The Hawk Owl Café will run a Thanksgiving special on Tuesday, Nov. 18! Each meal costs $9.99 and includes turkey or quinoa-stuffed acorn squash, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, fresh rolls with butter and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. The special will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m., or while supplies last.
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
November 5, 2025
Next week’s fiftieth anniversary of the tragic Edmund Fitzgerald sinking in Lake Superior has renewed attention to the last Great Lakes shipwreck, but for Great Lakes Maritime Academy cadet Jeffrey Jager, no anniversary is required to remember.
“Most of us live with the Fitzgerald, especially those of us that consider the Midwest our home,” said Jager, 31, who grew up in metro Detroit before becoming a fourth-year deck cadet at GLMA, the nation’s only freshwater maritime academy.
The last ship he sailed on was built just two years after the Fitzgerald, by the same company. GLMA faculty worked with and taught others who sailed on the Fitz, at the time one of the largest ships on the Great Lakes. As a deck officer, when aboard ship he stands two four-hour watches per day, a duty he always takes seriously and which can be especially challenging on Superior, due to its size, geography and cold.
“Ultimately the vessel and its safe navigation are your responsibility,” he said. “As the watch officer, the lives of 30 people are in your hands.”
Crews are the same size now as they were then, too. The Fitzgerald went down with 29 aboard, including GLMA cadet David Weiss and alumnus Thomas Bentsen. GLMA, now a flagship NMC program but then just six years old, held a memorial service within a week. That tradition has continued every year since, and will be held again Nov. 10 at noon in the GLMA harborside courtyard. In 2023 Jager was tasked with ringing the memorial bell as each sailor’s name was read.
This year, he will spend Nov. 10 representing GLMA at another ceremony, the 26th annual Lost Mariners Remembrance, a joint U.S.-Canadian event on Detroit’s Belle Isle. But he urges the community to turn out for GLMA’s Mariners Memorial, when the often-invisible role of shipping becomes as clear as that bell tolling 29 times.
“We have a lot of people working extremely hard to keep our entire economy running, and they do it at great personal risk,” he said.
Student Life will be in the Timothy J. Nelson Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays providing free snacks. information about various wellness topics and connecting students with resources. Stop by and say hello! Students can also enter the weekly prize drawing.
Are you interested in having a competitive edge in whatever comes nEXt after NMC? Whether it’s transferring to a four-year school or entering the job market, NMC’s Experience Transcript endorsement (nEXt) will help you stand out on your resume or in job applications.
NMC is a leader in offering experiential learning opportunities, which help you develop durable skills such as communication, resilience, empathy, initiative, creative problem-solving and teamwork– all essential skills for work and life. The nEXt endorsement showcases these experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, as a transcript credential, alongside the degree or certificate you’re also earning at NMC. It’s an innovative way for you to demonstrate your mastery of these essential durable skills that, heretofore, were not fully addressed by colleges but are highly sought after by employers.
Take the first step by completing the nEXt endorsement signup form.
NMC employees and students may request that Campus Security review surveillance footage to assist in identifying alleged criminal activity or misconduct, provided there is a substantiated reason to do so. Please contact Campus Security at extension (231) 995-1111 for assistance.
Have you had instructors this semester who you feel really excelled? NMC has a way for you to recognize those instructors: Nominate them for a Faculty Excellence Award!
Award criteria includes teaching excellence, supportive relationship with students, innovation in the classroom, sense of class community and dedication to the students/NMC.
Tell us what makes your instructors so great using this nomination form.
Submit your nomination by Dec. 15.
Students and staff braved the rain to share the spooky spirit with trick or treaters at the annual Student Ambassador’s Trunk or Treat last week. This year’s winners of the trunk contest are:
Thanks to the Student Ambassadors (Kylie Gibson, Holly Hayes, Eily Knight and Bradley Knight) for hosting an awesome, community-building Trunk or Treat event and to our judges (Lisa Thomas, Elise Ballinger and Lisa Blackford) who had the tough job of choosing between all the amazing submissions.
Several bicycles have been reported stolen from campus over the past four months. As a precaution, please remember to always lock your bicycle (and vehicle) securely or, if possible, store it inside your residence.
If your bicycle is stolen, take the following steps:
Your vigilance helps keep our campus community safe. Thank you for taking steps to protect your property.
Need a little help this Thanksgiving? The students in NMC’s BUS 231 Course are giving any Hawk Owl who could use a little extra help a free meal for the holiday season. Each meal will feed a family of six and will include a turkey, pie, and all of the traditional Thanksgiving sides. There are also a few surprises! Find the QR code around campus or fill out the form below to register for a free meal today!
The deadline for a free meal is November 7 or until we reach 120 requests. Fill out here: 2025 Thanks-for-Giving Meal Request Form
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Sophie McDonald, PR Specialist: mcdon158@mail.nmc.edu
Kristy McDonald, Instructor: kmcdonald@nmc.edu
October 15, 2025
Northwestern Michigan College surpassed a financial aid and philanthropic milestone this summer, awarding more than $2 million in scholarship dollars for the first time ever.
For the 2024–25 academic year, NMC distributed $2.07 million to students. That topped the 2023–24 total of $1.98 million by $91,742. The total includes NMC institutional scholarships ($1.6 million) plus external scholarships ($469,000), which are typically awarded from local sources like community foundations, companies and churches.
As registration for spring semester begins this week, the importance of scholarship support is top of mind.
“The cost of college is one of the most common obstacles to attendance,” said Lindsey Dickinson, NMC director of student success and retention. “Scholarship support is critical for students to be able to complete their educational path and move on to life and career goals.”
Thanks to NMC scholarships, 2024 Great Lakes Culinary Institute student Caroline Clark (above) graduated debt free. Now she’s investing the money she saved on tuition in a wedding cake business, Sweet Caroline’s Confections.
“That’s the path I’m taking, an entrepreneurial path,” said Clark. Working out of her home, she baked cakes for 12 weddings this past summer. But she’s preparing to have a commercial space, hopefully by 2027.
“I was able to purchase some equipment. When the time is right, I can have a commercial space,” Clark said.
Marine Technology student Daniel Heil received an external scholarship from the Marine Technical Society. The Washington DC-based nonprofit promotes awareness, understanding, and the advancement and application of marine technology.
“This scholarship means the world to me. It’s not just recognition of where I’ve been — it’s a vote of confidence in where I’m going. I’m deeply grateful to be supported in this mission to merge deep-sea exploration with next-generation technology,” Heil said.
NMC also announced that the proportion of financial aid from grants — money students don’t have to repay — rose significantly last year. Grants totaled 62 percent of financial aid while loans made up 38 percent.
In the 2023–24 academic year it was nearly evenly split, with 51 percent grants and 49 percent loans. The shift, primarily due to state programs like the Community College Guarantee for high school graduates and Michigan Reconnect for adults 25 and older who don’t already have a degree, is highly positive for students.
Neither Heil nor Clark qualified for those programs, however. For students like them, NMC and external scholarships are vital.
“Instead of worrying about student loans or debt, I was able to focus on my career goal,” Clark said. “I’m very grateful I was able to do that.”
She keeps a list of her 10 scholarships, which ranged from $375 to $5,000. It’s a reminder to the 22-year-old to sustain her healthy financial habits.
“Not only for my career but for my lifetime, that’s a goal of mine, to continue being debt free,” she said.
NMC automatically matches accepted students with scholarships — no extra applications are required. Read more. Find out more about becoming a scholarship donor at nmc.edu/give.
The Dennos Museum Center warmly invites visitors to wander a festive marketplace on Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.. Come discover a unique variety of artful gifts and get a head start on your holiday shopping.
This vibrant juried marketplace is a cherished annual tradition that brings together 30 Michigan artists and a community that celebrates creativity and art. Visit the museum’s Sculpture Court and Milliken Auditorium lobby to discover one-of-a-kind treasures. Admission is free and guests are encouraged to linger, explore, and shop. Merlyn’s Pâtisserie will be on site for a second year, offering their Asian-French inspired artful treats.
Our Museum Store will unveil its festive Holiday Corner featuring beautiful greeting cards, handcrafted ornaments, and unique gifts from around the world. Art-inspired objects, puzzles, jewelry and toys are always right inside!
Our beloved raffle returns with proceeds benefiting children’s educational programming. And remember, DMC memberships are 10% when purchased at the market!
Learn more at shop.dennosmuseum.org
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
Show us your perfect society. Show us your ideals. Show us utopia. Show us your nightmares. Show us fear and despair. Show us dystopia. NMC students, faculty, staff, and community-affiliated members can submit their utopian/dystopian polarities thru Friday, October 17.
Visit nmc.edu/nmcmagazine for more information. Please complete a submission form for each entry.
Flu season is on the horizon and Student Health Services will be hosting two more flu clinics this fall.
Wednesday, Oct 8
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 20
12–1 p.m.
Flu shots cost $15 for students and $20 for employees without NMC insurance.
For those who are unable to stop by during one of the times listed above call (231) 995-1255 to schedule an appointment.
Student Health Services is located in room 106 of the Les Biederman Building on NMC’s Front Street campus.
October 1, 2025
More area students are getting a head start on degrees and careers through record high school enrollment at NMC this fall.
Combined, 544 high school students were dual enrolled or in Early College at NMC this fall, a 13 percent jump from fall 2024. High school students now make up nearly 16% of the 3,460 students on campus.
“For the student and the family, it gives them an opportunity to get a head start and save money,” said NMC Admissions director Lisa vonReichbauer.
Beyond the head start, research shows that students who dual-enroll in a college class or Early College students, who earn an associate degree in just one year, are more likely to get to the finish line — graduation.
“It increases college going skills, college success and college completion,” vonReichbauer said.
Hitting that record took an all-out NMC effort on financial, communication and programming fronts, including a new, lower tuition rate. Tuition for both programs is paid by local school districts, but until last year, the tuition rate for students outside Grand Traverse County left a difference that families had to pay out of pocket. In January 2024, NMC trustees approved a new rate for out of district dual enrolled students that eliminates that out of pocket expense.
Equipped with that new rate, vonReichbauer said NMC has improved outreach to both high schools and families, including home school families.
“We’ve communicated better about the opportunities, so we’re seeing more people taking advantage of that,” she said.
Suttons Bay High School students are among the out-of-district students who are. Counselor Meredith Schmidt said dual enrollment expands course choices.
“We are a very small school, which means we are not always able to offer Honors or AP sections of classes. Many of our students enroll in NMC classes, and the experience is invaluable,” Schmidt said. “NMC is an excellent partner institution, and provides really high quality coursework.”
VonReichbauer said NMC is working to tailor programming to the needs of individual schools and students, such as:
Suttons Bay’s Schmidt said this is the most important benefit. “The most impactful benefit of dual enrollment is the confidence students gain when they realize they can absolutely be successful in college level coursework.”
Schmidt has both personal and professional perspectives, since her own daughter dual-enrolled and transferred all her NMC credits to Grand Valley State University. “(They) truly have an advantage when they enter post-secondary institutions as full-time students,” she said.
The record high school enrollment is part of a strong overall fall enrollment at NMC. Headcount stands at 3,460, up 6.2% from fall 2024, and the seventh straight semester of growth. Students are also taking more classes, with contact hours up 8.2%.
Working to continue the semester strong but need a quick check-In? We are here to help! Join the Student Success Coaching team at a drop-in coaching session next week so we can touch base on how your semester is going so far and address any quick questions or high-priority needs:
Monday Sep. 29, Tuesday Sep. 30, Wednesday Oct. 1
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In-Person in Osterlin (check-in at the Academic & Career Advising Center)
Virtual on Zoom (Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting)
We can provide expert support with things like time management, organization, study strategies for mid-terms and finals, connecting with campus resources, and more!
If you are unable to join us at Drop-In Coaching or you think your question or challenge might need a longer discussion, schedule an appointment with us in My Success!
Already meeting with a coach? Great! You are one step closer on the path to success! You are still welcome to attend a drop-in session to troubleshoot any quick questions or issues as you continue your semester.