University Center College Night Tuesday, October 9

Visit the University Center for College Night Tuesday, October 9 from 7-9 p.m. in rooms 215 & 217.

Make visiting colleges easy this fall. Join us for one night and learn about eight universities that have a home base right here in Traverse City! Learn about the programs available from: Central Michigan University, Davenport University, Grand Valley State University, Ferris State University, Spring Arbor University, Western Michigan University and Michigan State University.

Learn what your next step is to prepare for college:
● Meet with university representatives that have classrooms right here in T.C.
● Take a self-guided tour of the University Center
● Oh Yea, and get sweet swag!

Sign up and show up:
● First 50 people who sign up receive a free t-shirt 
● To sign up click here or call 231-499-7712 (registration not required)

Passport to Rwanda October 11

The Passport Lecture Series is a chance to explore other cultures though the experience of international speakers.

On October 11, from 12:15-1 p.m., bring your lunch to Founders Hall Room 110 and hear International Peacemaker, Pastor Jerome Bizimana Nkumbuyinka, share his powerful stories of reconciliation in Rwanda following the genocide years.

Global Endorsement students, please bring your GE passport so it can be stamped to earn event points!

Hawk Owl Cafe Doors Open Early

NMC Dining Services is opening the doors to the Hawk Owl Cafe in the Oleson Center weekdays at 9 a.m., to give students and staff a place to hang out, listen to music, study, play pool, etc.

Food service at the Hawk Owl Cafe will still be available from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Come relax before or after class!

Flu Clinics

No Appointment Necessary! Visit Student Health Services in Biederman Building, Room 106:

  • Monday, September 17: 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 20: 1-3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 25: 1-3 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 26: 9-11 a.m.

Cost:

  • Students: $15
  • Faculty & Staff: $20 (no cost if covered under NMC insurance)

NOTE!  All flu clinics subject to change per current CDC and/or GT Co. Health Dept. recommendations and vaccine availability.

Call 995-1255 with questions

 

Persistence + grit = Success Story

September 26 2018

Becca RichardsonThirteen years ago, Becca Richardson calculated that her desire to stop waiting tables was greater than her fear of math.

Today she’s a living example of both facing her fears and calculating correctly. The former developmental math student is the newest member of NMC’s math faculty.

As an NMC student, Richardson’s math placement test score was so low that she avoided taking any math classes when she first enrolled, after her graduation from Benzie Central High School in 2002. After only a semester that had expanded into avoiding any classes whatsoever.

“I just gave up. Maybe college isn’t for me,” Richardson recalled thinking.

Two years later, however, waitressing was getting “really old” and Richardson returned. Her math placement score was still low, even below that recommended for the most entry-level math course, Math 08. Still, aware she needed at least one math class for a degree, she signed up.

“It only took me a few classes to decide I liked it,” she said. She earned a 4.0 from instructor Mark Nelson in the class, and even tutored classmates, who told her she was good at explaining concepts. Maybe she should consider becoming a teacher.

Richardson took that advice — and more math classes. She transferred from NMC to Ferris State at the University Center in 2007, earned her bachelor’s in math from in 2012, and a master’s from the University of Idaho in 2015. She also taught as an NMC adjunct for five years. As of this fall she’s officially come full circle, settled in the now-retired Nelson’s former office, right inside the Tanis Building’s Math Center, where students come for drop-in tutoring.

She sees reflections of her former self sitting in many of her classes.

“A lot of times, I can remember having the same exact questions,” said Richardson.

Besides herself as Exhibit A, Richardson now has encouraging words for those students.

“I don’t think there’s such a thing as being bad at math. You’re just not practiced,” she said. “Persistence and perseverance is what will get you through.”