At a July meeting of the Michigan Community College Association’s Board of Trustees, NMC Board of Trustees Chair Chris M. Bott was elected as Chair of the Trustees Committee for the statewide organization, further highlighting NMC’s leadership in the community and throughout Michigan.
Congratulations and thank you, Chris!
TRAVERSE CITY — After 65 years and nearly $2 million of projects funded, Northwestern Michigan College and the Oleson Foundation have made the decision that 2020 will be the final year of the NMC BBQ event. The College and the Oleson Foundation remain dedicated to supporting students and continuing the community connection established through the event’s proud history.
“We’ve come a long way in 65 years since the Oleson family and the community first joined together to help build our community’s college. We have accomplished much and our college and region have grown and changed considerably over the years,” said Brad Oleson, NMC BBQ committee member. “As we reflect on that success, we feel now is a great opportunity to look toward the future for new ways to support the college as our students’ needs, and our community, continue to grow and change. We celebrate what we have done together and are excited to extend that path into the future to benefit our students, our college and our community for years to come.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the Oleson family’s commitment to Northwestern Michigan College. Our college might not be here today if it wasn’t for their vision and dedication,” said Dr. Nick Nissley, president of NMC. “The Olesons and the BBQ not only rallied support and resources over the years, but allowed us to open our campus to the community to celebrate all that we’ve done together for our students. I am confident we will continue the spirit of the BBQ and Oleson family for many years to come and I look forward to it.”
While the traditional BBQ event will not be returning, the College would like to host a celebration for volunteers, supporters and community members when it is safe to do so in the future.
Since the BBQ first began, there are now a wide variety of ways for the community to learn about, engage with and support the college including through the NMC Foundation, advisory boards, volunteer positions and more.
The Oleson Foundation has pledged to continue their support for the college and its students, just as they have for nearly thirty years. Most recently the Oleson Foundation made a gift of $100,000 to NMC’s new Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center. Marty Oleson will also continue to serve on the NMC Foundation Board.
The NMC BBQ Committee established an endowed scholarship in 2015 that will provide scholarship support in perpetuity for local students with financial need.
The last in-person NMC BBQ was Sunday, May 19, 2019. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a virtual NMC BBQ was held in 2020. For more information on the history of the event, images from the archives and list of funded projects, please visit nmc.edu/BBQ.
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communication
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 392-6082 (m)
Good afternoon NMC community,
We have some important news to share with you about one of our college’s oldest traditions. After 65 years and nearly $2 million of projects funded, Northwestern Michigan College and the Oleson Foundation have made the decision that 2020 will be the final year of the NMC BBQ event. Despite the change, the Oleson Foundation remains dedicated to supporting our students and the College will continue the strong community connection established through the event’s proud history.
Throughout the decades, many of you have given countless hours of your time, in all kinds of weather (including snow, occasionally) to make the BBQ a success. For years, it served as an “open house” where we could invite our neighbors, friends and family to come to our college and see the amazing people, programs and places that make us all so proud. Thank you for that work. It is because of you that the connection to our community, and the support of our College and students remains strong today.
“We’ve come a long way in 65 years since the Oleson family and the community first joined together to help build our community’s college. We have accomplished much and our college and region have grown and changed considerably over the years,” said Brad Oleson, NMC BBQ committee member. “As we reflect on that success, we feel now is a great opportunity to look toward the future for new ways to support the college as our students’ needs, and our community, continue to grow and change. We celebrate what we have done together and are excited to extend that path into the future to benefit our students, our college and our community for years to come.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the Oleson family’s commitment to Northwestern Michigan College. Our college might not be here today if it wasn’t for their vision and dedication,” said Dr. Nick Nissley, president of NMC. “The Olesons and the BBQ not only rallied support and resources over the years, but allowed us to open our campus to the community to celebrate all that we’ve done together for our students. I am confident we will continue the spirit of the BBQ and Oleson family for many years to come and I look forward to it.”
While the traditional BBQ event will not be returning, the College would like to host a celebration for volunteers, supporters and community members when it is safe to do so in the future.
Since the BBQ first began, there are now a wide variety of ways for the community to learn about, engage with and support the college including through the NMC Foundation, advisory boards, volunteer positions and more.
The Oleson Foundation has pledged to continue their support for the college and its students, just as they have for nearly thirty years. Most recently the Oleson Foundation made a gift of $100,000 to NMC’s new West Hall Innovation Center. Marty Oleson will also continue to serve on the NMC Foundation Board.
The NMC BBQ Committee established an endowed scholarship in 2015 that will provide scholarship support in perpetuity for local students with financial need.
Since the BBQ began, you have developed new ways to connect with our community and to support our students and we are excited to continue that important work together as a college and celebrate with you along the way.
With sincere gratitude,
Diana Fairbanks
The Health & Science Building atrium on NMC’s main campus will be used as a city polling place for Precinct 9 voters again this year, including on Tuesday, August 4. Some parking in the Cedar lot will be set aside for voters at those times.
Masks will be provided for people who don’t have them but would like one, sneeze guards will be in place within the polling place where voters and election workers most interact, items will be sanitized and social distancing signs will be in place.
The NMC Bookstore will be closed that day as well, and will reopen with normal hours Wednesday, August 5.
New and returning NMC students will be welcomed back to campus Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Wednesday, Aug. 26 with a series of free socially distanced and virtual events. Students will be moving into East and North Halls Thursday, Aug. 20 through Sunday, Aug. 23. Learn more and see the schedule events here.
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media in the past two weeks. 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 Osterlin Library.
NMC Innovation Center has soft opening
Record-Eagle, July 22 (more…)
Thank you to Residence Life staff Lisa Eiden, Amari McGee, Charles (CJ) Schneider and paraprofessional (student) staff Keith Kasper, Kishion Bragg and Monte White, who have been working with Associate Dean of Campus and Residence Life Marcus Bennett to help the dozens of students and interns who have called NMC home since early May. Staff has worked to ensure their stay in the residence halls has been an enjoyable one, and are working on plans to ensure that Fall 2020 is a success as well.
East Hall and North Hall are slated to be home to more than 100 students each in Fall 2020, as new and returning NMC students are welcomed back to campus Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Wednesday, Aug. 26 with a series of free socially distanced and virtual events.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Honoree’s Name: Melissa Sprenkle
Honoree’s Dept./Division: English
Reason for Kudos: Melissa showcased her passion for teaching excellence at the BOT meeting this week! Her students are not only engaged and learning about English but also important social issues in our community and world. Your presentation was inspiring and NMC is lucky to have such a passionate, creative, and thoughtful faculty member! Thank you for taking the time to share!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. During our “Stay Home, Stay Safe” directive, please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
Thank you to all of the NMC employees who have worked hard to retool and reopen their programs so students can keep learning while working to keep them safe, including those in Aviation, Culinary, Dental, Maritime, Police Academy and at the Dennos Museum Center.
As one example, Culinary Director Les Eckert noted that Patty Cron-Huhta and Mike Skarupinski set up new COVID-19 safety protocols for the baking lab and dining room for Cafe Lobdell’s. Program staff also worked with Facilities to ensure all sanitizing supplies are available for cleaning during and after Cafe Lobdell’s operating hours. The moves enabled Cafe Operations students to make up a spring lab class and to ensure a timely end of summer graduation.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media in the past two weeks. 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 Osterlin Library.
Great Lakes Maritime cadet tests positive for COVID-19 in self-quarantine
UpNorthLive, July 16
The Ticker, July 16
9&10 News, July 15 (more…)
Good afternoon everyone,
The Student Success Center, Student Life Office, NMC Bookstore, Records and Registration Office and Foundation Office are collaborating on a small-scale event for our 2020 grads, as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate their achievements. While NMC will soon be making an official announcement on a future Commencement ceremony for our 2020 graduates, we wanted to celebrate our 2020 Grads before the end of the summer with a Drive-thru Celebration!
We are inviting Class of 2020 graduates to make an appointment (15 minute time slot) to come to campus on either July 30 or July 31 between 2 and 7 p.m. They can sign up for a time slot here.
While on campus, graduates will receive some NMC swag, and can also purchase a cap and tassel if they choose. There will be a photo opportunity as well; Hawk Owl wings will be on site to create a memorable photo, along with a photo opportunity in front of the NMC sign (the bookstore will also be open for other purchases, too).
Information has been sent to all graduates via email and mail. You can find an overview of what they received here.
Here’s where you come in: faculty & staff are welcome to come and celebrate at this event. Social distancing & safety protocols will be practiced, so please bring your mask. We will be spaced six feet apart along the Drive-thru route in the Cedar parking lot to cheer on our grads as they drive by. Wear your NMC gear, bring pom-poms, cow bells or other instruments of celebration to aid in the festivities! Show up anytime between 2 and 7pm on July 30 and 31, and stay for as long as you’d like. Know a grad that you’d like to be there to help celebrate? Direct them to the link to get signed up!
Please park in Aspen, Birch Lot or Cherry lot to walk over; we’ll be holding the Drive-thru in Cedar Lot. Please check in at the parking lot side of the power station when you arrive. (in case of rain, please check in by the bookstore in the lobby of Health Science for further information on staging.)
Please let us know if you have any questions!
The 2020 Drive-thru Celebration Team
Lisa Thomas, Amanda Van Oordt and Sally Smarsty
Thanks to Janet Lively, Scott Powell, Tricia Lincoln, and Sarah Montgomery-Richards, who have been a huge help assisting the Educational Technologies team in delivering the teachingSOLUTIONS virtual boot camp program for teaching online and hybrid courses this summer, due to high demand.
In mid-May the team facilitated the first boot camp since the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, with over 80 faculty starting the program and many finishing since then. Another virtual boot camp is being offered the week of July 20. To sign up or to ask questions that haven’t been answered here, please reach out to Mark DeLonge (mdelonge@nmc.edu) or Ryan Bernstein (rbernstein@nmc.edu).
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
The following college events and stories have appeared in the media in the past two weeks. 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 Osterlin Library.
Great Lakes Maritime Academy prepares to set sail on graduate voyage
UpNorthLive, July 7 (more…)
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them! (more…)
Honoree’s Name: Mac Beeker
Honoree’s Dept./Division: Nursing
Reason for Kudos: Mac gave an inspiring presentation to the Board of Trustees at Monday night’s Board of Trustees meeting. It was an awesome story of the long-time relationship between Munson and NMC. In Mac’s own words, “I’d be hard-pressed to offer a better example of a symbiotic relationship between a healthcare system and a community college.” Lots to be proud of…
I have the task of lining up the presentations for the meeting and delivering the intro. materials. We had a change in a scheduled presenter, and I went to Mac and asked him to change to this month’s meeting — with no hesitation he said of course! He was professional, prompt, showed deep commitment, and excellence!
Thank you, Mac, for sharing about our nursing program, your department’s awesome work and for reminding us about all the heroes you/ NMC has trained that are working hard every day to provide quality care to our community and beyond!
Experts suggest maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” increases positivity for yourself and for others. During our “Stay Home, Stay Safe” directive, please encourage your colleagues by submitting a KUDOS. Let them know you appreciate their hard work and are thinking of them!
In an effort to facilitate submission of documents to the Business Office and Human Resources, attached are directions on how to use Android and iOS Devices to submit documents via Gmail.
Using the Genius Scan app on Android or iOS, you are able to take pictures, create a PDF document, and export to Gmail. Please send the documents to the appropriate Business Office or Human Resources emails, as listed in the linked documents below, and copy your supervisor if approval is needed. If you have any questions, please reach out to the NMC Technology Help Desk at (231) 995-3020 for assistance.
Wednesday, July 8 featuring Reni Gower10:30–11 a.m.
Join us on Zoom and Facebook Live in the galleries as we have conversations featuring some of the artists from Pulped Under Pressure. Education Curator Jason Dake will be sharing each artist’s work, currently on view, and chat with our artists. Ask your questions in the chat on Zoom or in the comments on Facebook to learn more about the artists.
Learn more about the artists and find Zoom meeting links on the Dennos community programs page.