In her day job as registrar at Traverse City Central High School, Kerri-Ann Bonaddio sees dual-enrolled NMC students all the time. Two years ago, she decided she needed to join them.
“One day I said. ‘I’m just going to do it,’ ” said Bonaddio, 50, who last sat in a classroom almost 30 years ago at a California community college. “Now that I’m an adult, I realize what it means to have a diploma. To have an associate degree.”
She’ll receive that degree on Saturday. Besides the personal accomplishment of earning her degree, Bonaddio has the satisfaction of knowing it was paid for through Michigan Reconnect. The scholarship program pays for in-district tuition and fees for adults 25 and over who don’t already have a college degree. About 20 percent of NMC’s class of 2025 — 123 out of 565 — are Reconnect students.
Bonaddio is not done yet. After taking a little time off, she hopes to pursue her bachelor’s degree. She advises others considering higher education to pursue it, no matter what their age.
“For those younger students, do it now. For the older students who are returning to school, do it now. There’s no time like the present,” she said.
Younger students have the Community College Guarantee to help them finance their education. Both the high school class of 2025 and 2024 are eligible for the scholarship that covers in-district tuition and fees.
Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2025 will be held Saturday, May 3 in Milliken Auditorium on main campus. Three ceremonies will be held, with graduates grouped by degree or credential earned.
11 a.m.: Associate of Science and Arts (ASA) and Associate of General Studies degrees
12:30 p.m.: Non-health Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees, Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE) degrees, and certificates
2 p.m.: Health Occupations (nursing and dental assistant degrees), Aviation, Marine Technology and Maritime
Each ceremony will feature faculty and student speakers. Ceremonies will be streamed live at nmc.edu/video and NMC’s YouTube channel. Other 2025 highlights include:
Presentation of the first nEXt endorsements. Recipients of this and NMC’s global endorsement will be identified with an expanded key in the commencement program, and by wearing special cords, as veteran and honors graduates already do.
NMC will also hold its annual Honors & Leadership Convocation at 4:30 p.m. May 2 at the Dennos Museum Center.
Starting Sunday, May 4, 2025, the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center (TJNIC) will be open to the public from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Anyone else needing access to this building outside of these hours should contact Campus Safety and Security at (231) 995-1111.
Tenth annual competition spotlights high school IT students; hard and soft skills required
TRAVERSE CITY — More than 100 high school IT students will test their skills at halting hackers, composing code and working under pressure at NMC’s tenth annual IT Olympics, set for May 7 on main campus.
Teams from dozens of schools from Elk Rapids to Cadillac and Mesick to Traverse City are expected to compete in the 2025 event, which consists of four timed challenges: web design, programming, network/security and an IT technical challenge.
The IT Olympics began in 2016, with infrastructure students from Northwest Ed’s Career-Tech Center. It was expanded to include application and web programming students in 2017. In 2018 it again grew to include the Wexford-Missaukee school district. Stephanie Cardwell, a 2014 NMC IT graduate who is now senior network engineer and team lead at Munson Healthcare, is one of the judges.
“It’s important for me to give back to NMC because NMC has done so much for me,” Cardwell said of why she volunteers for the day. Her mother was one of NMC’s first female IT graduates, in the 1990s. Her grandmother also attended NMC, becoming the first woman in the family to earn a college degree.
“We’re three generations of women at this point,” Cardwell said. “Third generation NMC, graduating and really improving our lives as a result.”
She also enjoys seeing the creativity of the students in their responses to the challenges. All team members must compete in at least two of the four challenges. The competition is designed to challenge students to apply both their soft and technical skills. Cardwell stressed that soft skills, like working as a team, communication and presentation are as important as the technical skills.
“Unless you’ve got those soft skills, no one’s going to want to work with you,” she said.
NMC CIT program director Scott Goethals said the Olympics and Industry Night Out, another department event celebrating its tenth year, serve to recruit students to NMC’s program.
“The key for us is building a relationship with the students,” he said. “We want them to get to know the faculty and to learn more about our programs. By building this relationship, we hope they will consider our CIT program when they finish high school.”
IT Olympics opening ceremonies begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 7 in the James Beckett building on NMC’s Front Street campus. Closing ceremonies will be held from 2:15-3 p.m., with prizes awarded for the first, second and third place teams.
Release date: APRIL 29, 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
Thanks to all who organized and volunteered at Saturday’s second annual NMC block party for students and employees, especially those who braved the chilly weather to enter the dunk tank: Nick Nissley, John Biolchini, Garrett Croon and Brooklynn Golnick.
The Dennos Museum Center will host the Spring Art Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. The annual event features 25 Michigan artists selling their work and special programming to celebrate artists, spring and moms!
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spring Art Market
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mother’s Day card making project
Noon to 3 p.m. Pianist in the galleries
Noon to 3 p.m. Snacks and lemonade (while they last)
Noon to 3 p.m. Mawby Sparkling Bar (while it lasts)
Kudos to Ali Thornton, Justin Guillard, Chris Little, and Tyrel Stott! Ali, Justin, Chris and Tyrel consistently go above and beyond during orientation, always ready to help with a smile on their face. The first orientation for students entering NMC this summer or fall 2025 brought a unique set of challenges, especially with the added responsibility of ensuring multi-factor authentication (MFA) was properly set up for all incoming students.
Kudos to Beth Norconk! Beth single-handedly configured the 30+ PCs for the upcoming IT olympics event. This was a massive help and a big load off our plates.
Kudos to Chelsie Niemi, Liz Celeste and the rest of the Dennos team! The Dennos Museum partnered with Student Success, Up North Pride, Pride Student Group and two stores in town to host and plan a clothing swap for Earth Day. Thank you for not only hosting, but also taking the primary planning role, facilitating the clothing donations and helping sort everything for an amazing event! We were able to have over 300 students and community members attend this free event and make a massive donation of clothing to area non-profit thrift stores.
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!
NMC is implementing ClearCompany for goal management and performance reviews. Join Human Resources at one of the upcoming training sessions to receive an overview of the new system and get your questions answered. Training sessions will be held:
Monday, April 28, 2–2:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 1, 10–10:45 a.m.
Monday, May 5, 9:30–10:15 a.m.
Friday, May 9, 9:30–10:15 a.m.
All are encouraged to attend. Supervisors and reviewers are strongly recommended to attend. Those interested in attending can use these instructions to register for Learn to Navigate ClearCo Performance and Goals – What You Need to Know in NEOED Learn.
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.
This week, President Trump issued several executive orders related to higher education. These directives focus on federal accreditation rules, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and reporting requirements for foreign funding. While these national-level changes are still new and evolving, I want to take a moment to connect with you directly, because how we respond, together, matters.
Let me start by saying this clearly: there are no immediate changes required of Northwestern Michigan College today. Our accreditors and federal partners are still assessing the implications, and we are in close contact with the organizations that guide our work. We will continue to monitor developments closely, as we always do, and keep you informed as more becomes known.
You may remember our previous communications during the Trump administration when we shared our commitment to staying informed, upholding our values, and supporting our students and employees through uncertain policy shifts. This moment is no different.
We remain:
Steadfast in our commitment to student access, success, and belonging
Attentive to the policies that affect our ability to serve you
Grounded in NMC’s mission and the trust we have in each other
As of today:
Your financial aid remains secure
Our DEIB-related programs and supports in place today continue as they are
There is no disruption to our operations
If and when that changes, you will hear from us directly. In the meantime, I know the end of the semester is a stressful time for many of you. I want to reassure you that the college leadership team is on top of this, asking the right questions, and connected to the right resources. You do not need to worry or take any action at this time.
Thank you for all you bring to this community. Please take care of yourselves and each other as we move toward the close of another academic year.
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
On Thursday, May 29, Northwestern Michigan College’s International Affairs Forum will present an event on journalism, media and information literacy in partnership with Interlochen Public Radio (IPR). IAF welcomes journalist and advocate Sharon Moshavi, president of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), in conversation with Ed Ronco, news director at IPR.
Sharon Moshavi (pictured left), Ed Ronco (pictured right)
Under Moshavi’s leadership, ICFJ develops and runs programs for its 132,000+ global network of reporters, editors and newsrooms, supporting them to report on critical issues, keep up with technological transformation, and find successful business models. Prior to ICFJ, Moshavi worked as Communications Manager at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For more than a decade before that, Moshavi was based in New Delhi, Jerusalem and Tokyo, reporting from countries across Asia and the Middle East for The Boston Globe, Newsday, BusinessWeek, KQED, PRI, and The New Republic, among others.
Ed Ronco joined IPR as its news director in the summer of 2022, after eight years with KNKX Public Radio in Seattle/Tacoma, where he was the local host of All Things Considered. He’s an experienced reporter, interviewer and broadcaster, whose career has also included work in rural Alaska and northern Indiana.
Moshavi and Ronco will explore how journalists and trusted messengers can work together to help us navigate complex issues on the local, national and global news level. Moshavi shared her perspective on this a piece for the Nieman Lab at Harvard University, which seeks “to promote and elevate the standards of journalism”:
“We need to seek out these journalist-adjacent actors who share the same goal as many newsrooms of delivering actionable, trustworthy news and information to people — information that the public can use to make sense of the world and improve their lives and their societies. They just bring different tools and expertise to do it…Breaking through the information overload that we all experience today has to be front and center for journalism to be relevant and impactful. Cross-functional collaboration among stakeholders in the civic space creates a powerful path for getting there.”
The May 29 hybrid event at the Dennos Museum Center is open to the public and available to watch online. Admission is free for students, educators, all NMC employees and active-duty military members. Tickets are $15 per person for the general public. Reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with the program starting at 6:30 p.m. For in-person tickets, online tickets and all event details, visit TCIAF.com.
IAF’s 31st season is sponsored by Mercantile Bank.
The NMC Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m. in Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Room 106/107. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Since 1995, the University Center has helped thousands of students “start here and stay here,” completing bachelor’s and advanced degrees through NMC’s university partnerships.
Now, we’re beginning the next chapter.
Starting later this spring, our university partners will begin relocating to the Front Street campus, with classes beginning there this fall. This move, informed by our Campus Master Plan, creates a more integrated, student-centered experience that reflects how students access education today.
As part of this transition, the NMC Board of Trustees will consider renaming the University Center to the Boardman Lake Campus at an upcoming meeting. The proposed name reflects the building’s location and will make it clearer to students that university partner offices and classes are now located on the Front Street campus. The name change supports our ongoing evolution from a physical hub to a stronger, more flexible partnership model. This is about partnership, not place.
Some NMC departments will continue to operate at the University Center in the near term. As we shared in our recent all-employee Zoom, we’re also beginning to move some NMC teams out of the Beckett Building and into other spaces like Scholars Hall. At the same time, we’re thoughtfully evaluating the long-term future of the Boardman Lake Campus in ways that reflect both student needs and community stewardship.
Thank you for all you do to support students and help move NMC forward.
Warmly,
Nick
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Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010
TRAVERSE CITY — Commencement ceremonies for Northwestern Michigan College’s Class of 2025 will be held Saturday, May 3 in Milliken Auditorium on main campus. Three ceremonies will be held, with graduates grouped by degree or credential earned.
11 a.m.: Associate of Science and Arts (ASA) and Associate of General Studies degrees
12:30 p.m.: Non-health Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees, Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE) degrees, and certificates
2 p.m.: Health Occupations (nursing and dental assistant degrees), Aviation, Marine Technology and Maritime
NMC’s Class of 2025 has earned 565 degrees and certificates, including the Associate in Nursing, Associate in Science and Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Associate in General Studies and Certificate of Practical Nursing. Bachelor of Science degrees in Maritime Technology and Marine Technology will also be awarded. More than 20 percent of the graduates are recipients of Michigan Reconnect, a statewide scholarship program that offers free tuition to adults 25 and older who don’t already have a degree or certificate.
Presentation of the first nEXt endorsements. Recipients of this and NMC’s global endorsement will be identified with an expanded key in the commencement program, and by wearing special cords, as veteran and honors graduates already do.
NMC will also hold its annual Honors & Leadership Convocation at 4:30 p.m. May 2 at the Dennos Museum Center. Awards to be presented include:
Academic area awards
Honors program participants and graduates
Dr. Kari Kahler Adult Student of the Year
President’s Possibilitarian Award
Student leaders of the year
Recognition of outstanding student groups
nEXt and Global Endorsement recipients
Release date: April 24, 2025
For more information:
Cari Noga Communications Director cnoga@nmc.edu (231) 392-1800 (mobile – text preferred)
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
If you encounter someone who you believe is suffering a cardiac arrest:
Call 911. The 911 dispatcher will ask you about your emergency. Describe the situation then follow the directions from the dispatcher.
Yell for help—get others nearby to assist you. This takes the pressure off of you having to do it all yourself.
Direct someone to get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine and administer treatment. An AED should be used when a person is unconscious, unresponsive and not breathing properly, indicating potential cardiac arrest. AEDs are located in a public area of all campus buildings. See a list of locations on this page. The video below from the American Red Cross shows how to properly use an AED when necessary.
Direct someone to call the Campus Security at (231) 995-1111.
TRAVERSE CITY – NMC will host its first Science Symposium, a celebration of scientific inquiry and discovery, from 3–6 p.m. Saturday, April 26 in rooms 104–105 of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center on NMC’s Front Street campus.
The symposium will showcase the research projects of high school and college students from across the region. Presentations will span a diverse range of scientific disciplines, including engineering, biology, technology and chemistry, offering attendees a glimpse into the future of science.
The symposium provides a valuable platform for students to share their findings, engage in intellectual discourse, and receive constructive feedback from experts in the field. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the innovative ideas and groundbreaking research being conducted by the next generation of scientists.
In addition to the presentations, the symposium will feature light appetizers and drinks, providing a relaxed and engaging atmosphere for networking and discussion. Awards will be presented to the top three student projects, recognizing their contributions to their respective fields.
Cari Noga NMC Communications Director (231) 392-1800 (mobile – call or text) cnoga@nmc.edu
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
Thanks to Great Lakes Maritime Academy students for hosting more than 1,100 visitors at the April 12 Open Ship event, and to Business 231 students who hosted the 10th annual Big Little Hero Race on April 19. These experiential learning opportunities also provide important opportunities for the Traverse City community to see the college’s work up close and in person, which strengthens their support.
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.
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. Please encourage your colleagues by 
