New books for February 2026
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
NMC Magazine seeks submissions for Maker’s Process
Submissions are open for the Spring 2026 issue of NMC Magazine which focuses on the evolution of an idea, highlighting the creative process and celebrating not just finished work, but the sketches, prototypes, mishaps and breakthroughs that shaped them. NMC students, employees and alumni can enter their submissions thru Saturday, February 21.
Visit nmc.edu/nmcmagazine for more information. Please complete a submission form for each entry.
Thursday flash sales
Don’t forget—the Campus Bookstore has a different sale every Thursday! Stop by to get great deals!
On the menu: Hawk Owl Café specials for February 9–13
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials during the fall and spring semesters from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99, and the vegetarian option (V) is $7.99. Learn more at nmc.edu/dining.
Menu
Monday, February 9
Chicken Gyros with grilled pita served with lemon rice and roasted fingerling potatoes
Falafel Gyros (V) with grilled pita served with lemon rice and roasted fingerling potatoes
Tuesday, February 10
Chicken & Cheese Quesadillas served with Spanish rice and refried beans
Roasted Poblano & Bean Quesadillas (V) served with Spanish rice and refried beans
Wednesday, February 11
Sesame Chicken Stir Fry served with basmati rice and egg rolls
Sesame Tofu Stir Fry (V) served with basmati rice and egg rolls
Thursday, February 12
Food for the Soul
$6 for NMC Students & Staff, $12 for Community Members
- Fried Chicken
- Black Bean Burger (V)
- Coleslaw
- Collard Greens (with or without ham)
- Banana Pudding
- Arnold Palmer
Friday, February 13
Crispy Chicken with Buffalo sauce served with mac & cheese and asparagus
Battered Cauliflower Bites (V) served with mac & cheese and asparagus
Ski & Snowboard Club trips
NMC’s Ski & Snowboard Club has three ski trips planned.
Caberfae College Day
February 20
Mardi Gras Theme – bead necklaces provided
Come ski with other colleges! Hope College & Baker College of Cadillac will be attending with us
On the road at 8 a.m.
Litt tickets: $19
Crystal Mountain
March 13
On the road at 3:30 p.m.
Lift hours 5-9 p.m.
Lift tickets $35
Boyne Mountain
April 3
On the road at 8 a.m.
Lift hours 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Attendees are responsible for their own lift ticket and must being their college ID & driver’s license. Carpooling will be available, trying to fit everyone in the least amount of cars. Those who drive will get a gas card to cover the cost. The group will meet at the Hawk Owl Cafe in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Please note that the “on the road” time is the time the group will depart from NMC’s campus. If you have any questions, email Dylan Raser at raserd@mail.nmc.edu.
Success Story: NMC figures prominently in new state economic strategy
NMC Marine Technology students conduct sonar operations aboard the R/V Northwestern
February 4, 2026
Around the world, Detroit is synonymous with the automotive industry. Now, as Michigan sets its course for the maritime industry, NMC has become a key player in a region that will be vital to statewide success.
Last week the state released its first-ever Michigan Maritime Strategy, six draft goals to guide state policy and investment. NMC is one of just two Michigan community colleges called out in the report. NMC Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Jason Slade participated in two input sessions and provided online input.
The Great Lakes Maritime Academy and Great Lakes Water Studies Institute each have a role in goal 4, “lead the nation in recruitment, training, and retention of the maritime workforce.” GLMA graduates pilot and maintain ships on the Great Lakes, while Marine Technology graduates work in hydrographic surveying, part of port inspections. The under-construction Freshwater Research & Innovation Center is ahead of the curve on goal 5, “cultivate a thriving maritime innovation ecosystem.”
“Northern Michigan has a lot of capabilities in a number of these goals,” Slade said. “I think it was critical that the strategy document listed the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center.”
Construction is on schedule for the anticipated spring 2027 opening of the $29.8 million collaborative blue tech innovation hub, with concrete work completed and steel delivery expected this month. One tenant, NV5, is confirmed. A second, the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, which includes the Fishpass project underway in downtown Traverse City, is nearly finalized. NMC has partnered with Discovery Pier, Traverse Connect, 20Fathoms and Michigan Technological University to build FRIC. The state also invested $15 million in the 40,000 square-foot facility.
Projects like FRIC ultimately broaden Michigan’s economy.
“Michigan is prepared to lead the future of maritime innovation while protecting the waters that define us,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a news release accompanying the strategy. “The Michigan Maritime Strategy is a long-term plan for us to create good-paying local jobs and attract cutting-edge investments while protecting our Great Lakes.”
“It’s really a diversification to complement the auto industry,” Slade said. He added that NMC also brings experience and expertise on aerial mobility initiatives with drones, and can apply that to the new strategy.
“We have a reputation with the state for being at the forefront for mobility areas. We need to push that for maritime as well,” he said.
Public comment on the draft strategy is open until Feb. 27. The strategy is expected to be formally adopted later this year.
Campus Safety: Watch these short videos to help keep everyone safe
See something that you’re not sure is right? Help keep NMC safe and say something. If you notice suspicious activity, call Campus Safety at (231) 995-1111. In case of an emergency, call 911 immediately.
NMC is a large, open campus with multiple locations. It’s important to know what to do in an emergency situation. Campus Safety would like for employees to watch the FBI’s Run. Hide. Fight. — Safe in Schools video.
Registration open for NMC College for Kids summer program
TRAVERSE CITY — Registration is now open for NMC’s College for Kids summer program, which provides weekly learning camps for students ages 4-17. These specialty, fun, experiential “college” learning classes run from June 15 through July 31. New this year, sessions for first through sixth graders will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 4 p.m., allowing parents the option of full day programming when they join their child for lunch on campus. Register for all classes at nmc.edu/kids.
Held on NMC’s campuses or partner facilities, classes are taught by passionate, experienced instructors who provide a safe and exciting learning environment. Developing their own curriculum, teachers make each class unique, of high interest to students, and experiential with hands-on engagement. Young learners are introduced to college adventures in art, science, sewing, technology, culinary, dance, and more.
More than forty new classes will debut this summer, including Adventures in Loom Weaving, Writing & Drawing Comics, Mixed Media Lab and Phenomenal Physical Science, plus new partnerships with SEEDS and Great Lakes Children’s Museum. From early education classes to career exploration options – there is something for learners of every age and interest.
In addition to weekly enrichment classes, enrollment in the GRASP at-home summer bridge program also begins on February 2. Lessen summer learning loss with weekly reading lessons, math lessons, or both. Register now at nmc.edu/grasp.
Regular weekly classes start at $249. Parents can register their child for a morning and afternoon session and meet their child for lunch on campus. Thanks to generous donors and NMC’s Professional Communications students, $100 scholarships are available for those who qualify. See details at nmc.edu/kids.
To register or to learn more, visit nmc.edu/kids or contact NMC Extended Education at (231) 995-1700. A household profile must be created online before registering.
Release date: February 2, 2026
For more information:
NMC Extended Education & Training
ees@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1700
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-discriminationNew BATA route
NMC’s Student Government Association has worked with BATA to incorporate a new bus route. This new route begins at the Dennos and Milliken/Front and goes to Garfield, Hastings, and LaFranier. The cost is 75 cents for NMC students with ID.
Fail Forward Week
Failure is scary, but it isn’t the end—it is an opportunity to grow. Student Success will host a week of events dedicated to normalizing setbacks and building resilience so that students can use past missteps to lead to future success. Activities include:
Leveling Up! Adaptability Lunch & Learn with Student Life
Thursday, Feb. 12, 12-1 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 104/105
RSVP
Asking for Help & Ultimate Success Hacks with Student Success Coaches
Monday, Feb. 16, 12–1 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107
RSVP
Student Success Fair
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Lobby
Connect & learn more about your support services at NMC!
Keep an eye out for “fail” boards on each campus all week long, follow @nmcstudentsuccess on social to hear testimonials about how you can overcome past mistakes and don’t forget to get your Certificate of Failure from the Advising Center!
IAF resumes expert-led programs in 32nd season
Programs focus on executive power, the new space race, rights of nature, Middle East peace building and climate security
TRAVERSE CITY — The International Affairs Forum continues its 32nd season of programs addressing global issues and fostering vital public dialogue in northern Michigan. Upcoming events include:
- February 19 | Long Arm or Strongarm: Executive Power in Foreign Policy & At Home with Kori Schake, Ph.D., Senior Fellow & Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute. Schake is author of The State and the Soldier: A History of Civil-Military Relations in the United States (Polity Press 2025). She is also the author of Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony, and a contributing writer at the Atlantic, War on the Rocks, and Bloomberg. Event presented in partnership with Central Michigan University Hart-Milliken Speaker Series. Book sales provided by Bay Books.
- March 19 | The New Space Race: How Data, Resources, and Power Are Shaping Our Future
Presented by NMC students on the IAF Student Leadership Team. Speaker(s) to be announced. The students will lead an in-depth exploration of competition in space among governments and corporations, with implications for technology, law, environmental stewardship, and global cooperation. Event underwriter: Eleanor Lynn - April 15 | Rights of Nature: Global Movement, Local Values
Frank Bibeau & Hugo Echeverría on the Rights of Nature global conservation movement. Bibeau is Tribal Attorney & Director of Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights’ Tribal Rights of Nature Program and has led groundbreaking cases protecting manoomin (wild rice), among other precedent-setting legal conservation work. Echeverría, based in Quito, Ecuador, has worked in environmental law since 2001, with an emphasis on biodiversity conservation and the Rights of Nature. Event underwriter: Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. - April 19 | The Future is Peace — A Conversation with Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon
Presented by the National Writers Series in partnership with the International Affairs Forum. Join authors Aziz Abu Sarah, Palestinian peacebuilder; and Maoz Inon, Israeli peace activist, the co-CEOs of InterAct. Abu Sarah and Inon are both directly impacted by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. InterAct advances a hopeful vision of coexistence grounded in human connection and mutual understanding. Together they share a compelling story of reconciliation and hope drawn from personal loss and their work fostering peace across divides. - May | This event will be the inaugural Robert & Nancy Giles Press Freedom Lecture hosted by the International Affairs Forum. Speaker(s) to be announced. Subscribe here for IAF newsletter updates.
- June 11 | Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security with author Sherri Goodman, Secretary General, International Military Council on Climate & Security; Distinguished Fellow and Board Director, Atlantic Council; and former U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environmental Security. As climate change intensifies disasters and sharpens geopolitical competition—from the Arctic and Greenland to global conflict zones—it has become a defining national security challenge. Goodman’s Threat Multiplier explores how the U.S. military now treats a warming world as a force that amplifies every threat. Event underwriters: Harold & Pam Lassers. Book sales provided by Bay Books.
Event Details
Programs are open to the public and are ticketed events. Students and educators attend at no cost thanks to community support. Most programs start at 7 p.m. Eastern at the Dennos Museum Center Milliken Auditorium, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City with a welcome reception at 6 p.m.
Events are presented in hybrid format; in-person events are available to livestream online. Programming continues throughout the academic year through June 2026. All IAF events on campus at NMC are free for students and educators, including all NMC employees and employees of all local schools. For event details and tickets, please visit tciaf.com
IAF’s educational programming at NMC is free for students and educators, and open to the public thanks to its supporting members, regional partners, business sponsors, and Northwestern Michigan College. Learn more about membership, event sponsorship, and opportunities to support here: tciaf.com/support
Release date: January 22, 2026
For more information:
Alexander Tank
Director
International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College
(231) 995-1844
atank@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-discriminationSuccess Story: Blue Tech Challenge will award $55K for the third straight year
January 21, 2026
The Great Lakes Blue Tech Challenge, the third straight entrepreneurial pitch competition NMC has sponsored, launched this week, seeking innovative ideas to fast-track businesses developing solutions for a wide range of issues impacting the world’s largest freshwater system.
At stake is $55,000 in seed funding. First prize is $30,000, second prize is $15,000 and third prize will win $10,000. Finalists will present at the Lakebed 2030 conference in Traverse City Sept. 17, gaining visibility and networking opportunities.
“The Blue Tech Challenge is progressing in parallel with the Freshwater Innovation Center and with the wider idea of TC becoming this freshwater innovation ecosystem. It’s all maturing together in a way which is beneficial for northern Michigan and the entire, bi-national Great Lakes region,” said Canadian Trade Commissioner Dakota Korth, a judge for the 2025 competition. The Challenge is open to entrants from the U.S. and Canada.
Vernon LaLoneThe poster child for the Blue Tech Challenge is the 2025 winner, Wave Lumina of Traverse City. The company, which manufactures a portable, rapid-response PFAS testing device, also placed second in Aquahacking the Great Lakes, the 2024 competition. Since launching in founder Vernon LaLone’s spare bedroom in 2023, Wave Lumina has won a $305,000 National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation & Research grant; hired two employees, both NMC alumni; and served its first paying customers in December.
Now operating in a lab at NMC’s Parsons-Stulen Building, Lalone hopes to become a tenant at the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center when it opens in 2027.
Korth hopes that businesses with Canadian roots will be there, too. The Canadian government contributed $5,000 to last year’s competition and he hopes to provide at least that much again.
“A big piece for me is a deepened Canadian participation,” Korth said. In the 2025 event, 35 companies made initial inquiries, and 18 submitted first-round pitches. Of those, three were Canadian.
“We’re trying to help eliminate the challenge of the border as an impediment to economic progress on both sides,” said Korth, whose office is in Detroit. “It’s natural for us to look to our neighbors to find ways to work together to find what buoys our livelihoods and our health.”
The Challenge is open to motivated entrepreneurs, startups, early-career professionals, and even student-led ventures from across the United States and Canada. Areas of focus are:
- Resilience and Adaptation
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Aquaculture
- Maritime Mobility and Exploration Systems
- Water Treatment and Purification
- Resource Recovery and Circular Solutions
- Water Intelligence and Decision Support
- Water Infrastructure and Asset Management
For more information visit nmc.edu/bluetechchallenge.
2026 Great Lakes Blue Tech Challenge launches
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC has opened registration for the Great Lakes Blue Tech Challenge, seeking startups with solutions for a wide range of issues impacting the world’s largest freshwater system.
At stake is $55,000 in seed funding. First prize is $30,000, second prize is $15,000 and third prize will win $10,000. Finalists will present at the Lakebed 2030 conference in Traverse City Sept. 17, gaining visibility and networking opportunities.
The third such competition of its kind at NMC, the Blue Tech Challenge is progressing in parallel with the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center, with the wider idea of Traverse City becoming a freshwater innovation hub.
“It’s all maturing together in a way which is beneficial for northern Michigan and the entire, bi-national Great Lakes region,” said Canadian Trade Commissioner Dakota Korth, a judge for the 2025 competition.
The Challenge is open to entrants from the U.S. and Canada. Registration closes March 27, and first-round pitches will take place on June 29. The Challenge is open to motivated entrepreneurs, startups, early-career professionals, and even student-led ventures from across the United States and Canada. Areas of focus are:
- Resilience and adaptation
- Aquatic ecosystems and aquaculture
- Maritime mobility and exploration systems
- Water treatment and purification
- Resource recovery and circular solutions
- Water intelligence and decision support
- Water infrastructure and asset management
After 35 initial inquiries, 18 teams entered the 2025 Challenge, won by Wave Lumina of Traverse City. The company, which manufactures a portable, rapid-response PFAS testing device, also placed second in Aquahacking the Great Lakes, the 2024 competition. Since launching in founder Vernon LaLone’s spare bedroom in 2023, Wave Lumina has won a $305,000 National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation & Research grant; hired two employees, both NMC alumni; and served its first paying customers in December.
Now operating in a lab at NMC’s Parsons-Stulen Building, LaLone hopes to become a tenant at the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center when it opens in 2027.
For more information visit nmc.edu/bluetechchallenge.
Release date: January 21, 2026
For more information:
Denver Peters
Director, Strategic Portfolio and Development
dpeters@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1215
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-discriminationHoodie sale at the Campus Bookstore
The Campus Bookstore is offering $10 off all regular priced hoodies from Jan. 19–30.
Visitation, memorial service for Nancy Gray
Nancy Gray, NMC English instructor and Neurodiversity Support Center coordinator, passed away unexpectedly Monday, January 12.
Visitation will take place Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 4-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., and on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Milliken Auditorium. Her memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. in Milliken Auditorium. There will be reserved parking in the Aspen Lot next to the Dennos Museum for memorial visitors; visitors may also park in any other lot on campus.
If you are interested in making a gift in memory of Nancy Gray, you may select the Neurodiversity Support Center from the drop-down menu at nmc.edu/give. You can dedicate your gift to and make it in memory of Nancy.
Read her complete obituary here. Read NMC President Nick Nissley’s message to campus here.
Remembering Nancy Gray
Dear NMC students,
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that our colleague and instructor Nancy Gray passed away unexpectedly.
Nancy was a teacher through and through. For more than 15 years at NMC, she devoted herself to students who often found school challenging, meeting them with patience, creativity, and deep respect for who they were as learners and as people. Many of you knew Nancy through her English classes, where she made writing feel human, manageable, and meaningful.
More recently, Nancy’s passion for student success led her to found the Neurodiversity Support Center, the first of its kind at a Michigan community college. In a very short time, the Center became both a vital support service and a welcoming space on campus for students who needed it most. It reflected Nancy’s belief that barriers to learning are meant to be identified and removed, not accepted.
Nancy was a fierce advocate for students and individuals who experienced the world differently. Her legacy lives on in the countless students she encouraged, supported, and believed in, often at moments when that belief mattered most. Our deepest sympathies are with her family, including her husband and child here in Traverse City. Her recorded memorial service is available to watch.
An unexpected loss like this can land differently for each of us. Whether you knew Nancy personally, worked with her, learned from her, or simply feel the weight of losing someone who shaped this campus, please know that it is okay to pause, to grieve, and to take care of yourself.
Support is available to you. Personal counseling services are available through the NMC Student Life Office. You may complete the counseling intake form or stop by the office in the Osterlin Building, and staff will assist with scheduling an appointment. A 24-hour crisis hotline is also available through the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis Center at 1-833-295-0616.
Please take care of yourselves and one another during this difficult time. Nancy believed deeply in compassion, dignity, and possibility. May we carry those values forward together.
Holding our community close,
Nick
Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
NMC Library Embrace the Dream 2026 events: Call for volunteers
At the end of January, the NMC Library will host its fifth annual Embrace the Dream Read-Aloud and craft event series — a celebration of Black History Month, diverse characters and the power of reading to break down barriers!
We are counting on NMC employees and student to turn out in large numbers to ensure this program series’ success. Interested in volunteering during one of these events?
NMC Library Read-Aloud & Craft Night
Thursday, Jan. 29, 4:15-6:30 p.m.
Hosted at the NMC Library for preschool through 6th graders
*Volunteer for the entire event or pick a shift!
4th Grade Book Buddies
Friday, Jan. 30, 1:15-2:30 p.m.
Book give-away, read-aloud & crafting with fourth grade students at Traverse Heights Elementary School (933 Rose Street, TC)
If you would like to volunteer, fill out the Embrace the Dream Read-Aloud & Craft Event series volunteer form.
Posting on campus
Planning to hang flyers or share materials on campus? Before you post, take a moment to review the college guidelines so your message can stay up—and reach the right audience.
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- Post flyers and posters only on designated bulletin boards (one per board, max size 11” x 17”). Include the sponsor name and contact info on all materials.
- Only one copy may be placed on any designated bulletin board. Posting must not cover up any other posting or information.
- Posting on doors, walls, vehicles, or other surfaces isn’t allowed and may be removed.
- Non–date-specific postings may be removed after 21 days; event flyers come down after the event.
- Only the individual or entity responsible for posting the material or NMC Security may remove materials.
- Printed literature may only be distributed in designated areas.
For more information, view the full Posting (D-505.13) policy.
Thanks for helping keep our campus organized and welcoming!