These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
With the winter closure fast approaching, it’s a good time to make sure you’re subscribed to NMC’s Holiday Calendar! Click here to add the calendar (you must be signed into your employee account).
If you want your own calendar to display as busy, click the three dots in the right-hand corner of the appointment and then select the “Copy to…” feature.
Thanksgiving always gives me pause, offering an invitation to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for—and to say thanks to you. An attitude of gratitude seems to be woven into the fabric of our NMC culture. Just this past week, I saw it expressed by students, faculty, and staff alike.
I saw thankful student mentors offering friendship to the Blair Elementary mentees and others engaging in the Walk for Health and Homelessness, showing compassion for those experiencing housing insecurity. I saw Kristy McDonald’s service-learning class handing out Thanksgiving meals, providing members of our community—including NMC students and their families—an opportunity to enjoy a Thanksgiving celebration. I also saw our faculty and staff welcoming TCAPS 5th graders to explore our campus and learn about health occupations. These efforts help young students begin to imagine themselves at NMC and perhaps in a future career in health care.
Day in and day out, students enter our doors. By choosing NMC, they are making an investment in a college education, believing that their time, effort, and resources will pay off in the form of greater opportunities and improved lives for themselves and their families. They trust us to help them move from where they are today to where they hope to be tomorrow. There’s no more meaningful and fulfilling job than ours: to support that hope and help ensure they succeed in that investment.
An added benefit of our community college mission, as you know, is that we not only transform students’ lives but also enrich our community. Community and regional prosperity are central to our work. We have the privilege of serving as leaders in fulfilling this mission: transforming lives and enriching our community.
Lastly, while many issues may divide people today, at NMC, we remain united by our shared values: Learning, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Inclusion, Innovation, Stewardship, and Excellence. I am deeply grateful for how our NMC family exemplifies these values. It’s one more reason to give thanks this season.
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Nick
Eric Hines of WNMC is proud to announce the first on-air Speaker Series premiering at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday November 26, 2024. The first guest will be Scot Zimmerman, who is the Community President at Mercantile Bank. WNMC’s inaugural session came from a collaboration with Alex Tank, Director of IAF and Megan Bylsma, NMC’s Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations as Mercantile is the season sponsor of the International Affairs Forum. This series will continue to engage business leaders and listeners from around our community. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow.
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.
Chef on a tugboat: Former TC restaurateur enjoying gig on Mississippi River
Record-Eagle, Nov. 24
(more…)
Thanks to all who are working to ensure that no student is hungry. That includes the organizers of NMC’s stationary food pantry in Osterlin, which has served students since 2017; the revived mobile food pantry which will distribute from 3-5 p.m. today in the Maple parking lot; and Business 231 students who will distribute 165 holiday meals when their 11th annual Thanks-for-Giving drive culminates tomorrow.
Who’s been a Hawk Owl Helper or Hero for you? Let us know at publicrelations@nmc.edu!
Cybersecurity pop-up’s are complete for Fall 2024! The winners of the prizes are Ava Plamondon and Neil Streeter! Kudos to Neil for being a cybersecurity expert and still being willing to test his knowledge.
Thanks to everyone who played a game. Good Cybersecurity choices are core to NMC’s well-being!
Campus Life is hosting a dodgeball tournament on Thursday, December 5 at 7 p.m. in the Rajkovich Physical Education Building on NMC’s Front Street Campus.
The deadline to sign up is December 5, 2024
If you have any questions, please contact CJ Schneider at cschneider@nmc.edu or Marcus Bennett at mbennett@nmc.edu.
Did you know that your tuition waiver benefits extend beyond credit classes? Take a fitness class, learn a new hobby, or even enjoy a date night with your partner. Check out these upcoming classes! Place the class in your shopping cart in order to see the discount. Need help setting up your profile? Look for “EES” in the Help Desk drop down menu.
From Truffles to Castelmagno: Flavors of Italy’s Piedmont Region
Immerse yourself in the rich culinary heritage of Italy’s Piedmont region, a land where earthy truffles, robust red wines, decadent cheeses, and divine chocolate intertwine.
Thursday, Dec. 5 ; 6–9 p.m.
Employee price: $37 per person, includes a beverage (public price: $125)
Wilderness First Aid Certification
Combining guided presentations with hands-on practice, this interactive class equips you with the skills, knowledge, and abilities to care for an ill or injured person until you can reach qualified care.
2 sessions; Saturday. & Sunday., Dec. 7 & 8; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $49 (Public price: $299)
The Hawk Owl Café will have special operating hours during the week of Thanksgiving and will only be serving daily specials on Monday and Tuesday.
Italian Pasta Bake with meatballs
served with garlic crostini and green beans
Italian Pasta Bake with roasted vegetables (V)
served with garlic crostini and green beans
The protein option is $9.99 and the vegetarian option is $7.99.
Beef Tacos with lettuce, tomato, cheese and chipotle ranch
served with tortilla chips, queso blanco and refried beans
Tofu Tacos with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and chipotle ranch (V)
served with tortilla chips, queso blanco and refried beans
The protein option is $9.99 and the vegetarian option is $7.99.
Thanksgiving Break – No Special
Northwest Grind will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the café will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed – Happy Thanksgiving!
Closed – Happy Thanksgiving!
Closed – Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Break – No Special
Northwest Grind will be open from 2–6 p.m.
Election season can be stressful. Over the past few weeks, we have heard from many of you in our NMC community about the emotional and mental strain you are feeling. While there are issues dividing people today, at NMC we are united by our shared values of Learning, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect, Inclusion, Innovation, Stewardship and Excellence.
In our NMC community we also support one another. We have access to a resource with our Employee Assistance Program where we can connect and receive individualized support. Simply call Ulliance at (800) 448-8326. They have also provided a great read on Emotional Agility, and tips for Taking a Mindful Break which you may find helpful.
If you need help any time of year, NMC Human Resources is here for you. Please reach out to us if you need support and we will help connect you to available resources.
Paul Martin: Paul has worked hard the past few months getting internet access set up for the students who live in the Front Street Flats.
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!
These employees recently started working at the college. Let’s welcome them to the NMC community!
The NMC Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, Room 106/107. More information is available here.
For more information, please contact the President’s office at (231) 995-1010.
Whether you’re snowed in, home for the holidays, or just plain bored over break—the NMC Library has plenty of options to make this winter amazing, including many exciting NEW arrivals to the collection!
Play a board game to get the holiday party started with some friendly competition! We’ve added over 20 new games to the collection this semester, from classics like Battleship, Scrabble, and Trouble, to new favorites like Wavelength, Azul, and Monikers. We’ve even added some RPGs like Mausritter and The Quiet Year for those looking for a more immersive experience!
Learn an instrument, because nothing beats cabin fever like picking up a new hobby! This semester, we’ve added bongo drums for percussion and a headphone amplifier for quieter practice sessions!
Piece together a puzzle and relax while also boosting your mental agility! We recommend the Women in Art puzzle, featuring a diverse array of fifteen accomplished artists, from well-known figures such as Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe to lesser-known trailblazers including nineteenth-century African American sculptor Mary Edmonia Lewis and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo!
Try your hand at crafting and create a truly unique, handmade gift for your loved one! This semester, we’ve added an art projector, calligraphy set AND weaving loom to the collection!
Browse our full collection of Library of Things in the online catalog.
NMC is hosting a mobile food pantry in partnership with Feeding America from 3-5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25 in the Maple Lot of the Front Street campus.
The tentative list of menu items includes carrots, apples, cheese, potatoes, squash, rice, peppers, grapes and juice. College caffeine fiends rejoice: we anticipate we will also have a donation of 1000 bottles of mountain dew.
Walk or drive-thru options exist. Come over and drive-thru OR bring a backpack or reusable bag and take what you and your household can use in the next 7-10 days.
This program is specifically designed to support NMC students [and their households] by supplementing their diets with fresh, healthy produce while helping to free up financial resources to cover other household expenses. Everyone is welcome. Take as little or as much as you need for your household.
One additional distribution will be offered this later semester on Monday, December 2. Seven additional pantries will be held during the spring semester.
Mike Morefield, a maintenance apprentice at LearUpdated for the modern economy, apprenticeships are flourishing at NMC in traditional as well as new fields, helping create a workforce equipped for the 21st century.
“There are so many wins,” said Zoe Lilly, manager at Lear Corp. in Traverse City, which has had 16 apprenticeships with NMC, for tool and die and maintenance positions. From her employer perspective, the chief win is a reliable pipeline of staff in an era when it’s difficult to hire externally.
“It’s easier to train from within. The partnership with NMC has been great,” Lilly said.
Apprenticeships, which are being recognized this week as National Apprenticeship Week, have spread beyond traditional trade and manufacturing fields, too.
“There’s a national shortage in surgical technologists. We were struggling with getting applicants, period,” said Amy Verburg, director of surgical services at Munson Medical Center. That has started to shift since the hospital started a surgical technologist apprenticeship with NMC in 2023.
“It looks like it’s gaining momentum,” Verburg said.
From the student/ employee perspective, it’s a way to cover their educational costs — flipping the historical script. Apprenticeships originated in the Middle Ages as unpaid labor exchanged for the opportunity to learn from a skilled trades or craftsman.
“As soon as an opening came up, I went for it,” said Mike Morefield, who started as an assembly worker at Lear in 2020, entered the manufacturing apprenticeship program in 2021 and earned his certificate in 2023. Lear paid for his tuition, books, and basic tools. Other companies reimburse for tuition.
As an apprentice Morefield started at 74% of the journey worker wage of $33 per hour. Within four years he reached the full journey worker wage.
“All of the teachers were very supportive,” said Morefield, 36, who had last been in a classroom in 2006.
Surgical Technology student Danielle Ellis, 30, is enthusiastic about her career path, which includes an apprenticeship at Munson.
“I’m getting paid to learn,” said Ellis. Her tuition is paid through Michigan Reconnect. She has the added incentive of a $10,000 signing bonus after she completes her one-year program.
“I’m already guaranteed a job,” she said. “I totally think I made the right move.”
Surgical Technology coordinator Breana Goodell said the attraction of the apprenticeship has boosted enrollment, too.
“This is really helping get more students to come in. Our numbers have gone up significantly,” she said.
Derek Councilor
(high resolution image)TRAVERSE CITY — NMC has named Derek Councilor, an apprentice at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery as its 2024 Apprentice of the Year for his exceptional work ethic.
Councilor, 38, of Traverse City, has been completing his apprenticeship since 2022. He works full-time in the maintenance department on second shift at Sara Lee Frozen Bakery while taking courses toward four different certificates. The first three are from NMC.
Councilor’s colleagues praised his abilities at a ceremony held Wednesday at NMC’s Parsons-Stulen Building in conjunction with National Apprenticeship Week. He was commended for his high-quality on-time work, friendliness, knowledgeability and leadership among his peers, and attendance and early arrival.
“He is a multi-team player,” said Dan Wallington, maintenance department manager, adding that Councilor works with the operations team as well as maintenance and helps train more junior employees. “Derek helps continue the confidence we have in the apprenticeships.”
Sara Lee currently has three active apprentices and two who have graduated from NMC’s program. Senior Human Resources generalist Caitlin Zielinski said apprentices accelerate through the company’s skill grid at a doubled pace.
“It’s twice the speed of anyone doing on the job training,” Zielinski said. “It is so beneficial and I hope it continues to grow.”
Councilor said he likes the opportunity to advance quickly, too, which he’s seen modeled with previous apprentices.
“I like the classes. It’s all stuff I’m interested in,” he said. “Our last apprentice is now our lead electrician.”
Find out more at nmc.edu/apprenticeships
Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (Call or text)
NMC Esports‘ Rocket League team comprised of Luke Bobrowski, Maddox Cullimore, Kaden Novath and Grant Shivley won their first Divisional Championship last night! Make sure to congratulate them for representing us on a regional stage. Stay tuned as our Overwatch team is on the cusp of winning an additional championship.
Go Hawk Owls!!!
Mark your calendars! Registration for College for Kids 2025 will open on Monday, February 3 at nmc.edu/kids. Classes will run Monday through Thursday, from June 16 through July 31. Perfect for kids and teens ages 3-17 this summer.
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NMC has added new software that displays emergency alerts on all NMC computers on campus. This system has been integrated into the monthly emergency text, phone and email tests run on the first Monday of each month, and the first test was Monday, Jan. 6.
Learn more about NMC’s emergency alert system and commitment to a safe campus.
To the faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members who shared their stories in NMC’s 2024 Community Report. Arriving in the mailboxes of Grand Traverse County residents this week, this new publication shares real stories of student success and community impact, showing how NMC is dedicated to making Grand Traverse a better place to live, work and grow.
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 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.
Annual student-led Thanksgiving food drive continues
Record-Eagle, Nov. 17
(more…)
On Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, a federal court struck down the anticipated changes to FLSA, which leaves the salary threshold for exempt/salaried employees at $35,568. NMC will not be making any changes to employee status in January as originally communicated. All impacted employees have already received an email with this communication. Please contact Hollie DeWalt in Human Resources with any questions.
The Hawk Owl Café serves specials daily on Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:40–6 p.m. The protein option is $9.99 and the vegetarian option is $7.99.
Lamb Gyros with pita bread
served with lemon rice and Greek orzo salad
Falafel Gyros with pita bread (V)
served with lemon rice and Greek orzo salad
Sesame Chicken Stir Fry
served with basmati rice and egg rolls
Sesame Tofu Stir Fry (V)
served with basmati rice and egg rolls
Thanksgiving Meal Special ($9.99 per meal)
Sun-Dried Tomato Rigatoni with Italian sausage
served with garlic bread and broccoli
Sun-Dried Tomato Rigatoni with roasted vegetables (V)
served with garlic bread and broccoli
Hawk Owl Café smashburger with bacon and onion straws
served with garlic aioli, sweet potato fries and asparagus
Impossible Burger with cheese & onion straws on brioche (V)
served with garlic aioli, sweet potato fries and asparagus