2017 Commencement

May 1, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Commencement ceremonies for Northwestern Michigan College’s Class of 2017 will be held Saturday, May 6, at 2 p.m. at the Traverse City Central High School gymnasium. First-time highlights of this year’s event include three student veteran graduates walking with their service dogs, and the awarding of NMC’s first bachelor’s degree in marine technology.

Ceremonies will be streamed live starting at 2 p.m. online at nmc.edu/video and NMC’s YouTube channel.

About 260 graduates are expected to participate in the ceremony. More than 700 students earned degrees this academic year including the Associate in Nursing, Associate in Science and Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Associate in General Studies, Certificate of Practical Nursing, Certificate of Achievement and the Bachelor of Science in Maritime Technology. NMC will also award a Bachelor of Science in Marine Technology and eight associate degrees in surgical technology,  the two newest degrees, for the first time.

Also for the first time, three service dogs will walk in the ceremony.

• Associate of Science and Arts graduate and U.S. Army retiree Andrew Banks, 37, of Traverse City, and his dog Mouse
• ASA graduate and Army veteran Lucas Clark, 27, of Rapid City, and his dog, Bailee Mae
• Associate of Applied Science (visual communications – creative management) graduate and U.S. Air Force veteran Nichole Hartley, 29, of Traverse City, and her dog, Zaia

All three students and dogs’ names will be read aloud, and all three dogs will receive special certificates in addition to the students’ diplomas.

This year’s student speaker is Connor Bebb, president of the NMC Student Government Association. Jim Bensley, adjunct humanities instructor and director of the office of International Services and Service Learning, will give the Commencement address as the 2016 Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award recipient.

The 2017 Outstanding Alumni award recipients will be named during the ceremony, as will the 2017 winners of the Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award and Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award.

NMC University Center partner Ferris State University will award degrees to about 30 students as well.

A reception will follow the ceremony in the small gym.

Release Date: May 1, 2017

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019

FOR VETERANS/SERVICE DOGS:

Scott Herzberg
POC, Military & Veteran Services/Advisor
sherzberg@nmc.edu 

Student Health Services Closing Soon

Apr 28, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

Student Health Services closes Friday, May 5 for the summer, and reopens Monday, August 14.

If you need refills or an appointment, please call 995-1255 as soon as possible to schedule.

Success story: Studying abroad yields broader perspectives

Apr 26, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

April 26, 2017

Before Paige Harrigan experienced her first study abroad trip in 2015, she had traveled fairly extensively, to Hawaii, Mexico and Caribbean islands.

But that Costa Rica experience, including a home stay with two non-English speaking families and visit to a banana plantation, opened her eyes to a whole different world than the tourist-oriented resorts she’d visited before.

“I absolutely loved the whole experience,” Harrigan said. “I got hooked, for sure.”

Ranked 12^th among community colleges nationwide for short-term study abroad, NMC hooks lots of students like Harrigan — 45 will depart for four destinations next month. NMC also helps make study abroad more affordable with the Global Opportunities scholarship, which awards up to $1,000 per student. Nearly all participants (42) received it this year.

Harrigan is bound for her second study abroad destination May 8: Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Biology instructor Greg LaCross, who led a group to South Africa last year, will lead Harrigan’s group to do service work at a school in the capital city of Quito, and then field work in the islands.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Galapagos. It’s always been a bucket list thing,” Harrigan, 22, said of the place where Charles Darwin refined his theory of evolution. Students will stay at Darwin’s research station, working with Ecuadorian national park personnel to perform ecological research, monitor sea turtles and catalog migratory patterns of indigenous species.

“I’m really excited about the animals, all the different species,” said Harrigan, who graduates this spring from the collaborative NMC-Western Michigan program in Freshwater Science and Sustainability. This fall, she plans to — wait for it — travel, and look for a job on the West Coast.

Other 2017 study abroad destinations include:

Sicily – Culinary students will participate in traditional Sicilian cooking classes, shop in local outdoor food markets, visit a cheese research center, make Sicilian chocolate, visit Mt. Etna, and participate in a local culinary competition. First-time destination

Morocco – Humanities students will enhance their understanding of world cultures via home stays with Moroccan families, interaction with Moroccan college students, development of a more in-depth understanding of Islam and visiting historic sites. They’ll also venture into the Sahara Desert via camel to learn more about traditional Berber customs. First-time destination

Ecuador (Yunguilla) – Business, culinary and education students will visit an eco-tourism cooperative, lending their skill sets to village families hoping to improve the economic welfare of the region by marketing and producing local products for visitors to the cloud forest. Home stay included

Find out more at nmc.edu/study-abroad

Success story: Studying abroad yields broader perspectives

Apr 26, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

April 26, 2017

Before Paige Harrigan experienced her first study abroad trip in 2015, she had traveled fairly extensively, to Hawaii, Mexico and Caribbean islands.

But that Costa Rica experience, including a home stay with two non-English speaking families and visit to a banana plantation, opened her eyes to a whole different world than the tourist-oriented resorts she’d visited before.

“I absolutely loved the whole experience,” Harrigan said. “I got hooked, for sure.”

Ranked 12^th among community colleges nationwide for short-term study abroad, NMC hooks lots of students like Harrigan — 45 will depart for four destinations next month. NMC also helps make study abroad more affordable with the Global Opportunities scholarship, which awards up to $1,000 per student. Nearly all participants (42) received it this year.

Harrigan is bound for her second study abroad destination May 8: Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Biology instructor Greg LaCross, who led a group to South Africa last year, will lead Harrigan’s group to do service work at a school in the capital city of Quito, and then field work in the islands.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the Galapagos. It’s always been a bucket list thing,” Harrigan, 22, said of the place where Charles Darwin refined his theory of evolution. Students will stay at Darwin’s research station, working with Ecuadorian national park personnel to perform ecological research, monitor sea turtles and catalog migratory patterns of indigenous species.

“I’m really excited about the animals, all the different species,” said Harrigan, who graduates this spring from the collaborative NMC-Western Michigan program in Freshwater Science and Sustainability. This fall, she plans to — wait for it — travel, and look for a job on the West Coast.

Other 2017 study abroad destinations include:

Sicily – Culinary students will participate in traditional Sicilian cooking classes, shop in local outdoor food markets, visit a cheese research center, make Sicilian chocolate, visit Mt. Etna, and participate in a local culinary competition. First-time destination

Morocco – Humanities students will enhance their understanding of world cultures via home stays with Moroccan families, interaction with Moroccan college students, development of a more in-depth understanding of Islam and visiting historic sites. They’ll also venture into the Sahara Desert via camel to learn more about traditional Berber customs. First-time destination

Ecuador (Yunguilla) – Business, culinary and education students will visit an eco-tourism cooperative, lending their skill sets to village families hoping to improve the economic welfare of the region by marketing and producing local products for visitors to the cloud forest. Home stay included

Find out more at nmc.edu/study-abroad

Hawk Owl Cafe Weekly Curve Menu

Apr 24, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

April 24-28

Monday:
Lunch: Roasted Portobello Cobb Salad
Dinner: Hot Pastrami sandwich with potato salad

Tuesday: Mac and Cheese Bar

Wednesday : Oodles

Thursday: Local Dish

Friday: Spicy Shrimp Vegetable Stir fry

Mark your calendars for Honors Convocation and Commencement

Apr 24, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

Save the dates!

Be sure to mark your calendars to attend these two important events recognizing our outstanding students and graduates!

Honors Convocation will take place Friday, May 5 with the reception starting at the Dennos Museum’s Sculpture Court at 4:45 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at the Milliken Auditorium at 5:30 p.m.

Commencement will be held Saturday, May 6 at 2:00 p.m. in the gymnasium at Traverse City Central High School. The public is invited to attend, or can watch the ceremony streamed online here.

If you have any need for a new cap/robe/hood, please contact Lisa Krupp-Wilmeth at 5-1048.

Hope to see you there! 

NMC to offer underwater ROV pilot training for ADCI

Apr 19, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is now the exclusive provider of underwater ROV pilot training credentialed by the Association of Diving Contractors International, a Houston-based association of more than 600 diving companies.

The 10-week program results in an ADCI Pilot Technician Certificate that students obtain as a stand-alone credential.  Classes, expected to begin this fall, will be limited to 10-12 students, ensuring highly focused instruction and training scenarios. 

Hans VanSumeren, director of NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, said training was built to industry needs. Students will get hands-on training in multiple underwater scenarios including open water, deep water, under ice and around structures. Hydraulics, electronics, pumping systems, troubleshooting, deployment scenarios and other fundamentals are also covered.

“ROV training at NMC has evolved to support all marine sectors and applications.  Our people, facilities, and location allow us to train for numerous scenarios and environments,” VanSumeren said. “The curriculum is based directly on feedback from employers and by reviewing other training programs.” 

ADCI once certified ROV pilots itself, but lacked a way to vet or assess applicants’ training and experience, according to executive director Phil Newsum, who stopped the practice in 2006. That created a problem.

“Now more than at any time in the underwater industry have we seen such a reliance on ROV operations, especially in tandem with commercial diving,” Newsum said. “(Thus) we have a huge void in the underwater industry, especially here in the United States, where we do not have formal training programs for ROV pilots.”

Last year, however, an industry contact tipped Newsum off to the marine technology programs at NMC. He visited the campus in September, and realized that NMC’s curriculum could fill that void.

“I get to see different training programs globally. By far, this is one of the most impressive,” said Newsum.

When fully deployed, 24-36 people are expected to enroll annually.  The first class is anticipated to be offered in fall of 2017.

VanSumeren added the program is structured to be dynamic, evolving with industry.

“The entire training program must be agile for responding to the changes in competencies required by industry whether that is next year, in five years or beyond. “

Release date: April 19, 2017

For more information:

Hans VanSumeren
NMC Great Lakes Water Studies Institute
hvansumeren@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1793

Phil Newsum 
Association of Diving Contractors International
pnewsum@adc-int.org
(281) 893-8388

Window on the World Week: April 18-21, 2017

Apr 17, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

Tuesday, April 18:

Global Flavor Day

• Taste international cuisine from Turkey brought to you by Sodexo.
• 11 a.m.–1 p.m, Hawk Owl Café, West Hall

International Club

• International Dinner featuring fine cuisine from many regions and cultures as well as international talents and entertainment. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available through MyNorthTickets.com
• 6–8 p.m., Hagerty Center

Wednesday, April 19:

Global Flavor Day

• Taste international cuisine from Thailand brought to you by Sodexo.
• 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Hawk Owl Café, West Hall

Study Abroad/Global Endorsement Fair

• Interested in understanding the world? Have dreams of exploring further than the U.S. but not quite sure how? International Services and Service Learning will have information on how to make this possible. Students will also be available to answer questions and share their experiences with the Global Endorsement and NMC study abroad.
• 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Hawk Owl Café, West Hall

“Africa Beyond”

• Features the music of the African diaspora with special emphasis on West and Central Africa and the West Indies.
• 7–9 p.m., WNMC 90.7

Thursday, April 20:

Passport Lecture Series Brown Bag Lunch—Ukriane

• Explore other cultures through the experiences of NMC students. Bring your lunch and hear international student Olga Narolska speak about Ukraine.
• 12:15–1 p.m., Founders Hall, Room 110

International Affairs Forum, “Turkey at the Crossroads”

• Turkey is a key member of NATO and America’s most important Muslim ally. It plays a crucial role both in the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and in Europe’s struggle to deal with the flood of refugees and migrants. Lawrence Mandel, fresh from service as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey brings an authoritative view of recent events and how they might impact the foreign policy of the new administration in Washington.
• 6–7 p.m., Milliken Auditorium

Friday, April 21:

Sounds From Afar Live

• WNMC brings you Sounds from Afar Live, a program of popular music from around the world. The featured countries include Cuba, Senegal, Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, India, Japan, Sweden and more.
• 11 a.m.–2 p.m., WNMC 90.7, West Hall, Student Lounge, lower level

Global Literature Reading Group, “My Son’s Story”

• A group discussion for students, faculty and staff of Nadine Gordimer’s My Son’s Story. This novel s set in apartheid-era South Africa in the 1980s and tells the story of a black activist and his family. Gordimer won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991 and was active in the anti-apartheid movement.
• Noon-1:30 p.m., Scholars Hall Room 104

Sponsored by the NMC Office of International Services & Service Learning, International Club, the International Affairs Forum, WNMC and Sodexo.

Meal Plan Expiration and Sodexo Summer Hours of Operation

Apr 17, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

The Hawk Owl Cafe will close May 5, 2017 at 2 p.m. and will re-open:

May 8, 2017, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Monday-Thursday only

All other locations will be closed for the summer. 

All Meal Plans will expire on May 5, 2017 at 2 p.m. 

Please make sure you use all funds. They will not be refunded or transferred to another semester. 

Therapy Dogs at the Library

Apr 17, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

Take a break from all the stress and come hang out with some sweet puppies! They will be in the library lobby during finals week:

• Monday, May 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Educational Leadership & Educational Specialist Information Session

Apr 17, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

Discover your leadership potential–earn your degree locally.

May 11 from 4-6 p.m. in University Center Room 218, learn more about the opportunity to become a leader in education. Join us for an interactive discussion on Grand Valley State University’s Educational Leadership and Specialist degree programs. Learn more at gvsu.edu/traverse

Door prizes and snacks will be available. 

Second annual IT Olympics

Apr 13, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY —  NMC will host the second annual IT Academy Olympics from 9:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Friday, May 5 in the Parsons-Stulen Building on the Aero Park Campus.

About 80 students from the TBAISD Information Technology and Web & Game Programming programs will spend the day engaging in competitions created by NMC’s Computer Information Technology department, including network design, security, robot programming, and web design. Local IT industry representatives will judge the competition and sponsor prizes.

“This is a great opportunity for ISD Career Tech students to show off their skills and for employers to see the next crop of IT gurus raised right here in TC,” said NMC CIT instructor Keith Weber. 

Release date: april 17, 2017

For more information:

Keith Weber
CIT instructor
kweber@nmc.edu 
(231) 995-1908 

Success story: Transfer student Maddy Jenner is Dean’s Research Scholar at MSU

Apr 12, 2017 | Intercom, Student News

April 12, 2017

MSU Dean’s Research Scholar Maddy Jenner
Photo by Harley Seeley You might say it was chemistry when Maddy Jenner sat down in NMC instructor Blake Key’s classroom in 2014.

The Traverse City West High School graduate hadn’t chosen a major and enrolled in Introductory Chemistry to fulfill a science requirement. She found a career calling.

“As soon as I had that fall semester done with, I knew for sure chemistry was it,” Jenner said. “(Key) was the one who inspired me to go into chemistry when I was in his class.”

She transferred to Michigan State University a year later and is now wrapping up a year as a Dean’s Research Scholar, a prestigious group of a dozen selected among 5,000 science and math majors in the College of Natural Sciences.

Undergraduates don’t often do research, but when Jenner heard about the opportunity she stepped right up.

“I want to do research as a career,” she said.

Her research in the field of aromatic compounds focuses on minimizing the side effects of drug interactions. The experiences of family and friends led her to the realm of pharmaceutical research.

“I know that I can make a difference in that kind of world,” she said.

The experience also required public speaking to alumni and donors, valuable to her future.

“I really enjoyed this experience because I have to talk about my research to a non-scientific audience,” she said. “Being able to explain it to other people is really important to me now and for my career in years to come.”

Jenner expects to graduate in 2018 and is considering graduate schools. Her top choice now is the University of North Carolina, home to highly-regarded pharmaceutical sciences program.

Key isn’t surprised by the achievements of his former student.

“It was apparent really early that she was turned on by what was going on in the class,” he said.

Jenner said her NMC years prepared her well for what lies ahead.

“The difference from community college to university was not as huge as I thought it would be,” she said.

One thing Jenner would like to see: more fellow female students.

“I do have a couple labs where I am the only girl out of 30 people,” she said. “Earlier on, when I was just declaring my major, I would have people, especially guys, tell me, ‘I don’t know, that’s a hard major.’”

That implicit doubt of her abilities used to bother her, but no longer.

“I’m way past that point now,” she said. “I know my capabilities, even if it means being the only girl in the lab.”