Employee anniversaries
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
NMC hosts a disability awareness panel June 10
NMC’s Office of Disability Support Services and the Aging and Disability Resource Collaborative of Northwest Michigan (ADRCNM) are hosting a free education session – Working with Persons Who Have Disabilities – Friday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Oleson Center Room A/B on NMC’s main campus in Traverse City. Participation via webinar is also available. Registration is required at adrcnmi.org under the Events menu. (Here’s a direct link to the registration form.)
The education session will feature an introduction to disability awareness by Jim Moore from Disability Network Northern Michigan, followed by a panel discussion including people with disabilities who will share their experiences as consumers of services.
This session may be of interest to individuals or organizations (including health and human service agencies) that work with or support persons with disabilities (visible and invisible). For more information please contact info@adrcnmi.org.
FSU Early Childhood Education Open House
Ferris State University is now offering a new Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood. Come to our Open House at the University Center on May 25th from 5-6:30 p.m. in room UC 207 to learn more about it!
The University Center is located at 2200 Dendrinos Drive, Traverse City. Light refreshments will be served and advisors/faculty will be available for you to question to your hearts content. Passionate, inspired, and well-qualified, you’ll be highly sought after by a diverse range of child-oriented organizations including Day Care Facilities, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Preschool & Kindergarten Classrooms and Recreation Centers!
Success Story: Barbecue first date leads to 54-year marriage
May 18, 2016
Amid the throngs bent on a buffalo burger, Cupid once shot an arrow.
On Sunday, his targets — Art McManus and Judy Couturier — plan to attend their 55th NMC Barbecue. They had their first date at the 1962 event (pictured below).
“My girlfriend and I were riding through town, and we met him and his friend. And he asked me to go to the Barbecue the next day,” recalled Judy, who was then 18.
There must have been something in the air besides the scent of barbecue. Six months later, Art and Judy were married. As they embarked on a life raising three children, running a family cherry farm, and professional careers, they always kept the Barbecue date on their calendar.
“Rain, sleet or snow, we’ve been there,” she said. “We just have never missed one.”
The McManuses fill the day with tradition, from visiting the classroom displays to the cakewalk to the newer “buffalo cam” photo opportunity. (Granddaughter Alica Revett is pictured at last year’s event below.) Their entourage has grown from two to as many as 17, now extending to a third generation.
They support NMC for the opportunities it offers residents. All three of their children attended NMC, with one attending Ferris State University through the University Center as well. A grandson is currently enrolled in Davenport University at NMC’s University Center.
“It’s a good thing for the community,” Judy McManus said. “It’s good that (NMC) has all these other universities and colleges that participate with them. It makes it easier for the kids.”
Their Barbecue commitment will be tested this year. The McManuses will be celebrating their granddaughter’s hockey championship at a Tigers game in Detroit Saturday. But they’ll be up bright and early Sunday morning, headed home for the annual picnic under the pines.
“It’s a tradition. We can’t miss it,” Judy McManus said.
Success Story: Barbecue first date leads to 54-year marriage
May 18, 2016
Amid the throngs bent on a buffalo burger, Cupid once shot an arrow.
On Sunday, his targets — Art McManus and Judy Couturier — plan to attend their 55th NMC Barbecue. They had their first date at the 1962 event (pictured below).
“My girlfriend and I were riding through town, and we met him and his friend. And he asked me to go to the Barbecue the next day,” recalled Judy, who was then 18.
There must have been something in the air besides the scent of barbecue. Six months later, Art and Judy were married. As they embarked on a life raising three children, running a family cherry farm, and professional careers, they always kept the Barbecue date on their calendar.
“Rain, sleet or snow, we’ve been there,” she said. “We just have never missed one.”
The McManuses fill the day with tradition, from visiting the classroom displays to the cakewalk to the newer “buffalo cam” photo opportunity. (Grandaughter Alica Revett is pictured at last year’s event below.) Their entourage has grown from two to as many as 17, now extending to a third generation.
They support NMC for the opportunities it offers residents. All three of their children attended NMC, with one attending Ferris State University through the University Center as well. A grandson is currently enrolled in Davenport University at NMC’s University Center.
“It’s a good thing for the community,” Judy McManus said. “It’s good that (NMC) has all these other universities and colleges that participate with them. It makes it easier for the kids.”
Their Barbecue commitment will be tested this year. The McManuses will be celebrating their granddaughter’s hockey championship at a Tigers game in Detroit Saturday. But they’ll be up bright and early Sunday morning, headed home for the annual picnic under the pines.
“It’s a tradition. We can’t miss it,” Judy McManus said.
NMC student wins prize in statewide GeoCache for College Cash contest
NMC student Inga Dolinski has won $500 in college expense assistance through the statewide GeoCache for College Cash event. Dolinski correctly answered all seven financial literacy questions during the April 19 scavenger hunt hosted by NMC’s Financial Aid office, which entered her in the drawing for one of several cash prizes. The event was part of the 2016 Money Smart Week Michigan campaign and Financial Literacy Month.
NMC was one of about a dozen Michigan colleges and universities taking part in the event, which was sponsored by Ally Financial and the Michigan Jump$tart Coalition.
Congratulations, Inga!
Commencement Thank-You — It Takes a Community!
Many thanks to the NMC employees who made Commencement a special day for our graduates! It truly takes the NMC community to make this event a memorable one. (more…)
Milestone anniversary gift order reminder
Time is running out to place your order! If you were honored for a milestone anniversary (10, 15, 20 etc. years) at the April 13 NMC Retirement & Recognition Reception and have not yet ordered your gift, please do so as soon as possible. If you’ve misplaced your order materials, please send an email to cpaul@nmc.edu.
Benefits Corner
Winners of the February Wellness Sleep Challenge Announced!
- Lisa Rollin and Renate Simsa
Congratulations! Thank you to all who participated!
Kudos!
Kudos- Praise or respect that you get because of something you have done or achieved. (defined by Merriam-Webster.com) Kudos to the following people and departments! If you know of co-workers who are going above and beyond, nominate them for kudos here! (more…)
Position vacancies
Are you looking for career opportunities? Find it here! jobs.nmc.edu. Current openings include:
Hagerty Center – Server, Bartender, Cook and Dishwasher
Adjunct Faculty – Culinary Arts Baking
Adjunct Faculty – Geography
Adjunct Faculty – Surgical Technology
Employee anniversaries
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Welcome to NMC!
Please join us in welcoming these new additions to our NMC staff!
Time for Year End Check and FY’17 Adjust
As FY’16 comes to a close, it’s important for departments to conduct a year-end check of their FY’16 Operational Plan A3.
Year-end reviews offer an excellent opportunity to close out the year by “reflecting on last year’s activities” as well as recording “follow-up/unresolved issues” which will need to be addressed in FY’17. These are both sections included in the A3 template. It’s also wise to update key metrics for your department. Finally, as departments close out the year, this is a great time to review goals and activities that are planned for FY’17 to make sure they are fully informed by all that has been accomplished and learned in this current fiscal year.
If you find the need to make significant changes to your department Operational Plan A3 for FY’17, please discuss this with your President’s Council leader before settling on major changes. All FY’17 A3’s are available on the employee site. If you would like an updated version posted, please send it to kruedinger@nmc.edu as an email attachment or use the submission form on the employee site.
Questions about the planning process can be directed to Karen Ruedinger at 5-1032.
Four named Outstanding Alumni
TRAVERSE CITY — Four diverse Northwestern Michigan College alumni were named winners of of the annual Outstanding Alumni award at the 2016 commencement ceremonies held April 30.
The award recognize alumni with significant professional achievements and/or exemplary leadership in the local or global community. The 2016 winners are:
Korvyn Hansen, 1985–1987: Hansen went on to earn a bachelor’s in business administration from Western Michigan University. He began his career at the Grand Traverse Pavilions 24 years ago, rising to become CEO of one of the region’s largest employers in 2008. He oversees an organization that provides services for more than 300 residents and 100 daily program participants. Also under his leadership and collaborative approach, Grand Traverse Pavilions has become a teaching facility for healthcare students from NMC.
Therese Renis, pre-engineering, 1977–1978: Renis went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and Stanford University, respectively. Since 2001 she has served as a nuclear safeguards engineer for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. Notably, she was a member of the IAEA’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning team in 2005, a prize shared with IAEA director Mohamed El Baradei. In 2015 she was promoted to a directorship, reporting to the IAEA Deputy Director General.
Michelle Witkop, nursing class of 1977: After earning her associate degree in nursing, Witkop went on to earn multiple degrees, most recently her doctorate in Nursing Practice from Oakland University. In 2015 she was named by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as Nurse of the Year for transformational leadership, for her ground breaking research related to pain management in hemophilia patients. Witkop is the lead clinician in Munson Medical Center’s Northern Regional Bleeding Disorder Center, the only facility of its kind in the United States that is medically managed by nurse practitioners.
Capt. Dean Hobbs, Great Lakes Maritime Academy, 1976 (posthumously): Hobbs was senior captain of the car ferry SS Badger; senior trial master for the Marinette Marine Corporation, and assisted in the sea trials and delivery of many of its new vessels, including more than 25 U.S. Coast Guard cutters and U.S. Navy Littoral combat ships. Former GLMA superintendent John Tanner said Hobbs “probably helped the academy more than any other graduate,” from taking cadets to breakfast to organizing cadet-instructor hockey games.
NMC established the Outstanding Alumni award in 1988. See a list of past recipients.
Release date: May 7, 2016
For more information:
Betsy Coffia
Director of Alumni Relations
bcoffia@nmc.edu
(231) 995-2825
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-discriminationPress, Bensley named 2016 Faculty Excellence winners
TRAVERSE CITY — Two Humanities instructors were named the 2016 winners of NMC’s annual Faculty Excellence awards at commencement ceremonies April 30.
History instructor Jim Press is the Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award winner. Jim Bensley is the Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award winner. Chosen by a student selection committee, criteria for both awards include teaching excellence, rapport with students, innovation in the classroom and a sense of dedication.
Press began at NMC in 1989 and retired this year after 27 years in the classroom. He is also an emeritus faculty member. In their nominations students said:
- “This instructor offered many types of approaches to engage all learning styles. The instructor allowed for everyone to be successful in the class.”
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“The class is not easy but the instructor gives you the time, information, and resources to get an A! The classroom is interactive while the professor is constantly testing our knowledge and encouraging group work.”
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“This instructor has been one of my favorite teachers at NMC, for various reasons, but most of all because he is so passionate about the subject himself, and that made me feel more connected with the material.”
Bensley began his career at NMC in 1983 and has held a variety of positions at the college. He has been teaching since 2010, currently teaches World Cultures and Introduction to Humanities and also serves as director of International Services and Service Learning. In their nominations, students said:
- “This instructor has real life experience and a passion for what is taught which makes it more fun and easy to learn.”
- “This instructor really cares about every individual’s education. If there is something in class that you just can’t wrap your head around, he will take the extra time to make sure that you understand it.”
- “He is always coming up with new ways and ideas to better teach us the material. He would use a variety of electronic resources, along with his own firsthand knowledge, and even a range of physical artifacts from replicas and old student projects to historical objects. When we were studying Egypt, he came to class dressed as an Egyptian pharaoh!”
The Faculty Excellence award was initiated by a contribution from longtime NMC benefactors Harold and Imogene Wise in 1970 and first awarded to a full-time faculty member in 1971. The Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award was created in 1999 as a companion.
Release date: May 5, 2016
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director 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-discriminationSupporting the Future
TRAVERSE CITY — Supporting the Future, an event to benefit the annual John Lewis Veterans for Peace NMC Scholarship, will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. May 21 at the Dennos Museum Center.
The evening includes local photographer Alan Newton’s tribute exhibition to veterans and PTSD, local cuisine, live jazz music from the Steve Little Trio, a cash bar and silent auction. Auction items include:
- One week mountain top lodging in beautiful Sayulita, Mexico
- Museum-quality art
- Golf packages
- Charter fishing excursions
- Gift certificates from local businesses
Guests will also have an opportunity to view the current Dennos exhibitions: Not Ready to Make Nice: Guerrilla Girls in the Art World and Beyond and the Michigan League of Handweavers.
Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for students, seniors and veterans, and available at Oryana, Grand Traverse Pie Company’s downtown location and at the door.
Release date: May 10, 2016
For more information:
Tim Keenan
Veterans for Peace
timkeenan1946@gmail.com
(231) 357-4776
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-discriminationSuccess Story: NMC alumna addresses University of Michigan commencement
April 20, 2016
Most college students accumulate credits to earn their degree. NMC alumna Kathryn Bertodatto also accumulated miles — 30,000, in fact.
Photo credit: Michigan Photography, Scott Soderberg
On Saturday, Bertodatto, a 2014 graduate of NMC, spoke to an audience of 50,000 as the University of Michigan’s student commencement speaker. She told the Michigan Stadium spectators, including university president Mark Schlissel and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, that she had commuted from Traverse City so as not to disrupt her young children’s education. That meant racking up some 30,000 miles in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree in English.
“The crowd erupted, and I had to compose myself,” said Bertodatto, who sometimes left Traverse City at 3 or 4 a.m. to make an 8:30 a.m. class in Ann Arbor. She packed her classes into three and a half days so she could return to Traverse City in time to pick up her sons from elementary school Thursday afternoons.
Recalling “crying in the stairwell,” Bertodatto, 31, said the transfer was difficult at first, when she felt intimidated by the intellect of her peers at the prestigious university. But by having courage — the title of her speech — she gradually gained confidence. It was all worth it, she said.
“If I’m going to work this hard to get a degree, I’m going to have it be from one of the best universities in the nation,” she said.
She credited NMC for preparing her well. During her NMC years she traveled to Brazil to teach English for a month, and also worked in what is now the office of International Services and Service Learning.
“I’m so proud of how far I’ve come, and NMC has been such a huge part of that journey,” she said, adding that President Schlissel sent her a personal email after the ceremony. “It’s amazing to have people who have such influence know my name.”
The commencement ceremony itself was a blur, both literally and figuratively, Bertodatto said, noting that it was a very windy day.
“I was trying to get my message across and not eat my hair,” she said.
A writer, Bertodatto has completed a children’s book manuscript that she plans to submit for publication. A novel is next on her to-do list. And with the odometer approaching 200,000 miles, she’s looking forward to keeping her 2004 Honda Pilot parked more.
“I need a new car, but we’re going to see how the writing pans out, first,” she said.