Apr 19, 2021 | 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.
Class Of 2021 Hopes For Better Commencement, Prom News
The Ticker, April 17 (more…)
Apr 19, 2021 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thank you to the organizers of the main campus cleanup happening from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. this Thursday, April 22 in recognition of Earth Day. This spring tradition dates back many years. Volunteers are welcome; check in at the Student Success table on the West Hall lawn the day of the event. Cleanup options are available all over campus, allowing room to spread out and something for everyone. NMC’s Audio Tech program will provide live music, and a book swap and on-site e-waste recycling will also be available. Read more here.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Apr 15, 2021 | Intercom, Student News, Tech Tips
The NMC Technology Help Desk has plenty of gadgets to borrow if you need some help wrapping up your final projects.
Just stop by the help desk on the first floor of the West Hall Innovation Center for assistance!
Apr 15, 2021 | DEI Insights and Conversations, Intercom
Violence against Asian Americans is increasing at an alarming rate. Read more here:
All NMC employees and students can set up a complimentary New York Times account through the library by following these instructions.
Please fill out this DEI Intercom Post Feedback Form to be part of our conversation and offer feedback or suggestions on what is being shared.
Apr 15, 2021 | HR Corner, Intercom
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them! (more…)
Apr 15, 2021 | HR Corner, Intercom
Kudos to Katie Sommer-Ford: A student injured their hand and needed assistance drawing charts for an exam being proctored in the Student Success Center. Katie stepped in and helped by holding an instrument for the student, while wearing PPE and sitting with a plexiglass shield, so they could complete their exam. Katie is always willing to step in and help wherever needed, and we’re so grateful to have her as a part of our team!
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!
Apr 13, 2021 | Intercom, Student Events, Student News
NMC is excited to announce that a modified, in-person Commencement ceremony is being planned for both the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020. It will take place Saturday, May 1, 2021, between 1-4 p.m. at Milliken Auditorium in the Dennos Museum Center on NMC’s main campus. Students were asked to RSVP for the ceremony by April 16, and were assigned walk-through times via email.
View/Download the Class Of 2020 & 2021 Commencement Program »
The walk-through Commencement will be held in accordance with NMC’s safety protocols, as well as state and local COVID-19 guidelines, which are subject to change. Details as we now know them are below. Current state guidelines run through April 19, 2021.
The ceremony will be streamed online for those who cannot attend in person at youtube.com/NorthwesternMichiganCollege. Following the walk-through, graduates may continue their celebration outside the museum, where additional guests may join, following social distancing guidelines. Additional photo opportunities and congratulations stations will be available under tents.
Apr 12, 2021 | 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.
Game on, Hawk Owls: NMC to field pair of scholarship esports teams
Record-Eagle, April 11
UpNorthLive, April 7
The Ticker, April 8
9&10 News, April 8 (more…)
Apr 12, 2021 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Congratulations to the 13 NMC employees who are retiring as well as those who have achieved excellence and career service milestones this year, who will be honored at Wednesday’s annual Retirement & Recognition ceremony. Yes, it’s a busy time of year, and yes, another Zoom meeting probably doesn’t make your Top 10 list for the week, but as we wrap up this COVID semester, the ceremony a great way to recognize and celebrate our colleagues. Join the celebration here from 4–5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Apr 8, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
Dear NMC community,
As of this week, all Michigan residents age 16 and over are eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. We wanted to offer two tools to help you secure an appointment to conveniently receive one of these safe, effective, free vaccines.
If you need help navigating the vaccine scheduling process, call the COVID-19 Hotline at (888) 535-6136 (press 1) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Vaccination is a critical step to ending the pandemic restrictions that we have all lived under for more than a year. At NMC we have been proud to partner with Grand Traverse County to offer the Hagerty Center as a mass vaccine site since January. We encourage you and your loved ones to take the first available opportunity to get vaccinated. It is the best way you can help end the pandemic.
—
NMC Public Relations
Apr 8, 2021 | Intercom, Student Events
NMC Students, Faculty & Staff! Our Audio Tech program is hosting a spring concert on Wednesday, April 14 starting at 5 p.m. on NMC’s main campus. We will have performances by East Bay Drive featuring Laurie Sears, Little Graves, Doc DPC, and more! The stage will be set up on the lawn between West Hall and Founders Hall (note the new location) where there is plenty of space for people to come jam and stay safe. (Please respect COVID-19 social distancing and mask guidelines).
The show will also be livestreamed on the NMC Audio Tech YouTube channel so you can tune in anywhere at any time!
Apr 7, 2021 | Intercom
NMC employees: If you are interested in serving on the Strategic Planning Work Team, please email strategic-planning@nmc.edu by Friday, April 9 to be added to the team. And thank you to everyone who has already volunteered.
Read more about the Strategic Planning Work Team here, and find more information on the strategic planning process at nmc.edu/strategic-planning, which is being continually updated as more events and activities are scheduled.
Apr 7, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
Adult learner champions inclusion of nontraditional students
April 7, 2021
This Saturday, Amber Marsh will find out if she’ll spend the next year as a vice-president of an organization seeking to advance the success of more than 200,000 community college students in 11 countries worldwide.
It’s a position the Kalkaska County resident, licensed cosmetologist, mother and NMC student never imagined herself seeking two or three years ago. But the difference NMC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international community college honor society, has made in Marsh’s own life has compelled her to try and advance its mission still further.
“I know this gives people tools for success,” said Marsh, who’s president of NMC’s chapter. “(PTK) is an organization that has helped me to grow, push me, challenge me.”
It’s been a decade since an NMC chapter member has sought international office, said chapter adviser Kari Kahler. She believes Marsh, one of three finalists for NMC’s district vice presidency, has a good shot at being the first from the college elected to the international level.
“She has embraced the ideals of Phi Theta Kappa. Her heart is service,” Kahler said, adding that under Marsh’s leadership, NMC’s chapter was just named the most distinguished among 31 chapters in Michigan. “She’s just in it for all the right reasons.”
While the conference is mostly virtual, Marsh and other finalist candidates will be in Orlando for the vote.
With this year’s election prioritizing inclusion, Marsh thinks she’s a fitting candidate. She’s studying business administration and hopes to one day start her own business in the beauty industry.
“I want to be a voice for nontraditional students, for trade students,” she said.
Marsh’s interest in advocacy and policy traces to a 2019 conference she attended at the Roosevelt Institute in New York as a Forge Fellow. She’s now on the national leadership board for the institute founded by the former U.S. president. PTK invited her to present on her trip, and wound up extending an invitation for membership, which requires at least a 3.5 grade point average.
“I didn’t think I could afford the ability to be in a scholarly organization,” said Marsh, who also runs a food and clothing pantry at Forest Area Schools, where she graduated from high school and where her two children now attend, and founded a women’s conference in Kalkaska.
But she’s found PTK dovetails well with her interests in community. One project she led was sewing reusable cloth face masks for residence hall students, to reduce the waste of disposable masks. She’ll be joining the NMC Foundation Board as a student member, and is also a member of the strategic planning steering committee launching this month.
“I just have a passion for PTK and how it grows community at NMC,” Marsh said.
Apr 7, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is now recruiting student athletes for varsity teams in two Esports with competition slated to begin this fall.
Esports, or competitive video gaming, already exist as a student group on campus. Forming official varsity teams will allow NMC to compete in both the Michigan Esports Conference and the NJCAAE (National Junior College Athletic Association – Esports) Conference.
Esports are also a tactic to boost enrollment and student engagement, align with the priority NMC places on experiential learning, and intersect with multiple program areas, including computer information technology, marketing, visual communications, audio technology, and business.
“Esports are relatively new at the collegiate level, but the pace of growth is astounding,” said Todd Neibauer, vice president for Student Services and Technologies. “This is another way for NMC to stand out as students choose where to pursue their post-secondary goals.”
Terri Gustafson is the NMC ESports adviser. She said that Esports teach players transferable career skills including teamwork, communication, collaboration, leadership and time management.
“They are a pathway beyond college just as traditional sports and extracurricular activities are,” said Gustafson, who has overseen 93 students in NMC’s club version of Esports that began on a virtual basis in fall 2020, making it NMC’s top student group in terms of participation.
Club play has been mostly virtual to date due to the pandemic. When restrictions allow in-person competition, the varsity teams will practice and compete in an Esports lab in the lower level of the newly renovated Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center featuring 10 PC stations and one coach station. (Download high-resolution photos of the Esports lab.)
As it moves from club to varsity play, NMC has also hired a consultant with head coach experience at a Mid-American Conference (MAC) program in the state of Michigan. NMC expects about 13 student athletes in its first year of competition, and will hire coaches for each of the two teams. Athletes must maintain a 2.0 grade point average to retain their academic eligibility.
More information is available at nmc.edu/esports. A program information night will be held via Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 13. Details about the program, including collegiate esports requirements and a timeline for recruiting will be discussed.
According to the industry site greenmangaming, Esports are growing at a pace to top traditional sports in all areas, from spectators to revenue. In 2020, the global Esports audience was 586 million, more than double 2015 figures. It had overtaken the combined audience of American professional football and rugby and was poised to overtake baseball. Prize money won in tournaments has soared from $4 million in 2009 to $173 million in 2019, and the number of professional athletes tripled between 2014 and 2019.
Release date: April 7, 2021
For more information:
Terri Gustafson
NMC Esports director
tgustafson@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1076
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
Apr 7, 2021 | Intercom, Student News
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is now recruiting student athletes for varsity teams in two Esports with competition slated to begin this fall.
Esports, or competitive video gaming, already exist as a student group on campus. Forming official varsity teams will allow NMC to compete in both the Michigan Esports Conference and the NJCAAE (National Junior College Athletic Association – Esports) Conference.
Esports are also a tactic to boost enrollment and student engagement, align with the priority NMC places on experiential learning, and intersect with multiple program areas, including computer information technology, marketing, visual communications, audio technology, and business.
“Esports are relatively new at the collegiate level, but the pace of growth is astounding,” said Todd Neibauer, vice president for Student Services and Technologies. “This is another way for NMC to stand out as students choose where to pursue their post-secondary goals.”
Terri Gustafson is the NMC ESports adviser. She said that Esports teach players transferable career skills including teamwork, communication, collaboration, leadership and time management.
“They are a pathway beyond college just as traditional sports and extracurricular activities are,” said Gustafson, who has overseen 93 students in NMC’s club version of Esports that began on a virtual basis in fall 2020, making it NMC’s top student group in terms of participation.
Club play has been mostly virtual to date due to the pandemic. When restrictions allow in-person competition, the varsity teams will practice and compete in an Esports lab in the lower level of the newly renovated Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center featuring 10 PC stations and one coach station. (Download high-resolution photos of the Esports lab.)
As it moves from club to varsity play, NMC has also hired a consultant with head coach experience at a Mid-American Conference (MAC) program in the state of Michigan. NMC expects about 13 student athletes in its first year of competition, and will hire coaches for each of the two teams. Athletes must maintain a 2.0 grade point average to retain their academic eligibility.
More information is available at nmc.edu/esports. A program information night will be held via Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 13. Details about the program, including collegiate esports requirements and a timeline for recruiting will be discussed.
According to the industry site greenmangaming, Esports are growing at a pace to top traditional sports in all areas, from spectators to revenue. In 2020, the global Esports audience was 586 million, more than double 2015 figures. It had overtaken the combined audience of American professional football and rugby and was poised to overtake baseball. Prize money won in tournaments has soared from $4 million in 2009 to $173 million in 2019, and the number of professional athletes tripled between 2014 and 2019.
Release date: April 7, 2021
For more information:
Terri Gustafson
NMC Esports director
tgustafson@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1076
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
Apr 6, 2021 | Intercom, Student Events
Thursday, April 22, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
between the West Hall Innovation Center and Founders Hall
Let’s celebrate Earth Day 2021 by taking the day to clean up NMC’s campus! Grab a friend and join us in this socially-distanced service project—upon arrival, check-in at the Student Success Center table!
- Campus cleanup and beautification projects (bring garden gloves if you have them, compostable bags will be provided)
- Onsite e-waste recycling (computers, iPods, laptops, inkjet printer cartridges, cell phones, network equipment, modems, CR card readers, flat screen monitors, printers, home electronics)
- Book swap
- Live music courtesy of NMC’s Audio Tech program, and more!
Sponsored by NMC Student Engagement, in collaboration with the NMC Green Team. Please contact Sally Smarsty at ssmarsty@nmc.edu for more information.
Apr 5, 2021 | 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.
NMC strategic planning effort kicks off
Record-Eagle, April 1 (more…)
Apr 5, 2021 | Hawk Owl Helpers and Heroes, Intercom
Thank you to the organizers of the Light Up the Night rally scheduled for 7:30-8:30 p.m. this Thursday, April 8, between West Hall and East Hall.
This evening of hope and healing is is sponsored by NMC’s Student Life Office and held in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Activities will include flag and chalk decorating, food, a candlelight vigil, and connection with the campus community.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
