Mar 26, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
The WNMC’s next Speaker Series will feature Doug Luciani, former head of the TC Chamber of Commerce and current VP for Strategy and Community Engagement at the development firm Cunningham-Limp.
Luciani and Eric Hines from the WNMC will discuss the changes that have occurred in Traverse City during his seventeen years at the Chamber and some of the service-oriented projects Cunningham-Limp has been involved with in Northern Michigan over the last few years such as Common Grounds, the Mill in Glen Arbor, several area churches and Cordia Senior Living at Grand Traverse Commons.
This interview will air at 7:30 a.m. on April 2 during Wednesday’s edition of Mornings on WNMC. Tune in at 90.7 FM or stream afterward on the WNMC’s Soundcloud account.
Mar 26, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy’s “open ship” showcasing the training ship State of Michigan from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 12. The day will include:
- Self guided tours of the T/S State of Michigan
- Interaction with current maritime cadets
- An opportunity to learn more about the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, maritime careers, how to become a chef on a ship and U.S. Navy commissioning options
Tours will begin at the pier security gate entrance on the north side of NMC’s Great Lakes campus, 715 E. Front St. Low-heel, closed-toe, soft-soled shoes are highly recommended. The event will occur rain or shine.
Release date: MARCH 26, 2025
For more information:
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
maritime@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1200
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 25, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s Music Department invites the community to the following spring performances:
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Saturday, April 12 NMC Audio Technology presents Rockin’ Into Spring – Dollars for Scholars. This scholarship benefit concert features Racing Mount Pleasant, formerly known as Kingfisher, and Trillium Groove. Several Audio Tech alumni are among the performers. 7 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets are now available.
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Saturday, April 19 NMC Jazz Bands present the Spring Jazz Ensemble Showcase. Josh Wagner, director. 7:30 p.m. Milliken Auditorium. General admission. Presale tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. ($20 and $15 at the door.)
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Friday, April 25 NMC Concert Band. Pat Brumbaugh, director. 7:30 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. General admission. Presale tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors ($20 and $15 at the door.)
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Sunday, April 27 NMC Children’s Choirs present choral music from around the world at their final concert of the season. Ashley Larimer-Kelly, Stephanie Schall-Brazee, Joanna Aldridge and Jamie Moreland, directors. 3 p.m., Lars Hockstad Auditorium. Reserved seating. Presale tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors ($20 and $15 at the door.)
Release Date: March 25, 2025
For More Information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
(231) 392-1800 (mobile – call or text)
cnoga@nmc.edu
Mar 24, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Spring break hours
Saturday, March 22 – Saturday, March 29
OPEN: SELF-SERVICE KIOSK ONLY
Sunday, March 30
OPEN
2–6 p.m.
The Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center will close each evening at 7 p.m. from Friday, March 21 through Sunday, March 30. Regular business hours resume on Monday, March 31.
Mar 21, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Spring is here, the snow is melting and the NMC Library has plenty of items in their Library of Things collection to help you get back outside after this brutal winter!
Play some outdoor games with your friends – from old favorites like cornhole and disc golf, to NEW additions to the collection like pickleball, kubb, giant chess and portable laser tag!
Have an outdoor movie night with our NEW mini projector and portable screen! Just add blankets, some popcorn and your favorite film for a perfectly cozy evening under the stars.
Have a picnic with your loved ones, with our NEW portable picnic table! You can also check out a bluetooth speaker, board games and a puzzle to make for a lovely day in the sun!
Go stargazing with our NEW telescope, or our NEW stargazing kit – complete with a red filter headlamp and flashlight as well as a pocket guide to the night sky!
Browse our full collection of Library of Things in the online catalog.
Mar 19, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
March 19, 2025
Thomas Russell hasn’t graduated from high school yet, but he can’t wait to become a nurse.
The Traverse City Central senior is dual enrolled in medical terminology and a math class at NMC currently. This summer, following his high school graduation, he’ll take Anatomy & Physiology I, followed by A & P II in the fall. Once he completes all those prerequisites, he’ll be eligible to apply to the nursing program.
Russell’s undaunted by the challenges to a profession which, broadly speaking, is still recovering from the powerful impact of the COVID pandemic. At NMC, he has a lot of company, as nursing remains arguably NMC’s most competitive program. Russell, 18, is among 160 students now in a pre-nursing pipeline, at various stages of prerequisite course completion. April 1, applications will open for the 40 available seats in the associate degree program starting this fall.
Grade point average, prerequisite completion, entrance exam score, prior degree status and veteran status all factor into the admission decision, said nursing program director Betsy Boris.
After completion of his prerequisites, Russell will be eligible to apply this fall for spring 2026 admission. He said “a lot of reflection” led him to choose nursing. He’s worked in construction, and found he wanted more interaction with people. He’s been a caregiver to his mother, who has disabilities, and experienced the patient side himself due to a severe allergy as a child.
“At the base of it, it’s just being able to help people,” he said. “I found a very solid grounding in helping people, and what that made me feel like.”
NMC runs the largest nursing program north of Grand Rapids, and graduates provide skilled, proficient patient care. NMC exceeds both Michigan and U.S. average pass rates on the RN license exam, the NCLEX. In 2024, 97% of NMC nursing students passed.
“Application season is always an exciting time for our students as well as faculty and staff, as we welcome future nurses to this challenging yet rewarding and fulfilling field,” Boris said. “NMC is proud to train many of the nurses who go on to work at Munson Healthcare, at nursing homes and in public health, sharing their skills with the entire region.”
Through a partnership with Davenport University, NMC students can also earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The first class of 12 graduated last summer. Another 14 will start this summer.
Right now, Russell is leaning toward long-term care nursing. “Something where I can build a deeper connection with the individual,” he said.
He’ll also be able to take advantage of the Community College Guarantee. As a 2025 high school graduate, the scholarship will cover the cost of his associate degree.
“I’m on top of that,” Russell said. “Very glad and thankful.”
Mar 18, 2025 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Good afternoon NMC community,
By now, many of you have likely heard about the significant reductions at the U.S. Department of Education, where nearly 1,300 employees — almost half the department — were affected by a workforce reduction announced last week. Since the news broke, we have been working to understand the full scope of these changes and what they mean for our students, faculty and staff.
Let me be clear: there are no immediate changes to federal student aid. The Department has confirmed that FAFSA processing, Pell Grants and student loan servicing remain fully operational. Our Financial Aid Office continues to monitor the situation, and if anything changes, students will be notified directly.
At NMC, we are committed to staying ahead of changes that may impact our students. Some federal offices responsible for program oversight and compliance are being restructured, and we are keeping a close eye on any potential long-term effects. Our priority remains the same: ensuring every student has the support they need to succeed.
We recognize that change — even at the federal level — can bring uncertainty. But as always, NMC will continue to adapt, innovate and put students first. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Financial Aid team at SFS@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1035.
Thank you for being part of NMC. Together, we will navigate these changes with the same commitment to excellence and student success that has always defined our college.
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Mar 18, 2025 | Student News
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Are you planning to live on campus in one of NMC’s dorms next year? If so, consider becoming a Resident Assistant!
Resident Assistants act as a liaison between other students living in the residence halls and the Residence Life Office. They are responsible for approximately 39-45 residents and works to create of a living/learning center community through the use of educational and social programs. In exchange for your service, your room and board (meal plan) will be waived.
To be considered for an RA position, students should:
- Attend an info. session (optional)
- March 18, 8 p.m., North Hall (2nd floor enclave)
- March 19, 9 p.m., East Hall (basement)
- Apply online by April 8 at 4 p.m.
- On students.nmc.edu, go to the Careers section and select Jobs on Campus
- Find and click on the job posting titled Student – Resident Assistant Fall 2025 & Spring 2026
- Read the full job description and click Apply in the top righthand corner to submit your application
- Attend a job shadowing session
- April 10–12 at 8 p.m., 10 p.m., 12 a.m. or 1 a.m.
- Meet in the lobby of East Hall or North Hall
- Attend RA group process
- Sunday, April 13 from 5-7 p.m.
- East Hall basement
- Interviews will be conducted during April 14-18.
For more information, contact Brooklynn Golnick at (231) 995-1411, Corbin Thompson at (231) 995-1408 or Marcus Bennett at (231) 995-1401.
All Resident Assistants must be enrolled half time, have completed one semester of college (12 NMC credits) and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible.
Mar 17, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC’s Library will be open for special hours during March 23-30.
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- Sunday, March 23 CLOSED
- Monday, March 24 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 25 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 26 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Thursday, March 27 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Friday, March 28 CLOSED
- Saturday, March 29 CLOSED
- Sunday, March 30 CLOSED
Normal operating hours will resume on Monday, March 31.
Mar 13, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
The Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center (TJNIC) will close at 7 p.m. each evening on Friday, March 21 through Sunday, March 30. Normal operating hours will resume on Monday, March 31.
If you need access after hours, call Campus Security at (231) 995-1111.
Mar 12, 2025 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Dear NMC faculty, staff and students,
Support a great cause while having fun at this year’s Big Little Hero Race, an experiential learning project led by students in NMC’s BUS 231 class. This event helps students develop real-world professional communication skills while raising funds for scholarships that allow children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to attend NMC’s College for Kids.
10th Annual Big Little Hero Race Saturday, April 19
9:00 AM – Kickoff @ Northwestern Michigan College
FREE Costumed Fun Run (featuring Captain Hawk Owl!)
5K & 10K Run/Walk – Prizes for best costume and speed
Carnival Games
Hero Egg Hunt (1,000 eggs!)
Award Ceremony
Special Discounts for Educators & Students
This year’s Local Hero Award will honor educators in our community! Teachers and students can register for just $15 using the following discount codes at checkout:
- 5K Student: 5kstudent25
- 10K Student: 10kstudent25
- 5K Teacher: 5kteach25
- 10K Teacher: 10kteach25
Click here to register
Even if you can’t attend, you can still support the cause by entering our prize giveaway for a chance to win: A two-night stay at the Grand Hotel, breakfast for two and two rounds of golf at The Jewel!
To enter:
- Visit Give: NMC Foundation at Northwestern Michigan College.
- Select “designate my gift to other” and enter your donation amount ($20 minimum).
- Type “Big Little Hero Race” in the designation field.
One entry per person. The drawing will take place after the race.
Grab your capes, have fun, and make a difference in a child’s life. I am signed up, and looking forward to the event. I hope to see you there!
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
Mar 11, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC’s Fitness Center will be open for special hours during March 21-30.
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- Friday, March 21 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, March 22 CLOSED
- Sunday, March 23 CLOSED
- Monday, March 24 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 25 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 26 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday, March 27 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday, March 28 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, March 29 CLOSED
- Sunday, March 30 CLOSED
Open recreation in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building will be closed during this time. Regular hours will resume March 31.
For more information contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Mar 10, 2025 | Student News
The NMC Conservatives student group is hosting two upcoming events that students are invited to attend.
On Friday, March 14, a group meeting and a game night will be held in room 104/105 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Come for pizza, games and casual discussion. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and the game night begins at 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, March 18, a screening of Sound Of Freedom, a human trafficking awareness movie, will be shown at the Dennos Museum Center. Bring your own snacks, or share ours! Doors open at 7 p.m. and the movie will start at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited. Sign up to reserve your spot.
Mar 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
To find these selections and more, browse our full collection of Library of Things in the online catalog.
Games & Puzzles
Game – Azul
In the game Azul, players take turns drafting colored tiles from suppliers to their player board. Later in the round, players score points based on how they’ve placed their tiles to decorate the palace. Extra points are scored for specific patterns and completing sets; wasted supplies harm the player’s score. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Game – Monikers
Monikers is a party game based on the public domain game Celebrities, where players take turns attempting to get their teammates to guess names by describing or imitating well-known people. In the first round, clue givers can say anything they want, except for the name itself. For the second round, clue givers can only say one word. And in the final round, clue givers can’t say anything at all: they can only use gestures and charades.
Game – Cascadia
Cascadia is a puzzly tile-laying and token-drafting game featuring the habitats and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. Players compete to create the most harmonious ecosystem in Cascadia. Turns are simple – select a tile/token set and place each into your expanding ecosystem. Earn points by fulfilling wildlife goals, and creating the largest habitat corridors.
Game – Fiasco
A game about powerful ambition and poor impulse control, Fiasco is an award-winning, GM-less game for 3-5 players, designed to be played in a few hours with six-sided dice and no preparation. During a game you engineer and play out stupid, disastrous situations, usually at the intersection of greed, fear, and lust. It’s like making your own Coen brothers movie, in about the same amount of time it’d take to watch one!
Game – Tabletop shuffleboard and curling
Bring the shuffleboard and curling courts to the tabletop with this 2-in-1 game design, where you can effortlessly transition from shuffleboard to curling by just flipping the gameboard! The full set includes 8 mini rollers, including 4 red and 4 blue pieces, for both games. The rollers easily glide across the surface just like real shuffleboard and curling courts!
Puzzle – Women in art
This jigsaw puzzle features a diverse array of fifteen accomplished artists, from well-known figures such as Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe to lesser-known trailblazers including nineteenth-century African American sculptor Mary Edmonia Lewis and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo.
Instruments & Music
Mustang micro guitar headphone amp
Mustang Micro is a complete personal guitar amplifier featuring a wide selection of tones from the wildly popular Mustang series amps. Plug Mustang Micro directly into your guitar, connect a pair of headphones, and choose your amp and effects. This all-in-one personal headphone amplifier with onboard DSP has 12 amp models from Mustang GTX for a wide range of clean and dirty tones. It also offers 13 effect models with parameter modify control. It’s ideal for any player from beginner to pro, making it quick and easy to get great tones when jamming silently at home or on the go. And you can play along to your favorite tracks or instructional videos using the built-in Bluetooth audio connection.
Portable Bluetooth speaker
The JBL GO 3 is a full-featured IP67 waterproof and dustproof wireless Bluetooth speaker with a shockproof Megen case. JBL Pro Sound delivers surprisingly big audio and punchy bass from GO 3’s ultra-compact size, with up to 5 hours of playtime on a single charge.
Art prints
Storytelling by Trevor Grabill
“I grew up in central Michigan, and have spent my life in small cities and villages around the great lakes. My work draws on these places, which represent a combination of incredible natural beauty, rust belt decay, and rural midwestern neglect. These are places (or their inhabitants) that are readily passed by, rendered neutral by force of habit. My work highlights the essential strangeness, both beautiful and terrible, of the everyday. Our world is shaped by very specific forces (often capitalism or resistance to capitalism) and, as such, absolutely nothing is inevitable.”
Tiguaq (Adopted) by Ninginkulu Teevee
Born May 1963, Ninginkulu is one of the most versatile and intelligent graphic artists to emerge from the Kinngait Studios. Since her first prints appeared in the collection in 2004, she has demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge of Inuit legends and a fine sense of design and composition. Ninginkulu has had numerous solo shows of her bold and resplendent drawings and some of her work has been featured in exhibitions in major public galleries and museums.
Summaries and images adapted from publishers.
Mar 5, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
March 5, 2025
As college choice season looms and initial financial aid offers arrive, NMC has an important message for area families: the Michigan Community College Guarantee could cover up to $11,000 for tuition and fees — but they might not see it on those initial offer letters.
NMC Financial Aid Director Linda Berlin said the CCG, which offers free in-district tuition and fees for high school graduates, can’t be awarded until students register for classes. At NMC, that won’t start until new student orientation in April. Some won’t register until May or June.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, the four-year counterpart to the CCG, will appear on financial aid offers arriving now. But the CCG covers more of the cost. Berlin said 94% of the 552 2024-25 recipients at NMC had their costs covered completely with combined grants and scholarships, receiving $1.7 million in CCG aid.
Garnet Mullet, a 2024 St. Francis High School graduate, pictured right, and Ty Atwood, a 2024 Traverse City West High School graduate, are two of them.
“There’s so much I’ve gotten from the Michigan Community College Guarantee. Not only am I given an opportunity to get started on a degree for free, but also, through NMC specifically, I can transfer out and pursue my goal of becoming a pharmacist,” Atwood said.
He hopes to earn his associate degree by 2026 and then transfer to Ferris State University’s pharmacy school.
St. Francis’ Mullet had originally committed to an out-of-state school to play volleyball. The tuition bill was an unpleasant surprise.
“It ended up being a lot higher than we originally thought,” said Mullet. “It was definitely a big hit to us.”
Then, she was injured. She returned to Traverse City for rehab and decided she didn’t want to go back to the New York university, where she had direct entry into a physician assistant master’s degree program. Instead, she met with an NMC advisor and found out about the CCG.
“That was pretty amazing, to come back and not have to worry about the cost of school,” said Mullet, who discovered she liked NMC better. She especially enjoys studying in the lower level of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center.
“The community is a thousand times better,” she said. “I came here and I felt like I belonged. The community really just embraced me.”
In order to play volleyball again, Mullet will transfer to Grand Rapids Community College in the fall. But she could be back again. Two weeks ago she attended the Physician Assistant preview day held by Grand Valley State University at the University Center.
“I was really impressed with that,” said Mullet, who works at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center. She also plans to attend tomorrow’s Career Fair.
“The community here is really strong, with all the opportunities outside academics,” she said.
Both Atwood and Mullet are in-district students, living in Grand Traverse County. For out-of-district students, Pell grants, other state aid and NMC scholarships typically cover the higher tuition rate, Berlin said.
The CCG was introduced in July 2024, when many students had already made college plans. This year, Berlin expects “much greater participation.” She’s thrilled to be able to make the awards, pointing out that increased funding correlates with student success.
“Overall, NMC student completion rates are increasing each year, while financial aid has increased each of the past couple of years. In addition, NMC has received grants and substantially increased student success support,” she said.
Learn more about the Community College Guarantee here.
Learn about Michigan Reconnect, which offers free tuition and fees to in-district students 25 and up who don’t already have a degree.
Feb 26, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Get ready for spring with a new NMC t-shirt! All t-shirts at the bookstore are $5 off during March 3–14.
Feb 26, 2025 | Student News
Congratulations to the graduates of 2025! Caps and gowns are now available at the NMC Bookstore (located in the Health & Science building) or shop online at bookstore.nmc.edu.
Feb 26, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC will host two mobile food pantries during the month of March on Monday, March 3 and Monday, March 17. The distributions will occur from 3-5 p.m. in the Maple Lot at the Front Street campus.
This program is specifically designed to support NMC students (and their households) by supplementing their diets with fresh, healthy produce while helping to free up financial resources to cover other household expenses. Even if you’ve never come out before, check out our pantry and see how we can help support you!
All food is distributed free of charge, the only paperwork is just a sign in sheet in case of recall. There are no financial requirements or means tests. Our recent distributions have included menu items such as granola bars, pasta, oranges, grapefruit, carrots, and instant mashed potatoes. Each household should expect to receive at least 40 lbs of fresh foods and some shelf-stable products.
Walk-up and drive-thru options are both available. Come over and drive-thru or bring a backpack or reusable bag and take what you and your household can use in the next 7-10 days.
These pantries are made possible in partnership with Feeding America.
