Bring your lunch and reconnect with your long-lost colleagues Friday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. Let’s break the isolation and regain the sense of community that makes NMC such a great place to work. This is an informal virtual event to bring us together and help us reconnect with each other. Join us for the conversation and reconnect across the NMC community.
Nominations are being accepted for the NMC Staff and Team Excellence Awards. Choose the links below to nominate your deserving colleagues!
Nominations must be received by Friday, March 19.
Please nominate colleagues whose work serves to inspire us, and who:
Recipients will receive both a monetary and a commemorative award which will be conferred at the April 2021 virtual NMC Retirement and Recognition Reception. Watch for your invitation coming soon!
Thank you for helping us value our colleagues!
NMC has received emergency funds for students as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to provide emergency help with educational costs (tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, books, supplies, or loan fees) or emergency costs due to coronavirus, such as health care (including mental health), technology, or child care.
If you qualify based on the above criteria: Apply for Emergency Aid here.
Aid will be awarded in the order of application.
The amount will be based on:
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Student Financial Services at sfs@nmc.edu.
As always we are here to assist you to make sure you are able to benefit from all aid that you are eligible for.
After investing more than 10 years in pursuit of her associate degree, the pandemic almost brought psychology student Brandee Sasser-Drone (left) to her breaking point, but federal aid distributed by NMC has kept her on track to graduate this semester and continue toward a bachelor’s degree.
The 35-year-old mother of two has twice received emergency financial assistance, in the spring of 2020 and again just this month. This second round of COVID-19 aid is part of the $22.7 billion Congress allocated to higher education in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) passed in December 2020. NMC received $4.1 million total, of which $1 million was earmarked for direct student aid.
Sasser-Drone received $1,200 of that, one of more than 900 NMC students who received funds this month based on financial need and enrollment status. The average award was $964.
“This last little bit of money, I paid bills that have been on the back burner since summer,” she said. “We’ve been living off of one cell phone, one car. I had to let car insurance lapse. Really vital, important things that NMC has helped us get back to a secure place.”
Nursing student Shelby Hansard, 26, who also received assistance in both rounds, agreed. She too juggles parenthood of an 18-month-old daughter with work as an LPN and school.
“The funds were helpful and allowed me to buy groceries for my family this month as well as a textbook that I really needed,” Hansard said.
The pandemic upset all Sasser-Drone’s financial security, from a paycheck to child support for her 11- and 8-year-old, and added demands like supervising their virtual education at home.
“All of our usual, consistent financial securities, as small as they were, they weren’t coming in,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d be able to finish school.”
The dean’s list student credits NMC psychology instructor Shiloh Smith for providing emotional support during the last semester.
“Shiloh kept me so motivated, so driven,” Sasser-Drone said. “I’m four-pointing my classes, which gives me a lot of pride.”
It’s also given her admission to Central Michigan University to finish her bachelor’s degree. She found out this week she was accepted to an online program starting this fall. She hopes to eventually work in mental health services within a law enforcement or correctional setting.
“I wouldn’t have been able to continue if it wasn’t for this help this year, and the NMC staff,” she said. “I highly recommend NMC to anyone who’s thinking about going to school.”
NMC developed a system to quickly and automatically distribute 85 percent of this round of student aid to those who qualified. An application process opens Thursday to award the remaining funds. Students will be notified directly how to apply, and the entire $1 million is expected to be distributed by mid-March.
The NMC Foundation’s Be What’s Possible campaign also has supported the emergency needs of students during the pandemic through the Fund for NMC. Give to the campaign here.
The $3 million NMC will receive in institutional funds this round must be used for expenses that are directly related to COVID. NMC will look at infrastructure improvements related to health and safety in buildings, and technology improvements.
“This financial support is critical to helping NMC meet the needs of the learners of our region” said Nick Nissley, NMC president. “In 2020, we pivoted quickly and made major changes to keep delivering education, while also keeping our students and employees safe, all without raising tuition. While we are proud of the work we’ve done to balance the budget so far, we know that some of those adjustments are one-time fixes. The pandemic will have a longer lasting impact on many industries, including higher education and we need to continue to look for ways to right the ship.”
Hello NMC community,
We are writing to share that the International Affairs Forum at NMC embarked upon a leadership transition this month.
Leila Hilal is stepping down as IAF’s first-ever director. She has made significant contributions since joining IAF in 2019. Her leadership will be missed.
Assuming the role of director in an interim capacity as of Feb. 1 is a familiar face: IAF board member Jim Bensley, who also serves as an instructor and director of International Services and Service Learning at NMC. He will split his time between the IAF and his other roles.
Jim will serve for one year, working with the IAF board to more closely integrate its work with NMC. He is ideally positioned to strengthen the IAF-NMC connection. As an instructor, he has enriched his classes at the college with visits from many IAF lecturers, even during the pandemic, and has led the creation of NMC’s Global Endorsement Certificate. He has also led many student study abroad experiences.
A search committee composed of IAF board members and NMC representatives will conduct a search for a permanent director. This task is expected to be completed by December 31, 2021. Alex Tank, communication and events program officer, will provide additional continuity during the leadership transition.
IAF’s winter-spring speaker series continues Thursday, Feb. 18, with the virtual presentation, “Outlooks on U.S. National Security.” For more information and to register for this virtual event go to tciaf.com. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
Thank you.
—
NMC Public Relations
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College today announced it has received a $1 million commitment from community members Kim Hagerty and Antonio Simão to support the college’s greatest needs and scholarships through two funds. The Kim Hagerty and Antonio Simão gift will support the Fund for NMC, the college’s unrestricted fund, which enables the college to address the greatest needs of its programs and students, such as emergency student support, future program innovations, and more.
“As we’ve seen during the pandemic, the Fund for NMC gives the college the flexibility to pivot to meet the changing needs of our learners at this time and in the future,” said NMC President Nick Nissley.
Additionally, Kim Hagerty and Antonio Simão have committed part of this gift to the Hagerty-Simão Family Scholarship Fund, which will annually provide scholarships to approximately 20 students, with preference to those enrolled in NMC’s Aviation program or the Commitment Scholarship program. As an endowed scholarship fund, these annual scholarships will be available to students in perpetuity.
“This gift from Kim and Antonio will help so many students be successful in reaching their academic goals through NMC,” Nissley said.
Kim Hagerty said that they were inspired by the realization of how important the college is in this community. “Antonio and I have such great confidence in NMC and what it is doing to support students. We want to keep that going,” Hagerty said. “We are so happy to be able to make this commitment.”
This pledge is included as part of the Be What’s Possible campaign, a fundraising initiative for scholarships, programs, facilities, and the Fund for NMC (greatest needs) at NMC. To date the Be What’s Possible campaign has raised more than $34 million towards a goal of $35 million.
Kim Hagerty and her family have long-standing connections to the college. Kim Hagerty served on NMC’s Foundation board for 10 years and continues to serve as an honorary member. Antonio Simão first attended NMC Aviation in 2004, receiving private, seaplane, and instrument ratings.
NMC Aviation trains professional pilots for successful careers in the cockpit. Offering both two- and four-year degree options, over its five decades the program has trained thousands of pilots who have flown everywhere from the military to legacy airlines to the Alaskan bush. Today, NMC Aviation serves more than 150 students each year in both domestic and international exchange programs, and is also a recognized leader in the field of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) training. Find out more at nmc.edu/aviation.
NMC’s Commitment Scholarship program promises a college education to selected northern Michigan ninth graders who are first-generation students, show academic promise and potential, and have financial need. Commitment provides mentoring and college preparatory activities during high school, and a tuition scholarship to NMC for up to 60 credits and/or three years, and has supported more than 1,500 students from across the region since 1993.
Rebecca Teahen
Associate Vice President for Resource Development
Executive Director, NMC Foundation
rteahen@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1855
TRAVERSE CITY — Jim Bensley, a board member of the International Affairs Forum (IAF) at Northwestern Michigan College, as well as an instructor and director of International Services and Service Learning at the college, has been named interim director of IAF.
For 27 years, the IAF has offered a monthly lecture series featuring experts in foreign and domestic affairs, politics and the media. Usually held at Milliken Auditorium, lectures have continued virtually during the pandemic. “Outlooks on U.S. National Security” is scheduled for Feb. 18.
Bensley will serve for one year, working with the IAF board to more closely integrate its work with NMC. He is ideally positioned to strengthen the IAF-NMC connection. As an instructor, he has enriched his classes at the college with visits from many IAF lecturers, even during the pandemic, and has led the creation of NMC’s Global Endorsement Certificate. He has also led many student study abroad experiences.
Bensley succeeds Leila Hilal, who in 2019 became the organization’s first-ever director. A search committee composed of IAF board members and NMC representatives will conduct a search for a permanent director. This task is expected to be completed by December 31, 2021. With the enduring support of members and corporate sponsors, the International Affairs Forum is energized to continue its mission of advancing understanding of the world and its critical issues. Find out more at tciaf.com.
Jim Bensley
IAF interim director
(231) 995-2527
jbensley@nmc.edu
TRAVERSE CITY — Jim Bensley, a board member of the International Affairs Forum (IAF) at Northwestern Michigan College, as well as an instructor and director of International Services and Service Learning at the college, has been named interim director of IAF.
For 27 years, the IAF has offered a monthly lecture series featuring experts in foreign and domestic affairs, politics and the media. Usually held at Milliken Auditorium, lectures have continued virtually during the pandemic. “Outlooks on U.S. National Security” is scheduled for Feb. 18.
Bensley will serve for one year, working with the IAF board to more closely integrate its work with NMC. He is ideally positioned to strengthen the IAF-NMC connection. As an instructor, he has enriched his classes at the college with visits from many IAF lecturers, even during the pandemic, and has led the creation of NMC’s Global Endorsement Certificate. He has also led many student study abroad experiences.
Bensley succeeds Leila Hilal, who in 2019 became the organization’s first-ever director. A search committee composed of IAF board members and NMC representatives will conduct a search for a permanent director. This task is expected to be completed by December 31, 2021. With the enduring support of members and corporate sponsors, the International Affairs Forum is energized to continue its mission of advancing understanding of the world and its critical issues. Find out more at tciaf.com.
Jim Bensley
IAF interim director
(231) 995-2527
jbensley@nmc.edu
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College today announced it has received a $1 million commitment from community members Kim Hagerty and Antonio Simão to support the college’s greatest needs and scholarships through two funds. The Kim Hagerty and Antonio Simão gift will support the Fund for NMC, the college’s unrestricted fund, which enables the college to address the greatest needs of its programs and students, such as emergency student support, future program innovations, and more.
“As we’ve seen during the pandemic, the Fund for NMC gives the college the flexibility to pivot to meet the changing needs of our learners at this time and in the future,” said NMC President Nick Nissley.
Additionally, Kim Hagerty and Antonio Simão have committed part of this gift to the Hagerty-Simão Family Scholarship Fund, which will annually provide scholarships to approximately 20 students, with preference to those enrolled in NMC’s Aviation program or the Commitment Scholarship program. As an endowed scholarship fund, these annual scholarships will be available to students in perpetuity.
“This gift from Kim and Antonio will help so many students be successful in reaching their academic goals through NMC,” Nissley said.
Kim Hagerty said that they were inspired by the realization of how important the college is in this community. “Antonio and I have such great confidence in NMC and what it is doing to support students. We want to keep that going,” Hagerty said. “We are so happy to be able to make this commitment.”
This pledge is included as part of the Be What’s Possible campaign, a fundraising initiative for scholarships, programs, facilities, and the Fund for NMC (greatest needs) at NMC. To date the Be What’s Possible campaign has raised more than $34 million towards a goal of $35 million.
Kim Hagerty and her family have long-standing connections to the college. Kim Hagerty served on NMC’s Foundation board for 10 years and continues to serve as an honorary member. Antonio Simão first attended NMC Aviation in 2004, receiving private, seaplane, and instrument ratings.
NMC Aviation trains professional pilots for successful careers in the cockpit. Offering both two- and four-year degree options, over its five decades the program has trained thousands of pilots who have flown everywhere from the military to legacy airlines to the Alaskan bush. Today, NMC Aviation serves more than 150 students each year in both domestic and international exchange programs, and is also a recognized leader in the field of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) training. Find out more at nmc.edu/aviation.
NMC’s Commitment Scholarship program promises a college education to selected northern Michigan ninth graders who are first-generation students, show academic promise and potential, and have financial need. Commitment provides mentoring and college preparatory activities during high school, and a tuition scholarship to NMC for up to 60 credits and/or three years, and has supported more than 1,500 students from across the region since 1993.
Rebecca Teahen
Associate Vice President for Resource Development
Executive Director, NMC Foundation
rteahen@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1855
Thank you for the love and caring shown to students by the Student Success coaches, Office of Student Life and Residence Life staff, who organized several Valentine’s Day activities last week and helped foster student connections.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
A conversation between musician and author Antionio Michael Downing and Kaylan Waterman, musician and host of Detroit’s Kumbuka, an annual remembrance of African Americans in the literary arts. Antonio Michael’s new book, Saga Boy; My Life of Blackness and Becoming, is being released in Canada this month and in the U.S. in September. Written, in part, in our own northern Michigan, Saga Boy tells the harrowing story of the 11-year old Antonio Michael’s displacement from the rainforest of Trinidad to the snowy wilderness of Canada when his beloved grandmother died and his subsequent metamorphosis.
Blackness & Becoming promises a captivating conversation between Downing and Waterman, as well as an opportunity for Q&A and audience comment.
Join event hosts the NMC Library and Title Track, on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. via zoom: nmc.zoom.us/j/
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.
This week’s top ten – IAF speaker, new Dennos exhibits, Michigan Reconnect
Northern Express, Feb. 15-21 (more…)
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
Institutional Racism and Restorative Justice: Oppression and Privilege in America
Author: Diane Carpenter Emling
Diane Emling, of Northwestern Michigan College, details America’s complex history of racism, demonstrating how it becomes embedded in society through land ownership, housing, education, health care, employment, public services, and criminal justice. For each of these issues, she suggests actions to restore justice. Directed at college undergraduate students and written in a comprehensive and accessible style, this book offers a much needed perspective on institutional racism. (more…)
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s International Affairs Forum presents a virtual lecture, ”Outlooks on U.S. National Security,” with speaker Karen Greenberg at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 18th.
Greenberg is the director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law and author of “Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State and The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days.” She is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a renowned expert on national security, terrorism, and civil liberties. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and on major news channels. The event will include a question and answer session.
For more information and to register for this virtual event go to tciaf.com. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Suggested donation is $10 for non-IAF members. Free to students and educators.
Alex Tank
IAF Communications & Events officer
atank@nmc.edu
(231) 995-2527
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s International Affairs Forum presents a virtual lecture, “Outlooks on U.S. National Security,” with speaker Karen Greenberg at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 18th.
Greenberg is the director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law and author of “Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State and The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days.” She is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a renowned expert on national security, terrorism, and civil liberties. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and on major news channels. The event will include a question and answer session.
For more information and to register for this virtual event go to tciaf.com. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Suggested donation is $10 for non-IAF members. Free to students and educators.
Alex Tank
IAF Communications & Events officer
atank@nmc.edu
(231) 995-2527
If you’re tired of the constant barrage of ads all over the World Wide Web, then you will want to get uBlock Origin installed on your favorite web browser. uBlock Origin will stop videos from automatically playing on news sites and ads from appearing on YouTube when you need to show your class or coworkers information on the web.
The International Affairs Forum presents Outlooks on US National Security with Karen Greenberg at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18. Greenberg is the director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law and author of Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State and The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days. She is a renowned expert on national security, terrorism, and civil liberties whose work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Nation, Mother Jones, and on major news channels. She is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Join the discussion about national security challenges facing the Biden-Harris administration.
For more information and to register for this virtual event, go to TCIAF.com.
Suggested donation $10 for non-members. Free to students and educators.
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College on Monday awarded more than 900 students an average of $964 apiece in the second round of federal coronavirus relief funds, which they may use for educational and emergency-related expenses.
Awards ranged from $275 to $1,600 and were based on student financial need and enrollment status. Students enrolled in at least 12 credits and who demonstrated greater financial need received higher amounts. Eligible expenses include tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, books, health care (including mental health care), technology and child care.
The funding is part of the $22.7 billion Congress allocated to higher education in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) passed in December 2020. NMC received $4.1 million total, of which $1 million was earmarked for direct student aid. Monday’s awards totaled $898,000, meaning 85 percent of the direct aid will be in the hands of students by Feb. 15.
“This financial support is critical to helping NMC meet the needs of the learners of our region. In 2020, we pivoted quickly and made major changes to keep delivering education, while also keeping our students and employees safe, all without raising tuition,” said Nick Nissley, NMC president. “While we are proud of the work we’ve done to balance the budget so far, we know that some of those adjustments are one-time fixes. The pandemic will have a longer lasting impact on many industries, including higher education and we need to continue to look for ways to right the ship.”
An application for students who were not in the auto-award group is expected to be available by Feb. 18, and students will be notified by email. Awards are expected to be complete by mid-March.
The CRRSAA funds follow the first round of pandemic relief funding, known as the CARES Act, awarded in April 2020. As with the CARES Act, NMC has one year to disburse and spend the funds.
The $3 million NMC will receive in institutional funds this round must be used for expenses that are directly related to COVID. NMC will look at infrastructure improvements related to health and safety in buildings, and technology improvements.
NMC received $2 million in 2020 from the $14.7 billion earmarked for higher education in the CARES Act. NMC awarded the $1 million in direct student aid within six months, half the allotted time.
Linda Berlin
NMC Director of Financial Aid
lberlin@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1533