May 28, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Brush up on English, math, college readiness in 4-week session
TRAVERSE CITY — Registration is now open for Adult College Edge (ACE), a free program NMC is hosting July 7–31 to help college students 21+ prepare for their fall semester.
Adult College Edge is a four-week program to help prepare students to succeed in math, English and college skills before they start or continue college at NMC this fall. Edge uses a hybrid schedule. Students will attend on-campus Tuesdays and Thursdays complete other coursework online at their own pace. Two options are available:
- Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Upon successfully completing the program, students will earn a $250 scholarship toward NMC’s fall semester and a graphing calculator. Meals, class supplies and gas cards for transportation to campus are also included. To get started, fill out this online interest form.
College Edge debuted in 2023. It is part of the investment the state of Michigan is making in its adult student-age population. State scholarships available now include the Community College Guarantee for the high school class of 2025, and Michigan Reconnect for adults 25 and older who don’t already have a degree. Both programs make tuition free to in-district students (Grand Traverse County residents.)
Release date: May 27, 2025
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
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
May 27, 2025 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thanks to everyone who contributed to NMC earning Military-Friendly school status this year,The award was based on NMC’s performance in multiple categories of service to military and veteran students. The most heavily weighted, at 30 percent each, are military student support and retention, and graduation and career outcomes. NMC was one of only two community colleges in Michigan to earn the distinction. Read the news release here.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
May 27, 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.
Traverse City has one of just two ‘Military-Friendly’ community colleges in Michigan
Ticker, May 26
(more…)
May 27, 2025 | HR Corner, Intercom
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
(more…)
May 27, 2025 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to John Lutchko, Scott Swan, Phil McCuien, Brian Sweeney, Colleen Burry, Georgenia Hromada, Lisa Cooper, Tyler Bristol and Lisa vonReichbauer. The Yellow River Conservancy Technical University partnership is unique as it brings together NMC’s Construction Technology and Marine Technology programs for an international education experience. This experience begins by teaching online to the YRCTU cohort in the fall followed by an immersive in-person teaching course in the Spring. This program is over 10 years old, but had to be redeveloped from scratch this spring as the pandemic had changed much of the interaction. Execution would not have been possible without a cross-functional team willing to admit and register the students, passionate instructors to deliver the classes, and effective logistics to add appropriate sections and manage the travel process. I want to recognize those that played key roles in this:
-
- Georgenia Hromada for developing class sections, completing admissions paperwork and managing contracts.
- Lisa vonReichbauer for managing the admissions and applications process (and not skewing our traditional academic metrics).
- Scott Swan, John Lutchko, Phil McCuien, Brian Sweeney and Tyler Bristol for developing and delivering the curriculum for the cohorts. Thank you to John, Phil, Brian and Tyler for traveling to China this spring for the hands-on portion of the classes. The trip is very difficult!
- Colleen Burry for handing the records and registrations aspect including registration, grade reporting and diplomas.
- Lisa Cooper for managing travel logistics including visa applications, travel requirements and business travel.
- To all – thank you for managing the timeline, budget and manual processes that are required to complete this!
Kudos to the NMC Custodial Team. Their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in turning over both East and North Hall within a limited timeframe has been nothing short of extraordinary. Preparing both dorms for incoming summer students, interns and visiting groups is a monumental task. They rose to the occasion and exceeded expectations with professionalism, speed and care while still managing their daily tasks in other areas of our campuses.
We appreciate the dedication and effort of our custodial team, which allows us to provide clean, inviting and cozy environments that showcase our pride in the campus and our commitment to NMC’s value of excellence. We are sincerely thankful for all that they do (often working quietly in the background) and we acknowledge and honor their vital contribution to our success.
Thank you, custodial team! You are the core of this operation, and we recognize your hard work:
-
- Angie Adamick
- Sharon Angel
- Lawrence Albosta
- Pat Coy
- Steve Fewins
- Brenda Garvon
- Nicholas Gates
- Sandy Harrand
- Laura Mashburn
- Elijah McCullough
- Robin Maloney
- Phil Mosier
- Cameron Palmer
- Charles Russell
- Ronda Russell-Yanski
- Terri Scarlett
- Craig Shattuck
- Kenny Sonnabend
- Nathan Sonnabend
- Angela Zirotte
Kudos to Robert Watrous. Many thanks to LT. Robert Watrous for not only agreeing to carry in the U.S. flag for Commencement 2023 but for establishing a functioning Color Guard that participated in our 2024 & 2025 ceremonies. This will be a part of our ceremonies for years to come! He led the training and practice sessions and also secured the required equipment. We are so grateful for this honorable legacy that will live on at NMC. Thank you, Lieutenant!
Kudos to Emily Crull. Emily assisted with the creation of the Commencement program and various other printed materials for the event. She jumped into action when we had last minute requests or unexpected changes and helped us get through some tricky situations at a stressful time. Thank you Emily for your help and for producing high quality graphics for our special day!
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!
May 27, 2025 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
-
- Derrick Childress — Aviation Recruiter
- Jaxon Beer, supplemental employee — T/S State of Michigan Culinary Intern
May 27, 2025 | Intercom
The Admissions department in collaboration with Public Relations, Marketing & Communications will have a booth at the entrance to the Cherry Festival near Marina Drive (next to the food court near the beverage tent) from Saturday, June 28 to Saturday, July 5.
Admissions will be promoting NMC throughout the week and would like programs and departments to join them to help showcase all that NMC has to offer. Anyone who wishes to participate should bring information, materials, swag and/or interactive activities to engage festival-goers and promote your program, department, or initiative to prospective students, their families and the wider community.
If you would like to participate at this year’s festival, please fill out the Cherry Festival booth signup form. To help us organize the calendar, please submit a form for each day that you would like to be present. For example, if you plan to join for just one day, please complete the form once. However, if you plan to be present on 2 or 3 different days, please complete a new form for each day.
Our past couple years have been a success! We appreciate all who took part and look forward to expanding on the experience again this year.
May 27, 2025 | Announcements & News, Intercom
Show your NMC spirit and join us in the Cherry Royale Parade on Saturday, July 5! Employees, families, and kids are all invited to walk with the college in this beloved community tradition. We’ll have fun NMC-themed costumes available for children; just bring your enthusiasm and pride!
To participate or learn more, contact Rachel Urkowitz, Director of Annual Giving and Special Events, at rurkowitz@nmc.edu.
May 27, 2025 | HR Corner, Intercom
UPDATE (5/28/2025): This course is no longer being offered this spring. It will be offered in the fall instead. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Registration is open for Crucial Conversations for Accountability! This course is strongly recommended for all supervisors, academic chairs and program coordinators, but all regular employees are welcome with supervisor approval. While Crucial Conversations for Accountability may sound like a “gotcha” approach, it is exactly the opposite. The training provides practical tools grounded in mutual respect, active listening and collaborative problem-solving. During this two-day training, learn how to have difficult conversations in a way that solves problems while improving relationships.
Note: Both days are required for course completion.
Dates/times:
-
- Friday, May 30 & Friday, June 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Follow these instructions to sign up now in NEOED Learn. We hope to see you there.
For questions, contact Lori Hodek at lhodek@nmc.edu.
May 23, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY – Northwestern Michigan College has recognized the following employees for excellence in the 2024–25 academic year:
Becca Richardson
(download high-resolution photo)Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award: Becca Richardson, mathematics. Chosen by a student selection committee, award criteria includes teaching excellence, rapport with students, innovation in the classroom and a sense of dedication. Student nominators said of Richardson, an NMC alumna who began teaching at NMC as an adjunct in 2013 and became full-time faculty in 2018:
- “She lays out everything a student could possibly need to excel in her class. Mathematics is very challenging, but because of her guidance, her availability whenever I text her (and I mean whenEVER), and her as a person is why I’m here.”
- “Becca uses several different learning styles to promote understanding of the material. She includes concepts that are applicable to personal needs such as; budgeting, saving for a house, retirement, investments. Applying the knowledge to the real world helped me truly understand and appreciate the math needed in these areas.”
Initiated by a contribution from longtime NMC benefactors Harold and Imogene Wise in 1970, the award was first made to a full-time faculty member in 1971.
John Lutchko
(download high-resolution photo)Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award: John Lutchko, Marine Technology. Chosen by a student selection committee, award criteria includes teaching excellence, rapport with students, innovation in the classroom and a sense of dedication. Lutchko is also an NMC alumnus. He graduated in 2013 and began his career as the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute lab coordinator and manager. Last year he was named GLWSI director. Student nominators said:
- “He really cares about the subject and his enthusiasm for it keeps our attention. He also goes above and beyond to help students keep up with coursework.”
- “He is also always there to help with students whether it be about class or even if you’re struggling with time management. He truly loves his job and is invested in getting students involved.”
The award was created in 1999 as a companion to the Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award. See a full list of all past faculty and adjunct faculty excellence winners at nmc.edu/cie.
Katharine Marvin
(download high-resolution photo)Staff Excellence Award: Katharine Marvin, Director of Development & Alumni Relations. Marvin, who joined the college in 2015, demonstrates an innate ability to lead with grace and collaborate with enthusiasm. Her achievements this year include securing $1.4 million in gifts for a wide range of programs, including Nursing, Culinary, Construction Technology, Aviation, WNMC and the International Affairs Forum. Her proactive approach to friendraising has cultivated relationships that have blossomed into significant future investments, exemplified specifically by a $500,000 planned gift designated for aviation scholarships. She has also stepped up to hire and mentor new colleagues, serving on no fewer than six search committees as NMC worked to build a strong and cohesive Advancement & Community Engagement (ACE) team.
Team Excellence Award: Public Relations, Marketing & Communications: Diana Fairbanks, Emily Crull, Steve Kellman, Cari Noga, Deanna Silkowski, Joan Sodini and Kelly Yauk (below, left to right). PRMC was cited for its work exemplifying the college values of innovation and collaboration. Over the past year PRMC developed a comprehensive brand strategy, a proactive, strategic endeavor that involved all internal stakeholders and external partners. Funded by a Lumina Foundation grant, the strategy forges alignment between NMC’s mission and messaging, empowering every employee to effectively communicate the college’s distinct value to all those it serves. In addition, PRMC’s strategic enrollment marketing efforts have significantly contributed to six straight semesters of enrollment growth. Finally, PRMC serves the entire college as a central hub for prioritizing and fulfilling all promotion, communication and marketing requests. (Select a photo below for a high-resolution version.)
Release Date: May 23, 2025
For more information:
Cari Noga
Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (mobile – text preferred)
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
May 23, 2025 | Intercom
The NMC Board of Trustees Presidential Performance & Compensation Committee will meet at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28 in the President’s Office Conference Room in the Tanis Building on NMC’s Front Street campus. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
May 23, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
The NMC Bookstore will be closed June 26-27 for annual inventory and will reopen on Monday, June 30. All web orders placed between June 26-27 will be processed on Monday, June 30.
May 22, 2025 | Intercom, Student Events
NMC will host a Family Field Day in partnership with Up North Pride from 1–4 p.m. on Sunday, June 1 behind North Hall by the Dogwood Parking Lot on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
The family-friendly event will kick off Pride month with outdoor activities, arts and crafts, music and light snacks. This event is open to the public.
Volunteers are needed. If you are interested in helping out with this event, please sign up by clicking the form below.
May 20, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
Program will serve students 18–26 with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC will become the first community college in Michigan to offer tailored and inclusive college programming for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities when it becomes a Ready for Life Academy site in fall 2026.
Ready for Life, a Grand Rapids non-profit, presently offers academies at Hope College and Ferris State University. The NMC site is expected to start with eight students ages 18–26. Autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and cognitive disabilities are the most common disabilities among Ready for Life (RFL) students.
NMC and RFL’s shared goal is to enable individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to work and live independently. Students will take life skills transition classes in independent living, personal finance, relationships and employment on NMC’s Front Street campus, taught by Ready for Life staff. In addition, they will enroll in or audit two NMC classes alongside typical peer students in high interest and/or skill-building classes. Academic and social support and internships and job opportunities are also provided by RFL.
“As a community college, NMC has a history and mission of open access to education. We are excited to find a partner like Ready for Life, which has translated that vision into meaningful reality for more than 100 students with disabilities,” said NMC president Nick Nissley.
Inclusive college programs are very limited in Michigan. NMC’s site will be the first north of Grand Rapids. Research, including a focus group, indicated a demand for such a program. NMC also hosted a one-week pilot program for RFL students in summer 2023.
“Ready For Life Academy is thrilled to partner with NMC to bring our programming to the Traverse City area. This collaboration responds to the growing need for post-secondary transition opportunities in the northern Lower Peninsula, increasing access to inclusive educational pathways,” RFL Director Toni Falk said. “By expanding our reach, we are better able to serve individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders—empowering them to pursue continued education, build independence, and reach their fullest potential close to home.”
RFL’s outcomes are significantly better than those for most adults with IDD. Among RFL graduates, 83 percent live independently with appropriate supports and more than 91 percent are employed, with few or no supports required. Nationally, more than 80 percent of adults with IDD live at home and are unemployed.
To improve those statistics locally, a few years ago NMC began exploring expanded programming for students with IDD. In January 2024, NMC’s Neurodiversity Support Center for traditionally-enrolled students opened. In its first year, demand for services more than doubled.
The RFL site at NMC will provide a college option for students who earn a high school certificate of completion instead of a diploma. These students are typically excluded from traditional college admission, even at community colleges.
To date, the most common path for those students locally is attendance at the regional Transition Campus programs, including the Life Skills Center and Adult Community Experience operated by Northwest Education Services. Currently 138 students 18–26 are enrolled in Transition Campus programs. The Ready for Life program will increase these students’ options. NMC will develop support staffing for the partnership over the next fiscal year.
Traverse City residents Jean and Brian Brooks had been exploring Ready for Life’s other sites for their daughter Sadie, 17. Currently enrolled at Greenspire High School, they’re excited she now has an option closer to home when she finishes high school.
“Many children with milder impairment fall through the cracks because they aren’t quite able to achieve a traditional high school diploma, but neither do they totally fit into the other programs,” Jean Brooks said. “These are children who have grown up in inclusion settings, with typical peer interactions, activities and friends. The RFL Academy is fantastic for these individuals.”
Northwest Ed Transition coordinator Mimi Kinney has been an active supporter of Ready for Life and the Neurodiversity Support Center since both were proposed.
“At North Ed, we are excited to have Ready For Life be an option at NMC. Our intermediate school district plans to support these efforts by connecting students and families to this innovative post-secondary learning opportunity. Creating more and varied options for students with learning differences is so important,” Kinney said.
NMC has a history of collaboration with Northwest Ed, including an Early College program that allows high school students to complete an associate degree in just one year.
The Ready for Life site at NMC will start as a commuter program. However, as NMC increases its on-campus housing inventory, as called for in the 10-year master plan approved last year, living on campus may become an option.
Ready for Life was founded in 2008 at Hope College. A second academy operated at Calvin University from 2017–2024. Calvin then took over the program, creating capacity for a new site. RFL’s third partnership with Ferris State University launched in 2021 and will celebrate its first graduating cohort of 6 students this month.
Ready for Life will host an open house on NMC’s campus Oct. 17. The program will handle all recruiting and admissions for the NMC site. To stay informed contact toni.falk@rflnetwork.org or (616) 330-8667.
Release date: May 20, 2025
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
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
May 19, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
NMC is seeking volunteers for the Scholarship Open presented by Bill and Susie Janis on Wednesday, August 6 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.
Enjoy a wonderful day outdoors in northern Michigan supporting the community’s college and helping raise money for student scholarships. Volunteers will receive a polo to wear during the event and free food.
For more information, contact the NMC Foundation at foundation@nmc.edu.
May 19, 2025 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is one of only two community colleges in Michigan to earn Military Friendly® School status by the online community MilitaryFriendly.com.
The award was based on NMC’s performance in multiple categories of service to military and veteran students. The most heavily weighted, at 30 percent each, are military student support and retention, and graduation and career outcomes.
The designation is the latest recognition of the year-round priority NMC places on serving those who have served. The most recent manifestation of this priority is authorization of a less than three-year bachelor’s degree program for veterans enrolled in the College’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA) who already hold a bachelor’s degree, reducing the time and cost to earn this specialized degree by more than 25 percent. This authorization required Congressional action. As a result of GLMA lobbying efforts it was contained in the National Defense Authorization Act signed in late 2024.
Another such shortened path is available in law enforcement. Eligibility for NMC’s one-semester Police Academy requires an associate degree. However, that requirement is waived for students with one year active duty service as a military police officer.
Both the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and Police Academy are among the top 10 NMC programs chosen by veterans. Another magnet program is Marine Technology. Enrollment in this bachelor’s degree is 16% veterans in 2024–25, compared to 4.1% veteran enrollment in all college programs. That translated to 127 students in 2024–25, and 21 2025 graduates. The top programs by veteran enrollment are:
- (TIE) Aviation and Maritime Technology (17 each)
- Construction Technology (11)
- Associate in Science and Arts (ASA – transfer degree) – 9
- Nursing (8)
- Engineering (7)
- Business (6)
- (TIE) Computer Information Technology and Marine Technology (5 each)
- Law enforcement (4)
In addition to the military-friendly designation, NMC also earned gold-level Veteran-Friendly School recognition by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency for 2024–25. NMC was cited for a dozen different services offered to 76 current veteran students. Find out more about NMC’s service to military members, veterans and their dependents at nmc.edu/veterans.
Release date: May 19, 2025
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
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
May 19, 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.
Training expedition sets sail for maritime cadets aboard State of Michigan
UpNorthLive, May 18
(more…)
May 19, 2025 | Intercom, Student Events
Electric vehicles are the future. NMC’s Automotive Technology department and Consumers Energy are offering the opportunity to test drive up to two EVs from top manufacturers. Get behind the wheel and experience the benefits of driving electric. You will also have the opportunity to ask our EV Specialists questions and learn about our rebates and incentives for driving electric with Consumers Energy. Open to the community.
June 7, 2025
Aero Park Laboratories
2525 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City
Reservations are limited. Register now!
