Presidential Search Community Forum

Mar 22, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — On April 2, 2019, the NMC Presidential Search Firm Consultant will hold a public forum to gather input from community members. Marsi Liddell from Pauly Group will explain the search process and ask for comments regarding expectations, visions, and qualities for the next president of NMC. The forum will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Hagerty Center.

Current NMC President Timothy J. Nelson plans to retire at the end of 2019. As NMC’s longest-serving president, he has led the college since 2001. The Board of Trustees selected Pauly Group Inc, as their search consultant in January 2019.

Release Date: March 22, 2019

For More Information:

Holly Gorton
Executive Assistant to the Board of Trustees
hgorton@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1010

Former NASA administrator and astronaut visits Traverse City

Mar 20, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY —  Student and community audiences have separate opportunities to hear from former NASA administrator and astronaut Gen. Charles Bolden and two other astronauts with northern Michigan ties on April 3 in Traverse City, where a niche aerospace industry is gaining momentum.

Event details:

Wednesday, April 3, 10:10 a.m. Traverse City Central High School

Free to all area students, an opportunity to hear three astronauts discuss space, robotics and technology. Former NASA administrator Bolden commanded four space shuttle flight, including deploying the Hubble Space Telescope. He will be joined by former astronauts Jerry Linenger, of Suttons Bay, and Greg Johnson in a presentation on space, robotics and technology.

Linenger spent nearly five months aboard the Russian space station Mir, surviving the most severe fire ever aboard an orbiting spacecraft. He is the author of the bestselling book, Off the Planet, and is featured in National Geographic’s hit series One Strange Rock, now on Netflix.

Johnson, a longtime summer resident, piloted two space shuttle missions to the International Space Station. He is a former colonel and pilot of the U.S. Air Force, aerospace engineer, MBA, and fighter/test pilot. He now leads the Traverse City-based nonprofit Newton’s Road, which works to advance STEM education and local workforce opportunities.

Teachers interested in bringing students should contact John Failor, Failorjo@tcaps.net or 231/933-6592 by April 1 with an approximate number of students attending.

Wednesday, April 3, 6 p.m., Milliken Auditorium

Bolden will present “NASA’s Journey of Discovery: The Future of Space Exploration” in an International Affairs Forum lecture open to the public. Tickets are $15 and available at the door. Bolden logged  more than 680 hours in space. His missions included deploying the Hubble Space telescope, launching the first SPACELAB mission, and inaugurating the first joint U.S.-Russian shuttle mission.

The appearances come as local economic development leaders strive to make aerospace employment a niche industry. Event sponsors include Newton’s Road, Traverse City-based Atlas Space Operations and Traverse City Space Accelerator LLC.

Release date: march 20, 2019

For more information:

Karen Segal
International Affairs Forum co-chair
(231) 715-6064
karenpsegal@gmail.com

Sexual Assault Awareness Week events

Mar 18, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, NMC’s Office of Student Life will host four on-campus events the week of April 8–11.

The events aim to educate students how to prevent sexual violence and advocate for those who have been impacted by providing connections to resources, dialogue and information. These events will also offer an opportunity for students to learn about topics such as consent, healthy relationships and dating.

“Our fourth annual Take Back the Night event, along with some exciting new events this year, will make for a powerful week of education and advocacy,” said Lisa Thomas, NMC Dean of Students. “Please join us in standing against sexual assault and empowering our students and community alike in being a safe and respectful place for all.”

Monday, April 8: Nacho Macho Man. East Hall Basement, 6 p.m.
Nachos and a discussion about men’s perspectives in the #MeToo movement. NMC staff Marcus Bennett, Paul Kolak, Steve Dixon and Scott Herzberg will lead this conversation with students.

Tuesday, April 9: Take Back The Night march and rally. Hagerty Center, 5 p.m.
Open to the community, NMC’s fourth Take Back the Night event focuses on ending sexual, relationship, and domestic violence in all forms. Participants will march through downtown Traverse City, followed by a speak-out designed to empower survivors and advocates, and provide connections to community resources.

Wednesday, April 10: Can I Kiss You? Milliken Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
Communication is key in all relationships. Speaker Mike Domitrz presents a powerful program through honest discussion and humor that teaches how to ask for what you want — without playing any of the games. Free and open to the community and to high school students ages 16 and up. This event is sponsored through the Michigan DHHS Campus Sexual Assault Grant Program.

Thursday, April 11: Solace & Solidarity: Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence. Milliken Auditorium, 6 p.m.
Emily Sioma, Miss Michigan 2018 – A courageous and outspoken survivor of campus sexual assault will share her story and journey to healing. A short Q&A Panel discussion will follow. The ticketed event is a benefit for the Women’s Resource Center for the Grand Traverse Area. The first 50 tickets for NMC students are free. Tickets available at mynorthtickets.com.

Release date: March 18, 2019

For more information:

Shannon Friedgen
NMC Office of Student Life
sfriedgen@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1118

Success Story: VisComm graduate Aaron Draplin designs a postage stamp

Mar 13, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

March 13, 2019

Postage stamps are barely a single square inch, but designing one that will be available next week ranks among the biggest moments in the career of NMC alumnus Aaron Draplin.

Draplin, a 1993 visual communications graduate who now runs Draplin Design Studio in Portland, Ore., is the designer of the Star Ribbon, a commemorative stamp the U.S. Postal Service will officially release on March 22.

Draplin  said in a February Instagram post that “tears (were) rolling down my cheeks” when he was notified of his patriotically-themed design’s selection. It is one of five first-class stamps to be released next week and will get the largest print run, “in the millions” according to Postal Service spokesman Roy Betts. It will be available in sheets of 20 and coils of 10,000.

Draplin said the universal availability of stamps is what appeals to him.

“Everyone needs a stamp. Everyone gets to enjoy the art on them. Too many times, art and design is only for those who can afford it. Stamps? They are a democratization of design. And that? That’s my favorite kind of graphic design,” he posted on Instagram.

Betts said the office receives 30,000–40,000 suggestions for stamp subjects each year. Suggestions are vetted to be sure they meet criteria — for instance, living subjects cannot be featured on stamps. The vetted list is then reviewed by the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee, appointed by the U.S. Postmaster General.

“They see stamps as a way to tell America’s story, not only here in the United States but throughout the world,” Betts said.

The Postmaster General then makes the final selection. About 5,000 subjects have been featured on stamps since the U.S. Postal Service was founded in 1847.

“It’s one of the nation’s highest honors.” Betts said. “The postal service is proud to tell America’s story from a historical perspective.”

Draplin’s design firm has worked with clients ranging from Ford Motor Co. to the Obama administration. He grew up in Michigan and last returned to NMC in 2015, in conjunction with an exhibition at the Dennos Museum Center. He said the VisComm program offered him a taste of everything in the design world. “I learned how to take a photo, draw naked bodies, paint, build a portfolio, sculpt, draw in rigid perspective, write a paper, get lost in Roman architecture, and, design a logo in this new stuff called ‘design software,’” Draplin said in an NMC newsletter. “I packed in so much. It took me a couple years to realize how much they unlocked in me. Everyone escapes their hometown. I did as soon as I could, but did it armed. Armed with a great foundation. And I’m thankful to NMC for that privilege.”

Success Story: VisComm graduate Aaron Draplin designs a postage stamp

Mar 13, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

March 13, 2019

Postage stamps are barely a single square inch, but designing one that will be available next week ranks among the biggest moments in the career of NMC alumnus Aaron Draplin.

Draplin, a 1993 visual communications graduate who now runs Draplin Design Studio in Portland, Ore., is the designer of the Star Ribbon, a commemorative stamp the U.S. Postal Service will officially release on March 22.

Draplin  said in a February Instagram post that “tears (were) rolling down my cheeks” when he was notified of his patriotically-themed design’s selection. It is one of five first-class stamps to be released next week and will get the largest print run, “in the millions” according to Postal Service spokesman Roy Betts. It will be available in sheets of 20 and coils of 10,000.

Draplin said the universal availability of stamps is what appeals to him.

“Everyone needs a stamp. Everyone gets to enjoy the art on them. Too many times, art and design is only for those who can afford it. Stamps? They are a democratization of design. And that? That’s my favorite kind of graphic design,” he posted on Instagram.

Betts said the office receives 30,000–40,000 suggestions for stamp subjects each year. Suggestions are vetted to be sure they meet criteria — for instance, living subjects cannot be featured on stamps. The vetted list is then reviewed by the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee, appointed by the U.S. Postmaster General.

“They see stamps as a way to tell America’s story, not only here in the United States but throughout the world,” Betts said.

The Postmaster General then makes the final selection. About 5,000 subjects have been featured on stamps since the U.S. Postal Service was founded in 1847.

“It’s one of the nation’s highest honors.” Betts said. “The postal service is proud to tell America’s story from a historical perspective.”

Draplin’s design firm has worked with clients ranging from Ford Motor Co. to the Obama administration. He grew up in Michigan and last returned to NMC in 2015, in conjunction with an exhibition at the Dennos Museum Center. He said the VisComm program offered him a taste of everything in the design world. “I learned how to take a photo, draw naked bodies, paint, build a portfolio, sculpt, draw in rigid perspective, write a paper, get lost in Roman architecture, and, design a logo in this new stuff called ‘design software,’” Draplin said in an NMC newsletter. “I packed in so much. It took me a couple years to realize how much they unlocked in me. Everyone escapes their hometown. I did as soon as I could, but did it armed. Armed with a great foundation. And I’m thankful to NMC for that privilege.”

Free screening of Straws documentary at the Dennos

Mar 12, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

When: Wednesday, March 20

Where: The Dennos Museum – Milliken Auditorium

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and film will begin at 6 p.m. (33 mins long). There will be community discussion and refreshments will also be provided.

Hoping to raise awareness about the excessive plastic pollution within our Great Lakes and how even the smallest of changes can have a huge impact. Plastic takes over 500 years to decompose! And plastic waste is now becoming one of the greatest threats to our lakes.