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Great Lakes Maritime Academy alumnus Richard Gray (’14) passed away in a tragic accident this winter while working aboard a Great Lakes ship. Through the month of February, the Women on the Water student organization is leading a cans & bottles fundraising drive in his honor. All proceeds will go directly to Mr. Gray’s wife and three young children.
Donations of empty cans and bottles may be dropped off in bins located near the Hawk Owl Cafe and the NMC Bookstore on Main Campus, or in the student enclave at the Great Lakes Campus.
Contact Brittni Moore (moore669@mail.nmc.edu) if you would like to make a larger donation and need to coordinate a pickup.
Sound Bytes is a student-produced project put on by NMC’s Audio Technology Program. These livestreamed musical productions include professional level recordings and performances giving students, local bands and musicians the opportunity to showcase their skills.
The livestreams will be available on the Audio Technology Program’s YouTube channel and Instagram feed.
Asked to name notable Black Americans, and a few relatively contemporary figures usually come to mind: Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey.
The Voices Project, a new experiential learning project in conjunction with NMC’s Embrace the Dream Martin Luther King/Black History Month programming, aims to elevate the recognition of lesser-known individuals throughout history, like Capt. Hugh Mulzac, journalist Ida B. Wells-Barnett and nurse Mary Eliza Mahoney.
Taking place in campus hallways through the end of the month, the Voices Project is part open-access history lesson, part diversity and inclusion showcase and is aligned with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion area of NMC Next, the college’s new strategic plan. The poster-size portraits of Black Americans hang in the academic buildings corresponding to their subject’s field – from the first Black registered nurse (Mahoney) to the first Black merchant marine naval officer to command an integrated crew during World War II (Mulzac) to journalist and NAACP co-founder (Wells-Barnett) who was born into slavery.
The posters were designed by Fine Arts student Gavin Bebb.
“I think there’s a strong connection between art and social issues. I felt honored to be a part of the project and helping to bring awareness to others,” said Bebb, 21, of Traverse City. “These are unsung individuals who really changed how we progress in our world today.”
Fine arts instructor Glenn Wolff (right, with Bebb, far right) approached Bebb about the experiential learning project at the end of 2021. From a faculty-curated list of potential subjects, Wolff obtained images in the public domain or permission to use them. Bebb then created the Voices Project logo and edited the images into portraits, cropping, magnifying and manipulating small original files into the 30 x 40 posters.
“All the things I learned over the fall semester I put into these posters,” he said.
Each also includes short biographical text researched by NMC faculty, and a QR code that a viewer can scan for the complete list of poster subjects.
“To me a desired outcome is that students, when they view the posters in their various areas at NMC, discover these Black contributors and are inspired to learn more about, and reflect on, the importance of their stories, and the reasons for their relative absence,” Wolff said.
Wolff was able to obtain permission for 17 images. Other portrait subjects are research chemist Percy Julian, mathematician Gladys West and artist and illustrator Aaron Douglas. Wolff’s drawing students are now working on sketches for another five subjects for whom permission could not be obtained.
“It’s morphing into student artwork,” he said.
The Voices Project posters will be on display at least through February. Wolff envisions it becoming an annual event.
TRAVERSE CITY — In an innovative partnership aimed at meeting crucial statewide workforce development needs, Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) and Michigan Technological University (MTU) have collaborated to launch a series of professional development courses this spring.
The course offerings, which are aimed at survey, civil engineering and infrastructure specialists, will allow busy working professionals to earn credentials and fulfill their continuing education requirements. These convenient, short-format (around two hours) courses will cover topics in the following areas:
Registration is expected to open by the end of February. Prospective students can add themselves to the professional development series notification list online.
This is not the first partnership between NMC and MTU. The two universities have teamed up on multiple endeavors, with the most recent being a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on Great Lakes research. The Surveying Technologies series is an outgrowth of that important cooperative agreement.
Both schools are respected for their marine research. Northwestern Michigan College is home to the Marine Center, which offers comprehensive professional development solutions year-round to the marine, surveying and remote sensing industries. NMC also offers associate degree programs in surveying and engineering technology-marine as well as a bachelor’s degree in marine technology.
Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) harnesses the interdisciplinary expertise of biologists, geologists, chemists, engineers, remote-sensing specialists and others to examine crucial issues in freshwater research including modeling for better forecasts and climate predictions and assessing the spread of invasive species. Home base for the Superior Supercomputer as well as the Marine Autonomy Research (MARS) Smart Ships Coalition, the first freshwater test bed of its kind, GLRC accomplishes much of its work on, above and beneath Great Lakes waters utilizing the latest technologies, from smart buoys to its fleet of research vessels.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the university offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. Michigan Tech’s Global Campus offers a variety of graduate degree and certificate programs.
Ed Bailey
Program Director
The Marine Center at Northwestern Michigan College
ebailey@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1215
TRAVERSE CITY — In an innovative partnership aimed at meeting crucial statewide workforce development needs, Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) and Michigan Technological University (MTU) have collaborated to launch a series of professional development courses this spring.
The course offerings, which are aimed at survey, civil engineering and infrastructure specialists, will allow busy working professionals to earn credentials and fulfill their continuing education requirements. These convenient, short-format (around two hours) courses will cover topics in the following areas:
Registration is expected to open by the end of February. Prospective students can add themselves to the professional development series notification list online.
This is not the first partnership between NMC and MTU. The two universities have teamed up on multiple endeavors, with the most recent being a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on Great Lakes research. The Surveying Technologies series is an outgrowth of that important cooperative agreement.
Both schools are respected for their marine research. Northwestern Michigan College is home to the Marine Center, which offers comprehensive professional development solutions year-round to the marine, surveying and remote sensing industries. NMC also offers associate degree programs in surveying and engineering technology-marine as well as a bachelor’s degree in marine technology.
Michigan Tech’s Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) harnesses the interdisciplinary expertise of biologists, geologists, chemists, engineers, remote-sensing specialists and others to examine crucial issues in freshwater research including modeling for better forecasts and climate predictions and assessing the spread of invasive species. Home base for the Superior Supercomputer as well as the Marine Autonomy Research (MARS) Smart Ships Coalition, the first freshwater test bed of its kind, GLRC accomplishes much of its work on, above and beneath Great Lakes waters utilizing the latest technologies, from smart buoys to its fleet of research vessels.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the university offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. Michigan Tech’s Global Campus offers a variety of graduate degree and certificate programs.
Ed Bailey
Program Director
The Marine Center at Northwestern Michigan College
ebailey@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1215
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is seeking nominations for the 2022 Outstanding Alumni awards. Nominations will be accepted through March 1, 2022.
Since 1988, Northwestern Michigan College’s Outstanding Alumni award has recognized graduates and past students for significant professional achievements and/or exemplary leadership in the local or global community. Nominees for this award should have demonstrated accomplishments that also reflect the NMC values of dedication to life-long learning, innovation and integrity, and respect for and collaboration with others.
More information and the nomination form can be found on the NMC website at nmc.edu/alumni. Nominations may be submitted online. To have a paper nomination form mailed, those interested can call (231) 995-1834 or email alumni@nmc.edu.
The 2022 Outstanding Alumni recipients were Alex Brace, Dr. Amanda Kiessel, Dr. Cliff McClain, and Cindy Warren. A complete list of past honorees may be found online. For more information about NMC’s Alumni program, visit nmc.edu/alumni.
* * * * *
Northwestern Michigan College is a publicly funded community college that serves more than 50,000 learners annually throughout the Grand Traverse region and beyond. NMC offers associate degrees, professional certificates and bachelor’s degrees. The college is home to the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and the Great Lakes Culinary Institute as well as nationally recognized aviation and unmanned systems programs. For more information, visit Northwestern Michigan College at nmc.edu.
Carly McCall
Director of Alumni Engagement
alumni@nmc.edu
(231) 995-2825
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is seeking nominations for the 2022 Outstanding Alumni awards. Nominations will be accepted through March 1, 2022.
Since 1988, Northwestern Michigan College’s Outstanding Alumni award has recognized graduates and past students for significant professional achievements and/or exemplary leadership in the local or global community. Nominees for this award should have demonstrated accomplishments that also reflect the NMC values of dedication to life-long learning, innovation and integrity, and respect for and collaboration with others.
More information and the nomination form can be found on the NMC website at nmc.edu/alumni. Nominations may be submitted online. To have a paper nomination form mailed, those interested can call (231) 995-1834 or email alumni@nmc.edu.
The 2022 Outstanding Alumni recipients were Alex Brace, Dr. Amanda Kiessel, Dr. Cliff McClain, and Cindy Warren. A complete list of past honorees may be found online. For more information about NMC’s Alumni program, visit nmc.edu/alumni.
* * * * *
Northwestern Michigan College is a publicly funded community college that serves more than 50,000 learners annually throughout the Grand Traverse region and beyond. NMC offers associate degrees, professional certificates and bachelor’s degrees. The college is home to the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and the Great Lakes Culinary Institute as well as nationally recognized aviation and unmanned systems programs. For more information, visit Northwestern Michigan College at nmc.edu.
Carly McCall
Director of Alumni Engagement
alumni@nmc.edu
(231) 995-2825
Seeking info about the cost of college, available financial aid and scholarships? Have other questions?
Attend the Virtual Financial Aid Fair, brought to you by NMC Enrollment Services, from 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16.
The library has recently purchased many new books. You can view a handful of them here along with descriptions or go to the library catalog to see the full listing.
Congratulations to Water Studies Institute Director Hans Van Sumeren and everyone else involved in making NMC’s Bachelor of Science in Marine Technology program the fourth most-focused ocean engineering program in the nation, according to CollegeFactual.com. Northwestern Michigan College is the only community college and the only non-coastal school to make the online ranking of the nation’s top ocean engineering programs. Read more about the ranking here.
Thanks to the more than 70 people who participated in the Town Hall trivia “Guess Who: PC Edition!” The winners will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch at Lobdell’s with President Nick Nissley.
Congratulations to the top 4:
We had a 4-way tie for 5th place between:
Congratulations winners! Watch your emails for scheduling details.
In case you’re curious, here are the correct answers to the quiz!
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
This month, NMC will introduce its Workplace Readiness Series aimed at filling the technical and workplace skills gap faced by many northern Michigan employers. This new series of online training will equip workers with skills in areas ranging from computer literacy to business communications to project management fundamentals.
Through the Workplace Readiness Series, workers can achieve professional certificates and micro-credentials. Specific programs will include:
Employers across the Grand Traverse Region continue to face vast challenges related to attracting and retaining talent. In Spring 2021, Traverse Connect surveyed regional employers to uncover the reasons behind these challenges and to propose recommendations. The Workplace Readiness Series is a response to the 2021 Grand Traverse Region Skills Gap Study.
Sessions will be bite-sized — brief in length, but thorough in content — allowing participants already in the workplace to gain and/or enhance their skills and apply them to their jobs in short order.
“NMC is thrilled to partner with Traverse Connect to deliver this new series to the community. It is our vision to provide educational opportunities to transform lives, and play a part in addressing this unprecedented challenge for employers’ workforce needs,” said NMC Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Jason Slade.
“NMC’s new certificate and micro-credential programs showcase the college’s flexibility and responsiveness to the business community’s urgent needs. After we reported the findings from the 2021 Grand Traverse Region Skills Gap Study in September, our regional employers and workforce already have new programs available locally to help advance the skillsets of regional employees,” said Traverse Connect CEO Warren Call.
Online classes start Feb. 7 with subsequent sessions later in the spring. For more information on the Workplace Readiness Series, visit nmc.augusoft.net, or contact Ed Bailey (ebailey@nmc.edu) or Elizabeth Sonnabend (esonnabend@nmc.edu).
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.
NMC Ranks Among Top Ocean Engineering Schools In The Country
The Ticker, February 3 (more…)
The International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College presents “China: Is Détente Possible” featuring Kenneth Jarrett, Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. Eastern. Jarrett’s 26-year diplomatic career includes postings in Beijing, Chengdu and Singapore. He served as Consul General in Shanghai, and as Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong. In the private sector, Jarrett served five years as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
Jarrett is a frequent commentator on the business environment in China, and he has been quoted in outlets including Bloomberg, the Economist, the Financial Times, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, among others. In addition to commenting on recent headlines involving China, Jarrett will share his nuanced understanding of Chinese business dynamics and their political underpinnings, illuminated by historical and cultural context.
Kenneth Jarrett will connect from Shanghai. The moderator for this conversation will be Steve Fisher, IAF co-chair and a former executive who worked 15 years in Asia with Korn/Ferry, KPMG and A.T. Kearney.
This is a virtual event via Zoom with a suggested donation of $10. All IAF events are free to current students and educators. Learn more at TCIAF.com.
Welcome to NMC!
Kudos to Kailey Rubinas: Kailey has been an amazing leader to our students and her team. Over the past month, she has stepped up as a supplemental and taken on a leadership role, helping organize both her colleagues and classmates. With her supervisor out for medical reasons, she stepped in and helped the coaching team get connected with students and faculty at the beginning of the semester. Kailey has collaborated with multiple departments on campus to make sure coaching and events were being taken care of. She is our rockstar and we’re so grateful for all that she does for our students and team!
Kudos to Lori Hodek: Lori has been the Queen of Organization & Leadership for the newly launched Embrace the Dream Initiative. Lori stepped in and orchestrated a cross-campus, college-wide event that is ongoing and happening despite us being in the middle of the pandemic. Despite uncertainties, she continued to push our team forward and lead with enthusiasm. She scheduled meetings, created spreadsheets, lists, follow-up items, and more for multiple groups and sub-groups. We always knew where to find minutes and knew what was expected of us. Great project management! This is the first year of many of these to come, and I’m so grateful that we had Lori as our leader! Thank you!
Kudos to Ryan Bernstein, Ali Thornton, Lisa Boike, and Paul Martin: These fine folks are working extra hard to devise a way to pull our EES Moodle students into Moodle behind the scenes. With our new system, Lumens, we are still working on the integration to Moodle process. Thank you, Ryan, Ali, Lisa, and Paul!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them! (more…)