Thank you all for everything you do in pursuit of “Keeping Learning at the Center.”
This section recognizes the good work being done and linkages to the Strategic Directions (SD) and Institutional Effectiveness Criteria (IE) are provided where possible. (more…)
Open Rec Basketball times are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon-2 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 8-10 p.m.
The library has purchased many new books so far this year. You can view a handful here along with partial descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.
TRAVERSE CITY — Alumni from the 1950s, 1970s and 1990s have been named NMC’s Outstanding Alumni for 2018.
The award recognize alumni with significant professional achievements and/or exemplary leadership in the local or global community. The three recipients named at NMC’s 2018 Commencement ceremony are:
Ed Reynolds, 1973-78: Reynolds is the president and CEO of Quantum Sails, the world’s second-largest sail maker with headquarters in Traverse City and operations internationally, including a high-tech sail manufacturing plant in Malaysia and plant, designers and engineers in Spain. Reynolds turned heads and broke into the elite sailing market in 2008 when on the starting line of the MedCup Circuit, his was the only boat without the then-dominant competitor’s sail. His team dominated the series and won the overall championship sailing under Quantum sails. The company has grown and prospered ever since, achieving double-digit growth from 2007 to 2015.
Dr. Robert Tanis, 1958-59: The son of NMC’s first president, Tanis at first floundered in college. With encouragement, however, he achieved a turnaround in his second year and embarked on a career in sciences. Highlights include serving as a researcher at the University of Michigan; as Director of Biochemistry at Michigan State University; at the National Institutes of Health and at Harvard Medical School, where his 27 years with the administrative team included serving as director of Harvard’s Genetics Department. In 2015 Tanis established the President Emeritus Preston N. Tanis Scholarship, a $100,000 endowment providing scholarships for NMC students studying the sciences.
Trevor Tkach, 1995-97: Tkach is the president and CEO of Traverse City Tourism, a position he began in 2016. Prior to that he spent a decade at the National Cherry Festival, including five years as Executive Director. During his tenure with the Cherry Festival, he earned wide respect for managing the event in a way that was respectful of local concerns while also serving the tourist population who are a lifeblood to the region. Tkach was named to the Traverse City Business News’ 40 under 40, an award recognizing the region’s most influential professionals under the age of 40, for eight consecutive years.
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director, NMC Public Relations
(231) 995-1029
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College will host the 63rd annual Barbecue, one of the Grand Traverse region’s most popular spring traditions, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 20 on main campus.
The late Gerald W. Oleson and his wife Frances, founders of Oleson’s Food Stores in Traverse City, started the annual fund raiser picnic in 1956. Under the leadership of the third generation of the Oleson family, Oleson’s Food Stores continues to donate the food. Several thousand people attend every year, raising $1.5 million for college programs and equipment over the years.
What does it take to put on a picnic that size?
In addition to the traditional picnic lunch, the schedule of events held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. includes:
Services available to attendees include a baby care station and veterans’ tent, as well as compostable utensils and plates and composting of food waste, as part of an effort towards making the Barbecue a zero-waste event.
Barbecue tickets are $6 in advance (plus a $1.25/ticket fee for online purchase and $8 on Barbecue Day. Tickets are available online at nmc.edu/bbq until noon Friday, May 18, on campus, at Oleson’s Food Stores and most local financial institutions.
For more information, call (231) 995-1020 or visit nmc.edu/bbq.
Diana Fairbanks
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019
KUDOS – (praise or respect that you get because of something you have done or achieved) defined by Merriam-Webster.com
Submit a Kudos here.
Kudos to Justin, Mark and Ryan in Educational Media Technologies- they went over and above to help me-frequently answering my questions by walking over to my office on their lunch or even on the weekend. Of course, when I had a concern, it was often due to a mistake I made, or put me in a state of “emergency.” These three gentlemen helped me not only fix the problem, but to understand it. I appreciate their patience and am grateful for their kind help.
Kudos to the NMC Grounds Team: A very special Kudos to all on the NMC Grounds team that have responded (sometimes in very short order) to assist us at the Museum with moving heavy crates or installing heavy sculptures on a number of occasions so far this year. We could not do it without your support and we thank you for responding to our requests for help.
What an amazing showing by NMC employees for the 2nd Annual step challenge! Congratulations to every person who took the time to participate!
Are you currently one of the few eligible employees who haven’t taken advantage of the online Health Assessment?
This easy, 10-minute lifestyle survey is accessible through your Blue Cross® Health & Wellness website, powered by WebMD®. Once you’ve completed your assessment you’re one step away from a $50 gift card. Just log in to bcbsm.com or the Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Michigan mobile app and click Health & Wellness to get started.
NMC teammates that elected our Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan insurance and complete the online Health Assessment and submit the Physician Health Screening form before May 31, 2018 will receive a $50 gift card.
Don’t wait too long! Time is running out to complete these two steps.
Call the Blue Cross Engagement Center at 1-800-775-2583 if you need help with your Health Assessment or to check on you Physician Health Screening form. You can always contact our Wellness Coordinator, Chris Barr, at cbarr@nmc.edu should you have a question.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to be rewarded for being healthy!
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
The Dennos Museum Store invites you to share in an exciting opportunity to support artists from around the globe. Visit the Dennos Museum Center on May 18, 19 and 20 during the NMC BBQ to see exciting work from six countries representing media of wood carving, textiles and painting.
Hamilton Banda is a wood carver from Malawi. His work comes to the Dennos via his friendship with Dr. Terrie Taylor of Traverse City. The Dennos is the only U.S. site to sell his work. His work is carved from beautiful native woods. Hamilton uses some of the proceeds from his sales to teach skills to disabled people so they will not have to beg. He has also worked to build a residential facility for disabled so they have a warm, dry place to live.
Red Dirt Road designs are lovingly created by women in their remote Cambodian village from hand loomed, richly textured Cambodian silk. Each item is precisely constructed by hand using treadle sewing machine and a coal heated iron. Profits from sales are returned to the women.
On the walls of the gallery will be an impressive collection of Pictorial Korhogo mud cloth from the Ivory Coast. This cloth is produced by the Senufo people and is named after their village. The hand woven cotton cloth uses striking imagery and symbolism to tell stories.
From Ecuador the sale will feature hand-woven tapestries with wild life scenes and geometric patterns. Beautiful hand painted wood plates by artisans Olmedo and Delfina who have worked as a team since they married and are now teaching the craft to their children.
After two past Dennos exhibitions featuring Cuadros of Peru they seemed a natural addition to the sale. The pieces are embroidered and appliqued fabric pictures made in Pamplona Alta, a shantytown south of Lima. The making of Cuadros has become a way for women to support themselves and their families. Proceeds from the sale are sent back to Peru to support the women and their families.
Sale hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday during the NMC BBQ from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.. There is no admission charge. For additional information call (231) 995-1586.
Smart Commute Week is an annual celebration held during the first week of June. The week consists of events that promote cycling, walking, taking the bus and carpooling. Smart Commute is for everyone. Free daily breakfasts are hosted at various locations around town for smart commuters.
Every year community members challenge each other to a friendly competition known as the Smart Commute Week Challenge. Last year NMC came in 7th and we hope you join the team this year and help us reach the top!
To join, fill out the brief Google Doc form here.
Join Chris Barr for a brisk walk around your campus- only a 15 minute commitment!
Monday, May 21, 2018:
10 a.m.- Main Front Street Campus– meet in the lawn in front of Founders Hall
12 p.m.-Parsons Stulen– meet in front of the main entrance to the building
1 p.m.- University Center– meet at the front entrance door under the green sign (Business Office, Human Resources, Extended Ed)
2 p.m.-Great Lakes Campus– meet in front of the main entrance to the building
Although the challenge wraps on Friday, May 11, you have until May 16 to be sure all of your steps are entered and accounted for! It is recommended to log into you Blue Cross site to be sure the automatic counting is correct. Those using the Google Tracking Sheet should finalize their information by May 16 as well.
Winners will be announced by the end of the week!
The following employees are celebrating an anniversary soon. Please join us in congratulating them!
Are you looking for career opportunities? Find them here! jobs.nmc.edu. Current openings include:
Please join us in welcoming these new additions to our NMC staff!
Traverse City’s Oleson family and the NMC Barbecue go together, well, like buffalo burgers and a nice spring day on campus. But many more community volunteers and groups help make the annual picnic under the pines happen every year. In advance of this year’s May 20 Barbecue, we look at a few:
The noon Rotarians have handled the grill as far back as memory goes.
“I have flipped burgers for 25 years, 30 years, as long as I’ve been in Rotary,” said Sid Lammers. “It builds fellowship in the club.”
Lammers’ Barbecue attendance goes back even further, to when he moved to Traverse City as a boy in 1968. He attended NMC from 1971-72, then transferred to Central Michigan University. He returned to the community to raise a family and run a business. Now, between 15-20 extended family members make it a point to attend the Barbecue every year.
“The event is not to be missed in my family,” Lammers said. “I appreciate the college, I appreciate the Olesons and what they’ve done for it.”
Command Master Chief Al Wiltse has only been stationed at Air Station Traverse City for three years, but his predecessor made sure he knew to set aside the third Sunday in May.
“We volunteer because Traverse City is a wonderful community to be stationed in,” Wiltse said. “This is a very highly desirable area for Coast Guard folks. The city treats us magnificently, and it our duty and obligation to give back to the community.”
Working the serving lines, as the Coasties usually do, is fun, too, Wiltse said.
“We always have a blast. It’s a lot of fun. Our spouses and our kids get involved,” he said. “We’re honored to be asked every year.”
The company has been volunteering for 26 years, said Realtor Clint Wheeler.
“As a real estate company, it’s very important for us to give back to the community and help the community grow,” Wheeler said. “It couldn’t be for a better cause. It’s always been important to be part of it.”
This year, volunteer Realtors Leanne and Lyle Deeren have an extra reason to show up for serving line duty. Daughter Sierra, a Traverse City West High School senior, will enroll this fall in the nursing program.
“I just feel like I have a little bit closer connection to it now, now that my daughter’s going to be there,” Leanne Deeren said. “It’s fun to see so many people gathering to support a great school.”
Sporting their signature yellow aprons, 18 Zontans will fill two shifts in the serving lines, dishing out coleslaw, potato salad and of course the buffalo burgers.
“We love seeing the people going through the line and all the happy faces,” said Zonta board member Nancy Brick.
She usually volunteers as a “runner,” notifying the kitchen crew when a serving line is running low.
“The runners all help each other’s lines,” Brick said. “We love participating with other fellow community organizations in line next to us.”
Other groups and clubs with longtime volunteer ties to the Barbecue include the Traverse City Optimists, Kiwanis, Elks, Newcomers, Traverse City State Bank, Hagerty Macy’s and the National Cherry Festival.
Advance tickets are $6 (plus a $1.25 online service fee) when purchased online at MyNorthTickets. Tickets can also be purchased for $6 at Oleson’s Food Stores, many financial institutions and on NMC’s main campus, or for $8 at the gate on Barbecue Day, May 20.
The GRASP reading and math program, offered through Extended Educational Services each summer, helps maintain these critical skills.
GRASP is an at-home program for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Students complete one lesson a week and then mail it to reading and math teachers who review, score and return each assignment. The GRASP teachers recognize the flexibility of a student’s summer vacation, allowing the family to mail each lesson from anywhere their summer travels take them.
The price is $75 for one subject ($85 after May 16), or $129 for both subjects ($139 after May 16). Staff tuition waivers apply ($35 for one subject; $49 for both). Partial financial assistance is available for those who qualify.
To register or to learn more about the GRASP program, call NMC Extended Educational Services at (231) 995-1700.