Success Story: Maritime credentials send alumni on careers worldwide

Dec 4, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

December 4, 2019

Almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is water, and in its 50 years, graduates of NMC’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy have been over just about all of it.

As the Academy formally celebrates its golden anniversary with a celebration this weekend, we look back at snapshot: A graduate from each decade. Collectively, they represent the breadth and diversity of the maritime industry, from Great Lakes freighters to ocean tankers, from commercial shipping to U.S. military, aboard vessels or shoreside.

“There’s a lot to see in the industry. It’s worldly. It’s global,” said 1998 graduate Scott Powell. He spent 11 years sailing the Great Lakes on ore boats, and in 2009 began teaching at the California State Maritime Academy, one of GLMA’s six sister academies. There he was the navigator for eight training cruises, in which the T/S Golden Bear sailed from Vallejo to places such as New Zealand and the Mediterranean Sea.

“That’s halfway across the world,” said Powell, who in 2018 moved back to teach at GLMA. “Now I’m back on the lakes again. I’ve now been around the world a lot on a ship.”

1970s: Mike Surgalski, 1979: Surgalski has come home, too. He’s currently the captain of GLMA’s training ship, the T/S State of Michigan, and was instrumental in its acquisition from the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessel arrived in Traverse City in 2002 and since then has provided about 60 days of required sea time to not only GLMA cadets, but those from other academies. Most recently the ship has offered internship opportunities to NMC culinary students, who are finding a lucrative niche working as cooks aboard ships.

1980s: Margo Marks, 1983: Former president of the Beaver Island Ferry Co. She joined the company that provides transportation to the island from Charlevoix in 2001. During her tenure, Marks also served her industry as the president of the Passenger Vessel Association, a national association representing owners and operators of dinner cruise vessels, sightseeing and excursion vessels, car and passenger ferries and other vessels that carry more than 200 million passengers per year. Prior to the ferry company, Marks worked as Elk Rapids Harbormaster. Her husband Todd also graduated in 1983 and worked on tankers on the West Coast.

​1990s: Scott Powell, 1998, GLMA navigation instructor: Powell’s advice to prospective cadets is “to get as many different experiences as you can,” and the Flint-area native has certainly done so himself. In addition to his years sailing the Great Lakes and teaching at both Cal Maritime and GLMA, Powell is also an author. He contributed to six chapters of the 2017 edition of The American Practical Navigator. The Bible of the maritime industry, the text is kept on every military vessel, commercial vessels and in every maritime school. Powell’s specialty is Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), which is “slowly replacing paper charts” aboard ship, he said.

2000s: Pat Drayer, 2003, U.S. Coast Guard: Since graduation, Drayer’s been stationed all over North America, from Miami, Florida to Juneau, Alaska. He currently holds the rank of commander and executive officer of the Marine Safety Unit at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Duluth, Minn. His career has focused on safety inspections of commercial vessels. “I can’t speak highly enough of the education I got,” Drayer said, citing the licensing credential the Academy offers as a major mark of industry credibility. “The standard of education they provided at GLMA and NMC was fantastic and really set me up.”

2010s: Alec Giamboi, 2019: Polar Tankers, a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips operating in the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System, lifting crude oil in Valdez, Alaska, and discharging at ports along the West Coast and Hawaii. Giamboi was studying political science at Loyola University Chicago when he decided he wanted a more hands-on career, something that tapped into his love of water and that offered a fulfilling career immediately upon graduation. Google searches led him to GLMA. He interned with Polar Tankers as a student and went on to be hired after graduating this year. “I’ve loved it,” said the Youngstown, Ohio native.

Tickets are still available for Saturday’s celebration, to be held at the Hagerty Center. The event will honor Maritime cadets, industry partnerships, and the success of alumni and is set for 6:30–8:30 p.m. Tickets are $50/person, at nmc.edu/glma50.

In honor of the Academy’s 50th anniversary, NMC and GLMA have also published a history book. Contact the NMC Alumni Office for information on obtaining a copy. (231) 995-1021.

January calendar of events

Nov 30, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — The following is a calendar of Northwestern Michigan College events open to the public for the next two months. Free events are noted as such. For information on specific events, call the listed phone number. All phone numbers are area code 231 unless noted. Detailed news releases on most events will be available at www.nmc.edu approximately two weeks before the event. Event details may also be posted on NMC’s Facebook page or Twitter account (nmc_tc).

For news releases on events at the Dennos Museum Center and Milliken Auditorium, visit www.dennosmuseum.org, and find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Ongoing:

Lunch at Lobdell’s
Through Dec. 11. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in Lobdell’s Teaching Restaurant on NMC’s Great Lakes campus. 995-3120

Dennos Museum Center Exhibitions

Opening January 19, 2020:
40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World
In this powerful exhibit featuring the photography of Howard G. Buffett, 40 photographs document the world hunger crisis as part of a global awareness campaign.

Pulped Under Pressure
With traditional hand papermaking at its core, this exhibition underscores important contemporary issues steeped in history and craft.

Ergo Sum: A Crow a Day
For 365 days, artist Karen Bondarchuk produced a crow a day to mark the passing time that her mother – diagnosed with dementia in 2010 – no longer could.

January 2020

Friday, Jan. 3 Public Viewing Night, 9-11 p.m., Rogers Observatory. $2/person; $5/family, 995-2300
Monday, Jan. 20 Reservations open for spring semester lunches at Lobdell’s Teaching Restaurant. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 5-April 28. (231) 995-3120
Monday, Jan. 27 Board of Trustees regular meeting, 5:30 p.m., Hagerty Center, 995-1010

Release date: NOVEMBER 27, 2019

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019

“To Be Seen and Heard” disability awareness event

Nov 26, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — NMC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international community college honor society, invites the community to attend “To Be Seen and Heard” Dec. 3, an event to discuss the barriers to success and common misconceptions about individuals with visible and invisible disabilities.

The event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on the second floor of the Osterlin Building and includes a panel discussion, information about community services, TEDx talks and refreshments.

Osterlin 203
Michigan Rehabilitation Services: 3–3:45 p.m. MRS provides specialized employment and education-related services and training to assist teens and adults with disabilities.
TEDx talks: 4:15–4:45 p.m.
Panel: 5–5:45 p.m.
Q&A: 5:45–6 p.m.

Osterlin 205
Community Agencies/Resources: 3:30–5 p.m.

Osterlin 204
Food: 4 p.m.

Release Date: November 26, 2019

For more information:

Kristina Uribe
Phi Theta Kappa
(231) 714-8573
uribek@mail.nmc.edu

Community invited to GLMA 50th anniversary event

Nov 22, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to join in Northwestern Michigan College’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of its Great Lakes Maritime Academy at a special event Saturday, Dec. 7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Hagerty Center on the Great Lakes campus. Tickets are on sale now at nmc.edu/glma50.

The event will honor Maritime cadets, industry partnerships, and the success of alumni. A division of Northwestern Michigan College, GLMA is one of only six state maritime academies in the United States and the only one located on fresh water. The Academy graduates 50 cadets annually, and the employment rate is virtually 100 percent within 90 days of graduation.

Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby, U.S.N., Ret., will serve as the keynote speaker. A 1979 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Buzby earned his Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science and U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate License. He was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in June 1979, is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College, and holds master’s degrees from the U.S. Naval War College in Strategic Studies, and Salve Regina University in International Relations.

The evening includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $50 per person. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at nmc.edu/glma50 or by calling (231) 995-1021.

Release date: November 22, 2019

For more information:

Northwestern Michigan College Foundation
foundation@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1021
nmc.edu/glma50

NMC students to distribute 212 Thanksgiving meals

Nov 21, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College business students will distribute more than 200 Thanksgiving meals to fellow students, Coast Guard families and community members on Monday, November 25.

This is the outcome of the seventh annual semester-long Food for Thought experiential learning project, aimed at teaching students how to professionally communicate in a real-world setting.

Each student wrote a business letter to an organization or business, requesting support for a specific traditional Thanksgiving meal item in quantities sufficient to provide 200 meals. For the first time in the event’s history, 100 percent of the businesses not only responded, but agreed to support the project.

“That success shows both how well the students communicated, and how generous our community is, said Kristy McDonald, NMC instructor.

Monday’s distribution will take place at three locations:

• 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.: James Beckett Building on NMC’s main campus, 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City. 140 meals distributed to NMC students and their families.
• 4:15 p.m.: U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, 1175 Airport Access Road, Traverse City. Five Coast Guard families will receive their boxes.
• 5:30–7:30 p.m.: Traverse Heights Elementary School community distribution, 933 Rose St., Traverse City. 67 meals distributed.

Release date: November 21, 2019

For more information:

Brandon Bugai
Student Marketing Lead
(231) 645-6365
bugai17@mail.nmc.edu

Kristy McDonald
Business Instructor
(231) 735-1055
kmcdonald@nmc.edu

New Books at the Library – November 2019

Nov 20, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

The library has purchased many new books so far this year. You can view a handful here along with descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.

(more…)

Success Story: Trio wins statewide Innovation in Transfer award

Nov 20, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

November 20, 2019

Updates to NMC’s longstanding engineering partnership with Michigan Technological University designed to increase student success and reduce costs will receive statewide recognition this week.

Faculty members Jerry Dobek (seated) Jay Smith (right) and NMC adviser Deb Maison (center) will receive the 2019 Innovation in Transfer Award on Thursday at a statewide conference.

The trio’s work to establish a “2 + 2” program with MTU in seven different engineering specialties is especially significant as more universities seek to enroll students for all four years, rather than accepting them as transfer students from community colleges. NMC was also ahead of others in the state in terms of a transfer pathway specifically for engineering.

“Michigan Tech is acknowledging the quality of our courses, the quality of our instruction, and the quality of our students with this agreement,” said Lindsey Dickinson, NMC director of advising, who nominated the trio for their 18 months of work. Students who complete NMC’s engineering certificate with a 2.75 GPA are guaranteed admission to MTU, entering as juniors to complete their bachelor of science. The agreements are expected to increase NMC’s enrollment pipeline to one of Michigan’s leading engineering schools, located in Houghton, Mich.

“Our engineering program here is in a growth period, which should only be aided by agreements like these,” Smith said.

The first seven agreements became effective this fall. Another 12 are in the works, Dobek said. They plan to work with other schools, including Kettering University, Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University, to establish more engineering options.

Other community colleges are also seeking NMC’s advice on how to replicate the agreements, Dickinson said.

NMC-MTU engineering articulation agreements date to 1990. The new agreements reflect how engineering programs have changed and how graduation requirements have become more specialized. Read more at nmc.edu/engineering.

Beyond engineering, NMC has articulation agreements in place with 35 educational institutions for more than 100 programs. Read more at nmc.edu/transfer.

Read more about it

Read about more success stories like the NMC-MTU partnership in the next issue of Nexus, the NMC magazine. The next issue mails Dec. 16 with a cover story on retiring president Timothy J. Nelson’s legacy, a feature on NMC’s reality TV stars, and much more. Call (231) 995-1021 to have one sent to your mailbox!