Nov 10, 2025 | Intercom, President Updates
The NMC Board of Trustees Fellows Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for the 2026 Northwestern Michigan College “Fellow” award. The Fellow is NMC’s highest honor and the following criteria are taken into consideration during the selection process.
- Demonstrated influential networking on behalf of the College – Exercising helpful influence among their resource networks in public life, academe or business and industry with those who can positively affect the mission of the College.
- Financial contribution – Demonstration of pattern of outstanding contributions over time to NMC.
- Time devoted in the interest of NMC – Exemplifying dedicated and loyal volunteer service over a period of years.
- Retirees – In addition to service deemed extraordinary during their active careers as members of the faculty and staff, retirees who continue to contribute to their academic or professional fields and provide exemplary service back to NMC as volunteers, mentors or advisors shall be considered.
Exceptional contributions in one or more of these areas may justify nomination. No staff, faculty, or trustee shall be named a Fellow while still employed or in office. A list of previously selected Fellows is available at nmc.edu/fellows
Please complete the Fellows nomination form to nominate a worthy candidate. Nominations may be submitted to the President’s Office and via e-mail to nmcpresident@nmc.edu by Friday, December 5, 2025.
President’s Office
1701 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI
Phone: (231) 995-1010
Nov 10, 2025 | HR Corner, Intercom
Nathan Richey recently started working at the college as a Student Accounts Specialist. Welcome to the NMC community!
Nov 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student Events
Join the Allied Health Sciences student group from Grand Valley State University for Heroes and Hoagies on Tuesday, November 11 from 11 a.m. to noon in the lobby of the James Beckett Building. The event is a small thank you to honor those who have served with free sandwiches and good company.
Special thanks to Jimmy John’s for their generous support of this event!
Nov 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Through a partnership with Anu Sushi, a refugee-founded sushi company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, sushi purchased from the Hawk Owl Café during the third quarter provided 620 meals, along with shelter and supplies, for at-risk children in Myanmar!
Sushi is available on Tuesdays and Fridays starting at 11 a.m. in the grab-and-go cooler at the Hawk Owl Café (while supplies last).
Nov 6, 2025 | Intercom, Student Events
Campus Life is hosting a volleyball tournament at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 21 in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building. This tournament is open to all employees and current students.
Nov 5, 2025 | Intercom, Menu, Student News
The Hawk Owl Café will run a Thanksgiving special on Tuesday, Nov. 18! Each meal costs $9.99 and includes turkey or quinoa-stuffed acorn squash, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, fresh rolls with butter and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. The special will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m., or while supplies last.
Nov 5, 2025 | Intercom, Student Events
The Marine Technology Society will host a bake sale from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12 in the Timothy J. Innovation Center hallway.
All proceeds benefit the Marine Technology Society Club.
Nov 5, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
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Nov 5, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
November 5, 2025
Next week’s fiftieth anniversary of the tragic Edmund Fitzgerald sinking in Lake Superior has renewed attention to the last Great Lakes shipwreck, but for Great Lakes Maritime Academy cadet Jeffrey Jager, no anniversary is required to remember.
“Most of us live with the Fitzgerald, especially those of us that consider the Midwest our home,” said Jager, 31, who grew up in metro Detroit before becoming a fourth-year deck cadet at GLMA, the nation’s only freshwater maritime academy.
The last ship he sailed on was built just two years after the Fitzgerald, by the same company. GLMA faculty worked with and taught others who sailed on the Fitz, at the time one of the largest ships on the Great Lakes. As a deck officer, when aboard ship he stands two four-hour watches per day, a duty he always takes seriously and which can be especially challenging on Superior, due to its size, geography and cold.
“Ultimately the vessel and its safe navigation are your responsibility,” he said. “As the watch officer, the lives of 30 people are in your hands.”
Crews are the same size now as they were then, too. The Fitzgerald went down with 29 aboard, including GLMA cadet David Weiss and alumnus Thomas Bentsen. GLMA, now a flagship NMC program but then just six years old, held a memorial service within a week. That tradition has continued every year since, and will be held again Nov. 10 at noon in the GLMA harborside courtyard. In 2023 Jager was tasked with ringing the memorial bell as each sailor’s name was read.
This year, he will spend Nov. 10 representing GLMA at another ceremony, the 26th annual Lost Mariners Remembrance, a joint U.S.-Canadian event on Detroit’s Belle Isle. But he urges the community to turn out for GLMA’s Mariners Memorial, when the often-invisible role of shipping becomes as clear as that bell tolling 29 times.
“We have a lot of people working extremely hard to keep our entire economy running, and they do it at great personal risk,” he said.
Nov 3, 2025 | Intercom
TRAVERSE CITY — The Board of Trustees of Northwestern Michigan College will hold a study session at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 in Room A of the NMC Hagerty Center on NMC’s Great Lakes Campus, 715 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686. The meeting agenda is available online.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Release date: November 3, 2025
Non-Discrimination Policy Notice
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discrimination
Nov 3, 2025 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thanks to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy for hosting the 50th annual Mariners Memorial Nov. 10, and NMC Student Veterans of America chapter adviser Ryan Deering for planning and hosting Veterans Day ceremonies Nov. 11. These annual back-to-back ceremonies remind us of NMC’s role as a community cornerstone, providing time and space to remember those who served in important roles in our individual and national life.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Nov 3, 2025 | Intercom
The new brand event assets that debuted at Opening Conference in August are available to check out from PRMC! These can help make your indoor and outdoor events more noticeable, fun and comfortable (shelter and shade), and increase awareness of the refreshed NMC brand. View images and links to the items here. They can be checked out using the promo request form on a first-come, first-served basis. Borrowers are responsible for pick up and return of items to the PRMC storage unit in the lower level of Scholars Hall.
- Four 10 x 10 pop-up logo tents, plus base weights to use outdoors
- Two large umbrellas (9 foot and 7 foot)
- Branded arch
- Four inflatable “big shiny balls” in green, blue and gold plus the pump to inflate and stakes to anchor outdoors
- Table runners in assorted colors
- Tablecloths
In addition, two branded NMC Jenga sets and two branded cornhole games are available to check out at the NMC Library. Thanks to the library for their willingness to put these items into their system.
Nov 3, 2025 | Intercom
We appreciate the faculty and staff at NMC! Stop by the Campus Bookstore or the Dennos Museum store November 18–20 for 25% off your entire purchase!
Excludes consignment and clearance. Cannot be combined with any other discounts.
Nov 3, 2025 | Intercom
Thanks for continuing to bring NMC’s new brand to life. Employees should have received their brand gift last week. We love seeing employees sporting their new logo wear around campus!
Email publicrelations@nmc.edu to let us know what you think of your new brand item. Send a picture of yourself with your new brand item for a chance to win a hammock!
Nov 3, 2025 | Intercom, Media Mentions
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.
Commemorating the Edmund Fitzgerald’s 50th Anniversary
Ticker, Nov. 3
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Nov 3, 2025 | Intercom, Student Events
The NMC Jazz Bands are partnering with Toys for Tots for our Swingin’ For The Season concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. This year, we’ll be joined by a fabulous pair of guest vocalists, Emily Kuschell and Scott Carter. Both the Lab Band and Big Band will be playing great holiday and seasonal Jazz, including music from Duke Ellington, WDR Big Band, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bob Curnow, Frank Sinatra, Rogers & Hammerstein, Bing Crosby, and more!
Each TOY DONATION for Toys for Tots gives you one free admission to the concert. You don’t need to purchase a ticket with a toy donation, and it’s a great opportunity to spread some holiday cheer for those less fortunate! Your new, unwrapped toy can be donated at the door, and we will have people collecting those toys in the lobby. Our event will take place in the magnificent Milliken Auditorium. Known for its state-of-the-art acoustics and comfortable seating, the Milliken Auditorium provides the perfect backdrop for this musical extravaganza. The NMC Jazz Bands, a conglomerate of talented NMC students and community musicians, are all set to dazzle the audience with their musical prowess.
NO TOY? NO PROBLEM!
Tickets are available in advance for a discount at 
NMC Music Department Events. Tickets at the door are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors. Exact change cash purchases at the door are appreciated! Contact the NMC Box Office line at (231) 995-1340 for questions or assistance purchasing tickets.
Nov 3, 2025 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Chris Hanna! Chris came to my rescue after hours as I was trying to get the computer and projector working before my advisory board committee meeting. He was clearly getting ready to leave work, but stayed and helped me get the equipment running!
Kudos to Shannon Croll! Shannon is super knowledgeable and always shows a genuine interest in helping me achieve my goals! She is the best advisor a student could ask for. She is very responsive and is always smiling during our meetings. I truly appreciate all that she has helped me with, I know I wouldn’t be as organized without her!
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!
Nov 3, 2025 | HR Corner, Intercom
Jack Shiner recently started working at the college as a supplemental employee in front of house food service. Welcome to the NMC community!
