{"id":164360,"date":"2025-10-15T11:45:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T15:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=164360"},"modified":"2026-03-27T20:37:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T00:37:39","slug":"success-story-spring-registration-starts-scholarships-encourage-retention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=164360","title":{"rendered":"Success story: Spring registration starts; scholarships encourage retention"},"content":{"rendered":"

October 15, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Great<\/p>\n

Northwestern Michigan College surpassed a financial aid and philanthropic milestone this summer, awarding more than $2 million in scholarship dollars for the first time ever.<\/p>\n

For the 2024–25 academic year, NMC distributed $2.07 million to students. That topped the 2023–24 total of $1.98 million by $91,742. The total includes NMC institutional scholarships ($1.6 million) plus external scholarships ($469,000), which are typically awarded from local sources like community foundations, companies and churches.<\/p>\n

As registration for spring semester begins this week, the importance of scholarship support is top of mind.<\/p>\n

“The cost of college is one of the most common obstacles to attendance,” said Lindsey Dickinson<\/strong>, NMC director of student success and retention. “Scholarship support is critical for students to be able to complete their educational path and move on to life and career goals.”<\/p>\n

Thanks to NMC scholarships, 2024 Great Lakes Culinary Institute student Caroline Clark<\/strong> (above) graduated debt free. Now she’s investing the money she saved on tuition in a wedding cake business, Sweet Caroline’s Confections.<\/p>\n

“That’s the path I’m taking, an entrepreneurial path,” said Clark. Working out of her home, she baked cakes for 12 weddings this past summer. But she’s preparing to have a commercial space, hopefully by 2027.<\/p>\n

“I was able to purchase some equipment. When the time is right, I can have a commercial space,” Clark said.<\/p>\n

Marine Technology student Daniel Heil<\/strong> received an external scholarship from the Marine Technical Society. The Washington DC-based nonprofit promotes awareness, understanding, and the advancement and application of marine technology.<\/p>\n

“This scholarship means the world to me. It’s not just recognition of where I’ve been — it’s a vote of confidence in where I’m going. I’m deeply grateful to be supported in this mission to merge deep-sea exploration with next-generation technology,” Heil said.<\/p>\n

NMC also announced that the proportion of financial aid from grants — money students don’t have to repay — rose significantly last year. Grants totaled 62 percent of financial aid while loans made up 38 percent.<\/p>\n

In the 2023–24 academic year it was nearly evenly split, with 51 percent grants and 49 percent loans. The shift, primarily due to state programs like the Community College Guarantee<\/a> for high school graduates and Michigan Reconnect<\/a> for adults 25 and older who don’t already have a degree, is highly positive for students.<\/p>\n

Neither Heil nor Clark qualified for those programs, however. For students like them, NMC and external scholarships are vital.<\/p>\n

“Instead of worrying about student loans or debt, I was able to focus on my career goal,” Clark said. “I’m very grateful I was able to do that.”<\/p>\n

She keeps a list of her 10 scholarships, which ranged from $375 to $5,000. It’s a reminder to the 22-year-old to sustain her healthy financial habits.<\/p>\n

“Not only for my career but for my lifetime, that’s a goal of mine, to continue being debt free,” she said.<\/p>\n

NMC automatically matches accepted students with scholarships — no extra applications are required. Read more<\/a>. Find out more about becoming a scholarship donor at nmc.edu\/give<\/a>.<\/p>\n