Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Amy Shamroe! Last Friday, the NOMIAC team hosted an Industry Navigator Lunch and Learn. Industry Navigator Amy Shamroe delivered a compelling and informative presentation that clearly outlined the breadth of training opportunities available through Extended Education, workforce training programs, and partner institutions across the 10-county region. Attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of available resources and a renewed appreciation for the collaborative strength behind the NOMIAC and Sixty by 30 initiatives. Thank you, Amy, for leading our industry partners in training with NMC and the NOMIAC!
Kudos to Emily Crull! Emily has recently gone above and beyond in providing support to our department. She laid out an entirely new webpage that was needed for a tight turnaround while her team was short-staffed – and it looks fantastic! She has also created extensive graphic libraries for several different initiatives that our department is involved with, so our materials look professional and polished. We truly appreciate all you do!
Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These colleagues have moved on to a new chapter in their lives. We wish them the very best as they navigate a new adventure, and we thank them for their time and dedication to NMC!
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- Gabriella Baldino, supplemental employee – Food Service Front of House
- Andre Dean, supplemental employee – Instructional Tech Specialist
- Jillian Kaley, student employee – Residence Hall Front Desk
- Steven Miles – Adjunct Math Instructor
Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Bee Kelly, student employee – Ceramic Studio Lab Assistant
- Kim Ockert, supplemental employee – Test Proctor
- Charlotte Davis, supplemental employee – Banquet Server. Hagerty Center
- Mitchell Gingras, supplemental employee – Tutor
Mar 6, 2026 | Intercom
Want a front-row seat to the hottest ticket in town? The NMC Foundation and Alumni Relations are looking for volunteers for the annual A Taste of Success on Friday, April 24 at the Hagerty Center.
We’d love to have you on the team! From greeting guests to helping with our high-energy Heads or Tails game or the “By the Glass” live donation portion of the evening, our volunteers are the secret sauce that makes this night special. Most importantly, you’ll be helping us raise critical funds and scholarship dollars for the students of the Great Lakes Culinary Institute.
It’s fast-paced, social and an absolute blast. Fill out the yellow sections of the Google Sheet to secure your spot. We will send out email communications the week of the event to give you a rundown of what to expect, and your day-of contact will be there upon arrival.
If you have any questions, please contact Zach Whitaker at zwhitaker@nmc.edu or (231) 995-2826.
Sign up to volunteer at A Taste of Success
Mar 6, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Step up and join the fun! Compete in our upcoming cornhole tournament for a chance to win the trophy and a free one-year membership to the NMC Fitness Center. Gather your colleagues and get ready to toss your way to victory!
Sign up here today and let the games begin!
Mar 5, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
The NMC Jazz Lab Band and vocalists from NMC’s music program will join the Jeff Haas Trio for an evening of performances from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 26 at The Alluvion.
The roster is part of the Alluvion’s weekly Jazz 4 All series. NMC students will be singing a wide range of jazz favorites including:
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- Anna Dewey, “Don’t Know Why”
- Gloria Sobkoviak, “L-O-V-E”
- Liliana Sosa Dunn, “Over The Rainbow”
- Mason Moran, “All The Things You Are”
- Rheanna Gilzene, “Almost Like Being In Love”
- Tae Detweiler-Smith, “I’m Beginning To See The Light”
The Alluvion is located on the 2nd floor of the Commongrounds Cooperative at 414 East 8th Street in Traverse City. There are no advanced sales. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a “pay what you can” cover at the door. Come as you are and don’t miss the show!
Mar 5, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
To find these selections and many other new titles, see the NMC library catalog.
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Mar 4, 2026 | Intercom, Student News
March 4, 2026
The NMC Commitment Scholarship is vastly expanding the ranks of eligible first-generation college students this spring, increasing the impact of a unique college access opportunity that began more than thirty years ago.
Starting with the high school class of 2028 (current high school sophomores), prospective first-generation college students in the six-county area can self-nominate for a Commitment Scholarship.
Previously students had to be nominated by their high school counselor as freshmen. Eligibility was limited to 18 regional public high schools, each of which could nominate only three students. Charter, private and homeschooled students are also now eligible.
In addition to the financial help (up to $2,000/year for up to three years) Commitment helps students gain confidence and focus. At a Michigan Tech recruiting fair last fall, seeking a summer internship among throngs of other students, sophomore Kai Collins (right) believes lessons he learned years earlier as an NMC Commitment Scholar helped him stand out.
“Being a Commitment scholar felt like I was being treated as an adult. I had to learn management skills,” said Collins, a 2024 Mancelona High School graduate. “It’s made me a lot more confident in my college journey. I know I can use opportunities I’m given to their fullest.”
Collins landed an internship, with Milwaukee Tool, and is headed to Wisconsin this summer.
The scholarship can be combined with other aid, including the Michigan Community College Guarantee. First-generation is defined as neither parent having earned an associate degree or higher.
The goal is to expand access and have more students take advantage of the scholarship, which was established by NMC donors in 1993. Students must also participate in two preparatory events prior to starting at NMC and maintain a 2.0 GPA in high school.
Gillian Lovett, a 2023 Bellaire High School graduate, is a Commitment scholar currently enrolled at NMC. She will graduate this May. She said the scholarship helped make college a realistic prospect for her.
“I was definitely pretty surprised. College wasn’t on my radar yet. I felt pretty lucky to be nominated, and I felt grateful that I did have an opportunity ahead of me to go to school and not worry about the money,” Lovett said.
Lovett is studying psychology and plans to transfer to Western Michigan University to complete her bachelor’s degree. She’s considering a career in the correctional field, as a rehabilitation counselor.
Collins expects to graduate from Michigan Tech in 2028 with a degree in mechanical engineering. While at NMC he also earned a certificate in Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS).
Apply online.
Mar 2, 2026 | Intercom
Faculty, department heads and office managers, it’s time to submit your Textbook and Course Material adoptions for the Fall 2026 semester. Be on the lookout for an email from nmc@verbasoftware.com with a personalized link to submit your course materials adoptions.
To ensure your students have access to the right materials on the first day of class, please submit your adoptions by March 20, 2026.
Mar 2, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
In today’s digital age, it’s easy to get lost in screen time. The “analog bag” offers a simple way to step back and enjoy offline activities.
Picture a bag filled with hobbies that bring you joy. Whether it’s a sketchbook, novel, knitting supplies, or a puzzle, your analog bag is limited only by your imagination. The goal: provide a tangible alternative to mindless scrolling.
Creating your own analog bag is fun and rewarding. Here’s why every employee should try it:
- Boost Creativity and Productivity
Hands-on activities stimulate creativity and problem-solving. Doodling, writing, or crafting can spark new ideas that benefit your work.
- Enhance Focus and Mindfulness
Analog activities require focus, making you more present and reducing stress—improving effectiveness both at work and personally.
- Encourage Work-Life Balance
An analog bag helps set boundaries between work and personal time, improving mental health and refreshing your mind.
- Personalize Your Downtime
Your bag reflects your interests. Fill it with items that resonate with you, creating a personalized escape from the digital world.
To start, consider hobbies you’d like to explore. Gather materials and keep your analog bag near where you often use your phone. This way, when tempted to reach for your device, you’ll have an enticing alternative.
Create your own analog bag and enrich your personal and professional life by fostering a more balanced, focused, and creative mindset. Let’s embrace the power of analog and make room for meaningful moments.
Mar 2, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Megan Bylsma, Ryan Deering, Carl Shangraw, Dan Goodchild, Shelly VanderMeulen, Jeff Fouch, Michael Nachazel, and Georgenia Hromada! This is the “it takes a village” kudos! NMC’s surveying program was honored for winning the NCEES Surveying Education Award grand prize in the two-year program category. The program was recognized last night at the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors conference. In addition to winning this program award, Ryan Deering also won the Ralph Moore Berry recognizing a non-licensed individual giving back to the profession. Couple this with our own graduates earning their professional surveying license and a scholarship recipient and it was a fulfilling event!
But what makes it special? This doesn’t happen without the support of the Foundation finding funding to support program growth, the college leveraging these funds for recruitment, a strong advisory board advocating to the State that this program is needed, strong faculty developing a 2-year program from scratch and industrial professionals continuing to teach these classes. And none of this happens without the support from the division to keep the program running, scheduled and available to students.
Great job!!!
Kudos to Katie Sommer-Ford, Hannah Rodriguez, Maggie Miron, Tait Ricks, and Tali Morrison! Hats off to the Student Success & Retention team who pulled together NMC’s first ever “Fail Forward” week, meant to normalize setbacks, reduce fear of failure, and build resilience. Events and promotion for Fail Forward week helped students to reframe mistakes as learning opportunities through a series of events including an adaptability workshop, offered by Tait Ricks from Student Life, and a session on asking for help offered by Hannah Rodriguez and Maggie Miron, from the coaching and success team. Throughout the week students could contribute to “fail boards” to share times they failed but learned from their experience and moved forward. Faculty and staff shared their own testimonials via the NMC Student Success social media. The week of events culminated in a Success Fair where students could learn about the many help resources available at NMC. Kudos to Katie Sommer-Ford and Tali Morrison for organizing, supporting, and leading the charge.
Kudos to Stephanie Liss! The Ed Tech department is giving Stephanie heartfelt kudos for the work she does to keep all the areas of the TJNIC building sparkling clean. Every morning, we enter the basement to the sound of a vacuum or the wooshing of the tables or whiteboards being cleaned in a learning or study space. We appreciate her dedication to keeping TJNIC a welcoming, clean environment! Thank you, Stephanie, for modeling NMC’s values of stewardship and excellence.
Mar 2, 2026 | HR Corner, Intercom
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
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- Kelsey Tornga, supplemental employee – Hagerty Center Banquet Server
- Harrison Willow, student employee – Tutor
- Evelyn Harden, student employee – Maritime Assistant
- Colin Burris – Supplemental Aviation Maintenance Technician
Mar 2, 2026 | 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.
Remembering Jack Segal: Diplomat, veteran and champion of students
TV 7 & 4, Feb. 27 (more…)
Mar 2, 2026 | Intercom
TRAVERSE CITY — The NMC Commitment Scholarship is vastly expanding the ranks of eligible first generation college students this spring, increasing the impact of a unique college access opportunity that began more than thirty years ago.
Starting with the high school class of 2028 (current high school sophomores), prospective first generation college students in the six-county area can self-nominate for a Commitment Scholarship.
Previously students had to be nominated by their high school counselor as freshmen. Eligibility was limited to 18 regional public high schools, each of which could nominate only three students. Charter, private and homeschooled students are also now eligible.
The scholarship provides $2,000/year for up to three years. First-generation is defined as neither parent having earned an associate degree or higher.
The goal is to expand access and have more students take advantage of the scholarship, which was established by NMC donors in 1993. Students must also participate in two preparatory events prior to starting at NMC and maintain a 2.0 GPA in high school.
Gillian Lovett, a 2023 Bellaire High School graduate, is a Commitment scholar currently enrolled at NMC. She will graduate this May. She said the scholarship helped make college a realistic prospect for her.
“I was definitely pretty surprised. College wasn’t on my radar yet. I felt pretty lucky to be nominated, and I felt grateful that I did have an opportunity ahead of me to go to school and not worry about the money,” Lovett said.
2024 Mancelona High School graduate Kai Collins also received the Commitment scholarship. By combining it with dual enrollment, he earned a UAS certificate from NMC. Now he’s a sophomore at Michigan Technological University majoring in mechanical engineering, and has landed an internship at Milwaukee Tool this summer. In addition to the financial benefit, Collins said the scholarship gave him a big confidence boost.
“Being a Commitment scholar felt like I was being treated as an adult. I had to learn management skills,” Collins said. “It’s made me a lot more confident in my college journey. I know I can use opportunities I’m given to their fullest.”
Apply online at nmc.edu/commitment.
Release date: MARCH 2, 2026
For more information:
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
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
Feb 24, 2026 | Intercom, Student Events
Versiti is holding a blood drive from 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 104/105 on NMC’s Front Street Campus. Do your part to help save lives during a vital time of need!
Make sure you eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating. Walk-ins are welcome, though scheduling an appointment is recommended.
Feb 23, 2026 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thanks to the Advising Center, which has filled the employer slots for the Career & Majors Fair April 10. It is the region’s largest career fair and offers a valuable service to both students and community members.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Feb 23, 2026 | Intercom
The NMC Board of Trustees Policy Committee will meet Tuesday, February 24 at 1:30 p.m. in Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Room 14. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Feb 23, 2026 | 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.
From a coal dock to a Blue Tech hub
Northern Express, Feb. 21
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