NMC announces 2023 Outstanding Alumni

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is proud to announce the 2023 recipients of the college’s Outstanding Alumni award.

Jerry Dobek 2023 outstanding alumniJerry Dobek (Mathematics & General Arts & Sciences 1998, faculty/staff 1989-present): As a student and as a faculty member, Dobek has played a pivotal role in the operations of NMC’s Rogers Observatory and his teaching at NMC extends into numerous school-based, community and national programs.

High-resolution image of
Jerry Dobek

He has written over 50 dark sky ordinances for Michigan cities, is a founding member of the International Dark Sky Association and regularly consults on exterior lighting projects. He’s been recognized with a distinguished service award from NASA for their Ambassadors program, and has received NMC’s Imogene Wise Faculty award both as an adjunct and full-time faculty member. As one nominator wrote, “Dr. Jerry Dobek’s exemplary leadership…aligns with NMC’s values, at the core of his volunteering and public outreach is to bring the community together. Jerry Dobek put ‘community’ into community college. His life’s work revolves around student success. His heart for teaching extends into his life where everyday has become a classroom for learning opportunities.” 

Tiffany McQueer 2023 NMC Outstanding Alumni winner

High-resolution image of
Tiffany McQueer

Tiffany Smith McQueer (General Studies 2012, Practical Nursing 2013): McQueer and her husband Jason McQueer have owned J&S Hamburg South in Traverse City since 2014. With the onset of COVID-19, Tiffany McQueer saw a need to support families beyond the pick-up meals provided to students through schools during the week.

What began as one cooler outside their restaurant stocked with a handful of meals has turned into a full-fledged nonprofit organization, with three locations providing food, as well as drives for holiday gifts, winter wear, and back-to-school support. Project Feed the Kids has distributed over 225,000 meals over the past three years.

One nominator explained, “Tiffany is the best example of a local person who saw an urgent need…she mobilized her family, using her own time and business as a base of operation to Feed the Kids and provide many with a normal Christmas and other celebrations. Why? Because she’s been hungry before–and her empathy for others in need is a perfect reason for nominating her as an NMC Outstanding Alumni.”

Since 1988, Northwestern Michigan College’s Outstanding Alumni award has recognized graduates and past students for professional achievement 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. Recognition is not solely contingent on having received a degree or certificate from NMC, but on the achievements of the nominee and positive perspective as to the role that NMC played in their lives. Visit nmc.edu/alumni for more information and a nomination form.

Release date: JUNE 13, 2023

For more information:

Carly McCall
Director of Alumni Engagement
alumni@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1834

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE

Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discrimination

NASO pow wow honors graduates

2022 NMC Indigenous Peoples DaySaturday’s pow wow will be held south of the Osterlin
Building, where the 2022 Indigenous Peoples Day
was held. Download high-resolution image here.
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s Native American Student Organization will hold its 2023 pow wow honoring Native American graduates from 1–5 p.m. Saturday, June 17 on main campus. Grand Entry is at 2:30 p.m.

The pow wow will be held under the pines south of the Osterlin Building on main campus, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City. Admission and parking are free. The event will include food and other vendors in addition to traditional dancing. All tribal vendors from any tribe are welcome. Honorariums are available to the first 50 dancers.

Release date: June 12, 2023

For more information:

Sally Smarsty
Student Success Coordinator
ssmarsty@nmc.edu
Non-deadline inquiries: (231) 995-3021

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE

Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discrimination

Cafe Lobdell’s summer service

Café Lobdell’s, which functions as the capstone course in GLCI’s one-year baking certificate program, will reopen tomorrow for dine-in and carryout service.

Stop by the cafe to enjoy handcrafted drinks, and baked goods while witnessing experiential learning in action, all thanks to our talented students and dedicated colleagues at GLCI.

The cafe is open from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through July 20.


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

Media mentions for June 12, 2023

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.

The evolution of Pride in Michigan
Lansing Pulse, June 8
(more…)

NMC hosts Kids Free Fishing Day at Great Lakes campus

TRAVERSE CITY — More than 250 young anglers and their families are expected at the annual Kids Free Fishing Day, set from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at Northwestern Michigan College’s Great Lakes Campus.

Kids accompanied by an adult are invited to join in the free fishing fun. Under the supervision of the Department of Natural Resources, 750 rainbow trout 10 inches or longer will be stocked in the campus harbor for the event. Fishing rods, reels and bait are all provided. Children may also bring their own fishing gear. Experienced volunteers will help with baiting hooks and fishing instruction, and clean the fish.

The Great Lakes Children’s Museum will host a free fish painting activity for kids waiting to fish. There will also be a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flyover, contingent on availability. Parking is available at NMC’s Great Lakes Campus, located just east of the Delamar Hotel on U.S. 31.

Free Fishing Day is sponsored by Traverse City Rotary Clubs, Rotary Camps & Services, NMC, Friends of the Boardman, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, and the Northwest Michigan Fishing Club.

Release date: June 8, 2023

For more information:

Chris DeGood (Rotary)
cdegood@bria2.com
(231) 420-5601 (mobile)
(231) 933-8400 (office)

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE

Northwestern Michigan College does not discriminate in admission, campus activities, education, employment, housing, public accommodation or public service on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity/expression, handicap, height, marital or familial status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, service in the military, veteran’s status, weight, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. No act of retaliation shall occur to any person making a charge, filing a complaint, testifying or participating in any discrimination investigation or proceeding. nmc.edu/non-discrimination

Pride event organizers

Thanks to all who volunteered for the Pride carnival, the Cirque de TC Bays, and Rainbow Story Time that NMC hosted Saturday, June 3 as part of Up North Pride’s Pride Month events. In addition, free admission to the Dennos Museum Center was offered all day.


Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!

Media mentions for June 5, 2023

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.

Northern Living in brief: IAF
Record-Eagle, June 4
(more…)

Juneteenth celebration

NMC’s Juneteenth celebration will be held on Monday, June 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the courtyard area between the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center and East Hall, located on NMC’s main campus. Vendors, activities, and live music will be available. All are welcome.

Juneteenth celebration

The celebration concludes a series of events commemorating the day. Other activities include:

Northern Michigan E3 walk/run/roll on the Boardman Trail
Right Brain Brewery
Saturday, June 17
2-5 p.m.

“All together now” celebration
Traverse City District Library
Monday, June 19
10 a.m to 1 p.m

Screening of “Picturing the Obamas”
The Dennos Museum
Monday, June 19
1 p.m.
Visitors can enjoy free admission to the Dennos Museum from 11 am to 4 p.m.

 

Contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu for further information.

Free fraud awareness class

Extended Educational Services is hosting a free class on fraud awareness at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 19 in room 106/107 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Deputy Preston from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office will discuss how scammers think so you can better protect yourself and your loved ones.

Advance registration is required.

Root beer float social

NMC root beer social

Students, faculty and staff are invited to a root beer float social on Thursday, June 8 from 3–5 p.m in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center near the welcome desk. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

For questions, please contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu

Café Lobdell’s summer 2023 hours

Café Lobdell’s will reopen this summer from on June 13 for dine-in and carryout service. Enjoy handcrafted coffee and tea drinks, sweet and savory baked goods, and cafe-style to-go lunch items. Café Lobdell’s, which functions as the capstone course in GLCI’s one-year baking certificate program, is open from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through July 20.

Dine in and enjoy the West Bay view from the second level of NMC’s Great Lakes campus or carryout.

No reservations necessary. Closed July 4

Media mentions for May 30, 2023

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.

Free housing and cash: Munson ups the ante for nursing openings
Ticker, May 29
(more…)

Quick Bytes – Early Summer Training Classes

Join Alison Thornton at an upcoming Quick Bytes class to learn about technology available to employees at NMC. Each class is one hour, full of information and includes time for questions.

Google Drive for Desktop

Tuesday, June 9, Noon–1 p.m.
Learn how to set up and use Google Drive as a Network Drive. Save or Download from Microsoft, Adobe, Canva, and other applications directly to your P: Drive without having to go through the Google Drive application!
Register

Canva Basics

Monday, June 12, Noon–1 p.m.
Canva is a graphic layout program for flyers, newsletters, infographics, mind maps, and more. With thousands of templates, Canva is a great resource for design.
Register

Canva Advanced

Monday, June 19, Noon–1 p.m.
Canva has new and exciting potential! This is an advanced class on using Canva techniques such as photos, frames, color palettes, and filters, as well as, creating a reusable custom template.
Register

Canva New Features

Monday, June 26, Noon–1 p.m.
Covering new features such as presentations and docs, draw, resizing designs, magic features, text to images features, instant styles and layouts, using your designs on Instagram and the campus monitors, and more!
Register

Is there a specific topic that you’d like to see featured in an upcoming Quick Bytes class that you don’t see listed above? Email athornton@nmc.edu.

Need help with goals/evaluations in NEOED Perform?

Drop in sessions are available via Zoom. Click the links below to join one of the upcoming meetings. Stay for as much or as little time as you need!

Step-by-step instructions may also be found here:

Please review the timelines for goals and performance evaluations:

 

Adjunct Performance Review Timeline (Spring 2023)

May 12 Adjunct writes self review
June 26   Academic chair/reviewer writes review
June 26 Manage meeting reviewer
June 26   Acknowledge meeting; sign off electronically (both)

 

Faculty Performance Evaluations Timeline

April 24 Faculty current year goals (2022-2023) due in NEOED Perform
May 1   Supervisor approves current year goals in NEOED Perform*
May 26 Faculty self-evaluations due*
July 24 Supervisor evaluations finalized & meetings conducted*
July 31 Goals plans available to add new faculty goals (new)
Sep. 15 All faculty annual goal plans submitted to supervisor*
Oct. 13   Annual plan goals approved by supervisor*
Oct. 13   Faculty begin working on goals*

 

Staff MyPDCA Performance Review Timeline

April 24 Staff current year goals (2022-2023) due in NEOED Perform
May 1   Supervisors approve current year goals in NEOED Perform*
May 26 Staff self-evaluations due
June 23 Supervisor evaluations finalized & meetings conducted (forms signed by supervisor and employee)
June 23 Staff goal planning meetings completed
June 24 Staff goal plans available (bew)
July 21 Staff goal plans due to supervisor (electronically)
July 28 Supervisor approves staff goal plans
July 28 Staff begin working on their new goals

 

For additional support, please enter a HelpDesk ticket at helpdesk@nmc.edu under NEOED/SilkRoad or email hr@nmc.edu.