{"id":165654,"date":"2026-01-07T09:13:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T14:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=165654"},"modified":"2026-04-18T20:40:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T00:40:02","slug":"nmc-launches-75th-anniversary-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=165654","title":{"rendered":"NMC launches 75th anniversary celebration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Outstanding Alumni Class of 2026 and Legacy list released<\/h2>\n

TRAVERSE CITY — Northwestern Michigan College is launching its 75th anniversary by introducing a special 2026 Outstanding Alumni class – a group of more than five dozen students who have made exceptional contributions to their communities and career fields and exemplify NMC values.<\/p>\n

“The accomplishments of these alumni span an incredible range of professions, from entrepreneurs to health care providers, from law enforcement to elected leadership,” said NMC President Nick Nissley. “Daily, they embody NMC’s mission to transform lives and enrich our communities.”<\/p>\n

“The saying ‘your success is our success’ rings especially true as we celebrate these remarkable alumni,” said Zach Whitaker, NMC manager of Alumni Relations. “I’m so excited to share their stories more broadly.”<\/p>\n

NMC defines an alumnus as anyone who has completed at least one for-credit course. The class of 2026 includes alumni from every decade since NMC opened in 1951, and seven current NMC faculty and staff members. It was revealed at NMC’s January opening conference, an all-college event held at the start of the spring semester. Five alumni also participated in a panel discussion about how NMC has shaped their careers and lives.<\/p>\n

NMC has named Outstanding Alumni since 1988. For the 75th anniversary, in addition to the class of 2026, the college is honoring all past recipients of the award, as well as NMC’s Fellow award, as Legacy recipients<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Class of 2026 is listed below. Bios and pictures of each are available online<\/a>. A series of community events for the 75th anniversary is also available at nmc.edu\/75<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By field, alphabetically within each:<\/p>\n

Art\/marketing\/publishing<\/strong>
Chasten Buttigieg, author
Aaron Draplin, Draplin Design Co.
Gary L. Howe Jr., Traverse City Horse Shows
Christopher Linsell, Luxury Presence
Beth Milligan, Traverse City Ticker<\/p>\n

Aviation<\/strong>
Alex Bloye, NMC
Bob Buttleman*
Wes Clanton, United Airlines
Kegan Gill, entrepreneur\/author\/veteran
Koji Iwamoto, Amazon Japan
Kelly C. Lepley, B-747 captain<\/p>\n

Business<\/strong>
Kathryn Bertodatto, Golden Swan Management
Walter Gordon Breidenstein, GasTechno Energy & Fuels LLC
Chris M. Bott, Andrews Hooper Pavlik CPAs
Amanda Eshleman, Golden-Fowler Home Furnishings
Erica Gaylord, Northern Lights Insurance Agency
Nathan D. Griswold, Inhabitect, LLC
Bryan Hammis, Flying Acres Ag
Mark Keely, NoMi STAY
Andrew Kohlmann, Image 360
Len Mankowski, VP geology
Richard C. Lewis*
Matthew Moss, ENTACT
Laura Oblinger, Rehmann
Dakota Porter, ActionGlow
Garret Porter, ActionGlow
Christopher Schmidt*
Rebecca Teahen, R.W. Baird-Rivard Teahen Wheatley Group
R. Peter Weaver – Orbital Advisors
Derek Woodruff – Queen’s Bouquet Network<\/p>\n

Culinary<\/strong>
James Bloomfield, private chef
Courtney K. Lorenz, Cultured Kombucha
Jim Morse, NMC
Ray Priebe, That New Place
Stephanie Lee Wiitala, S2S<\/p>\n

Education<\/strong>
Jacquelyn Abeyta – Grand Valley State University
Lindsey Dickinson, NMC
Ryan Deering, NMC
Nicholus Kopacki -Grand Valley State University
Gail Kurowski – NMC
John Lutchko – NMC
Jonathan T. Lyon, Murray State University
Randall L. Milstein – Oregon State University
Rebecca Richardson – NMC
Alexander Walsh, student, University of Chicago<\/p>\n

Government\/politics<\/strong>
Christal Frost Anderson, Networks Northwest
Betsy Coffia, state representative
Benjamin Marentette, City of Traverse City
George A. McManus III, Berrien County, MI
Janie McNabb, Networks Northwest
John R. Roth, state representative
Amy Shamroe, Traverse City mayor
Sandra L. Witherspoon, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians<\/p>\n

Health care<\/strong>
Leslie K. Casperson, Gift of Life Michigan
Alex Hogarth – Munson Medical Center
Vincent R. Prusick, MD, orthopedist
Tamara Putney, Munson Healthcare
Samuel Surgalski – U.S. Navy<\/p>\n

Human services<\/strong>
Ryan Hannon, Central United Methodist Church
Abagail McKiernan, HelpLink
Paula P. Prusick, Father Fred Foundation
Rebekah TenBrink, LIFT Teen Center<\/p>\n

Law<\/strong>
Marcelo N. Betti, Immigration Law & Justice Michigan
Mark Klein, Goss Law Group
Michael Shea, Grand Traverse County Sheriff<\/p>\n

Nonprofits<\/strong>
Marilyn Dear, A Soldier for Christmas
Alison Metiva, Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
Jason Whittaker, Traverse City Track Club<\/p>\n

*awarded posthumously<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Release date: January 6, 2026<\/h3>\n

For more information:<\/h2>\n

Cari Noga
NMC Communications Director
(231) 392-1800 (mobile – call or text)
cnoga@nmc.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Non-Discrimination Policy Notice<\/h3>\n
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu\/non-discrimination<\/a><\/address>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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