NMC Aviation team to compete in the Air Race Classic

Congratulations to NMC Aviation for their registration and upcoming participation in the historic Air Race Classic! We’re proud to cheer on the Cherry Capital Cruisers (Team #33), featuring flight instructor Emma Dyer alongside student Grace Soneral and team lead Rachael Kornoely. Representing NMC in one of the world’s oldest and most competitive all-women air races, this talented crew will be piloting a Cessna Skyhawk 172SP aircraft (N921BB) dedicated to legendary NMC flight instructor and aviation program director Bob Buttleman during the June 23–26 race.

They won’t be flying solo either, backed by a dedicated Traverse City ground support team managing weather, airspace and logistics every step of the way. Best of luck to our amazing aviators as they prepare for this incredible milestone—clear skies ahead, and Go Team 33! Follow along with the flyers starting June 23 here.


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

Big Shout-Out to Our Step Challenge Champions!

A massive congratulations to everyone who laced up their sneakers and crushed our recent Step Challenge!

Here is a quick look at our mind-blowing final stats:

  • 88 total participants stepped up.

  • 58 goal crushers officially hit the target.

  • 15,306,208 collective steps taken.

  • 7,605 total miles crushed!

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Fun Fact: 7,605 miles is roughly the distance from New York to Tokyo. We literally walked across the globe together!

🎉Thank you for bringing your energy, friendly competition, and determination to this challenge. Give your feet a well-deserved rest today—you’ve earned it!


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

NMC named a military-friendly school

To honor Memorial Day, we pause to remember the service members who gave their lives in defense of our country. At NMC, supporting veterans, active-duty service members and military families is part of who we are. We’re proud to be recognized as a military-friendly school for 2026 and remain committed to creating meaningful pathways, strong support systems and opportunities for those who have served.


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

You Made it Possible 2026

A huge thank you to the Human Resources and Employee Recognition teams for putting on Wednesday’s wonderful You Made it Possible celebration. The event gave us a chance to come together as a college and celebrate all of our employees, including those earning excellence and service awards and our retirees. The warmth and community spirit felt throughout the event is a direct reflection of the care and hard work you put into supporting and recognizing NMC’s faculty and staff.

75th anniversary Block Party

To all those who organized, volunteered for and attended the 75th anniversary Block Party Saturday. The event combined the fun of Cherry Festival midway with the conviviality of a Friday Night Live or a Thirlby Field football game, right here on campus. The introduction of our mascot Swoop added extra excitement and made it especially memorable. Look for future 75th events at nmc.edu/75.


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

GLMA Open Ship this weekend

Thanks to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy for hosting its annual spring “open ship” from 1-4 p.m. this Saturday. Last year’s event drew more than 1,000 guests aboard the T/S State of Michigan. In recognition of NMC’s 75th anniversary, this year’s event will include a GLMA history display inside the Great Lakes campus..


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

Snow Day Heroes

Thank you to all who kept NMC running on three consecutive snow days, and readied campus for the resumption of classes last Wednesday. That includes the facilities and grounds crews, who plowed parking lots and sidewalks, the Hawk Owl Café and Northwest Grind staff, who kept residence hall students fed, and custodial staff and security.
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Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

Food for the Soul

Thanks to the Hawk Owl Café staff and Associate Dean of Campus & Residence Life Marcus Bennett for offering a Food for the Soul menu in February. This four-week series of special menus was presented as part of NMC’s Embrace the Dream programming and in support of NMC’s goal to create a vibrant campus where everyone belongs.


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

IAF programming returns this week

Thanks to the International Affairs Forum, whose winter-spring series of events gets underway this week with “Long Arm or Strong Arm? Executive Power in Foreign Policy and at Home,” Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in Milliken Auditorium. NMC faculty, staff and students are admitted free. The winter season also includes Academic World Quest, a quiz show style competition for high school students. Find out more at tciaf.com


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

Extended Ed adds full day College for Kids programming

Thanks to Extended Education & Training, which opened registration for College for Kids last week, including a new option of full-day programming for first through sixth graders. In a community where child care demand outpaces supply, this offers families an important additional quality option for the summer months.


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

Clearing the way

Winter is here and so we salute NMC’s facilities team, for keeping all four campus parking lots plowed and sidewalks cleared and salted. NMC’s Campus Safety officers will also jump-start dead car batteries if needed – call (231) 995-1111.


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!