Faculty Excellence winners named

May 10, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

Nicole Speelman (click for high-resolution version)TRAVERSE CITY — Science and English instructors were named the 2019 winners of NMC’s annual Faculty Excellence awards at commencement ceremonies May 4.

Chemistry instructor Nicole Speelman is the Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award winner.

English instructor Cathy Warner 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.

Both joined the NMC faculty relatively recently. Of Speelman, who began in January 2018, students said:

• This instructor has gone above and beyond, holding study sessions every week even coming in on Saturdays to give extra help before exams.
• She is very good at connecting with her students. She also uses a flipped; classroom as a style of teaching. We would watch the lecture videos at home as homework and use class time to go over concepts that we were struggling with. I found this incredibly helpful.
• I never was thrilled to take a chemistry class, but after this semester I would definitely take another. I couldn’t thank her enough!

Cathy Warner (click for high-resolution version)Of Warner, who began in August 2017, students said:

• This instructor gets to know every one of the students so we don’t just feel like another face in the room. Our teacher understands the students’ strengths and weaknesses, and accommodates material for every one of the students to have success in the class.
• The instructor has us use Moodle, concept maps, and explains difficult concepts on the board. Also, the instructor uses YouTube videos to the class’ advantage.
• Our instructor is very caring and relates the material to real life events happening in our media to drive the points across.

The Imogene Wise award was first bestowed in 1971. The adjunct award was created as a companion in 1999.

Release date: may 10, 2019

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations, Marketing & Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019

New Books at the Library – May 2019

May 8, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

The library has purchased many new books so far this year. You can view a handful here along with descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.

(more…)

Success Story: Grad helps shrink Michigan talent gap

May 1, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

May 1, 2019

It’s never too late to finish what you started.

Marilyn Dear, 70, (right) will exemplify that truth Saturday, when she accepts her associate degree at NMC’s 2019 commencement ceremony, finishing what she started more than 50 years ago.

“I’m so excited,” said the Traverse City mother of five sons, whose grade point average entitles her to wear the yellow stole of Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honor society, with her cap and gown. “I’m going to hang this diploma up on the wall and be proud I finished.”

Until Saturday, Dear shared the position of more than 1 million fellow Michigan residents — some college, but no credential to show for it. Helping that group of people attain credentials is key to closing Michigan’s talent gap, says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. NMC President Tim Nelson agrees.

“It’s a big need for the state, and community colleges are in position to help figure out how to meet that need,” he said in a recent interview.

Dear started at Schoolcraft Community College immediately after high school graduation in 1966, but dropped out after two semesters to join a friend on a trip to California. In Denver she met the man who would become her husband, Jerry Dear. A move back to Michigan, marriage, family, a move to Traverse City and work occupied the next four decades, and the 28 credits she’d earned at Schoolcraft sat parked on a shelf.

In 2011 her job was eliminated. Her children were grown. Dear seized her opportunity.

“I thought, ‘let’s go back to school,’ “ she said.

She was pleasantly surprised to discover the Schoolcraft credits transferred to NMC. “That was part of the reason I was encouraged to finish,” she said.

NMC Director of Advising Lindsey Dickinson said her office works with each student to make the most of any existing credits.

“We know how crucial it is for incoming students,” said Dickinson, who transferred from NMC herself in 2002. “We work one-on-one with students to help them maximize transfer credits towards completion at NMC.”

After taking just one business class, Dear found a new job, at Knorr Marketing in Traverse City. She’s been a working student ever since, taking one or two classes a semester, once taking a year off when work was busy, but always returning. She finds school invigorating.

“It’s healthy, because it’s making my brain work,” she said. “As I get older, I think that’s only a plus.”

Dear will miss some of her favorite instructors — business instructor Nicole Fewins and Tom Gordon in history. She’s not sure how she’ll celebrate. She will have more time to train for the triathlons she does annually. She might visit her son who lives in New York City. Her sons might have something planned, too.

“My kids want to celebrate big,” she said.

Dance Mix 2019

Apr 30, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s Dance department will present Dance Mix 2019 at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5 in Milliken Auditorium.

Under the director of Dorothy Eisenstein, the annual end-of-year concert will feature choreography by NMC faculty, students and guest artists.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for students and seniors and available at mynorthtickets.com at and the door. Call (800) 836-0717 for more information.

For more information:

Dorothy Eisenstein
NMC Dance Department
deisenstein@nmc.edu