Mar 18, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials during the fall and spring semesters from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99, and the vegetarian option (V) is $7.99. Learn more at nmc.edu/dining.
Menu
Monday, March 23
Chicken Fettuccine with pesto cream sauce served with garlic crostini & broccoli
Roasted Vegetable Fettuccine (V) with pesto cream sauce served with garlic crostini & broccoli
Tuesday, March 24
Beef Barbacoa Tacos with cheddar cheese, sour cream and salsa served with Spanish rice & refried beans
Jackfruit Tacos (V) with cheddar cheese, sour cream and salsa served with Spanish rice & refried beans
Wednesday, March 25
BBQ Pulled Pork with brioche bun served with mac & cheese and asparagus
BBQ Jackfruit (V) with brioche bun served with mac & cheese and asparagus
Thursday, March 26
Potato Gnocchi with Italian sausage and Alfredo sauce served with garlic bread & green beans
Potato Gnocchi (V) with roasted vegetables and Alfredo sauce served with garlic bread & green beans
Friday, March 27 – Café closing at 2 p.m.
No Special – Happy Spring Break!
Hawk Owl Café will close at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 27 and reopen at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 5. The self-service kiosk will remain available 24 hours a day.
Mar 12, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Check out NMC’s new course this fall: CIT115 – Intro to Generative AI! Learn to work with AI in your field of study. No tech background required. Use real-world applications to work smarter, think critically and stay competitive. Learn your way; CIT115 is offered online, livestream or face-to-face.
Fall registration is now open. Talk to your advisor today!
Mar 12, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
On Friday, March 6, over 50 NMC faculty, staff, and students gathered at the Traverse City Curling Club for a fun night of learning a new sport, curling!
Participants were divided among the five curling sheets, and volunteers from the club led the instruction on the basics of curling and friendly competition.
Shout out to the 20 GLMA Cadets that showed up for the event! Way to represent the Academy!
Thanks to Marcus Bennett, Lynne Moritz and Terri Gustafson for organizing this event.
Mar 10, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
TRAVERSE CITY — Registration is now open for Northwestern Michigan College’s Hero Race, hosted by Professional Communications students on Saturday, April 18 on NMC’s Front Street campus as a part of an experiential learning class.
This is a family-friendly chip-timed race with a superhero theme. Last year’s race earned the Traverse City Track Club’s Favorite Race of 2025 award. Race events include:
- One-mile fun run (free event and cape) 9 a.m. start
- 5k run ($30) 10 a.m. start
- 10k run ($35) 10 a.m. start
- Medals and prizes
All proceeds from the event go towards a goal of $5,000 to support scholarships for NMC College for Kids, which helps local youth attend the college’s summer educational programs.
Families and spectators can also enjoy several activities throughout the event, including:
- Carnival games and food
- Cake walk
- Sensory room
- Bake sale
- Silent auction
- Award ceremony
Each year, the race recognizes a community member as a “Local Hero” for their leadership and impact. This year’s Local Hero Award celebrates the 2026 Outstanding Alumni honorees of NMC. This is NMC’s 75th anniversary, and this year’s race will have a celebratory theme
Participants are encouraged to register early:
- Early bird pricing deadline: March 18
- Race shirt guarantee deadline: March 31
Packet pickup will be held the evening before the race, featuring a pasta dinner and mask and cape decorating from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Participants who cannot attend the evening pickup may also pick up their race packets the morning of the event.
Community members who cannot attend the race are encouraged to donate for a chance to win a two-night stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island with a one-time donation of $20 or more through the NMC Foundation (designate NMC Hero Race).
To register, become a sponsor, or learn more about the event, visit nmcherorace.com today.
RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2026
For more information:
Roberto Cuadra
Public Relations Specialist
(269) 930-1046
cuadrar@mail.nmc.edu
Kristy McDonald
Business Instructor
(231) 735-1055
kmcdonald@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
Mar 9, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Every day, we see colleagues who go above and beyond, not for recognition, but because they care deeply about our students, our colleagues, our community, and our mission. Now is our chance to say “thank you.”
Who to nominate?
A staff member or a team who:
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- Consistently embodies NMC’s values?
- Has made a clear, positive impact on NMC this year?
- Inspires you with their dedication?
Who is eligible?
Help us highlight the incredible work happening across our campus! Recipients will receive a monetary award and an engraved plaque to be presented at the You Made It Possible Celebration on May 13, 2026.
NMC Employee Recognition Committee: Lori Hodek, Chair, Marcus Bennett, Hollie DeWalt, Les Eckert, Kim Gourlay, Craig Hadley, Taylor Nash, Denny Nguyen, Nancy Parshall and Lisa vonReichbauer.
Mar 9, 2026 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thanks to the Hawk Owl Café staff and Associate Dean of Campus & Residence Life Marcus Bennett for offering a Food for the Soul menu in February. This four-week series of special menus was presented as part of NMC’s Embrace the Dream programming and in support of NMC’s goal to create a vibrant campus where everyone belongs.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Mar 9, 2026 | Intercom, Media Mentions
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media recently. We want to share your media involvement too. Please send information about your NMC-related interview or appearance to publicrelations@nmc.edu. If possible, please include a link to the piece and information about where and when it was used.
Please note access to some stories may be limited by paywalls set up by the media outlet. This includes the Traverse City Record-Eagle, which limits free clicks to five per month. You may also read Record-Eagle articles in the print edition at the NMC Library.
The People’s College: 75 years of higher learning
Baylife Magazine, March-April 2026, pp. 34-45
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Mar 9, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Campus Life is hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Friday, March 20 at 6 p.m. in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building (#16 on the campus map). This tournament is open to all current students and employees.
If you have any questions please reach out to CJ Schneider at cschneider@nmc.edu or Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Mar 9, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Stop by the Campus Bookstore on Tuesday, March 17 and get 10% off all regularly priced green items.
Mar 9, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
NMC will host a mobile food pantry on Monday, March 16 from 3–5 p.m. in the Maple Lot on the Front Street campus. The menu includes potatoes, onions, cottage cheese, applesauce, pinto beans, juice, cereal, venison and pasta.
While our program is designed for NMC college students and their families, it is open to all in the community who are in need of food.
We ask that recipients queue up in the car line in a counter-clockwise circle around the edge of the parking lot. Please do not block the main access roads, be aware of other students using the parking spaces and watch for children being picked up at the Oleson Learning Center adjacent to the Maple Lot.
Mar 9, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
We need your help! Click to view the list of photos needed of past NMC retirees for our 75th celebration. If you have photos of any of these retired employees, please scan or send links to Lori Hodek at lhodek@nmc.edu.
Photos will be added to the Awards & Recognition page on NMC’s website under the NMC Retiree Recognition section.
Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
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Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Amy Shamroe! Last Friday, the NOMIAC team hosted an Industry Navigator Lunch and Learn. Industry Navigator Amy Shamroe delivered a compelling and informative presentation that clearly outlined the breadth of training opportunities available through Extended Education, workforce training programs, and partner institutions across the 10-county region. Attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of available resources and a renewed appreciation for the collaborative strength behind the NOMIAC and Sixty by 30 initiatives. Thank you, Amy, for leading our industry partners in training with NMC and the NOMIAC!
Kudos to Emily Crull! Emily has recently gone above and beyond in providing support to our department. She laid out an entirely new webpage that was needed for a tight turnaround while her team was short-staffed – and it looks fantastic! She has also created extensive graphic libraries for several different initiatives that our department is involved with, so our materials look professional and polished. We truly appreciate all you do!
Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These colleagues have moved on to a new chapter in their lives. We wish them the very best as they navigate a new adventure, and we thank them for their time and dedication to NMC!
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- Gabriella Baldino, supplemental employee – Food Service Front of House
- Andre Dean, supplemental employee – Instructional Tech Specialist
- Jillian Kaley, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Steven Miles – Adjunct Math Instructor
Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Bee Kelly, student employee – Ceramic Studio Lab Assistant
- Kim Ockert, supplemental employee – Test Proctor
- Charlotte Davis, supplemental employee – Banquet Server. Hagerty Center
- Mitchell Gingras, supplemental employee – Tutor
Mar 6, 2026 | Intercom
Want a front-row seat to the hottest ticket in town? The NMC Foundation and Alumni Relations are looking for volunteers for the annual A Taste of Success on Friday, April 24 at the Hagerty Center.
We’d love to have you on the team! From greeting guests to helping with our high-energy Heads or Tails game or the “By the Glass” live donation portion of the evening, our volunteers are the secret sauce that makes this night special. Most importantly, you’ll be helping us raise critical funds and scholarship dollars for the students of the Great Lakes Culinary Institute.
It’s fast-paced, social and an absolute blast. Fill out the yellow sections of the Google Sheet to secure your spot. We will send out email communications the week of the event to give you a rundown of what to expect, and your day-of contact will be there upon arrival.
If you have any questions, please contact Zach Whitaker at zwhitaker@nmc.edu or (231) 995-2826.
Sign up to volunteer at A Taste of Success
Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Step up and join the fun! Compete in our upcoming cornhole tournament for a chance to win the trophy and a free one-year membership to the NMC Fitness Center. Gather your colleagues and get ready to toss your way to victory!
Sign up here today and let the games begin!
Mar 5, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
The NMC Jazz Lab Band and vocalists from NMC’s music program will join the Jeff Haas Trio for an evening of performances from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 at The Alluvion.
The roster is part of the Alluvion’s weekly Jazz 4 All series. NMC students will be singing a wide range of jazz favorites including:
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- Anna Dewey, “Don’t Know Why”
- Gloria Sobkoviak, “L-O-V-E”
- Liliana Sosa Dunn, “Over The Rainbow”
- Mason Moran, “All The Things You Are”
- Rheanna Gilzene, “Almost Like Being In Love”
- Tae Detweiler-Smith, “I’m Beginning To See The Light”
The Alluvion is located on the 2nd floor of the Commongrounds Cooperative at 414 East 8th Street in Traverse City. There are no advanced sales. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a “pay what you can” cover at the door. Come as you are and don’t miss the show!
