New books at the NMC library
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
Six eligible to fill vacancy on Board of Trustees
TRAVERSE CITY — Six candidates are eligible to fill the Board of Trustees seat vacated by former trustee Rachel Johnson last month.
The applicants, who must reside in Grand Traverse County, are:
- Jordan Ascione-Broad, Traverse City
- Jamie Gallagher, Williamsburg
- Pamela Horne, Interlochen
- Mark Keely, Traverse City
- Bill Marsh, Traverse City
- Merek Roman, Traverse City
Johnson resigned from NMC’s Board of Trustees effective Jan. 22. The new trustee will serve until the next regular community college election in November 2024. At that time voters will choose a candidate to serve the remainder of the term held by Johnson, which expires December 31, 2026.
In accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act, interviews and the final appointment will be conducted by the full NMC Board of Trustees at a special meeting set for 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, rooms 106–107, on NMC’s Front Street campus.
Release date: February 7, 2024
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Associate Vice President of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019
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-discriminationPitch event to be held March 15
Do you have an idea or project that needs resources to reach its full potential? If so, the Office of Possibilities wants to hear from you! OOPS seeks to provide resources for education-related projects as well as projects related to community partnerships with NMC.
The next pitch event will be held on March 15, 2024 from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 104/105.
Those interested in pitching an idea should submit an application in order to be connected with an OOPs team member who can assist in planning your pitch.
Honors project submissions
Considering submitting an honors project? Students who have completed at least 12 credits and have a 3.0 GPA or higher qualify to complete an honors project. Honors projects allow students to dive deeper into a topic of interest and work with their instructors to develop content for any course. Honors projects can include research papers, art projects, 3-d models and many other unique ideas! Those who successfully complete their project and finish class with at least a 3.5 grade will qualify as an honors graduate and potentially receive scholarship money.
Contracts are due by February 16 for the spring 2024 semester. More info is available at nmc.edu/honors.
On the menu: Daily specials at the Hawk Owl Café
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials daily on Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30–6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99 and the vegetarian option is $7.99.
Monday, Feb. 5
Entrée: italian pasta bake with meatballs
Sides: roasted brussel sprouts and crostini
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Food for the soul menu (protein option $6.00; vegetarian option is $5.00)
Entrée: shrimp or blackened tofu and cheesy grits
Sides: collard greens, cornbread and cherry cheesecake
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Entrée: tandoori grilled chicken thighs with rice
Sides: broccoli and naan bread
Thursday, Feb. 8
Entrée: baked chicken or roasted cauliflower steak with chimichurri
Sides: potatoes and green beans
Friday, Feb. 9
Entrée: beer battered cod sandwich with tarter sauce
Sides: french fries and cole slaw
Swiss-inspired fundraiser dinner at Lobdell’s
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute will host a Swiss-inspired dinner Friday, Feb. 23 as a fundraiser for a culinary student study abroad trip to Switzerland later this semester.
The four-course menu will feature local Leelanau raclette cheese, soup, entree and a limoncello style tiramisu for dessert. Tickets are $95 per person, including tax and gratuity, with all proceeds going to scholarships for the trip scheduled for May. A wine pairing package ($25)or non-alcoholic beverage package ($20) are also available for purchase at time of booking.
Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 in Lobdell’s Teaching Restaurant. Tickets are available online at nmc.edu/lobdells.
Release date: February 6, 2024
For more information:
Chef Mike Skarupinski
Great Lakes Culinary Institute
(231) 995-1194
mskarupinski@nmc.edu
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discriminationVolunteers needed for MATHCOUNTS competition on Feb. 9
NMC’s Engineering department, in conjunction with the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, will be hosting the Northern Michigan Chapter of the annual MATHCOUNTS competition on Friday, February 9, 2024. The event will begin at noon on the main floor of the Beckett building and the first round of competition begins at 1 p.m. The event is expected to wrap up around 5 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, scoring, and/or clean-up. Anyone interested in helping with setup and/or scoring can contact Jay Smith at jsmith@nmc.edu.
About MATHCOUNTS: MATHCOUNTS offers fun and engaging programs that get middle school students excited about math. These programs include the MATHCOUNTS Competition Series. The Competition Series has 4 levels of competition—school, chapter, state and national. Each level of competition is comprised of 4 rounds—Sprint, Target, Team and Countdown Round. Altogether, the rounds are designed to take about 3 hours to complete. (OUR STORY | MATHCOUNTS Foundation)
Spring 2024 open gym hours
The Rajkovich Physical Education Building is open to all NMC students, staff and faculty members on Mondays and Thursdays from 7-10 p.m.
The gym has equipment for a variety of activities such as :
-
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Soccer
- Dodgeball
- Badminton
- Pickleball
- Corn hole
- Ping pong
Bring your fellow friends and colleagues!
For questions, please contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu, C.J. Schneider at cschneider@nmc.edu or Isaac Dedenbach at idedebanch@nmc.edu.
Valentine’s exchange
Share the love by exchanging valentines! All are welcome to participate though a valentine must be provided for everyone else who is participating.
Sign up by Feb. 1. Valentines must be ready to drop off by 5 p.m. on Feb 12.
On the menu: Daily specials at the Hawk Owl Café
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials daily on Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30–6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99 and the vegetarian option is $7.99.
Monday, Jan. 29
Entrée: fettuccine with chicken and pesto cream sauce or fettuccine with roasted vegetable and pesto cream sauce
Sides: broccoli and crostini
Tuesday, Jan. 30
Entrée: chicken enchilada with peppers and onions or roasted vegetable enchilada with peppers and onions
Sides: spanish rice and beans
Wednesday, Jan. 31
Entrée: sweet & sour pork stir fry w/ jasmine rice
Sides: egg roll
Thursday, Feb. 1
Entrée: potato gnocchi with Italian sausage and alfredo sauce or potato gnocchi with alfredo sauce
Sides: roasted vegetables and garlic bread
Friday, Feb. 2
Entrée: BBQ pulled pork on brioche or BBQ pulled jackfruit on brioche
Sides: baked beans and cole slaw
Winter Festival
Join Student Life and Student Government Association for the annual Winterfest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on February 6–7 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center.
Grab some delicious hot chocolate while gaining some information about different student groups, their activities, and how you can get involved in making a difference on campus. Don’t miss out on giveaways and door prizes!
ALL STUDENTS WELCOME!
Applications for trustee vacancy due
TRAVERSE CITY — The Board of Trustees of Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) is beginning the process of replacing Vice-Chair Rachel Johnson after she resigned from her position this week.
Johnson announced Monday she is stepping down from the board, citing personal reasons, but added she remains dedicated to the college.
In a letter to Board Chair Laura Oblinger, Johnson said, “I am hopeful that one day I will serve the college community again in some capacity. But in the meantime, I will forever remain in awe of NMC, its inspiring students, devoted faculty, committed staff and administration, fellow board members and donors alike- each of whom dedicate so much time, treasure and talent to the betterment of our community.”
Johnson had been a trustee since November 2016. During her tenure she served as Chair and Vice Chair, as well as a member of the Presidential Search Committee, Presidential Performance & Compensation Committee, Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Steering Committee and Foundation Board.
Trustee Oblinger said, “NMC benefited greatly from Rachel’s leadership during her time as a trustee. Her strategic thinking and collaborative approach helped guide the college to continued success during an important period of transition. Our college and community are stronger thanks to her. We wish her all the best.”
Michigan law gives the college 30 days to fill this position. Registered voters of Grand Traverse County are eligible to apply for the vacancy. Commitments for the non-compensated trustee position include but are not limited to the following:
- Regular board meeting, typically the fourth Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m.
- Board study sessions and committee meetings scheduled as required
- Annual Board retreat—sometimes overnight
- Participation in other college functions including commencement, receptions, ceremonies, events
- Travel periodically for purposes of professional development and representing the college at various state and national association meetings. Trustee travel is paid by NMC
Applicants should submit a letter of interest and materials explaining their qualifications for the position. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. February 6, 2024. They may be submitted online, emailed to lmoritz@nmc.edu or sent or delivered to:
Trustee Search
Office of the President
Northwestern Michigan College
1701 East Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49686
Application materials are subject to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act. Interviews will be conducted in special public meetings according to the Michigan Open Meetings Act.
Trustees will hold a special meeting on Monday, February 19, 2024, at 3 p.m. to fill the vacancy until the next NMC Board of Trustees election, set for November 2024. At that time, voters will choose a candidate to serve the remainder of the term held by Johnson, which expires December 31, 2026.
Additional materials are available upon request and questions may be directed to the President’s Office at Northwestern Michigan College at (231) 995-1010.
Release date: January 23, 2024
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Associate Vice President of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
Media on deadline, call or text (231) 392-6082
Non-deadline inquiries: (231) 995-1020
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discriminationOn the menu: Daily specials at the Hawk Owl Café
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials daily on Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30–6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99 and the vegetarian option is $7.99.
Monday, Jan. 22
Entrée: lasagna or vegetable lasagna
Sides: broccoli and garlic crostini
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Entrée: beef or tofu tacos with lettuce, tomato, cheese and chipotle ranch
Sides: Spanish rice and refried beans
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Entrée: Chicken or tofu coconut curry
Sides: Jasmine rice and naan bread
Thursday, Jan. 25
Entrée: Spaghetti and meatballs with parmesan and marinara
Sides: green beans and garlic bread
Friday, Jan. 26
Entrée: GLCI smashburger with cheese, bacon and onion straws on a brioche bun
Sides: sweet potato fries and asparagus
Employers invited to register for March 7 Career Fair
Free and open to students, alumni, community
TRAVERSE CITY — Employers are invited to register for Northwestern Michigan College’s 18th annual Career Fair, to be held Thursday, March 7 at the Hagerty Center on the Great Lakes Campus.
Held in partnership with Northwest Michigan Works and Networks Northwest, the Career Fair runs from 3–6 p.m. (Veterans and active military families are invited to arrive at 2 p.m.) Employers will have the opportunity to recruit job-seekers for career-track, seasonal and entry-level positions as well as internships and service learning.
The event is open to students, NMC alumni and community members. Employer registration is $25 (waived for non-profits) and available online. Two levels of sponsorship are also available.
Green level — $300
- Registration fee
- Logo on printed and digital event materials
- First choice table location
- Open positions email to current students
White level — $150
- Registration fee
- Logo on printed and digital event materials
- Priority table location choice
To sponsor or register or for more information, visit nmc.edu/career-fair.
Release date: January 22, 2024
For more information:
Katie Sommer-Ford
NMC Advising Center
ksommer@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1040
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-discriminationMoodle replacement vendor demonstrations
Educational Technology is hosting demonstrations from vendors to explore replacing Moodle as the Learning Management System. There will be an in-person demonstration and a virtual demonstration via Zoom for each vendor.
Instructure Canvas In-Person Demonstration
Wednesday, January 31, 10–11:30 a.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107
D2L Brightspace In-Person Demonstration
Wednesday, January 31, 1:30–3 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107
D2L Brightspace Virtual Demonstration
Friday, February 2, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Instructure Canvas Virtual Demonstration
Thursday, February 8, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
Student input and attendance is encouraged. All attendees will have a chance to fill out an evaluation rubric.
NMC names NISOD teaching excellence winners
Brandon Everest
(download high-resolution photo)
Nicole Fewins
(download high-resolution photo)
Justin Guillard
(download high-resolution photo)
Scott Powell
(download high-resolution photo)
Becca Richardson
(download high-resolution photo)
Nicole Speelman
(download high-resolution photo)TRAVERSE CITY — Six faculty and staff members have been named NMC’s recipients of the annual NISOD award for teaching excellence.
Affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin, the National Institute for Staff and Organization Development is committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges.
The awards have been made since 1991. Criteria include professionalism, relationships with students and colleagues, and commitment to learning. Below are NMC’s recipients, with highlights from their nomination or recipient statement.
2024 Recipients:
Brandon Everest, social sciences faculty member for 24 years and co-chair of NMC’s Experiential Learning Institute. His leadership roles reflect a commitment to promoting academic vitality, fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
Nicole Fewins, business faculty member for 23 years. In response to a waiting list for her online classes, Fewins gave face-to-face students the option to attend online. She anticipates students’ needs before any issues even arise. She not only inspires her students but inspires her colleagues.
Justin Guillard, Educational Technologies staff member for eight years. Guillard endeavors to understand and troubleshoot specialty software and is responsive and easy to work with.
Scott Powell, Great Lakes Maritime Academy instructor for 22 years and 1998 GLMA alumnus. Recognized nationally for his expertise with respect to maritime education, Powell is presently pursuing a doctor of education (EdD) degree.
2023 recipients:
Becca Richardson, math faculty member for 10 years and NMC alumna. “By showing (students) the value of hard work and persistence, I can make a difference in their academic success, as well as their future success,” Richardson said.
Nicole Speelman, chemistry faculty member for six years. “I hope to inspire my students to be amazed by the chemical world around them,” Speelman said.
“Teaching is at the heart of the NMC mission,” said President Nick Nissley. “We’re proud to recognize these outstanding educators alongside their peers from around the country.”
Release date: JANUARY 19, 2024
For more information:
Cari Noga
Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discriminationNew books at the NMC library
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
On the menu: Daily specials at the Hawk Owl Café
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials daily on Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30–6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99 and the vegetarian option is $7.99.
Monday, Jan. 15
Entrée: Lamb gyro or falafel
Side: lemon rice
Tuesday, Jan. 16
Entrée: Chicken & cheese quesadilla
Sides: Spanish rice & Mexican street corn
Wednesday, Jan. 17
Entrée: Sesame or tofu stir fry
Sides: basmati rice & egg roll
Thursday, Jan. 18
Entrée: Sausage, broccolini and sun-dried tomato rigatoni
Sides: broccoli and garlic bread
Friday, Jan. 19
Entrée: Crispy chicken w/ mac & cheese with buffalo sauce
Sides: asparagus