Jan 14, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC kicks off its 2025 Embrace the Dream programming, a series of events marking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month, on January 20. A calendar of events is available at nmc.edu/embrace-the-dream.
Monday, Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
- Free admission to the Dennos Museum Center, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
- The 2025 Marching for Justice exhibit, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. in the museum’s sculpture court. This extraordinary exhibit showcases over 150 original artifacts, highlighting pivotal moments in Black history—from the Transatlantic Slave Trade to contemporary social justice movements.
- Free MLK Day Lecture featuring Dr. Khalid el-Hakim, 2–3 p.m. A former social studies teacher, Dr. Khalid el-Hakim’s expertise encompasses Black History, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Implicit Bias, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, and Hip Hop Pedagogy. Get free tickets and learn more about the lecture here.
- Building Bridges with Music presents An Evening of Voices to Commemorate Dr. King, City Opera House, 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) Featuring The Brazea Dennard Chorale, NMC Chamber Singers and NMC Children’s Choir: Cantus. Learn more and get free tickets to the concert here.
January 30, February 4, 20 & 25: Food for the Soul meals at the Hawk Owl Café. 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4–6 p.m. (No 4–6 p.m. serving February 20)
Thursday Feb. 6, 4:30–6 p.m.: NMC Library Read-Aloud & Craft Night. Children ages 3–12 are invited to an Embrace the Dream Read Aloud and Craft Night hosted at the library. The books have been selected with an eye for great stories and diverse characters and are written and illustrated by Black authors and artists. In addition to a read-aloud with our volunteers, each child will complete a craft and receive their own copy of the book to keep. Accompanying adults can browse the library collection but should plan on remaining close by in the building. The library is also recruiting volunteers to serve as readers or craft station facilitators, interested folks can sign up here.
For more information visit nmc.edu/embrace-the-dream, which will be updated with more events as they are added.
Jan 13, 2025 | Student News
NMC offers open recreation in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building (#16 on the Front Street campus map) on Mondays and Thursdays from 7–10 p.m. as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 6–9 p.m. Join us for basketball, soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, badminton, pickleball, ping pong and more!
All NMC students and employees are welcome. Please bring your NMC ID and clean shoes.
For any questions, please contact mbennett@nmc.edu or cschneider@nmc.edu.
Jan 8, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY— Northwestern Michigan College congratulates the 1,078 students who made the fall semester Dean’s List, earning a grade point average of 3.5 or above out of a possible 4.0 while taking five or more credits.
The full list is available here.
Jan 7, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to join students at NMC’s updated, expanded 2025 Career & Majors Fair at the Park Place Hotel & Conference Center Thursday, March 6 from 1-6 p.m..
Several hundred students and community members are expected to attend and experience a new, guided pathway format. Employers will be clustered with faculty and staff from NMC’s relevant academic areas to showcase how NMC programs can lead to employment opportunities in northern Michigan. More than 80 employers will be recruiting for all kinds of opportunities, from full time positions to summer internships. (See the list at nmc.edu/careerfair.)
“We expect this format to better serve both employers and attendees,” said Academic and Career Advisor Katie Sommer-Ford. “Prospective and undecided students can better explore their options, while those already on a career path can conveniently find and identify relevant employers.”
The for-credit academic areas attending are:
The Career & Majors Fair will also feature a dedicated space for veterans and military members offering services such as resume review, as well as information from NMC’s Financial Aid and Extended Education and Training (noncredit) offices. It is free to attend. Transportation aboard BATA’s Bayliner is available free of charge.
The event is presented in partnership with Northwest Michigan Works and Networks Northwest. and sponsored by Tentcraft, North Arrow ABA Services, Park Place Hotel, World Magnetics. Highpoint, Vanenkevort Tug & Barge Inc., Fox Motors-Fox Grand Traverse, Grand Traverse Plastics Corp, Truly Free Inc. UA Local 85 Plumbers, Steamfitters, HVACR Technicians, Aflac and Molon Excavating & Asphalt. Find out more at nmc.edu/career-fair.
Release date: FEBRUARY 17, 2025
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC 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-discrimination
Jan 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Versiti Blood is having another blood drive in the big pink bus on Thursday, Feb. 6 from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Versiti is hoping to get at least 18 donors this time around as their donations drop significantly over winter. Every eligible donation will get a $10 e-gift card!
Make sure you eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating. You can call 1-866-642-5663 or go here to register for an appointment. Feel good about helping your fellow friend and get a small reward as well! Thank you for your time and donation!
Jan 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC Campus Life will host an ice skating event Saturday, Jan. 18 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center’s Howe Arena (1125 W Civic Center Dr, Traverse City, MI). For more details, contact Marcus Bennett at (231) 995-1401 or mbennett@nmc.edu, or CJ Schneider at cschneider@nmc.edu.
Must present a valid NMC ID to participate. This event is free to all current NMC employees and students.
This event is sponsored by NMC Residence Life and Campus Life. Refreshments provided by NMC student groups Ratio Christ, His House, and Multicultural Club.
Dec 20, 2024 | Intercom, International Affairs Forum, Student News
Dick Grout, one of the founding members of the International Affairs Forum, passed away on December 19 at the age of 104.
The Record-Eagle published a retrospective on his life and accomplishments (a PDF-friendly version of the article can be found here). Additional information about his valorous D-Day service is available on the International Affairs Forum’s website.
Dec 18, 2024 | Intercom, Student News
December 18, 2024
For two more weeks, 21- to 24-year-olds can join the 325 NMC students who already have saved more than $750,000 in tuition through Michigan Reconnect.
Dec. 31 is the deadline for that age group to apply for Reconnect, which offers free in-district tuition to adults who don’t already have a college degree. They can start in spring or summer 2025 semesters, and continue to receive the scholarship until they complete. But Jan. 1, Reconnect eligibility reverts to ages 25 and up.
Current Reconnect student Mitchell Mosley (right) urged eligible students not to let that window of opportunity close.
“If it’s even on your mind, you might as well put the application in. It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s responsive,” said Mosley, 27, who stepped back in an NMC classroom this fall for the first time in eight years. In the interim he discovered his lack of a degree hindered his job advancement. Now he has a drive he didn’t have before.
“I really want it now. I want to be educated,” said Mosley. In just one semester he said he’s learned business math skills, like paying payroll taxes, that will help him better run his business, Swabbies, a yacht cleaning business, but also self-discipline and collaboration skills.
Combining the credits he earned at NMc after high school graduation in 2015 plus others from an Oregon community college, he’ll only need to attend for a year before earning his associate degree in business next year.
“Education is bigger than a diploma. There’s a lot more to it,” said Mosley, who has organized study groups for his classes, and attended on-campus and professional events like the regional Economic Summit (pictured).
“I want more out of life and NMc has kind of helped me,” he said, adding he plans to continue his studies.
“It won’t end here, I can promise you that,” he said.
Students 21 to 24 can start their journey to a tuition-free degree at NMc by applying online by Dec 31. They must have lived in Michigan for at least a year and not have previously earned a degree. They can start classes in spring or summer 2025 semesters. Reconnect eligibility continues until the degree is completed, as long as requirements are met.
Dec 16, 2024 | Student News
Spring textbooks are now available. Stop by the NMC Campus Bookstore or check them out online at bookstore.nmc.edu. Looking to use financial aid for your books? Spring financial aid will be available Dec. 9–Jan. 30.
The fall textbook rental deadline has been extended to Wednesday, Dec. 18. All rentals should be returned to the NMC Campus Bookstore located in the Health & Science Building on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
Books that have been purchased can be sold back during Dec. 9-13.
Dec 9, 2024 | Intercom, Menu, Student News
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:40–6 p.m. The protein option is $9.99 and the vegetarian option is $7.99.
Monday, December 9
Orange Chicken & Broccoli Bowl with mandarin oranges
served with rice and Bosco sticks
Tofu & Broccoli Bowl with mandarin oranges (V)
served with rice and Bosco sticks
Tuesday, December 10
Chicken Quesadillas
served with Spanish rice and refried beans
Cheese Quesadillas (V)
served with Spanish rice and refried beans
Wednesday, December 11
Spaghetti & Meatballs with marinara sauce and parmesan
served with garlic bread and broccoli
Roasted Vegetables with marinara sauce and parmesan (V)
served with garlic bread and broccoli
Thursday, December 12
Beer-Battered Cod Sandwich with tartar sauce
served with creamy coleslaw and French fries
Roasted Cauliflower Steak with chimichurri sauce (V)
served with creamy coleslaw and French fries
Friday, December 13
Northwest Grind will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and The Hawk Owl Café will be open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will not be any daily specials served on Friday. Have a great holiday break!
Holiday hours
The self-service kiosk will be closed Friday, Dec. 20 through Sunday, Jan. 5. On Sunday, January 12th, 2025, The Hawk Owl Café and Northwest Grind will reopen at noon.
Dec 6, 2024 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College’s Aviation Division has received two anonymous gifts, one of $150,000 and the other of $100,000, to expand its hangar, purchase additional aircraft and relocate its classrooms. The gifts are the largest received to date by Next Level: The Campaign for NMC Aviation, a fundraising initiative to build the Aviation Division’s capacity and admit more students into the program each year.
The Next Level project, with a price tag of $14 million, will be funded by a combination of government support, bonding, and private philanthropy. The college has received $3.75 million in support from the state of Michigan and $550,000 in federal funding toward the project. The NMC Foundation aims to raise $1 million in private philanthropy toward the project. The two anonymous gifts bring the Foundation’s fundraising total to $390,000.
“We are thrilled and so grateful to these two donors for supporting the Next Level campaign,” said Alex Bloye, Aviation Division director. “As the only two-year flight school in the state, we have the unique opportunity to efficiently train the pilots our world desperately needs. Expanding our hangar and fleet will increase the number of students, and ultimately the number of future pilots, we can admit each year. It’s a win for them, a win for our regional economy and a win for our world, which is relying more and more on air travel every year.”
Next Level: The Campaign for NMC Aviation will expand the Aviation Division by:
- Acquiring at least four new, technically advanced aircraft including two Cessna Skyhawks and two multi-engine planes to increase flight capacity (each additional aircraft allows ten additional students in the program)
- Expanding the hangar’s cold and warm storage capacity, creating space for eight additional planes
- Modernizing the hangar infrastructure including the HVAC system, windows and exterior, reducing energy costs
- Relocating Aviation classrooms to the Parsons-Stulen building, revitalizing and reconfiguring the existing space for simulations, testing and flight planning, ensuring NMC Aviation delivers the most efficient and effective training
To learn more about supporting Next Level: The Campaign for NMC Aviation, visit nmc.edu/next-level or call the NMC Foundation at (231) 995-1021.
Ground was broken on the hangar expansion in October. The NMC Foundation is one of the top 20 community college foundations in the United States. In 2019 the NMC Foundation received a Sustained Excellence Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Release date: DECEMBER 6, 2024
For more information:
Dino Hernandez
Chief Advancement Officer, Northwestern Michigan College
(231) 995-1103
dhernandez@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
Dec 5, 2024 | Intercom, Student News
December 5, 2024
Nicole Speelman, Nick Roster and Nancy OlenchekNMC is preparing to become a magnet for future Albert Einsteins and Marie Curies, offering new courses that will allow high school students conducting advanced scientific research to earn college credits as dual enrolled students.
Eight Advancing Scientific Research (ASR) courses will debut next year, four offered at the high school level and four at NMC. High school instructors from Cadillac to the Mackinac Bridge have been invited to participate, with a stipend funded by the NMC Foundation. These pioneer instructors will receive training in February, and NMC will host its first Science Symposium in April.
The effort is being led by NMC biology instructor Nick Roster, chemistry instructor Nicole Speelman, and Kingsley High School science teacher Nancy Olenchek. A former NMC success coach, Olenchek started a high school research class at Kingsley last year. Through a teacher training organization, she connected her students with mentors at universities like Stanford and Cornell. But in addition to the prestige, Olencheck wanted students to be able to earn college credit.
Enter NMC’s Roster, who last year launched a research project on microplastics contamination with his NMC students.
“They’re doing college level research, no doubt,” he said of Olenchek’s students, citing one who is using fruit fly larva to research generational alcoholism.“It’s only fair for these students, if they’re doing this work, to have it transcribed (as credit),” he said.
The high school teachers will instruct their students in research methodology, and NMC will provide oversight and support.
“No one up here is doing this,” said Roster, adding that the ASR classes eventually could draw students from much farther than Kingsley, as well as students interested in fields beyond natural sciences. Earlier this year NMC trustees passed a dual-enrolled tuition rate that allows high school students to dual enroll from virtually anywhere without incurring out of pocket expenses.
“You do what you want to do. You research your passion,” he said. “This will hopefully be a vehicle for anyone to participate in scientific research.”
The dual-enrolled credit is key.
“It’s a huge benefit to them,” Olencheck said. “It validates their research, No. 1. It gives them some elective credit that they don’t have to pay for.”
The eight-course sequence will allow students to pursue an idea or question through the entire research cycle, from initial framing to gathering data to peer review to potentially publishing and presenting. The top students at the April NMC Science Symposium will go on to the Flint Science and Engineering Fair, the stepping stone to the International Science and Engineering Fair. Prizes and scholarships are available to the winners at these higher levels.
Roster and Olenchek hope that some of these budding scientists elect to stay at NMC.
“There’s not a lot of undergraduate research opportunities,” Roster said. “We have classes set up for them to continue that research. “
“We’re trying to grow our own,” said Olenchek. “We’re trying to make a whole bunch more Hawk Owls.”
Dec 3, 2024 | Student News
NMC students are invited to join Ratio Christi for an all-inclusive trip to visit the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Petersburg, Kentucky. The trip includes three nights of lodging, food, transportation by car, a one-day entrance to the Creation Museum and a one-day entrance to the Ark Encounter. Students will stay near the attractions at a house in Florence, Kentucky.
The group will depart from the Cherry Lot on the Front Street Campus at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, and return at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. Pick-up is available along I-75 between Grayling, Michigan and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Trip fees:
- First payment: $100 (due Wednesday, Dec. 18)
- Second payment: $250 (due Monday, Dec. 30)
The deadline to register is December 18. Fundraising opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Tony Feiger, Director for Northwestern Michigan College’s chapter of Ratio Christi, at tonyf@ratiochristi.org or Mike Franklin at mfranklin@nmc.edu.
All students who join will be required to sign a Liability Release Form.
Dec 3, 2024 | Intercom, Student News
Please note that this event has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Join the Library, Writing Center, Tutoring, Advising, and Success Coaching teams for the Long Night Against Procrastination on Wednesday, December 4th from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the library.
In addition to writing, research, tutoring, coaching and advising support, we’ll have snacks, hot and cold beverages, and two deliveries of Dino’s pizza (at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.) to fuel you as you tackle your late semester pile of final assignments and exam prep. The NMC Student Ambassadors will also be hosting a Game Room downstairs in TJNIC 106/107 for those seeking a much-needed study break.
Come for assistance, snacks, commiseration, solidarity or all of the above!
Dec 2, 2024 | Intercom, Student News
Looking for creative ideas for gifts this holiday season? Check out the Campus Bookstore’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide! Visit bookstore.nmc.edu to find great ideas under the gift section. All items featured in the gift guide are also available in store.
Those who visit the Campus Bookstore in person during December 9-13 can also finish their holiday shopping with big savings! All clearance items will be an additional 50% off.
Nov 26, 2024 | Intercom, President Updates, Student News
Folks,
Thanksgiving always gives me pause, offering an invitation to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for—and to say thanks to you. An attitude of gratitude seems to be woven into the fabric of our NMC culture. Just this past week, I saw it expressed by students, faculty, and staff alike.
I saw thankful student mentors offering friendship to the Blair Elementary mentees and others engaging in the Walk for Health and Homelessness, showing compassion for those experiencing housing insecurity. I saw Kristy McDonald’s service-learning class handing out Thanksgiving meals, providing members of our community—including NMC students and their families—an opportunity to enjoy a Thanksgiving celebration. I also saw our faculty and staff welcoming TCAPS 5th graders to explore our campus and learn about health occupations. These efforts help young students begin to imagine themselves at NMC and perhaps in a future career in health care.
Day in and day out, students enter our doors. By choosing NMC, they are making an investment in a college education, believing that their time, effort, and resources will pay off in the form of greater opportunities and improved lives for themselves and their families. They trust us to help them move from where they are today to where they hope to be tomorrow. There’s no more meaningful and fulfilling job than ours: to support that hope and help ensure they succeed in that investment.
An added benefit of our community college mission, as you know, is that we not only transform students’ lives but also enrich our community. Community and regional prosperity are central to our work. We have the privilege of serving as leaders in fulfilling this mission: transforming lives and enriching our community.
Lastly, while many issues may divide people today, at NMC, we remain united by our shared values: Learning, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Inclusion, Innovation, Stewardship, and Excellence. I am deeply grateful for how our NMC family exemplifies these values. It’s one more reason to give thanks this season.
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Nick
Nov 25, 2024 | Intercom, Student News
Eric Hines of WNMC is proud to announce the first on-air Speaker Series premiering at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday November 26, 2024. The first guest will be Scot Zimmerman, who is the Community President at Mercantile Bank. WNMC’s inaugural session came from a collaboration with Alex Tank, Director of IAF and Megan Bylsma, NMC’s Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations as Mercantile is the season sponsor of the International Affairs Forum. This series will continue to engage business leaders and listeners from around our community. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow.
Nov 25, 2024 | Intercom, Student News
Cybersecurity pop-up’s are complete for Fall 2024! The winners of the prizes are Ava Plamondon and Neil Streeter! Kudos to Neil for being a cybersecurity expert and still being willing to test his knowledge.
Thanks to everyone who played a game. Good Cybersecurity choices are core to NMC’s well-being!
