IAF Freshwater Focus programming April 17 & 18

Northwestern Michigan College’s International Affairs Forum turns its focus to our freshwater resources in back-to-back events on April 17 and 18. The programs are presented by IAF in partnership with Interlochen Public Radio, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute. Both events are supported by a grant from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Relentless documentary screening NMC IAF

Relentless Documentary Screening & Panel Discussion

Wednesday, April 17, 6–8:30 p.m.
Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Center

The International Affairs Forum, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and Interlochen Public Radio present Relentless, a documentary narrated by J.K. Simmons on the deadly invasion of sea lampreys into the Great Lakes and the tenacious scientists who were determined to find a solution.

After the screening, stay for a panel discussion including:

    • T. Lindsey Haskin, Director, writer, producer of Relentless
    • Jennifer Read, Ph.D., Director, University of Michigan Water Center
    • Frank Ettawageshik, President, American Association on Indian Affairs
    • Ellie Katz, moderator, Environment Reporter, Interlochen Public Radio

This is a free event. Space is limited. Reserve tickets at TCIAF.com.

NMC IAF Freshwater Focus Peter Annin

Global Water Tension & The Great Lakes Compact

Thursday, April 18, 5:30–8 p.m. (7 p.m. ET livestream)
Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Center

Peter Annin will present a keynote address on Global Water Tension & The Great Lakes Compact. Annin is the director of the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation and the author of The Great Lakes Water Wars, the definitive work on the Great Lakes water diversion controversy. Before coming to Northland College in 2015, Peter served as a reporter at Newsweek, the associate director of the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources, and the managing director of the University of Notre Dame’s Environmental Change Initiative. He continues to report on the Great Lakes water diversion issue and published the second edition of The Great Lakes Water Wars in the fall of 2018.

In his latest book, Purified: How Recycled Sewage Is Transforming Our Water, Annin shows that wastewater has become a surprising weapon in America’s war against water scarcity — and a potential global model for innovation.

The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and will feature freshwater-related content from event partners NMC Great Lakes Water Studies Institute & Interlochen Public Radio. GLWSI will brief reception attendees on its new associate degree in water quality environmental technology — a.k.a. the Wet Tech degree. IPR will highlight its Great Lakes reporting via its Points North podcast team. These brief “breakout” presentations will be delivered in a gallery adjacent to the museum’s sculpture court.

The keynote address will follow at 7 p.m.

Admission is $15 per person. Admission is free for all students and educators. For tickets and all event details, visit TCIAF.com.

IAF logo

Board of Trustees to hold special meeting April 2

TRAVERSE CITY — The NMC Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Tuesday, April 2 at 4 p.m. in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Room 14 (lower level), on NMC’s main campus, to discuss the Benzie County annexation. The meeting notice is available here.

For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.

 

Release date: March 28, 2024

 

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-discrimination

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, March 18

Entrée: Sausage & mozzarella pasta bake or roasted vegetable tortellini bake
Sides: Broccoli and garlic crostini

Tuesday, March 19

Holi celebration menu
Entrée: Tandoori Chicken thighs or tandoori braised tofu with basmati rice
Sides: Indian spiced roasted root vegetables, grilled naan bread and tzatziki sauce

Vegan samosas will be available all day!

Wednesday, March 20

Entrée: Chicken or tofu coconut curry with jasmine rice
Side: naan bread

Thursday, March 21

Entrée: Spaghetti with meatballs or red lentils & roasted vegetables
Sides: garlic bread & green beans

Friday, March 22

No daily special offered. The Hawk Owl Café will be closing at 2 p.m. for spring break.

Drop-in speed coaching

NMC drop-in speed coachingAre you planning to attend the Walk-in Wednesdays with the advisors? Finish your semester strong and see a coach too! The Student Success coaching team is hosting drop-in speed coaching to help with study tips, time management, organization skills and stress management!

Drop-in speed coaching will be available on:

Wednesday, April 3
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, rooms 124 & 125

Resident Assistant information nights

Residence Life is looking for student leaders to be Resident Assistants during the 2024-25 school year.  If interested, please visit the student jobs board to apply and attend one of the upcoming RA information nights. The student jobs board can be accessed in the Careers section on the lower lefthand side of students.nmc.edu.

Upcoming information sessions:

  • March 18, 7 p.m., Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 15
  • March 19, 8 p.m., East Hall basement
  • March 20, 9 p.m., North Hall, 2nd Floor Enclave

For more information, contact Brooklyn Golnick, Corbin Thompson or Marcus Bennett at (231)995-1400.

Planned power outage March 28

NMC will be conducting a planned power outage at the Front Street Campus on Thursday, March 28 from noon to 4 p.m. This outage will allow NMC Facilities and Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) to conduct preventative maintenance work on the College’s primary electrical distribution system to address vulnerabilities that led to recent campus power outages in November and February. The work will be conducted during spring break to minimize disruption for students and staff, and will result in total loss of power for the following buildings:

    • Dennos Museum
    • Scholars Hall
    • Osterlin Building
    • Tanis Building
    • Biederman Building
    • Health & Science Building
    • Founders Hall
    • Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center
    • East Hall
    • Fine Arts Center
    • PE Building
    • Front St. campus buildings not affected by the outage:
    • Beckett
    • Oleson Center
    • Apartments
    • North Hall
    • Facilities
  •  

If you are scheduled to work in one of the affected buildings on Front Street Campus that afternoon, please treat this situation as you would under the College’s inclement weather procedure which is to work remotely, if possible. If you can’t accommodate remote work that afternoon, and you fill out a timecard, please use the code SNO for time that is not worked that afternoon.

Aero Park, Great Lakes, University Center, and Observatory campuses will not be impacted. If you have any questions, please reach out to your supervisor. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Northern Michigan Startup Week

Northern Michigan Startup Week will be held on April 22–25. The annual event promotes entrepreneurship, innovation and the growing startup community in Northern Michigan. The following events will take place on NMC’s campuses:

Northern Michigan’s Rural Health Landscape: Innovation and Higher Education Engagement in Building Thriving Communities
Tuesday, April 23; 10 a.m, to 12 p.m.
Osterlin Building, Front Street Campus

 

The Office of Possibilities (OOPs) Innovation Network
Thursday, April 25; 9–11 a.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107, Front Street Campus

 

Shifting Mindsets: Extending Health Spans Through Innovation
Thursday April 25; 3–6:00 p.m.
Aero Park Laboratories, Aero Park Campus

 

Northwestern Michigan College is a proud partner of the annual weeklong event. For more information and the full schedule of events, visit Traverse Connect’s website.

 

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, March 11

Entrée: lamb gyros or falafel on pita
Side: lemon rice

Tuesday, March 12

Entrée: Chicken or bean and roasted poblano quesadilla
Sides: Spanish rice and refried beans

Wednesday, March 13

Entrée: sesame chicken tofu stir fry with basmati rice 
Side: egg roll

Thursday, March 14

Entrée: smoked BBQ baked chicken 
Sides: mashed potatoes and broccoli or roasted sweet potato with kale

Friday, March 15

Entrée: buffalo crispy chicken or roasted cauliflower with mac & cheese
Side: asparagus

Trustee Executive Committee to meet

TRAVERSE CITY — The NMC Board of Trustees Executive Committee will meet at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 in the Gray conference room (202F) of the University Center, 2200 Dendrinos Drive, Traverse City.

The meeting notice is available here.

For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.

 

Release date: March 11, 2024

 

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-discrimination

Trustee Building & Site Committee to meet

TRAVERSE CITY —The NMC Board of Trustees Building & Site Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12 in the President’s Office Conference Room in the Tanis Building on NMC’s main campus.

The meeting notice is available here.

For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.

 

Release date: March 8, 2024

 

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-discrimination

NMC names 2024 Fellows

Bill DonbergBill Donberg
(download high-resolution photo)
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College’s highest honor, the NMC Fellow award, has been bestowed for 2024 on Bill Donberg, Timothy Nelson and Nancy Johnson, and Jack Segal and Karen Puschel Segal.

Donberg served as an aviation instructor for more than 23 years. Nelson served as NMC’s longest-serving president while his wife, Johnson, served as a tireless college advocate in her own right. Segal and Puschel Segal were co-chairs of the International Affairs Forum for seven years.

Donberg, of Elk Rapids, spent more than 23 years in NMC’s Aviation Division, including serving as lead flight instructor. In that capacity he taught hundreds of new instructors who would go on to serve as the foundation of the NMC flight program. He also served as the program’s interim director and as a founding member of the Aviation Advisory committee. A board member of the NMC Foundation since 2015, Donberg and his wife Phyllis also have supported aviation, the Commitment Scholarship, the Big Little Hero Race, and made a planned gift to the college. Donberg has founded multiple manned and unmanned aviation-related startups.

Tim Nelson and Nancy JohnsonTimothy Nelson and Nancy Johnson
(download high-resolution photo)
Nelson, of Traverse City, retired as president in 2019 after nearly 20 years of leading the college. During his tenure, NMC evolved and established many statewide, national and international competencies and accomplishments. Among the most notable were the community college baccalaureate in Michigan, service to student veterans, and new degree pathways in remotely-operated underwater and aerial vehicles. He chaired the Michigan Community College Association board and fulfilled four gubernatorial appointments by two former governors. In his retirement Nelson continues to serve the region as a board officer forMunson Healthcare, the largest healthcare organization in northern Michigan.

Johnson, a counselor by profession, took an active role in both NMC and the Grand Traverse region during Nelson’s presidential years. In 2019 the NMC Board of Trustees awarded her a Resolution of Appreciation for her advocacy and dedication to the college. At the state level, she provided leadership in the Michigan Community College Association Spouse and Significant Other Network. Her community commitments include the Zonta Club of Traverse City.

Together the couple have supported the college financially in multiple ways, including a planned gift. To mark Nelson’s 10-year anniversary as president, in 2011 they established the Global Opportunities Fund, which has made study abroad possible for hundreds of students.

Jack and Karen Puschel SegalJack Segal and Karen Puschel Segal
(download high-resolution photo)
Jack Segal and Karen Puschel Segal are both retired diplomats in the U.S. Department of State now living in Traverse City. Under their energetic leadership in the 2010s, the International Affairs Forum (IAF) expanded its programming significantly, growing into a major educational asset for northern Michigan and boosting the reputation and stature of NMC. They have been donors to the NMC Foundation for more than 15 years, supporting IAF, the Dennos Museum and other programs. Segal is also a popular instructor in NMC’s Extended Educational Services, offering multiple classes on world affairs. Puschel Segal is a tireless advocate for the immigrant community in the Grand Traverse area and serves as coordinator for the Afghan Migrant Ministry Project.

The Fellow is Northwestern Michigan College’s highest honor, awarded annually since 1964. Fellows may be nominated because they have demonstrated influential networking on behalf of the College, have demonstrated a pattern of outstanding financial or personal time contributions to NMC, or as a retiree of the College continue to contribute back to their academic or professional fields as volunteers, mentors or advisors. Exceptional contributions in one or more of these areas may justify nomination. See a list of past recipients.
 

Release date: MARCH 11, 2024

 

For more information:

Cari Noga
Communications Director
(231) 392-1800 (call or text)
cnoga@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-discrimination

Big Little Hero Race

Reveal your inner hero at the Big Little Hero Race on April 20

TRAVERSE CITY — Throw on your capes and lace up your running shoes for the ninth annual Big Little Hero Race. This family-friendly event supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan and Northwestern Michigan College’s (NMC) College for Kids Program, and is scheduled for Saturday, April 20. Proceeds from the race will go towards scholarships for children to attend NMC’s College for Kids summer programming.

The Big Little Hero Race will start and end at NMC’s Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center and will have three race options — a one-mile fun run/walk with free entry and a free cape for all children, a 5K run/walk, and a 10K run/walk. All are welcome and encouraged to dress up as their favorite superheroes.

Hosted by NMC’s Professional Communication students, the Big Little Hero Race is an experiential learning project that allows students to practice real-world business skills by communicating with community members while promoting the importance of mentorship. Each year, the class recognizes a person or group that exemplifies the importance of mentorship in our community. The 2024 Big Hero Award will honor 95 local high school students who have donated their time as “Bigs” and mentored “Littles” across Northern Michigan.

The festivities start at 9:30 a.m. with a one-mile fun run, followed by the officially timed 5K and 10K races, beginning at 10 a.m. The race route travels through NMC’s main campus and continues onto the scenic Old Mission Peninsula. After the race, medals will be awarded for the top three times in each age category in the 5K and 10K races. Prizes will be given for top overall male and female finishers for both the 5K and 10K races. Awards will be presented for the best adult, child, and dog costumes.

Important Dates:

  • Register by March 20 to receive the early bird discounted rate ($5 off registration)
  • Register by March 31 to secure a race shirt
  • Packet pickup and in-person registration at NMC’s Front Street campus, in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, on Friday, April 19, from 5–8 p.m. and Saturday, April 20 (race day) from 8–9:30 a.m.

For more information or to register for the race, visit biglittleherorace.com.

 

Release date: MARCH 5, 2024

For more information:

NMC Jazz Bands join the Jeff Haas Trio at The Alluvion

The NMC Jazz Bands, led by trumpeter and educator Joshua Wagner, will join the Jeff Haas Trio for two upcoming shows at The Alluvion this month as part of the “Jazz For All” series. 

    • March 7: NMC Jazz Lab Band
    • March 14: Jazz Big Band

These groups contain NMC students, community members, and area professionals with a mission of promoting the American art form of Jazz! Audience members will be treated to a variety of styles including blues, latin, swing, fusion, and contemporary.

The Alluvion is located on the 2nd floor of the Commongrounds Cooperative at 414 East 8th St. $1-20 honor cover at the door (no presale). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The shows run from 6–8 p.m. both nights.

 

NMC Jazz Bands logo