Apr 7, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Versiti is holding a blood drive from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 104/105 on NMC’s Front Street Campus. Do your part to help save lives during a vital time of need!
Make sure you eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating. Walk-ins are welcome, though scheduling an appointment is recommended.
Donors will receive a pair of flannel pajama pants and a coupon for a free sandwich from Jimmy John’s (while supplies last).
Apr 7, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College invites the public to help welcome Swoop, its new mascot, at a special 75th anniversary Student and Community Block Party from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, April 25 on the Front Street campus.
The event coincides with the end of the spring semester. Students, alumni, staff, faculty, neighbors and friends are all invited to join the festivities, including free carnival rides, activities and live music. Food from several local food trucks will be available to purchase.
Swoop, the newest member of the NMC community, will make his debut at 3:30 p.m. and will then make the rounds of the party for photo opportunities.
NMC adopted the northern hawk owl as a nickname in 2013, and the concept was embraced by the college. Swoop was first visualized as a two-dimensional logo character in 2014. Each graduate receives a Hawk Owl alumni” T-shirt. The student cafeteria is named the Hawk Owl Cafe.
The occasion of NMC’s 75th anniversary this year was a fitting time to embody Swoop as an official mascot, and planning for Swoop’s arrival started in late 2024.
Hawk owls are typically found further north than Traverse City, but Swoop’s journey reflects the diverse and unexpected paths of NMC students. Just as they come from various backgrounds and places to find their purpose at NMC, Swoop was drawn by the college’s unique blend of natural beauty, hands-on learning and welcoming community.
“We want NMC to feel vibrant and alive for our students and our community, and finally having Swoop home is a big part of bringing this vision to life.” said Zach Whitaker, manager of NMC Alumni Relations, where Swoop makes his home in between event appearances. He’s here to cheer on our students and learners as they navigate challenges and celebrate all their accomplishments through their time with us and beyond.”
NMC President Nick Nissley will introduce Swoop at the block party. Mascots from NMC’s University Partners, including Louie the GVSU Laker, Brutus the Ferris bulldog, and Pounce the Davenport panther, will join the welcome party, too. A rain date has been set for Sunday, April 26. For more information, visit nmc.edu/75
Release date: April 7, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
Apr 6, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
NMC will host a Graduation Fair on April 15 from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. at the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. This is your one-stop shop for all things Commencement—from finalizing your graduation application and learning about the ceremony to purchasing your gear and decorating your grad cap.
- Decorate your cap and shop at the Bookstore.
- Verify or submit your graduation app
- Meet with Career & Employee Readiness, Alumni Relations, and Student Financial Services
- Discover Direct Connect with University Partners.
- Get Free Popcorn!
It’s also a perfect time to connect with the Alumni Relations office, as you begin your journey from student to a lifelong Hawk Owl. NMC University Partners, Financial Aid, Advising, Career Services and the NMC Bookstore will also be on hand to help you prepare for your next steps forward.
Apr 6, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Celebrate Earth Day on April 22 at the Dennos Museum! Students will receive exclusive access to these events from 10 to 11 a.m. and again from 4 to 5 p.m.
Clothing Swap
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dennos Museum
The Dennos Museum’s annual clothing swap returns! Clothing can be dropped off at the Dennos Museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17–21. Faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up as volunteers ahead or during the event to sort clothing. Those interested in volunteering should fill out the Earth Day Clothing Swap volunteer form. Pro tip: anyone who signs up to sort also gets first view and dibs on finds!
Plant sale
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dennos Museum
NMC’s Green Team will host a plant sale with about 500 starter plants, including herbs, flowers and houseplants. Every purchase helps fund campus vibrancy and beautification projects.
Gear & rec swap
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dennos Museum
The Grand Traverse Conservation District will host a gear & rec swap. Gear can be dropped off Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through April 21 at the Boardman River Nature Center.
Apr 6, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
NMC host a mobile food pantry on Monday, April 6 from 3–5 p.m. in the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus. We have 4,500 pounds of goods including lettuce, onions, potatoes, beans, cereal, oranges, cottage cheese, applesauce and frozen pizzas.
We ask that recipients queue up in the car line in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the parking lot. Please do not block the main access roads, be aware of other students using the parking spaces and watch for children being picked up at the Oleson Learning Center adjacent to the Maple Lot.
Free and open to all students and their families. Interested in volunteering? Email Cathy Warner at cwarner@nmc.edu.
Apr 2, 2026 | Student Events
The NMC Library invites you to the Spring 2026 Long Night Against Procrastination (LNAP) from 5–11 p.m. on Monday, April 20. There will be pizza/snacks to keep you full as well as coffee/tea to keep you focused as you prepare for finals. There will also be helpful services offered, such as research consultations, tutoring, a Writing Center pop-up, and therapy dogs to help you finish this semester as strong and as stress-free as possible! You can do it!
Apr 1, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
What if rivers, lakes, fish, and ecosystems had legal rights? The International Affairs Forum will further the conversation on the global Rights of Nature movement, rooted in Indigenous principles, with ecological values relevant to northern Michigan. This global movement has echoes in recent local successes like the rewilding of the Boardman-Ottaway River and the region’s long-standing commitment to habitat and watershed stewardship.
This program is supported by IAF members with grant funding provided by Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians, and event underwriting by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.
Tribal Attorney Frank Bibeau, Director of the Tribal Rights of Nature Program at the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CEDR), will explore how Indigenous legal frameworks are advancing Rights of Nature in the U.S. through treaty rights, sovereignty, and environmental protection. According to the CEDR, Bibeau “has developed several legal defense strategies based on the Rights of Manoomin and represented Manoomin (wild rice) and the White Earth Band of Ojibwe in Manoomin v DNR in White Earth Tribal Court and DNR v White Earth Band of Ojibwe and Chief Judge DeGroat in Minnesota District Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2021-2022). Frank’s legal work focuses on the Treaty rights of tribes and members to help protect the natural resources for future generations.
Providing global context, environmental lawyer and activist Hugo Echeverría (CEDR) will examine Ecuador’s constitutional Rights of Nature experience, showing how this framework has been applied—and tested—internationally. Echeverría is best known for advancing Ecuador’s historic constitutional recognition of nature as a rights-bearing entity. With the CEDR, he has shaped legislation, influenced court decisions, and helped communities apply these protections in practice. Rooted in sumak kawsay, from the Quechua meaning “living in harmony with nature”, his work ensures ecosystems are treated not as property, but as subjects of law with enforceable rights to protection and restoration.
The discussion will offer insights into how legal and cultural approaches can shape environmental stewardship, the protection of ecosystems, and the evolving understanding of human responsibility to the natural world.
When: April 15, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. program in-person and livestream
Where: Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Center
Tickets: Admission is free for current students and educators, including NMC and area secondary schools, and all enrolled citizens of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Get your tickets at tciaf.com. Advance purchase of in-person or online tickets recommended.
Mar 27, 2026 | Student Events
NMC Student Success and Christine Zimmer, retired Western Michigan University Director of Health and Education, will help you highlight your durable skills, prepare for a variety of questions and strengthen your confidence for your next interview during this hour-long workshop. Zimmerman has spent her career coaching, mentoring and supporting internships that propel students towards success. Discover what makes you an ideal candidate for jobs in this region. Join us for lunch and learn how to let your skills shine!
Confident Job Interviewing
Wednesday April 8, 12–1:30 p.m. (or come when your class is done!)
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107
Mar 27, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
I Am The River, The River Is Me will screen at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 in the Dutmers Theater as part of NMC’s Global Cinema Series.
Admission is FREE and is open to students, staff and the community, although seating is limited. Doors open and 3:30 p.m. and films begin at 4 p.m. in the Dutmers Theater at the Dennos Museum on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
Mar 24, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
The NMC student Kenya study abroad team is holding a fundraiser to support their work on-the-ground enhancing girls’ education. NMC students and The Filling Station (642 Railroad Place, Traverse City) invite everyone to join them for food and drinks on Monday, April 13 anytime between 4–10 p.m. Fifteen percent of all your food purchases and $1 from every pint will be donated to the effort.
Bring your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers out for an enjoyable evening down by the tracks! Asante sana!
For more information, contact NMC International Services and Service Learning at (2310 995-2527.
Mar 24, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
TRAVERSE CITY — Community members are invited to join students at NMC’s updated, expanded 2026 Career & Majors Fair from 1–5 p.m. Friday, April 10 at the Hagerty Center on NMC’s Great Lakes campus.
Several hundred students and community members are expected to attend the fair, which utilizes a guided pathway format. Employers will be clustered with faculty and staff from NMC’s relevant academic areas to showcase how NMC programs can lead to employment opportunities in northern Michigan. See the list of participating employers at nmc.edu/careerfair.
The fair will also showcase Michigan’s two Sixty x 30 initiatives — the student scholarships aimed at helping the state reach its goal of 60 percent of adult residents earning a degree or certificate by 2030. The Michigan Reconnect scholarship offers free in-district tuition to students 25 and up who don’t already have a degree. The Community College Guarantee makes the same offer to students in the high school classes of 2025 and 2026.
The free event is presented in partnership with Northwest Michigan Works and Networks Northwest. Find out more at nmc.edu/careerfair.
Release Date: March 24, 2026
For more information:
Tallula Morrison
Student Success and Retention Office Manager
(231) 995-1040
tmorrison@nmc.edu
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
Mar 23, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Northwestern Michigan College will present its Spring Jazz Concert on Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Milliken Auditorium. The concert features the NMC Jazz Lab Band, a High School All-Star Big Band with students from regional schools, and the NMC Jazz Big Band with guest soloist Robbie M. Smith, director of jazz studies at Central Michigan University. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students; NMC students are free with ID. Advance tickets are available at nmcmusicdepartment.simpletix.com or by calling the NMC Box Office at (231) 995-1340.
Earlier in the day, NMC will host its first High School Jazz Invitational beginning at 1 p.m., featuring big bands from Traverse City West, Traverse City Central, Elk Rapids and St. Francis. Afternoon performances are free and open to the public.
Mar 20, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Calling all innovators and change-makers! Are you ready to shape the future of freshwater?
From now through April 6, 2026, AquaAction is inviting emerging innovators from across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region to take part in the AquaHacking Binational Program: A free, 7-month innovation and entrepreneurship journey designed to help you develop real solutions to today’s most pressing water issues.
This is your chance to join a dynamic community of students, researchers, young professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs who are passionate about making a measurable impact. Throughout this free program, you’ll gain the tools, mentorship, and support you need to transform bold ideas into practical, scalable innovations and launch your startup.
Join us for a co-hosted virtual info session with AquaAction and Northwestern Michigan College on Thursday, March 26 from noon to 1 p.m.
During this information session, you will:
- Learn about the exciting prizes and benefits of the program ($70,000 in funding prizes!)
- Get a deep dive into the AquaHacking Binational program and what you can expect as a participant
- Discover the skills, networks, and funding opportunities you’ll gain through this 7-month program
- Learn about the resources, expert guidance, and hands-on support available to help you build your startup
- Explore how your participation can drive real progress in water innovation and sustainability across North America
If you’re ready to lead, innovate, and create lasting impact for our shared waters, this is your moment!
Invite your friends, colleagues, and anyone who might be interested in making a real difference.
Mar 20, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Audio Tech student Garrett Williams (in collaboration with the NMC Audio Tech program) is proud to be hosting a Spring Concert at Milliken Auditorium featuring ‘The Go Rounds’. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Friday, March 27, and doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $11.63 to $22.13.
This event will be entirely student-produced and is an opportunity for Garrett and his fellow Audio Technology students to gain experiential learning opportunities and valuable hands-on experience.
All proceeds from ticket sales will go to scholarships for NMC students.
Mar 20, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
NMC host a mobile food pantry on Monday, March 23 from 3–5 p.m. in the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus. The menu includes potatoes, carrots, frozen broccoli, ground turkey, applesauce, dried beans, mac and cheese, oranges, and Pop-Tarts.. This event is the rescheduled distribution originally planned for March 16, which was canceled due to inclement weather.
We ask that recipients queue up in the car line in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the parking lot. Please do not block the main access roads, be aware of other students using the parking spaces and watch for children being picked up at the Oleson Learning Center adjacent to the Maple Lot.
Free and open to all students and their families. Interested in volunteering? Email Cathy Warner at cwarner@nmc.edu.
Mar 19, 2026 | Student Events
Due to NMC’s closure, the in-person pre-nursing information session has been rescheduled to March 25 from 12:30–1:30 p.m. in room 116 of the Health & Science Building.
Join to meet with representatives from Admissions and discuss the steps you need to take to get accepted into NMC’s Nursing program. Topics include how to apply to the program, how to register for the HESI exam as well as what courses are included in the program.
Wednesday, March 25
Health & Science Building, room 116
12:30–1:30 p.m.
Food will be provided
RSVP to attend
Mar 18, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
GVSU College of Computing Presents
Applied AI & Entrepreneurship: Building Connections for Innovation
@ Northern Michigan Startup Week
Monday, April 20
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
NMC’s Hagerty Center
715 E Front St, Traverse City, MI
The GVSU College of Computing brings together faculty, students, startups, and regional partners to explore how Applied AI can drive innovation and commercialization in Northern Michigan. This event is designed to spark collaborations, help startup teams, and connect ideas to funding pathways. Veterans and military-connected entrepreneurs are especially welcome.
Goals: Form new startup and research teams, discover internship and collaboration opportunities, and establish pathways from research to market (SBIR, STTR, PFI).
Who Should Attend: Entrepreneurs, Startup Teams, Industry Leaders, Faculty, Students, Investors, and Community Innovators.
Seats are limited.
#nmsw #gvsucomputing #innovation
Mar 10, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
TRAVERSE CITY — Registration is now open for Northwestern Michigan College’s Hero Race, hosted by Professional Communications students on Saturday, April 18 on NMC’s Front Street campus as a part of an experiential learning class.
This is a family-friendly chip-timed race with a superhero theme. Last year’s race earned the Traverse City Track Club’s Favorite Race of 2025 award. Race events include:
- One-mile fun run (free event and cape) 9 a.m. start
- 5k run ($30) 10 a.m. start
- 10k run ($35) 10 a.m. start
- Medals and prizes
All proceeds from the event go towards a goal of $5,000 to support scholarships for NMC College for Kids, which helps local youth attend the college’s summer educational programs.
Families and spectators can also enjoy several activities throughout the event, including:
- Carnival games and food
- Cake walk
- Sensory room
- Bake sale
- Silent auction
- Award ceremony
Each year, the race recognizes a community member as a “Local Hero” for their leadership and impact. This year’s Local Hero Award celebrates the 2026 Outstanding Alumni honorees of NMC. This is NMC’s 75th anniversary, and this year’s race will have a celebratory theme
Participants are encouraged to register early:
- Early bird pricing deadline: March 18
- Race shirt guarantee deadline: March 31
Packet pickup will be held the evening before the race, featuring a pasta dinner and mask and cape decorating from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Participants who cannot attend the evening pickup may also pick up their race packets the morning of the event.
Community members who cannot attend the race are encouraged to donate for a chance to win a two-night stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island with a one-time donation of $20 or more through the NMC Foundation (designate NMC Hero Race).
To register, become a sponsor, or learn more about the event, visit nmcherorace.com today.
RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2026
For more information:
Roberto Cuadra
Public Relations Specialist
(269) 930-1046
cuadrar@mail.nmc.edu
Kristy McDonald
Business Instructor
(231) 735-1055
kmcdonald@nmc.edu
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
