Campus Life is hosting a dodgeball tournament on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
The deadline to sign up is April 24 by 4 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact CJ Schneider at cschneider@nmc.edu or Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Stop by the End of Year Block Party from 4–8 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 in the Dogwood and Chestnut parking lots. There will be over 11 different carnival rides, 5 different truck vendors and other activities!
This event is open to all current NMC students, employees and their families. The first 150 students or employees will receive a door prize. Attendees must sign up in advance.
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.
Better Together Series: Who We Are
HAPPENINGNEXT, April 7 (more…)
Ever wonder what job best matches your abilities? Join NMC staff, faculty and students along with hosts, Craig Saunders and Gary Holik, from Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, rooms 104/105 to learn more during this fun and interactive presentation. Following their presentation will be time for questions and lunch.
For more information contact Leanne Baumeler at lbaumeler@nmc.edu or Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Hosted by NMC’s Disability Support Office, DEIB Advisory Council and Michigan Rehabilitation Services.
Kudos to Traci Heidbreder! Traci spearheaded a project as part of her DEIB goals to replace the international flags in the Tannis atrium. The flags had significant wear and tear from the sun and were quite faded. Traci inventoried the flags, determined which of the flags needed to be replaced, listed the countries that are represented at NMC by students, faculty, and staff, and secured new flags. Jim Bensley from international services assisted by providing some flags that he had in storage. Traci found some flags that admissions had in storage, and she worked with Cathy Brown to purchase the remaining flags. Todd Haines from the maintenance department helped Traci hang the new flags, and she worked with PRMC to have a key developed to hang in the atrium to help visitors identify the flags. I want to thank Traci for her thoughtful project and excellent execution.
Kudos to Augusta Kummer! I want to thank Augusta for advising Phi Theta Kappa this year and for her success in coordinating the PTK induction ceremony last month. Augusta has demonstrated dedication and leadership in taking on the advising role and helping to keep the organization and events on task and schedule in challenging times. The PTK induction ceremony was a wonderful event. It was very thoughtful and well executed. I appreciate her effort. It was very enjoyable to watch the pride of the students and their families. Great work Augusta!
Kudos to Rorie Kawula! I want to congratulate Rorie on completing the Leadership Grand Traverse program through Traverse Connect. Rorie started the program last August and spent time each month with her cohort developing leadership skills and learning about all corners of our community. Rorie did a fantastic job in the program and has brought much back to NMC. Rorie is a true leader on campus, and she has taken it further to become a leader in the larger community. Congrats Rorie!
Kudos to Kyle Ferrill! I wanted to recognize Kyle’s extra work and effort to overhaul the online orientation video. The orientation video that NMC had been using was developed at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Having an online orientation option allowed enrollment to continue throughout the pandemic. After using the video for a few years, we recognized gaps and areas for improvement. Kyle offered to take the lead on this and helped organize a plan to breakdown and review the previous video, send out requests to different departments to offer input. He helped rewrite the script, worked with different departments on campus to determine the best platform to record the video, recorded and narrated the video, added visual content and screenshots to the video, revised the video, and published it. The new online orientation video is comprehensive and very effective. I appreciate the effort and leadership that Kyle demonstrated on this project.
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!
Angela Zirotte was recently promoted to Custodian. Congratulations, Angela!
Did you know that your tuition waiver benefits extend beyond credit classes for you and your dependents? Take a fitness class, learn a new hobby, or even enjoy a date night with your partner, parent or friend. Check out these upcoming classes!
Explore NoMI: Sip, Savor & LearnNew! Join us for a one-day bus tour through the picturesque landscapes of Leelanau County. This educational adventure is perfect for community members interested in the local beverage scene.
Friday, April 25; 9 am.–5 p.m.
Tuition waiver price: $130 per person (Public price: $225)
Meditation: Beginning & AdvancingEven brief periods of meditation practice can reduce and help heal the effects of stress, balance emotions, boost immune function, and improve overall physical and spiritual well-being. For this livestream class, seated in a chair at home, you will learn meditation techniques and breath exercises. Includes discussion around the meditation experience and the maturing of the mind.
12 sessions; Wednesdays, April 9–June 25; Noon–1 p.m.
Tuition waiver price: $25 per person (Public price: $175)
Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy PeopleIn just a few hours, you can learn enough secrets of the trade to give you years of musical enjoyment. Learn to play piano the way professionals do — using chords. The chord method is LOTS of fun and dramatically easier to learn than reading notes.
Monday, April 21; 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Tuition waiver price: $22 per person (Public price: $89)
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:40 to 6:30 p.m. The protein option is $9.99, and the vegetarian option is $7.99. Learn more at nmc.edu/dining.
Lamb Gyros served with lemon rice & pita bread
Falafel Gyros (V) served with lemon rice & pita bread
Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas served with Spanish rice & Mexican street corn
Roasted Poblano and Bean Quesadillas (V) served with Spanish rice & Mexican street corn
Sesame Chicken Stir Fry served with basmati rice & egg rolls
Sesame Tofu Stir Fry (V) served with basmati rice & egg rolls
Italian Sausage Rigatoni with sun-dried tomatoes served with garlic bread & broccoli
Roasted Vegetable Rigatoni (V) served with garlic bread & broccoli
Crispy Chicken with buffalo sauce served with mac and cheese & asparagus
Roasted Cauliflower Steak (V) with chimichurri sauce served with mac and cheese & asparagus
The NMC Board of Trustees Executive Committee will meet Thursday, April 10 at 2 p.m. 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.
The NMC Board of Trustees Audit Committee will meet Tuesday, April 8 at 2 p.m. 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.
The fourth annual ELI Learning Symposium is scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 2. This week-long event, hosted by the Experiential Learning Institute (ELI), will showcase the diverse ways NMC students and faculty engage in high-impact teaching and learning.
The ELI Learning Symposium will feature a variety of student and faculty artifacts, experiences, and scholarship. Attendees can expect to see oral and poster presentations on research and community engagement projects, academic courses, service learning experiences and community partnerships. The symposium highlights experiential learning in and/or out of the classroom.
Displays and Artifacts
Timothy J Nelson Innovation Center lobby and hallways
Science & Research Symposium
3–6 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Rooms 106/107
Reflective Table Talks
Noon–1 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center hallways
This is an informal session where students and staff will share about their projects and events at tables in the hallways
Kristy McDonald’s BUS 231 Big Little Hero Race student reflections
3–4 p.m.
Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center Room 106
Charles Macphee’s EGY 105 student final presentations
6–9 p.m.
Aero Park Laboratories Room 101
nEXt Graduates’ Recognition at Honors Convocation
4:30–7:30 p.m.
Dennos Museum Center
For more information, contact elinstitute@nmc.edu.
NMC is hosting two mobile pantries during the month of April on Monday, April 7 and Monday, April 21. The distributions will occur from 3-5 p.m. in the Maple Lot at the Front Street campus.
Menu items include ground beef, rice, potatoes, oranges, juice, cottage cheese, macaroni and smores poptarts.
NMC’s mobile pantry program is designed specifically for NMC students and their families. Mobile pantries provide 7-10 days worth of fresh and shelf-stable goods to supplement family incomes. While this is intended for students, all are welcome. There are no financial requirements or means tests.
Drive-thru and walk-up options are both available. Come over and drive-thru or bring a backpack or reusable bag and take what you and your household can use in the next 7-10 days.
These pantries are made possible in partnership with Feeding America.
NMC’s International Affairs Forum continues its 31st season with an unprecedented event led by NMC students on the IAF Student Leadership Team. Join IAF for “Echoes of Change: The Legacy of Student Activism” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at the Dennos Museum Center. The guest speaker is Danielle K. Brown, Ph.D., 1855 Community and Urban Journalism Professor and an associate professor in the School of Journalism at Michigan State University.
Brown will discuss the social and political underpinnings of student movements. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on “the cross-sections of journalism, political science, and sociology. She specializes in analyses of media representations and narrative change, social movements and activism, and identity and political psychology.”
As part of this exploration, the IAF Student Leadership Team has interviewed scholars and activists. The team will share curated video interview segments during the live event, interwoven with moderated conversation on stage. Discussion will highlight past student protest movements as well current issues around political activism on campuses across the country.
The April 17 in-person event at the museum is open to the public and available to watch online. At 5:30 p.m., enjoy a reception, explore the Dennos Museum Center galleries and meet the students behind this event. At 6:30 p.m., the program begins in Milliken Auditorium. Admission is $15 per person or free for students, educators, and active-duty military. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged. For in-person tickets, online tickets and all event details, visit TCIAF.com.
IAF’s 31st season is sponsored by Mercantile Bank.
April 2, 2025
NMC’s distinguished academic programs and innovative experiential learning style are on full view to the community this month, fittingly National Community College Month.
Starting with the free April 12 “open ship” event aboard the State of Michigan, the training ship for the Great Lakes Maritime Academy – one of just six in the nation and the only one on freshwater – to A Taste of Success April 25, where Great Lakes Culinary Institute students will demonstrate skills from sauteing to baking to cocktail mixing, April offers experiences to engage every community member.
Four concerts featuring a range of musical genres and the tenth anniversary of the Big Little Hero race April 19 also occur this month. All showcase experiential learning, or “doing to learn.” The inverse of the traditional “learning to do” teaching technique, NMC has a strategic goal that every student receive at least one experiential learning opportunity.
“Research shows this technique has a higher impact on learners, increasing their persistence and retention,” said Brandon Everest, co-director of NMC’s Experiential Learning Institute.
In addition to the hands-on style, experiential learning includes problem-solving and reflection. Support for both college and community needs is also built in. Both A Taste of Success and Audio Technology’s “Dollars for Scholars” concert on April 12 benefit scholarships for students in the respective academic areas. The Big Little Hero race benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Michigan. During its 10 years, the race has raised more than $100,000 for the organization, which provides mentors to more than 400 youth in the community.
NMC President Nick Nissley (right) plans to attend all the events. At the Big Little Hero Race, however, he’ll be incognito, running as Captain Hawk Owl.
“Being on campus every day, the singularly outstanding educational experiences NMC students receive are familiar to me,” Nissley said. “I invite all northern Michigan residents to take advantage of the many opportunities this month to experience it themselves.”
National Community College Month has been marked since 1985. Its goal is to raise awareness and understanding of the value community colleges offer.
“Since we were founded by community members, we’ve long been known as the community’s college,” Nissley said. “This time of year we’re thrilled to be able to welcome our community to their campuses, to see for themselves the student accomplishments that we’re so proud of.”
In collaboration with the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, NMC is offering free tax preparation to students and employees with incomes less than $100,000 on Saturday, April 12.
Participants must sign up in advance for appointments that will be held in the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 123. NMCAA will follow up with what the tax filer about what to bring to their appointment.
For more details, contact Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu, 231-995-1401 or Justin Marcum on NMCAA, jmarcum@nmcaa.net, (231) 346-2169.
Thanks to the employees practicing student centrism, from financial aid to faculty, as we enter the homestretch of the semester. Your work is helping to make a transformative impact on our students!
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Enjoy an extra discount at the NMC Bookstore and the Dennos Museum store April 8-10! All regular priced items are 25% off for employees.
Does not include textbooks or consignment items.
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.
Aviation programs take flight
Community College Daily, March 30
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