College launches Experiential Learning Institute

Apr 4, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College announced today it will launch a new institute devoted to experiential learning and community engagement. 

Experiential learning provides learners real world and hands-on opportunities preparing them for an ever-changing and diverse world. The purpose of experiential learning is to actively engage the learner through relevant and ongoing experience, critical problem solving and reflective practices. Learners who engage in experiential learning are more likely to persist through their college experience, graduate, and become lifelong, self-directed learners.

The Experiential Learning Institute is the next step in more formal college efforts to expand experiential learning college-wide, which began in 2016. It will collaborate with both on-campus and community stakeholders to engage students and the community, locally, nationally and globally. The Institute will connect the community and NMC by seeking creative partnerships, serving ongoing community needs, and preparing learners for future employment. 

Kristy McDonald, director, said, “Experiential learning is important because students grow not only in their intellectual capacity but also personally, professionally, and civically. They have a greater capacity for empathy and compassion in the way they see themselves and the world.”

McDonald and several other faculty and staff have earned certification from the Experiential Education Academy, part of the New Jersey-based National Society for Experiential Education.

Sharing his enthusiastic support for this new initiative, NMC President Timothy J. Nelson said, “I’m excited about the outcomes we will see as our students combine doing with learning.  The institute formalizes what many of our faculty and staff have done and embeds it through the college.”

Release date: April 4, 2019

For more information:

Kristy McDonald
Director, Experiential Learning Institute and Business Instructor
kmcdonald@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1059 

Success Story: Alumnus will share native Zimbabwe with Netflix audiences

Apr 3, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

April 3, 2019

Godwin Jabangwe says life’s put him in the right place at the right time, taking him from his native Zimbabwe to an NMC classroom to another in Grand Rapids to Los Angeles.

Now the former visual communications student-turned-screenwriter will bring that serendipity full circle, taking Netflix audiences back to Zimbabwe after closing a “monster” sale for his first feature film, Tunga, inspired by the mythology of the Shona culture in that African country.

“Even now, it doesn’t feel real. It’s so crazy and unexpected,” said Jabangwe, 35, who attended NMC from 2007-2010 and discovered screenwriting while working in the Beckett Building computer lab.

“That’s actually how I started writing. I would have eight-hour shifts,” he said. “You reached the end of the Internet.”

Jabangwe’s deal is the first to come out of Imagine Impact, a talent incubator founded by Hollywood heavyweights Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (below, right) and headed by Tyler Mitchell (below, left) in 2018.

“They bring in talented writers who are seeking a breakthrough,” Jabangwe said. He’d been working on the Tunga idea but joining the Impact class, which paired writers with mentors, allowed him to focus. The experience ended in February with a pitch day to potential buyers, which Jabangwe called both “very exciting” and “terrifying.” Netflix won Tunga in a four-way bidding war. (Watch video of Jabangwe celebrating his deal.)

Though he’s a long way from NMC, where he followed his older brother, Succeed, Jabangwe’s path from Traverse City is one of steady progress. He lived in the NMC apartments and took his first film class here. The college was small enough that he could adapt to the U.S., but big enough to allow him to dream.

“I’d always wanted to be in film somehow,” he said. “NMC allowed me to settle into life in the United States without getting too much of a culture shock.”

(Spring international student enrollment stands at 48 students. International students help achieve NMC’s strategic direction of ensuring learners are prepared for success in a global society and economy.)

Following NMC, Jabangwe earned a bachelor’s degree in film from Grand Valley State University. He aspired to UCLA’s prestigious screenwriting program, but didn’t think he could get in. Instead, he enrolled in a master’s degree program in computer science. He got his acceptance from UCLA during class one day.

“I just got up and packed my bags and walked out,” he said. “I packed up my little car and drove to LA.”

Jabangwe will now continue development of the Tunga script. There is no announced release date yet.

Building Skills Showdown

Apr 1, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

Support the Next Generation of skilled workers in the Grand Traverse Area. TBAISD Career Tech construction students v. NMC Construction students in a “shed” sized out-building for auction — 5 tickets for $100 or $20 each.

Tickets are available at the HBAGTA Office. 3040 Sunset Lane, (231) 946-2305, now until the TBAISD Career Tech Spring Expo, which will be held May 1, 4–7:30 p.m. Drawing will be held at 7:15 p.m.

See the attached flier »

The Long Night Against Procrastination Returns Apr. 25

Mar 28, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

The Long Night Against Procrastination returns to Osterlin Library on Thursday, April 25 from 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Advisors, tutors, WRC staff and librarians will be joining forces and burning the midnight oil to help students tackle the end of the semester in festive style. Waves of free pizza will arrive at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. with other free snacks, treats, coffee and soft drinks throughout the night. Come get the fuel, motivation and help you need to crush those final papers and exams!

Presidential Search Community Forum

Mar 22, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY — On April 2, 2019, the NMC Presidential Search Firm Consultant will hold a public forum to gather input from community members. Marsi Liddell from Pauly Group will explain the search process and ask for comments regarding expectations, visions, and qualities for the next president of NMC. The forum will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Hagerty Center.

Current NMC President Timothy J. Nelson plans to retire at the end of 2019. As NMC’s longest-serving president, he has led the college since 2001. The Board of Trustees selected Pauly Group Inc, as their search consultant in January 2019.

Release Date: March 22, 2019

For More Information:

Holly Gorton
Executive Assistant to the Board of Trustees
hgorton@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1010

Former NASA administrator and astronaut visits Traverse City

Mar 20, 2019 | Intercom, Student News

TRAVERSE CITY —  Student and community audiences have separate opportunities to hear from former NASA administrator and astronaut Gen. Charles Bolden and two other astronauts with northern Michigan ties on April 3 in Traverse City, where a niche aerospace industry is gaining momentum.

Event details:

Wednesday, April 3, 10:10 a.m. Traverse City Central High School

Free to all area students, an opportunity to hear three astronauts discuss space, robotics and technology. Former NASA administrator Bolden commanded four space shuttle flight, including deploying the Hubble Space Telescope. He will be joined by former astronauts Jerry Linenger, of Suttons Bay, and Greg Johnson in a presentation on space, robotics and technology.

Linenger spent nearly five months aboard the Russian space station Mir, surviving the most severe fire ever aboard an orbiting spacecraft. He is the author of the bestselling book, Off the Planet, and is featured in National Geographic’s hit series One Strange Rock, now on Netflix.

Johnson, a longtime summer resident, piloted two space shuttle missions to the International Space Station. He is a former colonel and pilot of the U.S. Air Force, aerospace engineer, MBA, and fighter/test pilot. He now leads the Traverse City-based nonprofit Newton’s Road, which works to advance STEM education and local workforce opportunities.

Teachers interested in bringing students should contact John Failor, Failorjo@tcaps.net or 231/933-6592 by April 1 with an approximate number of students attending.

Wednesday, April 3, 6 p.m., Milliken Auditorium

Bolden will present “NASA’s Journey of Discovery: The Future of Space Exploration” in an International Affairs Forum lecture open to the public. Tickets are $15 and available at the door. Bolden logged  more than 680 hours in space. His missions included deploying the Hubble Space telescope, launching the first SPACELAB mission, and inaugurating the first joint U.S.-Russian shuttle mission.

The appearances come as local economic development leaders strive to make aerospace employment a niche industry. Event sponsors include Newton’s Road, Traverse City-based Atlas Space Operations and Traverse City Space Accelerator LLC.

Release date: march 20, 2019

For more information:

Karen Segal
International Affairs Forum co-chair
(231) 715-6064
karenpsegal@gmail.com