Dec 21, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
December 21, 2016
After a couple years as a ski bum out west, Jackson Pierce felt the tug of home.
The former NMC automotive technology student’s timing was perfect for his skills. Pierce traded ski groomers for cars, and has spent the last two years working at Bill Marsh Automotive, one of several regional repair shops to which Automotive Technology program director Wayne Moody has built an employment pipeline.
“Everyone needs their car fixed,” said Pierce, of Northport, who attended NMC’s automotive program in 2007-08.
But not everyone can fix them. Moody said an aging auto repair workforce combined with increasingly complex, computerized cars has created an opportunity gap that he has worked to fill with NMC students like Pierce.
“The last three years (demand) has gone north by leaps and bounds,” Moody said, who fields calls daily from shops locally, downstate as well as in the U.P. “They are vying for the technicians. I could put two jobs on every student if they want them.”
The Grand Traverse area’s population growth also fuels the local hiring demand. At least six former NMC students work at Bill Marsh’s Garfield Road locations. Fox Grand Traverse employs another eight, including its first female technician since 1992, KT Rafferty. As it has traditionally, the job attracts students who like hands-on work. But it’s more than turning a wrench nowadays.
“It’s not rudimentary. There’s an immense amount of problem-solving,” Pierce said.
That variety attracts students, too. “Anything can happen here,” said Rachel Smith of Elk Rapids, who started NMC’s program in 2013 and has worked at Bill Marsh for about a year and a half. “I like learning new things.”
With cars loaded with dozens of on-board computers, electronics is another important skill set.
“What’s the Ohm’s law? I can’t tell you what it is, but our very best electronics technicians do and it helps them in their job every day,” said Rich King, fixed operations director at Bill Marsh. “They’re learning it in Wayne’s program.”
Pierce added that he appreciated the real-world instruction he got at NMC. “I liked that all the teachers actually owned shops.”
Technicians are financially rewarded for that greater knowledge and as they gain experience. While an entry-level technician might make $12-$14 per hour, Moody said a graduate of the two-year program could be earning between $50,000 and $70,000 after five years. Six-figure salaries are not out of the question for the most experienced technicians.
King said it’s also rewarding at the end of the day. “There’s a huge sense of accomplishment when you fix that car that’s a tough one.”
Registration for spring semester programs, including automotive, is going on now. Find out more about the program here.
Above: From left, former NMC automotive students working at Bill Marsh’s GM store are Mike Bouchey, technician; Tom Garrity, parts; Rachel Smith, Dave Panek, Jackson Pierce and Zach Schaub, technicians.
Dec 15, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
Health Services will be closed at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16 until 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. If you need refills, please contact our office as soon as possible at 995-1255, or stop by the office in the Les Biederman building, room 106.
Dec 2, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
Thank you to all the students, faculty, and staff who took part in Hoodies for the Homeless! Together we donated over 150 articles of clothing. The clothing will be taken directly to people who live on the streets through the Goodwill Street Outreach program.
Thank you for your generosity to help people in need in Traverse City.
Dec 1, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
This year’s NMC Challenge collected 1,952 non-perishable food and hygiene products to contribute to NMC’s Food for Thought drive! Faculty, staff and the student community participated in the week-long challenge, competing against other departments for the highest number of items collected. The Student Veterans Association swept the challenge with a grand total of 1,157 items collected, winning a pizza party for up to 60 people. Congratulations Veterans! Your dedication to the challenge and our community is appreciated.
Kristy McDonald’s Professional Communications class donated over 30,000 items to local food pantries, in time for Thanksgiving, to help battle food insecurity in our area. The 2016 Food for Thought team expresses a huge thank you to the NMC community for a successful campus-wide challenge and all of the work involved in gathering donations. More information on NMC’s Food for Thought can be found on their Facebook page: facebook.com/NMCFoodForThought/
Nov 30, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
The library has purchased many new books so far this new year. You can view a handful here along with partial descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.
(more…)
Nov 28, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
NMC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is hosting a “Great Lakes, Bad Lines” short documentary film. The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 1, at the Milliken Auditorium in the Dennos Museum. The event is free and open to the public. Prior to the documentary, Song of the Lakes will be performing. Following the film, a discussion panel will take place featuring representatives from FLOW, GT Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Groundwork For Resilient Communities, NMC Water Studies Students, NMEAC, and Sierra Club’s Clearwater Conservation Committee. Bread with Fustini’s oils and water infused with fruit will be served.
Nov 28, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
The Traverse City Elks Lodge 323 in a joint effort with the Oleson Foundation will be giving out a holiday food basket to all of the Northwestern Michigan College Veteran Students on Wednesday, December 7 between the hours of 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the atrium of NMC’s Health & Science Building. This is our way of saying thank you for your service and we appreciate you!
Nov 23, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
November 23, 2016
Students are to NMC as turkey is to Thanksgiving — front and center. On this Thanksgiving eve, we talked to a past and present student a decade apart to find out how NMC figures in what they’re thankful for.
Matt Harting, 2006 alumnus, composer living in Los Angeles
Matt Harting and Allyson NelsonHarting, 30, can trace his livelihood, marriage and financial well-being back to NMC.
After graduating Traverse City Central High School in 2004, he attended NMC with a plan to transfer to Columbia College-Chicago. Cast in the NMC production of Bye Bye, Birdie, he met a student named Allyson Nelson, from Bellaire. She wound up transferring to Columbia, too, and there the couple began dating. Harting graduated with a degree in audio arts and engineering, and got a job at Earhole, a Chicago sound studio (first assignment: Obama campaign.)
When career opportunities led Nelson to LA in 2010, Harting followed. He kept his job at Earhole, working on campaigns for commercial clients like Dodge, Jeep, Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Small talk among his professional peers led him to realize a third dimension of gratitude, for NMC’s affordability.
“They still have more (debt) than I started with,” he said. Moreover, there was no sacrifice in quality. Instructors like the late Jim Valovick and music instructor Dorothy Vogel were top-tier, he said, and able to provide the personal attention that he needed.
“She straightened me out and made me see that music was truly something that needed to be studied and respected,” Harting said of Vogel.
Harting and Nelson got married just last month, and where it all began is still fresh.
“I loved the campus, I made great friends, I had great teachers,” he said.
Alex Briggs, 20, Commitment Scholarship recipient
Alex Briggs speaks at the 2016 Commitment Scholarship induction“I didn’t really think I was going to go to college,” said the first-generation Computer Information Technology student. “I didn’t see myself affording college. Now, I’ve paid for it all with scholarships.”
It started with the Commitment Scholarship, a full-tuition promise Briggs received in 2011 as a ninth grader at Elk Rapids High School. Now in her second year at NMC, she’s received two merit-based scholarships, two Elk Rapids scholarships and federal grants, which combined also enable her to live on campus.
Besides living in East Hall, Briggs works in the Advising Center, is an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and a member of the Women in STEM student group.
“I wanted the well-rounded college experience,” she said. “I live, sleep, breathe and eat NMC.”
She’s also provided an example to her brother Zack, a fellow Commitment Scholar, who started at NMC this fall. They’re believed to be the first sibling recipients of the Commitment Scholarship.
Nov 23, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
November 23, 2016
Students are to NMC as turkey is to Thanksgiving — front and center. On this Thanksgiving eve, we talked to a past and present student a decade apart to find out how NMC figures in what they’re thankful for.
Matt Harting, 2006 alumnus, composer living in Los Angeles
Matt Harting and Allyson NelsonHarting, 30, can trace his livelihood, marriage and financial well-being back to NMC.
After graduating Traverse City Central High School in 2004, he attended NMC with a plan to transfer to Columbia College-Chicago. Cast in the NMC production of Bye Bye, Birdie, he met a student named Allyson Nelson, from Bellaire. She wound up transferring to Columbia, too, and there the couple began dating. Harting graduated with a degree in audio arts and engineering, and got a job at Earhole, a Chicago sound studio (first assignment: Obama campaign.)
When career opportunities led Nelson to LA in 2010, Harting followed. He kept his job at Earhole, working on campaigns for commercial clients like Dodge, Jeep, Olive Garden and Red Lobster. Small talk among his professional peers led him to realize a third dimension of gratitude, for NMC’s affordability.
“They still have more (debt) than I started with,” he said. Moreover, there was no sacrifice in quality. Instructors like the late Jim Valovick and music instructor Dorothy Vogel were top-tier, he said, and able to provide the personal attention that he needed.
“She straightened me out and made me see that music was truly something that needed to be studied and respected,” Harting said of Vogel.
Harting and Nelson got married just last month, and where it all began is still fresh.
“I loved the campus, I made great friends, I had great teachers,” he said.
Alex Briggs, 20, Commitment Scholarship recipient
Alex Briggs speaks at the 2016 Commitment Scholarship induction“I didn’t really think I was going to go to college,” said the first-generation Computer Information Technology student. “I didn’t see myself affording college. Now, I’ve paid for it all with scholarships.”
It started with the Commitment Scholarship, a full-tuition promise Briggs received in 2011 as a ninth grader at Elk Rapids High School. Now in her second year at NMC, she’s received two merit-based scholarships, two Elk Rapids scholarships and federal grants, which combined also enable her to live on campus.
Besides living in East Hall, Briggs works in the Advising Center, is an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and a member of the Women in STEM student group.
“I wanted the well-rounded college experience,” she said. “I live, sleep, breathe and eat NMC.”
She’s also provided an example to her brother Zack, a fellow Commitment Scholar, who started at NMC this fall. They’re believed to be the first sibling recipients of the Commitment Scholarship.
Nov 22, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s performance ensembles will present the following holiday concerts in December.
Friday, December 2: The NMC Chamber Singers and NMC Canticum Novum present “Sounds of the Season” featuring holiday music for voices and brass. 7:30 p.m., Central United Methodist Church. Suggested donations of $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors will be taken at the door. (231) 995-1338.
Saturday, December 3: The NMC Jazz Bands and Vocal Jazz Ensemble present Winter Jazz Ensemble Showcase. 7:30 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Tickets $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors at MyNorthTickets.com and at the door. (800) 836-0717.
Saturday, December 10: The NMC Choirs join the Traverse Symphony Orchestra for “Home for the Holidays.” 7:30 p.m., Lars Hockstad Auditorium. MyNorthTickets.com. (231) 947-7120.
Sunday, December 11: The NMC Choirs join the Traverse Symphony Orchestra for “Home for the Holidays.” 3 p.m., Lars Hockstad Auditorium. MyNorthTickets.com. (231) 947-7120.
Friday, December 16: The NMC Concert Band presents: “A Salute to Home Grown Heroes” 7:30 p.m., Milliken Auditorium. Tickets $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors at MyNorthTickets.com and at the door. (800) 836-0717
Release date: November 22, 2016
For more information:
Jeff Cobb
Director of Music Programs
(231) 995-1338
jecobb@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-discrimination
Nov 21, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) administrators and faculty members today approved a new three-year collective bargaining agreement. The ratification vote followed a series of negotiating sessions last week in which progress was made on several key issues including salary, faculty evaluations and participation in campus decisions.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement that achieves our goal of securing a contract that supports our faculty and is responsible to the region’s taxpayers,” said NMC President Tim Nelson. “I am proud to say we resolved this contract because members of the faculty and administration sat down together, talked through the remaining issues and found common ground. Representatives of the NMC and union negotiating teams deserve credit for pushing through the complex issues involved with a first contract, leading to today’s vote.”
Social Sciences Instructor Brandon Everest said, “Faculty continue to stand together to do what is best for our students, the college and the community.”
Over the past two weeks, members of the faculty and faculty chairs’ bargaining units met with the administration to resolve outstanding contract terms without attorneys present. After multiple bargaining sessions, the college submitted a new contract proposal for consideration. Key sections of the proposal include the following:
- A 20-step salary plan that maintains the current 3.71% step increase for faculty moving along the plan. It will also include a 1% annual payment for faculty at step 20. In January 2017, there will be a 0.3% scale adjustment to the salary plan.
- An enhanced formal evaluation process
- Reinstating a faculty report to the Board of Trustees agenda.
“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement that is fair and serves the college, faculty, students and the community into the future,” said NMC Board Chair Kennard Weaver. “Our focus throughout the negotiations was to create a contract that ensures a continuing harmonious and constructive relationship between the parties.”
Release date: November 21, 2016
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing & 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-discrimination
Nov 21, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
SUGR (Students United for Gender Rights) will be hosting a diversity training titled “Privilege Walk” in the lower level of East Hall on Wednesday, November 30th at 8:00 pm.
The event is free and open to the campus and community. Free food will be provided. Join us for a fun night of discussion and self-discovery.
Nov 21, 2016 | Student News
Important dates to know at the Bookstore:
- December 12 to January 27: Financial aid will be available in the bookstore
- January 9 to 27: gas cards will be available to charge to financial aid; limit two $25 cards per day per student.
Nov 21, 2016 | Student News
Need a little bit more cash for Christmas this year? Bring your textbooks back to the bookstore December 12-16 for book buyback. Guaranteed $1 minimum for every book, no matter how old the book, during the week of book buyback.
Getting $20 or more for your buyback books? Put your money on a gift card and we’ll give you 15% more for your books!
Take advantage of a great time to clear out and make some extra cash!
Nov 21, 2016 | Student News
Did you rent a book this fall from the NMC bookstore? Fall rentals are due back on December 16, 2016. Do not remember if your book is a rental? Contact us at bookstore@mail.nmc.edu with questions.
Nov 15, 2016 | Student News
Please join us Wednesday, November 30 to learn about our Freshwater Sciences Program offered at WMU-Traverse City. You can transfer to WMU to complete this bachelor’s degree in Traverse City.
Register and learn more at wmich.edu/traversecity/infosession or call (231) 995-1846.
Date, time and location: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 5 p.m. at the Great Lakes Campus, Room 101
Nov 15, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — At a special board meeting Monday, Nov. 14, Northwestern Michigan College trustees unanimously appointed former college instructor Rachel Johnson to fill a trustee position vacated last week when Steven Rawlings resigned.
Johnson received the next highest number of votes in the recent election behind Michael Estes and Chris Bott, who were elected.
Rawlings announced his resignation Nov. 10, citing increased responsibilities and travel for his job.
Board Chair Kennard Weaver said, “The six people who ran for trustee in the election last week nominated themselves for the positions, showing a strong interest in serving. In the election campaign, we gathered a great deal of information about them and the voters of Grand Traverse County also know them. This is a good panel from which to appoint the trustee to fill the current vacancy, and we also have the votes ranking them.”
In a recent letter to trustees, Johnson reiterated her desire to serve, saying, “I believe deeply in the college and the role it plays in enriching our community, supporting our local economy, and preparing students for future success. I would very much like the opportunity to support that endeavor as a trustee.”
Johnson was an adjunct instructor in the NMC’s communications department in 2012 after serving as an instructor and administrator at Penn State University and Pepperdine University. She is currently the Member Relations Manager at Cherryland Electric Cooperative.
Johnson will serve as trustee through December 31, 2018.
She will be eligible to run for election for the remainder of Rawlings’ term in the November 2018 election.
Release date: November 15, 2016
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing & 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-discrimination
Nov 11, 2016 | Intercom, Student News
Students Mackenzie Campbell and Dustin Leppert from NMC’s Audio Technology program composed a song in honor of Veterans Day, illustrated by posters done by students from local schools including TCAPS, TCAPS Montessori and Long Lake Elementary. The song was played in West Hall during NMC’s Veterans Day ceremonies. Check it out below or at ensemble.nmc.edu/Watch/b7QDi5k3!
