwass shared that the scholarship calculator is for anyone. No paperwork, no FAFSA information; all you need to know is your cumulative GPA and where you’re [...]


  • Finlandia Fridays: The Scholarship Calculator

    Scholarship Calculator Button

    Understanding the cost of a college education should be easy. So, here to introduce Finlandia’s all-new Scholarship Calculator is Dean of Enrollment Anthony Schwass.

    New to Fall 2022, Finlandia’s Scholarship Calculator provides students with their anticipated scholarship offerings. Schwass explains that in less than a minute, the calculator provides students with their base scholarship amount, and that’s before stacking any Scholarship Add-Ons. All this comes before Federal and State Aid, which you can qualify for after filing your FAFSA [...]


  • First Destination Outcomes for the Class of 2022

    Graduation at Finlandia University

    Finlandia University’s Class of ’22 graduates are off to a great start! The Seaton Center for Vocation & Career has completed its inaugural First Destination Survey, a new tool to collect and summarize data on graduate employment outcomes and continuing education enrollment.

    With an overall knowledge rate of 76.5%, the survey captures information on the activities of 52 of the 68 students who completed their studies in the Spring or Summer of 2022. Of this cohort, encompassing both associate and bachelor’s [...]


  • Local students show entrepreneurial skills at FinnU’s Shark Day competition

    Shark Day Nov 2022

    Finlandia University held its second annual Shark Day on Wednesday with teams of high school juniors and seniors from Calumet, Baraga Area and Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College’s career technical education program. Students competed to win a $2,500 scholarship to attend Finlandia University.

    A play on the hit T.V. show Shark Tank, Finlandia’s Shark Day teaches students about entrepreneurship, creativity, working in a team and public speaking. Hosting the event was Lauren Huested, education partner manager and dual enrollment advisor [...]


  • Registration dates for Spring 2023 classes

    Registration Spring 2023

    Registration details for spring classes have been released, and the Spring 2023 class schedule is viewable on Empower. Students must communicate with their academic advisor to receive their PIN. This number has been refreshed and is different from the one you would have used to sign up last semester. You can email your advisor as a form of communication at this time to work out your course schedule and to receive your PIN.

    If you have any questions regarding the process, [...]


  • Student Spotlight: Senior Marketing & Graphic Design student Madelyn Waterman

    Madelyn Waterman

    Finlandia Lions Women’s Soccer is on its way to conference playoffs. Patrons of Finlandia Athletics can donate and learn more about the Women’s Soccer fundraiser which runs through Nov. 3, by visiting here.

    Joining Finlandia Fridays this week is senior Lions’ Soccer player Madelyn Waterman, who sits down with host Jordan Shawhan for an exciting conversation about FinnU’s Marketing and Graphic Design programs, why she decided to attend Finlandia and what she’s looking forward to most in her final year.

    Like [...]


  • Dual Enrollment for High School Students: Learn How

    Dual Enrollment Flyer 2022

    Click the enlarge image.

    Available online and for many students, free!

    Dual enrollment is a great opportunity for eligible high school juniors and seniors to jumpstart their college education at a great discount, or for many students, free.Finlandia University offers online classes to students nationwide and dozens of on-campus opportunities to those located near Hancock. All of these courses are available on a first-come-first-serve basis at an exceptionally discounted price.

    The Next Steps: Choose one of FinnU’s dual enrollment classes. Nearly [...]

  • Ponsse Einari Vidgrén Foundation Internship returns for Finlandia students in 2023

    Ponsse Plc Logo

    Application period is expected to open in December 2022

    Ponsse and Finlandia University are pleased to announce an upcoming internship opportunity for a Finlandia University student. The internship will last approximately five to six weeks, including two at Ponsse North America in Rhinelander, Wisconsin and three at Ponsse Plc Headquarters in Vieremä, Finland. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first Ponsse internship offering since 2019.

    Established in Vieremä, Finland, in 1970 by Einari Vidgrén, Ponsse is one of the world’s [...]


  • Small class sizes promote experiential learning and quality internships at Finlandia’s International School of Business

    ISB Commercial Thumbnail

    Copper Country’s 1 Million Cups (1MC) allows entrepreneurs to share business ideas and get feedback before, during and after launch. 1MC community organizers like Kevin Manninen, dean of Finlandia’s International School of Business (ISB) and associate professor of Management & Marketing, offer valuable advice to presenters at these one-of-a-kind networking events. In turn, Finlandia business students benefit from the context and curricula shared by Manninen through an experiential approach and quality internship opportunities.

    In addition to Manninen’s work [...]


  • Parade of Nations 2022 | Photo Gallery

    Parade of Nations

    Check out some of our favorite moments from the Parade of Nations on Saturday, September 17!

    SEE THE FULL GALLERY

    RELATED ARTICLES & LINKS

    September 20, 2022 – Parade of Nations returns home to Quincy Green August 25, 2022 – International food returns at Parade of Nations, September 17 August 10, 2022 – Floats & Flags: Volunteer opportunities now open for Parade of Nations 2022 June 22, 2022 – Parade of Nations announced for September 17 July 12, [...]


  • Parade of Nations returns home to Quincy Green

    Parade of Nations 2022

    Dozens of Finlandia University students and employees played part in representing nearly 60 countries in Saturday’s Parade of Nations. 

    The Parade returned home to Quincy Green this year after being rerouted in 2021. Overlooked by FinnU’s historic Hirvonen Hall, community members gathered as the start of the Parade approached. Celebrating cultural diversity in the Keweenaw, floats and marchers with flags and banners walked down Quincy Street, crossed the Portage Lift Bridge and continued through downtown Houghton. Hundreds of patrons lined the [...]


  • Everything you need to know about Parade of Nations 2022

    Finlandia at Parade of Nations

    Ever had Indian food? How about African? Bangladeshi? You can taste all those cuisines and more at this year’s Parade of Nations on Saturday, September 17.

    The Parade of Nations starts at 11 a.m. at Quincy Green in Hancock. Floats and marchers with flags and banners will walk east down Quincy Street, cross the Portage Lift Bridge, then proceed east down Shelden Avenue through downtown Houghton. The Parade will then turn toward the water at Isle Royale Street before ending up [...]


  • Announcing the $1,000 Riku Scholarship!

    Riku F. Lion

    It’s official! 

    The Riku Scholarship is officially back, and two lucky students have the opportunity to seek out a $1,000 scholarship to don the “mane” during the Fall 2022 semester. 

    Riku F. Lion is the true spirit of Finlandia University and for nearly two decades “The Big Cat” has been displaying his sisu across the nation. The official mascot of Finlandia Athletics, FinnU’s “mane” man shows his school spirit at other campus events, too. 

    If you’ve got school spirit, have a knack for [...]


  • Finlandia Alumni Board announces Textbook Award recipients

    Giving Day Luncheon with Finlandia Alumni Board 2019

    2019 Giving Day Luncheon with Finlandia Alumni Board and Textbook Award recipients.

    The Finlandia Alumni Board (FAB) has selected 35 students to receive the 2022 Alumni Board Textbook Awards. Resulting directly from the FAB’s annual Giving Day campaign, the application asked each student to share how the award would help in their academic and personal endeavors.

    “Receiving this textbook award would greatly help me in my academic journey,” a Criminal Justice major shared. “I am receiving a [...]


  • Stuber (’22) joins FinnU Finance Department

    Michael Stuber

    Finlandia University’s Finance Department is pleased to welcome Michael Stuber (‘22) as their newest accountant. Stuber (Hancock, MI) graduated from FinnU’s International School of Business in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a minor in Business Management. 

    “I am excited to be working at Finlandia University because it allows me the opportunity to stay in my hometown and be close to my friends and family,” Stuber said. “I am also excited to be [...]


  • Koskela Servant Leadership House | Tour Video

    Koskela SLH Thumbnail

    We are so excited to be bringing you a glimpse into this on-campus housing option!

    The Koskela Servant Leadership House is a unique living and learning community for female students who are committed to personal growth and servant leadership as a means of building a vibrant and caring community. Located on Quincy Street in Hancock, the Koskela Servant Leadership House offers its residents many benefits, including the perks of living on-campus.

    Joining us for this video is house resident Ella Lindgren. [...]


  • Floats & Flags: Volunteer opportunities now open for Parade of Nations 2022

    International Parade of Nations

    Since 1989, the Houghton and Hancock communities have been celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the Keweenaw. We are excited to continue that tradition on September 17th!

    The parade begins at 11 a.m. in Hancock (Quincy Green), crosses the Portage Lift Bridge, and ends at the Dee Stadium. This amazing celebration of unity and culture is open to the entire community, and we hope you will consider participating!

    Any person is invited to request a flag of any country that they wish [...]


  • Alumnus Ethan St. Germain joins Finance Department

    Ethan St. Germain

    Ethan St. Germain (’21) joined Finlandia’s Finance Department as an accountant in Spring 2022. St. Germain started his accounting career as a student-intern and work-study with the Finance Department during his junior year. 

    “After graduation I worked for a cultivation and retail company. It was a vertically integrated rather new company called Ottawa Innovations/Higher Love. Being a new company in a new industry was very exciting, fast paced, and really helped me build my skills and gain experience in a broad [...]


  • Campus meets community: The grand opening of Hirvonen Hall

    Hirvonen Open House Grand Opening

    Mike Lahti cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of Hirvonen Hall.

    On Saturday, July 23, dozens of Hancock Central High School alumni gathered on the steps of Hirvonen Hall for an all-class photo at the building’s grand reopening ceremony. The former Hancock Public Schools building now serves as the proud home of Finlandia’s professionally accredited health sciences offerings.

    Following the class photo, Finlandia President Tim Pinnow greeted those in attendance:

    “On behalf of Finlandia University, welcome home. We hope you [...]


  • Pinnow’s presidency begins

    Tim Pinnow

    The 17th President of Finlandia University, Tim Pinnow, has spent his first two weeks in office focusing on the things that matter the most – community. 

    On his first day, Pinnow welcomed University faculty and staff to a morning reception at the Hoover Center.

    “One of the things that I would like to base this presidency on is a sense that all of us contribute to the success of Finlandia University,” Pinnow said. “I will be holding open office hours every week [...]


  • Finlandia to host grand opening of Hirvonen Hall July 23

    Hirvonen Hall

    Finlandia University is pleased to announce that it will host a grand opening of Hirvonen Hall on Saturday, July 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Now home to Finlandia’s College of Health Sciences programs, the iconic former Hancock Public Schools building also serves as the location of the Finlandia Lions Esports Arena, in addition to multiple local businesses situated on the fourth floor.

    Acquired in 2009 through a strategic and creative exchange of resources with Hancock Schools known as


  • International School of Business | Spring Newsletter

    ISB Newsletter May 2022 Header

    Finlandia University’s International School of Business has released its Spring recap newsletter! This issue includes: Accounting students start investment lab, the inaugural FinnU Shark Day, growing internship opportunities, Finlandia’s new president & more!

    Subscribe Today!

    Local students looking forward to next FinnU Shark Day

    With more than 60 students in attendance Finlandia University held its inaugural FinnU Shark Day, which is a spin on the hit television show “Shark Tank”, on Wednesday, March 9th 2022. High school students in [...]


  • Students encouraged to apply for $250 textbook awards

    Giving Day Logo 2022 Bow

    Finlandia students who are enrolled for Fall 2022 are encouraged to apply for a $250 Alumni Board Textbook Award. The Award, given in the form of a Textbook Voucher redeemable at North Wind Books, is open to all students who meet the following criteria:

    Enrolled full-time for Fall 2022 In good academic standing Degree-seeking

    The free application will be open until Friday, July 22 and recipients will be notified prior to the start of the semester.

    The Alumni Board Textbook Award is funded through [...]


  • Textbook Giving Day 2022 is today!

    Giving Day Logo June 14, 2022

    Giving Day 2022 starts now!

    Join the Finlandia Alumni Board for a day dedicated to raising money to help students pay for textbooks. The Finlandia Alumni Board seeks to raise $10,000 and is looking to share this message to support their cause. To learn more about how to give back to Finlandia’s students, visit finlandia.edu/givingday. Every $250 awards another FinnU student a textbook scholarship!

    Find more ways to follow along on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn.

    If you would like to donate to [...]


  • Student application now open for $250 textbook awards

    Giving Day Logo 2022 Bow

    Finlandia students who are enrolled for Fall 2022 are encouraged to apply for a $250 Alumni Board Textbook Award. The Award, given in the form of a Textbook Voucher redeemable at North Wind Books, is open to all students who meet the following criteria:

    Enrolled full-time for Fall 2022 In good academic standing Degree-seeking

    The free application will be open until Friday, July 22 and recipients will be notified prior to the start of the semester.

    The Alumni Board Textbook Award is [...]


  • Support student textbook awards on June 14

    Giving Day Logo 2022 Bow

    Giving Day 2022 is one week away!

    The Finlandia Alumni Board is hosting its fourth Giving Day on June 14, 2022. The day is dedicated to raising money to help students pay for textbooks.

    In 2021, the FAB helped 49 students with their textbooks and was able to help fund two student support initiatives by donating to Finlandia’s Textbook Justice Library and North Wind Books. The Textbook Justice Library purchased textbooks for FinnU students to use, free of charge, while the donation [...]


  • Finlandia Alumni Board to host Giving Day for student textbooks on June 14

    Giving Day Logo June 14, 2022

    The Finlandia Alumni Board will host its fourth annual Giving Day on June 14 this year. Dedicated to helping students pay for textbooks, the Alumni Board’s annual fundraiser supports FinnU students through the way of textbook awards. Giving Day is a day to celebrate all things Finlandia and show the world the opportunities it affords its alumni, family and friends.

    “FinnU celebrates learning, a character trait inherited from our Finnish roots where literacy rates are consistently 99%. Finlandia [...]


  • 124 honored on Spring 2022 Dean’s and Honors List

    Finlandia University is proud to announce its Spring 2022 semester Dean’s and Honors List Students. In total 124 students earned honors, including 88 who earned Dean’s List honors for having a grade point average of 3.75 or above.

    To be eligible for either list students must have completed 12 or more credits and had no grade below a “C.” Dean’s List students earned a GPA of 3.75 or above, while Honors List students had a GPA between 3.50 and 3.749. Semester academic honors are not granted to students with an incomplete [...]


  • FinnU named to Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges

    University HQ 2022 Best Bachelor's Degrees in Michigan

    Finlandia University was recently named among the best for bachelor’s degrees in the State of Michigan in 2022 by University Headquarters.

    Among the most important factors in the ranking system of University HQ is accreditation and the Higher Learning Commission provides that to Finlandia University with institutional accreditation. Physical Therapy Assistant and Nursing programs at Finlandia are also accredited. This is factored into ranking in addition to admission and retention rates, tuition costs, degree options and graduation rates. As a [...]


  • Photo Gallery | Business Finland, Consul General visit Finlandia University

    Business Finland at Finlandia University

    On May 17, 2022, Finlandia University hosted Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles, and two Finnish business delegations for an opening reception at FinnU’s Finnish American Heritage Center during the delegation’s visit to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

    Click through the album below to check out a few of our favorite moments and make sure to read the full article here!


  • Finlandia University hosts Finnish delegations

    Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland

    Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles, arrives at Finlandia University.

    Led by Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles, two Finnish business delegations visited the Copper Country on Tuesday to advance economic and trade relations and explore partnership opportunities. Finlandia University, the only remaining institution of higher education in the U.S. founded by Finns outside of Finland, hosted the groups for an opening reception at the University’s Finnish American Heritage Center. 

    “There is a [...]


  • New internship opportunity for International Business majors

    MEDC Logo

    Finlandia BBA students majoring or minoring in International Business now have an opportunity for a summer internship through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s new International Trade and Development Internship program. The program matches highly motivated students to companies seeking assistance in developing their export sales. The students will work for small- to medium-sized Michigan companies that are interested in or are currently exporting. Students meeting the requirements are shared with a pool of companies that applied to host summer interns. [...]


  • Going global: Finlandia business students assist local engineering firm

    BUS 388 Global Entrepreneurship

    Pictured from left to right: Steve Bethel, Dmitri Samusev, Austin Cover and River Shumate.

    For small Chassell, Michigan-based Leadfoot Engineering, the global marketplace holds great potential. The company, which designs and produces quality high-performance engine pistons, is interested in becoming a global player in the small but lucrative niche market. End users for their pistons include powerboat racing teams and other boating enthusiasts looking for speed and performance.

    This spring, a group of BUS 388 Global Entrepreneurship students worked with [...]


  • Finlandia University names Tim Pinnow as next president

    Timothy Pinnow

    Finlandia University has elected Tim Pinnow, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Colorado Mesa University (CMU), as its 17th president following a unanimous vote by the University’s Board of Trustees. He will assume his presidency on July 1, 2022.

    The Board’s selection of Finlandia’s President-elect follows a five-month nationwide search led by the University’s Presidential Search Committee, with professional support from the national executive search firm, Academic Search. The committee, chaired by board member Dr. Michael Nakkula, worked extensively with [...]


  • Finlandia honors graduating Class of 2022

    2022 Commencement

    On Sunday, May 1, Finlandia University held its annual Spring Commencement Ceremony honoring 84 graduates in the Class of 2022. There was standing room only in the Hirvonen Hall Auditorium with more than 700 in attendance.

    In his greeting, President Johnson opened with Finlandia’s Land Acknowledgment:

    “Finlandia University was founded as Suomi College by Finnish Lutheran immigrants in 1896 on land ceded by the Anishnaabe people in the Treaty of 1842. We seek to honor and respect the sacred and enduring kinship [...]


  • Local students looking forward to next FinnU Shark Day

    FinnU Shark Day Event Winners

    Taking a spin on the hit TV show “Shark Tank”, Finlandia University held its inaugural FinnU Shark Day on Wednesday, March 9 with more than 60 high school students from L’anse, Baraga Area and Calumet in attendance. Students competed for the chance to win a $2,500 scholarship in the first event of its type on Finlandia’s campus.

    After arriving shortly after 9 a.m., the schools gathered in the Hirvonen Hall Auditorium, located in Finlandia’s newly renovated College of Health Sciences building, [...]


  • FinnU Shark Day hosting local students for entrepreneurship competition

    Shark Day Logo Transparent

    On this week’s episode of Finlandia Fridays, Education Partner Manager and Dual Enrollment Advisor Lauren Huested joins the show to talk about FinnU Shark Day. A play on the show Shark Tank, the March 9 event focuses on teaching students in their junior and senior years about entrepreneurship, creativity, working in a team and public speaking skills. The final winners will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship to attend Finlandia to be used in the fall of 2022 [...]


  • Finlandia business students form investment laboratory

    Investment Group Students Joe Dancy 2022

    There’s a new investment club on the Finlandia campus. In the fall of 2021, a group of accounting students formed the Finlandia Multi-Variate Screening and Portfolio Construction Data Analytics Lab, or as it is more commonly known, the Finlandia Investment Lab (FIL).  According to founding member Anders Saarela, “While I was working in the [Finlandia] business office this summer as an accountant work study student, [accounting professor] Laura Sieders asked if I would be interested in forming an [...]


  • Investment Lab offers new opportunities for FinnU students

    Anders Saarela & Michael Stuber-1

    Finlandia’s all-new investment lab is putting the call out for additional members. In this week’s episode, FinnU International School of Business senior Accounting students Anders Saarela and Michael Stuber join the show to talk about their experience in the new student organization.

    “I believe it was October of last semester when it first got initiated. It’s for any Finlandia students and staff that are interested in attending,” Saarela said. “Whether you’re a nursing major, art major, business major, [...]


  • Hirvonen Hall mural raises awareness of mental health

    Hirvonen Hall Mural Painting

    You won’t be able to miss the new addition to the third floor of Hirvonen Hall, a 20-foot canvas painted by campus and community members. The mural, located in Finlandia’s College of Health Sciences building, seemingly appeared out of thin air, but guiding sketches pinned to the wall traced us back to one of the most renowned mural artists in the area, Mariana Nakashima.

    As Finlandia’s campus dedicated the past week to mental health awareness, breaking down stigma and opening up [...]


  • Finlandia University named to 2022 Best Colleges in Michigan

    Best Colleges in Michigan in 2022 Badge

    Higher education resource guide releases the best institution programs for 2022 

    Hancock, MIIntelligent.com has named Finlandia University one of the Best Colleges in Michigan in 2022 for the second year in a row.

    Intelligent.com put over 75 hours into its research, ranking FinnU #12 after identifying and comparing 280 programs at 56 select universities and colleges across the state.

    Dr. Fredi de Yampert, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Finlandia’s College of Health Sciences, shared the following [...]


  • Perreault (’18) elected to CLK Foundation Board of Directors

    Nathan Perreault

    Nathan Perreault, an Assistant Professor of Management with Finlandia’s International School of Business (ISB), was recently elected to the Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw (CLK) Foundation Board of Directors. The foundation is a local non-profit organization created to support students of the CLK school system by funding programs aimed at providing an extra edge in today’s competitive world.

    “I am honored to be able to serve the CLK community,” Perreault said. “Being elected to the CLK Foundation Board allows me to volunteer in an [...]


  • International School of Business teams up with 1 Million Cups at entrepreneurial event

    ISB business

    On Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 8:30 a.m., representatives from Finlandia’s International School of Business (ISB) are teaming up with businesses and organizations from around the community to share and discuss entrepreneurial ideas and opportunities in our local community. ISB Dean Kevin Manninen and Assistant Professor of Management Nathan Perreault will be representing Finlandia on the1 Million Cups committee while other committee members include those from MTEC SmartZone, Michigan Small Business Development Center, Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance and [...]


  • 2+2 PTA + Healthcare Management Student Spotlight: Tabin Filizetti

    PTA 2+2 Tabin Filizetti Student Spotlight

    ?

    For FinnU Physical Therapist Assistant and Healthcare Management student Tabin Filizetti, helping individuals take small but influential steps felt like the right fit. He sees the importance in how assisting someone to become more physically capable can make all of the difference. Finlandia’s PTA program is just that; helping people recover through meaningful rehabilitation services.

    “Helping people is what I’m all about, the rehabilitation process is amazing to me and I love seeing progress in patients even if it [...]


  • Gary Kruzich hired to lead athletic partnerships and instruct for ISB

    Gary Kruzich is joining the International School of Business as a new Assistant Professor of Marketing and the Athletic Partnerships Manager. Kruzich brings over 25 years of corporate marketing experience as well as five years of higher education teaching experience. Kruzich earned his Bachelor of Science in 2015, his Master of Science in Sports Management in 2016 and his Master of Business Administration in 2018 from Liberty University.

    Kruzich is excited to be teaching for Finlandia as he believes [...]


  • Meet Mariana Nakashima, new Administrative Assistant for ISB and SCAS

    Joining Finlandia’s staff this fall as the new Administrative Assistant for the International School of Business (ISB) and Suomi College of Arts and Sciences (SCAS) is Mariana Nakashima.

    Nakashima attended the University of Toledo while attaining her industrial engineering degree with a concentration in ergonomics. Bringing along years of experience in time management, policies and procedures from work in the auto industry, Nakashima also has experience in teaching Art and Spanish.

    “Since I moved to the Keweenaw seven years ago, I have [...]


  • Exploring the International School of Business with Dean Kevin Manninen

    Joining Finlandia Fridays this week is Kevin Manninen, dean and associate professor of management and marketing with the International School of Business at Finlandia University. Manninen shares insight into what it’s like being a business student at Finlandia and what advantages there are through small class sizes and experiential learning at the institution such as internship opportunities, international collaboration and hands-on project management experience. Manninen talks about what majors and minors are offered through the International School of Business [...]


  • Finlandia’s Business Faculty Feature Strong Local Connections

    Finlandia University’s International School of Business (ISB) lives up to its name by maintaining strong international partnerships, teaching students from a variety of countries, and overseeing internships and a range of business activities with an international flavor. However, our faculty also have strong connections to our local area. Five of the six full-time faculty are graduates of local high schools including Calumet, Houghton, Jeffers, and Ontonagon. Additionally, three of our faculty members have extensive work experience from living [...]


  • International School of Business hires new Assistant Professor of Management

    Beth Agen 2021

    Beth Agen recently joined Finlandia’s International School of Business as an Assistant Professor of Management.

    Agen attained a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications from St. Norbert College, an MBA with a concentration in Leadership from Liberty University and is currently completing her doctoral thesis for a Doctorate of Education, EdD, in Organizational Leadership: Organizational Development, from Grand Grand Canyon University. Agen brings more than 20 years of management experience to the new position including work on accreditation for three different [...]


  • Preparing for the job hunt: students experience employment search through mock job search and interviews

    During the 2021 spring semester, the International School of Business collaborated with Finlandia’s new Seaton Center for Vocation & Career to equip graduating seniors with the skills they need to prepare competitive job applications and interview successfully. Director of Career Services, Emma Dorst, partnered with Assistant Professor of Management Nathan Perreault and Dean Kevin Manninen to restructure the Business Senior Seminar course, with opportunities for students to put their job search skills into practice and receive individual feedback. Ms. Dorst delivered [...]


  • Working remotely, no longer the future – it’s already here!

    Over the past year and a half, the number of workers working from home, or even far from their place of employment, known as working remotely or working virtually has become commonplace. While COVID resulted in a revolutionary shift towards employees working remotely, this was a movement that was already occurring at a rapid rate before the pandemic hit.  New and improved communication technologies have played a major role in this movement. The result is that companies and individuals [...]


  • Santeri Seppinen named Finlandia International School of Business Outstanding Senior

    Santeri Seppinen

    Finlandia University’s International School of Business has named Santeri Seppinen its Outstanding Senior in Business for the academic year 2020-21. Seppinen, an International Business major from Turku, Finland, was given this honor based on his overall academic record, including a 3.83 GPA, as well as his achievements outside of the classroom. 

    Transferring to Finlandia in 2018 to play hockey, Seppinen quickly settled and effectively balanced his studies with the rigors of being a varsity goaltender. According to management professor Nathan Perreault [...]


  • Student Spotlight: Phil Schader, International Business

    Phil Schader is a sophomore transfer student from Austria majoring in International Business. Schader left Austria when he was 16 and graduated from a Canadian high school before playing junior hockey. He is a member of the Men’s Hockey team. 

    When did you first hear about Finlandia and why did you decide to come here? 

    During the end of my junior hockey career playing in Minnesota. I found out about Finlandia through the hockey program. For me as an international, [...]


  • Student Spotlight: McEwen Stapleton, Management & Entrepreneurship

    When McEwen Stapleton transferred to Finlandia University from Hope College, he was looking for a place where he could be himself. 

    “Overall, I’m an outdoor-oriented individual and Hope College is dead-center in Holland,” said Stapleton, who is originally from Frankfort, Mich. “I am thankful for my experiences there, but it just didn’t feel like me. The city air starts to feel heavy after a while, and Finlandia felt more like me and just better since it’s in a rural setting.” 

    In his [...]


  • Business students to present at next XES Helsinki Testing Day event

    The next XES Helsinki entrepreneur presentations will be held on Wednesday, March 31st at 9am EDT. Three innovative entrepreneurs from the Helsinki, Finland area and one group of Finlandia students will give short presentations on their businesses and receive feedback from a panel of experts from the US. Everyone is welcome to join this exciting free trans-Atlantic event! Register to attend here. We are pleased to welcome Tom Adolphs, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Finlandia, as a panel member.     One [...]

  • Student Spotlight: Erika Lambert, Healthcare Management

    Erika Lambert is a senior from Munford, Tenn. studying Healthcare Management. Lambert transferred to Finlandia from Bethel University and talks about her transfer and FinnU experience.

    What influenced your decision to transfer from Bethel to FinnU? My decision to go to Finlandia University was partly because I did not want to be so close to home. Being from a military background, I am very independent and have moved around a lot so the process wasn’t hard. In October 2017, I visited an old friend [...]

  • Owner of SmartCreative to present to business class on March 17

    Matthew Randell, owner of SmartCreative, a Houghton-based marketing agency, will give a Zoom presentation on “Marketing For Any Business” on Wednesday, March 17 at 2:10p.m. as part of the BUS 447 Entrepreneurial Marketing class. He’ll be talking about the challenges of a small marketing budget and what agencies such as SmartCreative can offer. The presentation is open to any Finlandia student and can be accessed at  https://zoom.us/j/94412279867

  • Next XES Helsinki Testing Day is March 31

    The next XES Helsinki entrepreneur presentations will be held on Wednesday, March 31st at 9am EDT. Three innovative entrepreneurs from the Helsinki, Finland area will give short presentations on their businesses and receive feedback from a panel of experts from the US.  Everyone is welcome to join this exciting free trans-Atlantic event! Register to attend here no later than Friday, March 26. Related Links

    FinnU BPA and [...]


  • Student Spotlight: Chris Beyer, Sports Management

    Good things come to those who wait. For 21-year-old freshman Chris Beyer, that meant waiting for the right college. 

    Beyer, a sports management major from Appleton, Wis. spent his first three years out of high school playing junior hockey in Minnesota. The then 18-year-old originally had offers to play college baseball and seriously considered attending Central Michigan University, but ultimately decided to focus on his hockey career. He signed a contract with a junior team based in St. Cloud and [...]


  • Finlandia Fridays talks ‘Testing Tuesday’ with international business student Kevin Danks

    Testing Tuesday

    A presenter from the January 2021 “Testing Tuesday: US Edition” event

    International business student Kevin Danks joined host Olivia Myers on this week’s episode of Finlandia Fridays to talk about the new ‘Testing Tuesday: US Edition’ events that give business students real-world experience in international business relations.

    International Business major, Kevin Danks

    The initiative, launched in November, have been a collaboration between the XES student entrepreneurial community from Haaga-Helia University of Applied [...]


  • Second XES Helsinki “Testing Tuesday” Event Slated for Jan. 12

    Finlandia University’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter and FinnZone have launched a new initiative with the XES student entrepreneurial community from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. The second Testing Tuesday: U.S. Edition is scheduled for January 12 at 9 a.m. EST and will feature live video business plan presentations by XES and other Helsinki-based entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs will then receive feedback and advice from a panel of business [...]


  • Benolkin (’17) Named Cargill’s 2020 Sales Professional of the Year

    Matt Benolkin, a 2017 graduate of Finlandia’s International School of Business, was recognized by Cargill as the 2020 Sales Professional of the Year. Benolkin earned the award because of his consistent effort which increased new sales by $1.1 million in 2020. Benolkin was a Sports Management major and has worked at Cargill since graduating from Finlandia.

    Cargill, Inc. is an American privately-held global food corporation based in Minnetonka, Minn., and incorporated in Wilmington, Del. Employing [...]


  • Borgen, Seppinen featured in videos about Finns living in the UP

    Santeri Seppinen FinnZoneFinlandia staff member, Nata Borgen, and international business student, Santeri Seppinen, were recently featured as subjects of two short videos on Finns living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The videos are promotional pieces for Finnzone and are part of Finnzone’s strategy for attracting Finnish companies to the Keweenaw. The videos were produced by Kristin Ojaniemi and sponsored by the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Upper Michigan. Nata Borgen

    Borgen [...]


  • Business students reflect on value of internship experiences

    Sara Bendix (’20, Healthcare Management) talks about her experience as an intern at Aspirus Keweenaw

    Some of the most important lessons Finlandia’s International School of Business students learn don’t come from the classroom. They happen during internships.

    According to one source, only 12 percent of American business schools require their students to participate in an internship. Finlandia BBA students are in this unique group as most complete an internship during their junior or senior year. In some cases, if [...]


  • Business students benefit from minor offerings across campus

    Art & Design, graphic design, minors

    Finlandia University has established a number of academic minors in multiple disciplines that are available to students. These offer the opportunity to complement their major area of study or to offer specialization in new academic areas. The International School of Business now offers 18-credit minors in Healthcare Management, International Business, Management, Marketing and Sports Management for both business and other majors.  

    Students working towards their BBA can also pursue a minor outside of the business [...]


  • Former exchange student, Katariina Piironen, reflects on her FinnU experience

    Katariina or “Kata” Piironen was an exchange student during the 2019-20 academic year from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences in Kajaani, Finland. We asked her a few questions about her time at Finlandia and her studies in the International School of Business

    Why did you pick Finlandia?

    When choosing where to go for exchange I had two main requirements. First, was that I want to go somewhere where I can speak English on a daily basis. Second, [...]


  • Scholarship Spotlight: River Shumate, Accounting Major

    River Shumate, far right, at the 2020 BPA Day in February.

    River Shumate is a junior at Finlandia studying Accounting from Ishpeming, Mich. Shumate is a member of the Business Professionals of America group, TRIO and men’s basketball team. He is a recipient of the Finlandia Merit Scholarship and the UP Commitment Scholarship. Below is a piece written by him about his experience at FinnU and how the scholarships have helped him and his family [...]


  • Student Spotlight: Lillian Johnson, Management & Entrepreneurship Major

    Lillian-Johnson-Headshot

    Lillian Johnson is a local to the Hancock area, is majoring in Entrepreneurship and Management at Finlandia and will graduate in December 2020. Amanda Staege recently interviewed her about her time at Finlandia.

    Why did you choose to major in Entrepreneurship and Management?

    After high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for my career. However, Hancock offered all graduating students the Hancock Promise as a chance to get a college degree at minimal costs. The Hancock Promise [...]


  • Student Spotlight: Kevin Danks, International Business Major

    Kevin Danks is a transfer student at Finlandia University, majoring in International Business at the International School of Business. Communications work-study, Amanda Staege, recently interviewed him about his decision to transfer to Finlandia and what it’s like studying business at FinnU. 

    Where are you from? Where did you graduate from high school?

    I moved from the Lower Peninsula two years ago, from a city called Ludington. I’m originally from a city [...]


  • Albert Hammond (’20) Joins Finlandia’s Business Office

    Albert Hammond (’20) recently joined Finlandia’s Business office as an Accountant.

    Hammond grew up in Elk Rapids, Mich., and graduated from Finlandia this past spring, with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a specialization in Accounting.

    “As an accountant for Finlandia University, it is my job to analyze and record business transactions – accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, etc. – and gather and create data for financial statements,” said Hammond. “I also handle the processing of payroll and work-study [...]


  • International School of Business Launches New E-Newsletter

    The Finlandia International School of Business (ISB) has launched a new e-newsletter. The e-newsletter allows people to stay up-to-date on the ISB alumni, faculty and program news. Currently, the newsletter is scheduled to go out once a semester, but Kevin Manninen, Dean of the ISB, is eager to make the newsletter more frequent. The first newsletter released on Monday, Sept. 28 and can be viewed here.

    Sign up below to receive future ISB newsletters. 

    #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; [...]

  • Alumni Spotlight: Terrance Fuller (’19) Talks Career Success at Acrisure

    Terrance Fuller is a 2019 graduate in accounting who currently works as a Senior Accountant for Acrisure , a Grand Rapids-based insurance brokerage firm that is the fastest growing in its industry. Fuller was recently interviewed by senior accounting major Ethan St. Germain.  Fuller shared some thoughts on the accounting program and he also gave advice for our current students.

    St. Germain:  Where are you currently working and what is your position?

    Fuller:  I’m living in Grand [...]


  • Finlandia Prepares for Fall 2020

    learning, covid-19, classroom, mask, fall 2020

    Students are making their way back to Finlandia’s campus for the Fall 2020 semester. As the university prepares to welcome approximately 400 students, new protocols and practices are being enforced to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19 on campus and in the Keweenaw community. 

    “We have had a task force meeting regularly since May to discuss, evaluate and implement new physical changes to campus, policies, and procedures,” said Dean of Students Erin Barnett.  “Because of our size, we have [...]


  • Learn all about Fall 2020 with FinnU’s New Fall 2020 Web Pages

    Finlandia is excited to launch its new Fall 2020 web pages just in time for the new semester. Students, employees and community members can conveniently find information as it pertains to their group on the new pages. In addition, there is a new Covid FAQ page that includes information on FinnU’s Covid-19 case count, testing, quarantining procedures, contact tracing and prevention measures.

    “This year is obviously a bit different than before, so we thought it crucial [...]


  • FinnU Business Students Assist Area Firms with International Expansion

    Global Entrepreneurship

    Many businesses in our region have the potential to expand into the global marketplace. However, many of these businesses lack the time and resources to fully concentrate on exploiting such opportunities.  This spring, students in the International School of Business, Global Entrepreneurship class worked with two area businesses to develop plans that assist them in expanding their international operations.  

    The Lake Linden-based company, NECi Superior Enzymes, is a producer of nitrate detection reagents and test kits that anyone can use [...]


  • Students Encouraged To Grow Entrepreneurial Skills with the SmartZone SmartStart Program

     

    Students at Finlandia University with a business idea are highly encouraged to apply for the free MTEC SmartStart SmartZone program to develop essential entrepreneurial skills. The SmartZone’s approach is designed to educate and guide entrepreneurs through the process of validating and growing their idea. Upon completion of the program, students will have a more in-depth understanding of what it takes to create a manage a sustainable business.

    “For Finlandia students or students in general, this program does a great job of [...]


  • Finlandia University Coronavirus Response Update March 17, 2020

    March 17, 2020 COVID-19 Update

    Finlandia continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and respond to announcements and information from local, state and federal agencies. The most recent update from the Governor’s Office can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/.

    Personal Care and Notification

    All higher risk faculty and staff are encouraged to seek potential arrangements to work remotely. This request can be made to your individual supervisor and the Office of Human Resources at (906) 487-7339 or alyson.delandsheer@finlandia.edu. Human Resources has created [...]


  • Finlandia University Coronavirus Response President’s Update March 12, 2020

    coronavirus

    Please see the message from President Philip Johnson below regarding recent updates on Finlandia’s Coronavirus Action Plan.

    Finlandia Community,

    The spread of COVID-19 is a serious concern for all of us. Earlier communication with the campus has provided information for how we, together, can do our part to limit its impact on our campus and in our community. Even though the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continue to advise that the probability of serious illness remains low for most people, we need [...]


  • Matthew Lindgren (‘08) becomes Partner at Secrest Wardle Law Firm

    Matthew Lindgren Matthew C. Lindgren (’08, Accounting) joins Secrest Wardle‘s Troy office as a Partner. Lindgren holds over five years of experience defending a wide range of civil litigation, first and third-party no-fault, premises liability, commercial and business law, and construction matters. He has a strong history of advising his clients as to complex legal issues including subrogation rights, insurance order of priority, Medicare/Medicaid and provider rights. Special needs advocacy is one [...]

  • Area High School Students Experience Business Day at Finlandia

    Business Professional's of America Group of five students smiling

    On Thursday, February 13 the International School of Business hosted 60 students from six area high schools for a “Business Day at Finlandia.” The event, held at the Finnish American Heritage Center, was organized to introduce high school students to the world of business and to give them a taste of the opportunities that a career in business provides. Business Day at Finlandia was organized by the Finlandia chapter of Business Professionals of America (BPA) to coincide [...]


  • Leading the Pride learns about becoming your own hero with Schwartzen Précil (‘17)

    Schwartzen Precil

    Leading the Pride kicks off 2020 with Management and Entrepreneurship alumnus Schwartzen Précil (‘17). Located in Buffalo,NY, Précil is currently a site director at the Boys and Girls Club of America.On campus, Précil was a member of the men’s basketball team, helped students as a resident assistant, assisted with orientation as an orientation leader and led the Black Student Union as president.

    Taking into account his life experiences and using his on-campus leadership experiences,  Précil recently wrote and published a [...]


  • Finlandia Named a Top 30 Liberal Arts College in the Midwest

    Finlandia Top Liberal Arts School Great Value

    Finlandia University has been named a Top 30 Liberal Arts College in the Midwest according to Great Value Colleges.

    “Finlandia is honored to be included in the list of the Top 30 Liberal Arts Colleges in the Midwest, as presented by Great Value College,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Fredi deYampert. “Finlandia is indeed a great value. We are the only liberal arts university in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our tuition is competitive and the quality of [...]


  • FinnU Business Professionals of America to Host Business Day event for local students

    The Finlandia Business Professionals of America (BPA) is inviting all local high school and college students to attend its Business Day event on Thursday February 13 from 10am-2pm at the Finnish American Heritage Center.

    The day is part of Business Professionals of America week, which seeks to raise awareness about BPA and encourage more students to become involved.

    “BPA Week, February 10-14, is celebrated around the country where members of the Business Professionals of America host events where students can [...]


  • Business Students Practice Networking Skills with Local Business Professionals

    Business Networking Students

    On Thursday, November 21, first-year business students participated in a networking workshop with local business people and other working professionals. The event was part of assistant professor of sports management Steve Nordstrom’s BUS 138 Fundamentals of Business course.  The purpose of the exercise was to allow students to practice their networking skills and to learn to communicate and converse with business professionals.

    “In addition to making me feel more comfortable in approaching and talking to business people, it [...]


  • Legislative Director from Michigan House of Representatives Meets with Finlandia Students

    The relationship between government and business is not something that is always understood by the general public or even business people.  Chris Hatton, Legislative Director at the Michigan House of Representatives, recently spoke to FinnU business students about the importance of this relationship.  

    The government assists business development in a number of ways. This includes providing grants to individual businesses, tax incentives, loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and more.

    Hatton gave an example of a [...]


  • A Fin-LOVE-dia Story: Ethan, Ashley and baby Nash

    On this weeks episode of Finlandia Fridays, host Devin O’Neill shares the news of his departure with one final episode. Today he is joined by Ethan, Ashley and Nash St. Germain. Ethan and Ashley share with O’Neill their Fin-LOVE-dia story on how they reconnected here at FinnU.

    Both originally from Negaunee, MI and sharing the same friend group for years, the two parted ways when Ethan went to play junior hockey in the Wisconsin Dells. Over time Ethan came back [...]


  • Building Effective Personal Relationships Key to Success in Business

    Taste of Success Steve Szuber Alumni Former NAFTA Regional Lead at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles speaks with Finlandia students

     

    With a successful career at Fiat Chrysler now behind him, alumnus Stephen Szuber (’77) understands that much of his success depended on his ability to work with people and develop successful professional relationships. That was one of the topics he discussed when he recently spoke to students as part of the Taste of Success alumni lecture series hosted by University External Relations.

    Szuber spent over [...]


  • Lindsey Johnson’s Finnish Adventures

    This week on Finlandia Fridays, management and entrepreneurship Senior, Lindsey Johnson joins hosts Olivia Myers and Devin O’Neill to discuss her summer marketing internship here in Hancock and her study abroad experience in Finland. 

    Johnson, no stranger to Finlandia Fridays, was a guest last spring previewing her upcoming plans for the summer. Now that she’s back she was excited to share her experience.

    Over the summer, Johnson had the opportunity to intern with Marko Luoma, who opened [...]


  • Former Fiat Chrysler NAFTA Regional Lead, Stephen Szuber (’77) to Present at Oct. Taste of Success

    Taste of Success Stephen Szuber

    Alumnus Stephen Szuber (’77) is set to present on the topic international business at the next A Taste of Success on Thursday, Oct. 3 in Mannerheim Central from 12 to 1 p.m.

    Szuber served as the NAFTA Regional Lead for Fiat Chrysler for several years until his recent retirement. He currently resides in Shelby Township, MI and serves as Vice President of the Finlandia Alumni Board and is an active member of the Suomi Roomies alumni group. In his retirement, [...]


  • Finnish Exchange Alum, Marko Luoma (’03), talks International Business on Leading the Pride

    Marko Luoma

    Leading the Pride is back this month with businessman, Marko Luoma (’03). Luoma was a Finnish exchange student at Finlandia in the early 2000s and played hockey for the Lions. After spending several years working in the business sector, Luoma and his siblings decided to start their own business called Xport, which focuses on helping businesses break into new international markets.

    Listen as host Olivia Myers and Luoma talk about hockey, the business world and why Luoma was in Hancock, MI [...]


  • Art & Design Alumni, Robert & Stephanie Lake (’07), Provide Unique Freelancing Opportunity for Students

    Robert & Stephanie Lake

    For Robert Lake (BFA, ’07), design has always been an important part of his life.

    “I grew up liking art and drawing, and when I got to high school, I was unsure of what direction to go,” said Lake. “I began looking into Finlandia’s Industrial and Product Design program and decided to come here because I liked to draw vehicles.”

    For Lake, the small class sizes and opportunities to work on projects enhanced his learning experience.

    “I was [...]


  • Finnish ties grow stronger with Administrative Assistant Natalia Borgen

    Finlandia University is pleased to welcome Natalia Borgen to the FinnU family. Borgen is serving as the Administrative Assistant for Suomi College of Arts & Sciences (SCAS) and International School of Business (ISB).

    Originally from Helsinki, Finland, Borgen came to Finlandia as an exchange student in 2013. As a student from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences she studied in an international degree program for multilingual administrative assistants. After getting [...]


  • International Business alumnus Walker Enstad (’17) finds success at Freud America

    Walker Enstad Alumni

    Walker Enstad (’17), an alumnus of the International Business program in the International School of Business, shares some insight into life after college and what he enjoyed most about attending Finlandia. While at FinnU, Enstad was a goalie for the Men’s Hockey team, interned in the Marketing & Communications department, and graduated on the Dean’s List with a 3.94 GPA. He currently works as a District Sales Manager for May 1

    Leading the Pride talks hockey, career success with Alumnus Lukas Alberer (’08)

    Lukas 2

    Leading the Pride continues this month by talking with Austrian Lukas Alberer (’08). Alberer, a Sports Management major and former hockey player for the Lions, currently works at Johnson & Johnson-Ethicon in Austria as a Business Development Manager.

    Listen as host Olivia Myers and Alberer talk about his decision to move to the United States to play hockey, the struggle of losing one’s identity as an athlete after college [...]


  • International School of Business has a New Educational Partner

    Finlandia University’s International School of Business is now a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) Educational Partner School. CGBP is overseen by the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE), a leading authority and industry standard for global business, education, trade credentialing, training and practice.

    NASBITE wanted to develop a professional credential that would raise the level of practice in the field, provide professional development goals and showcase competency. The CGBP Student Pathway Program did just that and [...]


  • Laura Bianucci (‘13) to be Next “A Taste of Success” Presentation

    Alumna Laura Bianucci is set to present on the topic of networking at the next A Taste of Success on Tuesday, April 16 in Mannerheim Central from 12 to 1 p.m.

    Bianucci is a 2013 graduate of FinnU’s marketing program. She has held a few positions since graduation, but currently works as a recruiter for the Advanced Welding Institute in Eagle River, Wis. Bianucci is also a member of the Finlandia Alumni Board.

    The event [...]


  • Haley Makela Named 2019 Student Representative for Finlandia University

    Finlandia University’s 2019 graduating class will hear from marketing major Haley Makela during this year’s commencement ceremony as the local student was selected as Student Representative. Makela has succeeded in and out of the classroom, all while being a dual-sport athlete in basketball and soccer.

    “As a freshman I was always working to be the Student Representative,” she recalled, thinking back to her first days on campus. “It was a goal for myself [...]


  • Taking account of the accounting program with Laura Sieders

    Laura Sieders with Michael Babcock

    This week on Finlandia Fridays, accounting instructor Laura Sieders stopped by to talk about the accounting degree offered here at FinnU.

    Following the standard requirements to be a CPA , the courses at FinnU prepare students to go into their fifth year of accounting and to go on and take the CPA exam The small class size sets the degree program apart from larger schools. Sieders mentioned she loves getting to know her students on a first name [...]


  • Chairman of the Board for Finnish company Ponsse presenting at Finlandia on February 13

    Finlandia University is thrilled to welcome Juha Vidgren, Chairman of the Board, Ponsse PIc,, to campus. Vidgren has been on the board of Ponsse since 2000, and with the company since 1998.

    Vidgren will be giving a presentation at the Finnish American Heritage Center on Wednesday, February 13 at 3 p.m. The presentation, titled How a one man operation in rural Finland became a global leader, will center around the idea of what anyone can accomplish if they apply themselves.

    “Ponsse’s [...]


  • Alumna Jamie Thyrion overcomes obstacles on path to success

    Below is an article from the Fall 2018 Donor Edition of the Bridge. See more articles from this edition of the bridge and see a full archive of past issues by visiting finlandia.edu/thebridge

    As a student at Finlandia University, Jamie Thyrion (‘08) balanced raising an infant son, working a part-time job and tutoring other students while working toward her business degree. Make that work takes sisu, and there’s no shortage of it for this exceptional FinnU graduate.

    An Ahmeek native [...]


  • Ponsse Einari Vidgrén Foundation Internship application is due Friday

    Business Ponsse

    Once again, Ponsse and Finlandia University are pleased to announce an exclusive internship position for a Finlandia University student at Ponsse North America in Rhinelander, Wisconsin (approximately two weeks) and Ponsse Plc headquarters in Vieremä, Finland (approximately three weeks). This paid internship will enable the student to learn first-hand about Ponsse, its operations, and the forest industry both here in the USA and in Finland.

    Micah Laban poses in front of a Ponsse truck. Laban was an intern with Ponsse [...]


  • New Accounting Program Page Launched

    Finlandia University is happy announce the latest new and improved academic program page.

    The Accounting program page features more visuals and less text, and is geared more toward incoming and prospective students who are looking specifically at FinnU’s accounting program. The page showcases faculty and alumni interviews and highlights the unique aspects of the program such as the versatility of an accounting degree, personalized internships and experienced accountants leading the classroom.

    The accounting page is the latest program page to receive an [...]


  • Microsoft manager speaks about remote working and change management

    One major way in which the work environment has changed over the past few years is in the number of managers and professionals working from their homes or small offices. Often they are employed by larger companies located thousands of miles away.  Jim Lavallee works for Microsoft as Director of Delivery Management from his home here in the Keweenaw.  Lavallee recently spoke to Finlandia business students about remote working. He also spoke about the importance of understanding change management, [...]


  • Laura Sieders promoted to Instructor of Accounting

    Laura Sieders

    Laura Sieders never planned on becoming a college instructor. The Calumet native moved to Washington D.C. shortly after graduating from Michigan Tech with her bachelor’s in business administration and a focus in accounting. Starting this fall, she’s a full-time faculty member at Finlandia University in the role of Instructor of Accounting.

    “One of the great things about accounting is you can work in any sector you want to because every business needs someone counting their money and analyzing the data,” said [...]


  • Introducing Paul Werner, Assistant Professor of Marketing

    Paul Werner

    Finlandia University is happy to welcome Paul Werner as its new Assistant Professor in Marketing in the International School of Business.

    “Finlandia is the premier college in the Upper Peninsula, so I am very glad to have the opportunity to work here,” said Werner. “The students are more focused and have the desire to work to their highest level.”

    Werner’s past experience includes Senior Marketing Manager at Ho-Chunk Casino Resort and Convention Center in Baraboo, WI, Marketing [...]


  • Finlandia named Top 10 Best Institutes for Career in Sports and Athletics 2018

    Travis Cornwell (’18) calling a Finlandia University men’s hockey game during his internship with 99.3 The Lift.

    The Knowledge Review, an international education magazine for universities, students, teachers and parents, named Finlandia University one of the Top 10 Best Institutes for a Career in Sports and Athletics 2018.

    Non-athlete careers in athletics can range anywhere from sports marketing and sales to physical therapists and trainers.

    The Knowledge Review cites Finlandia’s major offerings as one of the [...]


  • Business department adds pair of key faculty members

    Laura Sieders

    FInlandia University is pleased to welcome Laura Sieders and Paul Werner to their new positions in the International School of Business.

    Sieders, who has served as FinnU’s Adjunct Professor in Intermediate Accounting for the past two years, will become the new Instructor of Accounting. Werner will be the Assistant Professor in Marketing.

    Both will begin in their new roles in August.

    About Laura Sieders

    Before coming to Finlandia two years ago as an adjunct, Sieders worked and lived in and around Washington [...]


  • Registration for summer and fall now open for all students

    Registration for fall and summer classes is now underway for all students. Your first step is to see your academic advisor to get your PIN.  This will allow you to sign up for classes online. In addition, you will need to clear any holds that may be on your account (billing, financial aid, admissions, etc.).

    Where can I find information on the registration process? All information regarding class registration can be found online at finlandia.edu/register.

    How do I know if I have a hold? Log [...]


  • Applications now open for 2018-19 Portage Health Foundation Scholarship

    The annual Portage Health Foundation Scholarship opportunity for Finlandia University students studying healthcare and coming from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon counties is now accepting applications.

    “Partnerships like this are part of what makes the Copper Country such an incredible place to live, learn and grow up in,” said Sandra Turnquist, Director of Student Financial Services, and herself a graduate of Calumet High School. “We will have at least two open scholarships in this program, which is unique in that [...]


  • 101 students recognized on Fall 2017 Dean’s and Honors List

    Finlandia University is proud to announce its Fall 2017 semester Dean’s and Honors List Students. In total 101 students earned a recognition, including 60 who earned a spot on the Dean’s List for having a Grade Point Average of 3.75 or above.

    To be eligible for either list students must have completed 12 or more credits and had no grade below a “C.” Dean’s List students earned a GPA of 3.75 or above, while Honors List students had a GPA between [...]


  • Marketing major Kyle Niemi and his internship with Mesensei mobile mentoring

    Senior marketing major Kyle Niemi stopped by Finlandia Fridays this week to discuss his internship with Finnish mobile mentoring company Mesensei. Tuukka Ylälahti, the creator of Mesensei, was in an earlier episode this season, where he previewed the app and his inspiration behind it.

    Tuukka Ylälahti on Finlandia Fridays Mesensei at Finlandia

    Niemi has been granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Mesensei and create a mentoring app specifically for FinnU. Niemi is the project coordinator for this endeavor. [...]


  • Start planning your summer Finland study abroad trip

    Discounted price available to FinnU students

    A unique partnership between Finlandia University and JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Finlandia offers Finlandia students a great discount on tuition during the summer 2018 semester. The program includes the opportunity to study abroad while earning credits and exploring all Finland has to offer.

    “JAMK University Study Abroad program was an amazing opportunity that I’m so glad I took advantage of,” said Jennifer Hueter, a 2017 graduate of Finlandia’s International School of Business. [...]


  • Finlandia evening QuickBooks course starts March 13, open to community

    The Finlandia University International School of Business is offering a one-credit course titled BUS206 Accounting Software for Small Business on Tuesday evenings beginning March 13 from 6:10 – 7:40 p.m. The course is open to community members for $75.

    The course is designed for both accountants and non-accountants who would like to learn to use QuickBooks – the popular accounting software. No prerequisite courses are required. The class meets in Finlandia’s Maki Library Computer Lab. A certificate of achievement will [...]


  • FinnU Business students hosting inaugural BPA Day on February 14

    All local high school and college students interested in business invited to day of speakers, networking and activities

    Finlandia University’s chapter of Business Professionals of America is hosting Business Professionals of America Day on Wednesday, February 14 with a full day of activities for Upper Peninsula high school and college students.

    RSVP to the event on Facebook (not required) to receive updates as the event nears.

    “Our entire chapter is looking forward to this inaugural event, and I’m proud [...]


  • Ponsse Einari Vidgrén Foundation Internship application period is now open

    Sara Martin with the owner of Ponsse and fellow employees during her internship

    Once again, Ponsse and Finlandia University are pleased to announce an exclusive internship position for a Finlandia University student at Ponsse North America in Rhinelander, Wisconsin (approximately two weeks) and Ponsse Plc headquarters in Vieremä, Finland (approximately three weeks). This paid internship will enable the student to learn first-hand about Ponsse, its operations, and the forest industry both here in the USA and in Finland.

    “This internship is a great opportunity for a student majoring in marketing, international business or management,” said 


  • Paloheimo Fellows class of 2018 announced

    Paloheimo

    Paloheimo Fellows Class of 2018 from left: Gina Geliche, Dana Pakulski, Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen and Monica Freeman.

    The Finnish & Nordic Studies Program at Finlandia University is pleased to announce the 2018 class of Paloheimo Fellows. The Paloheimo Fellows Program is a unique, competitive study-abroad program offered to students of any major at Finlandia University in which selected students follow a spring term course in anthropological field research methods combined with individualized research on aspects of Finnish [...]


  • Business students serve as judges at BPA Regional Leadership Conference competition

    The inaugural first semester of the new Finlandia University Business Professionals of America (BPA) has been a busy one. In addition to all of the tasks involved in launching a new organization, the club still found time to host guest speakers and make a visit to Somero Enterprises.

    The spring semester also is off on a high note as BPA members Kyle Niemi, a senior in marketing, and Tyler Borkadi, a senior majoring in sports management, served as competition [...]


  • From Finland to Finlandia to Philadelphia

    Finnish exchange student Ilkka Kortesluoma’s path to working for NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers

    It was 4 a.m. when Ilkka Kortesluoma first arrived in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The Senior Director of Ticket Sales for the Philadelphia Flyers still remembers stepping off that bus into the fresh middle-of-the-night late-summer Keweenaw air. The late night soon gave way to morning light, and the once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Finnish exchange student began. He finished his last year of university in Finlandia University’s International [...]


  • Tuukka Ylälahti and his mobile mentoring startup Mesensei come from Finland to Finlandia

    Tuukka Ylalahti Finlanida Fridays

    Tuukka Ylälahti stopped by Finlandia Fridays this week to talk about his revolutionary new app Mesensei. Ylälahti is the co-founder of Mesensei, a startup company working on “mentorship programs in support of learning, entrepreneurship and social inclusion.” The program and Ylälahti have visited various universities in America to see how the program would do in the American market. With close ties to Finland, Finlandia seemed like the obvious choice to lay some ground work.

    Ylälahti started by talking [...]


  • Logan Moore talks leadership, community and sisu on Finlandia Fridays

    Logan Moore Finlandia Fridays

    This week Finlandia Fridays is visited by the Student Senate Campus Community Representative Logan Moore. Moore is originally from Traverse City, Michigan, and is in his junior year working towards a degree in business and management. Informing listeners of how he ended up at FinnU, Moore said “I originally went to a much larger college and it didn’t work out there. I decided to move to Finlandia University and immediately right when I got there, the small class sizes were [...]


  • Mobile mentoring project kick off to be held Oct. 25

    Finlandia University’s mobile mentoring project with Finnish app developer Mesensei will kick off with a workshop on Wednesday, October 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Finnish American Heritage Center. This event is free and open to the public. The workshop will provide insight on the different uses of mentorship in support of teaching, career services, alumni relations, and fundraising, based on case studies and experiences from Europe, Asia and Canada.


  • Finlandia to participate in mobile mentoring pilot-project with Finnish education technology expert Mesensei

    Beginning in November, Finlandia students and alumni will be participating in an innovative pilot-project utilizing a mobile mentoring application developed by the Helsinki-based Mesensei – a leader in education technology.  The project is expected to last three months during which time between 20-40 student-mentor pairs will utilize the application and give feedback on its features and usability as a mobile mentoring platform.

    Mesensei co-founder and CEO Tuukka Ylälahti and co-founder and board chair Eeva-Liisa Ylälahti will be coming to [...]


  • Sports management alum takes job with AHL’s Wild

    Jason Aldrich (’11) was recently introduced as Equipment Manager and Strength Coach of the American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild, minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild. Aldrich is a 2011 graduate of Finlandia’s Sports Management program, and played for FinnU’s NCAA Division III hockey program.

    “My time playing at finlandia is still some of the best times of my life,” Aldrich said. “I made some of my best friends that are still my best friends to this [...]


  • Ambardar completes summer of writing, promoting and traveling

    Associate Professor of Marketing Rekha Ambardar had a busy summer of travel and writing. The U.S. has a robust and fast-growing trade and investment relationship with the 10 countries that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These countries—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—have economies and markets at vastly different stages of development but all sharing immense growth potential. As she has made frequent visits to Malaysia, the country as a player in [...]


  • Business Professionals of America chapter launched at Finlandia

    The organizing committee for the Finlandia Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter: (Left to right) Logan Moore, Niami Shepeard, Kyle Niemi, Nathan Perreault, Amelia Carusi, Haley Makela, Samantha Richards and Tyler Borkadi.

    On September 7, Finlandia University saw the founding of a university chapter of Business Professionals of America. BPA is a national organization aimed at preparing students for careers in business and related fields through participation in regional, state and national professional, civic, service and [...]


  • Perho College of Culinary, Tourism and Business visit to Finlandia University

    Perho College Lecturer Leni Palminkoski-Pihlamo

    Perho College lecturer Leni Palminkoski-Pihlamo presents on family history in the Copper Country and the Perho Culinary, Tourism and Business College.

    Finlandia University hosted a visit by a delegation from the Perho Culinary, Tourism, and Business College in Helsinki, Finland on Tuesday, June 6. The delegation of 32 faculty members had tours of both the Quincy Mine and the FinnU campus before lunch and presentations at the Finnish American Heritage Center. [...]


  • Ryan Bain’s internship highlighted in LVD newsletter

    For many students, summer is just as important of a time of learning as the school year is. That includes sophomore Ryan Bain, who is completing an internship at Lac Vieux Desert Health Center Chiropractic. Below is an article that was posted in Wiindamaagewin, Lac View Desert’s bi-monthly eNewsletter. It has been reposted with permission from LVD Tribal Communications.

    Meet Ryan Bain, LVD Health Center Intern and College Student

    Ryan Bain is the first one to admit he didn’t always take his [...]


  • Finlandia Success: Carley Saint-Onge ’15

    Finlandia Success Carley Saint-Onge

    This month’s Finlandia University alumni success story is focusing on Carley Saint-Onge – a graduate of Finlandia’s International School of Business. Saint-Onge is now working in marketing for Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas. In this question-and-answer session, she talks about the world of small schools compared to big schools, digital marketing, business-to-business marketing compared to business-to-consumer marketing, what it was like to move to a new region and what she remembers best about her time at FinnU.

    MEET Carley Saint-Onge Major: Business Graduation Year: 2015 Hometown: Marquette, Michigan Current [...]

  • Nathan Junttila highlighted in Ponsse newsletter

    For the third year in a row, Finlandia University and Ponsse, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of forest machines for the cut-to-length method, have partnered for to offer the Ponsse Einari Vidgrén Foundation Internship. The internship includes a couple weeks working in Finland. This year’s student is Nathan Junttila. Below is a story originally published in PONSSE NETWORK BULLETIN. It has been reposted with permission.

    Nathan Junttila’s Ponsse Story

    Nathan Junttila from [...]


  • Maximizing educational opportunities in the International School of Business

    It’s well-known that an education is what you make of it.  When studying towards a BBA at Finlandia, that is certainly the case. In addition to rigorous coursework, a great deal of learning occurs outside of the traditional classroom through internships, extra and co-curricular activities, and other unique opportunities available to Finlandia students. Walker Enstad is one example of a student who has not only excelled in his academic studies, but he has also taken advantage of many of these [...]


  • Darren Bausano welcomed to SCAS and ISB at Finlandia University

    Finlandia University is happy to welcome Darren Bausano to the university’s family. Bausano is serving as the Administrative Assistant for Suomi College of Arts & Sciences and International School of Business.

    Bausano has a bachelor’s degree in sports science from Northern Michigan University. One of the things that attracted Bausano to Finlandia was the opportunity to continue his education. He’s intending on taking courses in marketing or business in the future, either at Finlandia’s International School of Business or by utilizing [...]


  • Three international students among this year’s business school graduates

    From left – Theresa Wolf, Aoi Buto and Pavel Kuzmin.

    This spring’s graduating class really puts the International in the International School of Business (ISB) at Finlandia University. Receiving their BBA on April 30 will be three very special students: Aoi Buto, Pavel Kuzmin and Theresa Wolf.

    Aoi Buto is from Okayama, Japan and is majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. While planning to attend a college in Japan, Buto found Finlandia’s website and was able to [...]


  • Jarmond and Enstad recognized as Outstanding Seniors in ISB

    Students from the Finlandia University International School of Business were recognized during a luncheon on Thursday, April 13, 2017. The intimate luncheon was hosted at the Jutila Center. Students, faculty, and staff from the school gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the seniors, including recognizing Walker Enstad and Schwartzen Jarmond as co-Outstanding Seniors. Several photos from the event are available below, additional photos from the event are on the Finlandia University Facebook page

    #gallery-2 { margin: auto; } #gallery-2 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: [...]

  • Business students compete in project management competition

    Team SISU (from right to left): Paul Porras (team mentor), Andrew Martin, Sara Martin, Katelyn Anderson, Ginger Connin (team mentor), Jenna Ollanketo, Schwartzen Jarmond.

    Throughout the spring 2017 semester, a group of Finlandia University business students competed in THEProject, a collegiate project management competition sponsored by the Western Michigan Chapter of the Project Management Institute (WMPMI). This is the third straight year that FinnU has participated in the event. This year’s assignment was to develop a project [...]


  • Studying entrepreneurship not only about starting a business

    ISB students learn the importance of having entrepreneurial skills and mindset

    There is often a misconception that studying entrepreneurship is only about starting your own business venture. While learning about starting a business is always valuable, in reality very few business graduates actually start a business upon graduation or soon thereafter. Those that do go into business for themselves usually do so after gaining several years of work experience. According to research by the Kauffman Foundation, the average age of [...]


  • Mary Jane Hatton plays key role in Leadership Keweenaw

    Leadership Keweenaw’s first year provides training for professionals in the Keweenaw

    Leadership Keweenaw is an exciting new program offered in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula that began in the fall of 2016 and is running through spring 2017. Sponsored by the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, it is a nine-month program teaching leadership skills to its participants. After an initial, intensive, two-day retreat in August, the participants attend sessions once a month learning leadership skills through a myriad of activities [...]


  • Finlandia Fridays studies abroad with Schwartzen Jarmond

    This week on Finlandia Fridays host Michael H. Babcock is taken on a reminiscent adventure as management and entrepreneurship student Schwartzen Jarmond looks back on international study opportunities presented through Finlandia University.

    In May of 2015 Jarmond first traveled to Finland as a part of the Paloheimo Fellows Program and enjoyed it to the extent he had to go again. After working with Finlandia University he decided to study in Finland for an entire semester as an [...]


  • Studying business in Finland a rewarding experience for Schwartzen Jarmond

    Schwartzen Jarmond (second from right) at the Näsinneula tower in Tampere, Finland with exchange students from the Czech Republic and France.

    After visiting Finland in May of 2015 as part of the Paloheimo Fellows Program, Schwartzen Jarmond decided he enjoyed it so much he would like to return someday. That opportunity came when he decided to spend the fall 2016 semester as an exchange student at the JAMK University of Applied Sciences in Jyväskylä. The city of [...]


  • Finlandia business graduates experiencing job market success

    Kirsten Berg, an accounting major from Hancock, is looking forward to completing her BBA this fall semester. Although she is still busy finishing her courses, she has already found employment with the Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union in Houghton. Kirsten has accepted a job as an accountant and will be following a career path to transition into the Manager of Accounting and Finance for the MTEFCU.

    Soon-to-be graduate Kirsten Berg has already found employment as an [...]


  • Finlandia Fridays speaks with local transfer student

    This installment of Finlandia Fridays features a local student by the name of Samantha Richards who transferred into Finlandia from a larger institution. Richards, a Dollar Bay alum who is majoring in accounting, was asked to be apart of this week’s episode because of one of her latest Instagram posts.  “This post was touching to some of the staff at Finlandia,” said Michael H. Babcock, host of Finlandia Fridays.

    Finlandia University strives to be the university you are looking for and [...]


  • Finnish exchange student gets chance with FinnU football team

    Though he’s a native of the country known for ice hockey and other winter sports, Max Poikonen chose a different path – one that led him to the roster of the football team of Finlandia University.  Born and raised in the town of Kerava, about 20 miles north of Helsinki, he pursued studies in athletic sciences in Kajaani in the Kainuu region. The university in Kajaani has an exchange student agreement with Finlandia University, and that gave him the opportunity [...]


  • New business course offers perspective on cultural communication

    This fall the course BUS310 Cross Cultural Business Communication is being offered for the first time in the International School of Business. The objective of the course is for students to be able to communicate effectively across cultures. During the course, the students learn about the different ways in which communication can be affected by cultural differences. They are also introduced to some of the more influential theories, such as Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, that focus on culture’s effect on [...]


  • ISB students learn the importance of networking

    The ability to build a personal and professional network is a vitally important skill that is rarely taught in business schools.  According to a study by the Adler Group, 85 percent of all jobs are landed via networking. In addition, the contacts made through networking can be valuable connections later on in one’s career.

    First year ISB student Bryan Matheson meets with Randy Heinonen, owner of Superior Claims Adjusters, during Tuesdays Networking Workshop.

    A key ingredient of effective networking [...]


  • Study Abroad Workshop to be hosted October 4

    Ready to travel to Finland? How about Ireland? Or South America? You’re only a college student once, and now’s your chance to study abroad!

    Finlandia University students are invited to learn about all of the study abroad opportunities available to them on Tuesday, October 4 from noon to 1 p.m. at Mannerheim Central during the annual Study Abroad Workshop.

    Topics at the workshop will include the following:

    Why you should go on an exchange Opportunities for Finlandia students American and international exchange students share [...]

  • Rekha Ambardar hosts workshops and publications in summer 2016

    Rekha Ambardar teaching class at Portage Lake District Library

    Associate Professor of Marketing Rekha Ambardar is known around the literary community for the many publications, presentations and workshops she’s hosted. The summer of 2016 was another busy one for her.

    Locally, she conducted a fiction writing workshop on pacing in fiction for Copper Country community members at the Portage Lake District Library in June.

    Associate Professor of Marketing Rekha Ambardar teaching a class at Portage Lake District Library in the summer of 2016.

    Pacing is a tool that controls the [...]


  • Finlandia Success: Reece Anderson ’13

    ALUM Reece Anderson (’13) Major: Sports Management Graduation Year: 2013 Hometown: Hancock, Michigan Current Location: Tampa, Florida Job: Partnership Activation Coordinator with Tampa Bay Lightning What was your career path to get to where you are now?

    Reece Anderson: My first experience working in sports was an internship with Assistant Professor of Sports Management Steve Nordstrom. After graduating from Finlandia University’s Sports Management program, I worked part-time in Michigan Tech’s hockey development camp where I met Chris Tok, a former assistant coach at Michigan [...]


  • Finlandia business students study abroad in Finland

    International business major Dean Burggrabe (left), International School of Business Dean Kevin Manninen and marketing major Walker Enstad pose for a photo in Finland at JAMK University in June 2016.

    One of the desired learning outcomes for Finlandia University graduates is to develop a global perspective in order to better understand and operate in today’s world. This summer, two International School of Business (ISB) students are doing just that as they study abroad in Finland.

    ISB Dean Kevin [...]


  • Sara Martin highlighted in Ponsse Network Bulletin

    Finlandia University is proud to have once again have a student from the International School of Business interning with Ponsse Corporation in Finland. This year’s intern is junior Sara Martin, a business management major who also plays on Finlandia’s hockey team and serves on Student Senate.

    In 2015 Finlandia University senior Micah Laban was the first Finlandia student to intern with the Finnish company. Read Laban’s story in the Ponsse Network Bulletin from last [...]


  • Finlandia students compete in THE Project 2016 state-wide project management competition

    Students from Finlandia University's THE Project team pose for a photo in Grand Rapids at the competition.

    For the second time Finlandia University participated in THE Project 2016, a project management competition sponsored by the Western Michigan Chapter of the Project Management Institute. This year’s competition featured 12 teams from eight Michigan universities. All teams spent the spring semester developing a project plan aimed at solving or improving a major challenge facing the state of Michigan.  This year the task of all the participating teams was to select a county in Michigan and [...]


  • FinnU students can get 50 percent discount on tuition at Finnish university

    Summer program accepting applications until April 30

    A unique partnership between Finlandia University and JAMK University in Jyväskylä, Finlandia offers Finlandia students a 50 percent discount on tuition during the summer 2016 semester.

    “We’re excited to offer this opportunity to all of our students,” said Kevin Manninen, dean of FinnU’s business school. “The incredibly discounted tuition rate makes it an affordable opportunity.”

    JAMK offers a slew of three-to-six credit options that Finlandia students can take advantage of, with most of them taking place [...]


  • Finlandia University adds degree in Marketing and Graphic Design

    Students in computer lab

    The Finlandia University Board of Directors approved a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Graphic Design. The new academic program was created collaboratively between faculty in the university’s International School of Business (ISB) and International School of Art & Design (ISAD). It will begin accepting students immediately.

    “We’re excited to be offering this program for our students,” ISB Dean Kevin Manninen said. “This will provide students the practical skills to conceptualize and design a wide range of marketing materials while understanding the [...]


  • Four reasons to get a degree in international business

    As the world has globalized, more small- and medium-sized businesses have the potential to do business internationally. Many are already there. However, many of these companies also lack the expertise needed to operate successfully in the global marketplace. With a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in International Business from Finlandia’s International School of Business, you’ll have the advantage you need to land a job in a crowded marketplace. Below we lay out the reasons why.

    Organizations need professionals with expertise in international [...]

  • Finlandia’s business school ranked among most innovative small college business departments

    Badge earned for being named one of the Most Innovative College Business Departments

    Finlandia University’s International School of Business has been ranked among the most innovative small college business departments by Business Research Guide. The ranking was published on the organization’s website in September. Business Research Guide selected and ranked the top 50 from among the qualifying programs. Finlandia University was ranked 25th.

    “We’re honored to have earned this recognition,” said Kevin Manninen, the school’s dean. “The International School of Business provides excellent learning opportunities for students interested in a career in business.”

    Schools were selected [...]


  • Micah Laban’s internship at Ponsse

    Originally published in PONSSE NETWORK BULLETIN 30/2015, reposted with permission

    Micah Laban from Finlandia University, Michigan, USA is completing his Ponsse internship in Vieremä. Einari Vidgrén Foundation granted scholarship to Finlandia University in May 2015.

    Finlandia University, named Suomi College at the time, was founded in 1896 as a place for Finnish settlers to educate their children, maintain their culture and religion, and to provide work opportunities in America. Finlandia is located in the small city of Hancock in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. [...]


  • 115 earn spot on spring 2015 dean’s and honors list

    Baraga-native Elizabeth Bruett who earned a perfect 4.00 this spring during her final semester.

    32 students earn perfect 4.00 mark

    Finlandia University is proud to announce that 115 students have earned dean’s or honors list recognition because of their impressive academic achievements during the spring 2015 semester. That includes 78 students on the dean’s list with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.75 or above, and 32 who earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.

    Students who complete 12 or more credits, earn a semester [...]


  • Business students competing in THE Project 2015

     

    For the first time this year Finlandia University is participating in THE Project, a project management competition sponsored by the Western Michigan Chapter of the Project Management Institute. The first phase was completed in late February with Finlandia scoring the second most points in its division.

    “What a great experience this is for our students to be competing against other universities in a state-wide competition.” said Kevin Manninen, dean of the business school.

    Each year the competition focuses on a [...]


  • Meet Jordan, Finlandia Business Student

    Jordan Finlandia ISB with Steve Nordstrom

     

    Meet Jordan

    Hometown: Ishpeming, Michigan

    Class: Freshman

    Major: Business

    The Entrepreneural Spirit

    For Jordan, Finlandia offered the perfect mix of everything he needed: A place to grow his entrepreneurial spirit, while continuing to play the game he loves. Plus, he’s less than two hours from home, meaning visiting his family, or making a quick trip to the hunting camp, are options whenever he wants to.

    In his first semester, he realized the Finlandia experience was something special. He spread the word, and this semester, his brother joined him.

    “Me [...]

  • Ponsse chairman Juha Vidgrén presents at Finlandia

    Today international business leader Juha Vidgrén of Ponsse presented at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Finlandia’s Live Twitter account was on site, and Tweeted some of Vidgrén’s better points. Below is a recap of the presentation, feel free to add your favorite part of the presenation by tweeting at @FinlandiaLive.

    Below is the first Tweet, rolling down until the final one

    We’re live at the Finnish American Heritage Center, moments from Juha Vidgrén beginning his presentation. #FinnU pic.twitter.com/wAUtnaG24c

    — #FinnU Live [...]


  • Finlandia announces fall 2014 dean’s and honors list

    Finlandia University is proud to announce its fall 2014 dean’s and honors list. The list includes 131 students, highlighted by 26 who earned a perfect 4.00 grade point average (GPA) during the semester.

    Students who complete 12 or more credits, earn a semester GPA of 3.75 or above, with no grade below a “C,” are placed on the dean’s list for that semester. Students who complete 12 or more credits and earn a semester GPA of 3.50 to 3.749, with no [...]


  • Finlandia announces spring 2013 dean’s and honors lists

     HANCOCK –Finlandia University is pleased to recognize its students who, in the Spring 2013 semester, earned grade point averages from 3.50 to 4.0. The Dean’s 4.0, Dean’s, and Honors Lists include students who completed at least 12 credit hours in the Spring 2013 semester. Finlandia University faculty and staff congratulate these students on their academic achievements!

    The Dean’s List 4.0 recognizes Finlandia University students who, in the Spring 2013 semester, completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a perfect [...]


  • Finlandia announces fall 2012 dean’s 4.0, dean’s, and honors lists

    HANCOCK –Finlandia University is pleased to recognize its students who, in the Fall 2012 semester, earned grade point averages from 3.50 to 4.0. The Dean’s 4.0, Dean’s, and Honors Lists include students who completed at least 12 credit hours in the Fall 2012 semester. Finlandia University faculty and staff congratulate these students on their academic achievements!

    The Dean’s List 4.0 recognizes Finlandia University students who, in the Fall 2012 semester, completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a perfect [...]


  • Finlandia announces spring 2012 dean’s 4.0, dean’s, and honors lists

    HANCOCK –Finlandia University is pleased to recognize its students who, in the Spring 2012 semester, earned grade point averages from 3.50 to 4.0. The Dean’s 4.0, Dean’s, and Honors Lists include students who completed at least 12 credit hours in the Spring 2012 semester. Finlandia University faculty and staff congratulate these students on their academic achievements!

    The Dean’s List 4.0 recognizes Finlandia University students who, in the Spring 2012 semester, completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a perfect [...]


  • Finlandia announces fall 2011 dean’s 4.0, dean’s, and honors lists

    HANCOCK –Finlandia University is pleased to recognize its students who, in the Fall 2011 semester, earned grade point averages from 3.50 to 4.0. The Dean’s 4.0, Dean’s, and Honors Lists include students who completed at least 12 credit hours in the Fall 2011 semester. Finlandia University faculty and staff congratulate these students on their academic achievements!

    The Dean’s List 4.0 recognizes Finlandia University students who, in the Fall 2011 semester, completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a perfect [...]


  • Finlandia announces spring 2010 dean’s 4.0, dean’s, and honors lists

    HANCOCK, MI –Finlandia University is pleased to recognize its students who, in the Spring 2010 semester, earned grade point averages from 3.50 to 4.0. The Dean’s 4.0, Dean’s, and Honors Lists include students who completed at least 12 credit hours in the Spring 2010 semester. Finlandia University faculty and staff congratulate these students on their academic achievements!

    The Dean’s List 4.0 recognizes Finlandia University students who, in the Spring 2010 semester, completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a [...]

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