norwester - spring/summer 2012

7/30/2019 NorWester - Spring/Summer 2012

1/8

From the Archives ............... 2-

Engineering Club Odyssey .....

Campus briefs ........................

Plan ahead calendar ..............

A Publication

Alumni & Frien

of Northweste

Michigan Colle

Spring/Summe

Art Quilts and more coming toThe Dennos. See p. 4.

Top: CMU assistant proessor Dr. Frim Ampaw, let, and her students rom all over the state

take a break during a recent Saturday class. Above: From let, EdD students Carl McCreadyo Sault Ste. Marie, Markita Hall o Detroit and A.J. Neumann o Essexville have traveledrom their respective hometowns to Traverse City since 2009.

EdD program astatewide lure

Water, wineries, sand dunes, small-town

charm and doctoral degrees?

raverse Citys recreational reputation

draws thousands o visitors annually.

But or almost three years, a cohort o

15 students has converged here rom asar as Detroit and the Upper Peninsula

to do just one thing: Work hard.

Te cohort is enrolled in Central

Michigan Universitys doctor o

education ladder program held at

NMCs University Center. Its an

intense program that this past semester

met almost every other weekend.

Markita Hall o Detroit, director o

school turnaround or the Detroit Pub-

lic Schools, logs the longest commute

at 470 miles round trip. For her the

weekend scheduling was ideal. Doctoral

programs much closer to home were

only oered weeknight evenings.

Tat wouldnt have worked. I would

have dropped, Hall said. Having a

amily, a husband, two kids and work,

this t or me.

wo other students cross the Mackinac

Bridge or classes, and another comes

rom the Tumb area. In between

raverse City classes students stay in

touch with technology, studying via

Skype, texting, and a Facebook group.

Continued on p. 3


2/8

Escape summers

heat on NMCs shady

campus. Stroll the

outdoor Sculpture

Walk or try the disc

golf course. Bonus:

No parking problems!

Timothy J. Nelson

From the Archives: Spring and SummeHighlights by decade

1950s The NMC Barbecue

started in 1956. Early minutes

rom the planning committeesuggested holding an ox roast.

1960s Spring ormals at the

Traverse City Country Club were

an annual event.

1970s Campus Day. In May

classes were cancelled or one

day and students, aculty and

sta participated in a general

clean-up and improvement o

the campus ollowed by a picnic

lunch and oten entertainment.

1980s Commencement was still

in June, rather than the current

May date. This continued until the

1994 conversion rom terms tosemesters.

1990s New technology was

everywhere as the library ditched

its old card catalog, people learned

about the World Wide Web, and

students switched rom typewriters

to computers.

2000s Disc golers are regularly

spotted around campus some-

times amid melting snow working

their way around the nine-basket

NMC course.

The NorWester is published by the NMC

Ofce o Public Relations and Marketing.

Alumni news and updates may be submitted

online at www.nmc.edu/alumni or by

e-mailing [email protected]

For correspondence and address updates:

1701 E. Front Street

Traverse City, MI 49686

(231) 995-1020 (877) 922-1021

Editor: Andy Dolan

Writer: Cari Noga

NMC Board o Trustees

Robert T. Brick, Chair

William D. Myers, Vice-Chair

Douglas S. Bishop, Secretary

Susan K. Sheldon, Treasurer

K. Ross Childs

Cheryl Gore Follette

Walter J. Hooper

NMC President

Timothy J. Nelson

Printed with bio-renewable ink.

A new tradition

2

From the President

Last month, one othe largest classes inour history gradu-ated rom NMC.More than 600 werehonored or success-ul completion o a

course o study. Teclass o 2012 wasthe rst to partake

in a new tradition. As they received theirdiploma case, they received an NMCchallenge coin. Te bronze coin has theNMC seal on one side, and our logoand 2012 on the other.

So what is the signicanceo a challenge coin?

Te origin is in somedispute, but most tellingstrace it back to the FirstWorld War. An Army lieuten-ant had presented custom-madebronze medallions bearing the unitinsignia to his squadron mates. One o thepilots took to wearing it in a leather poucharound his neck. Tat pilots plane wasdamaged in a reght and he crash-landedbehind enemy lines. He was captured bythe Germans, who took everything he had

rom his pockets. On his way to a prisonero war camp, there was a reght and dur-ing the conusion he escaped.

He avoided German patrols by donnincivilian clothes and eventually caught uwith a French patrol. However the Frenwere on the lookout or German soldiedisguised as civilians. Without any idencation to prove he was an American phe was set to be executed.

He produced his coin rom his leatherpouch, and one o the French soldiersrecognized the insignia. Tis delayed thexecution long enough to conrm his itity. Now certain that he was AmericanFrench presented him with a bottle o w

and celebrated his escape rom thGerman troops.

It became a tradition or allpilots to carry their coin at

times. o ensure complianthe pilots would challengeother to produce their coin

the challenged couldnt produthe coin, he was required to buy

drink o choice or the challenger. I thchallenged could produce the coin, thechallenger would purchase the drink.

As time has passed, these coins have alsbecome used as rewards and mementosoutstanding achievement, like what ou

students accomplish with their graduatrom NMC. I hope our graduates keepNMC coin as a way to remember all othe good times they have had here and proud reminder o all o their hard wor

Mystery Photos

Plenty o NorWester reader

called and emailed to help

identiy subjects in the myphotos in the last issue. Th

No. 1 comment has been d

noted in the archives: The

Ski Club photo was taken a

Holiday Hills, NOT Nubs No

Several students in the Arl

Moss biology class photo a

the Jack Ozegovic art clas

photo were identied.

You can nd out whos wh

at www.nmc.edu/archive
http://www.nmc.edu/alumnimailto:alumni%40nmc.edu?subject=http://www.nmc.edu/archiveshttp://www.nmc.edu/archivesmailto:alumni%40nmc.edu?subject=http://www.nmc.edu/alumni


3/8

Carl McCready A.J. Neumann Markita HallSault Ste. Marie Essexville Detroit

EdD students climb ladder as a cohort

And heres the next challenge or you alumni sleuths.Whos wet and whos dry? This photo is rom the 1963 year book. The caption reads: Last spring [1962] the College Council arranged a tug-o-war with

Petoskey Junior College [now North Central Michigan College]. The students met at NMC and proceeded to Mitchell Creek. Petoskey got a dunking!

Aterwards everyone enjoyed a picnic on the beach.

X Please contact Ann Swaney with any inormation, [email protected], or (231) 995-1016.

From coverAll stressed the advantage o the ladderaspect o the program. Tey started inAugust 2009 and earned their Specialistin Education (EdS) a year ago. Now as acohort they together are pursuing theirDoctor o Education (EdD), the terminal

degree or educators. Other programswould have oered both degrees, butsevered the cohort connection.

I can talk to my wie and my riends atwork, and they dont have any idea whatit takes to pull this o, said A.J. Neu-mann, o Essexville, an instructor withthe Bay Area ISD.

We have gone through births and deathsand divorces and marriages and cancer,

said Lisa Dohm o raverse City, worldlanguage coordinator at NMC and aSpanish/ESL teacher at raverse CityCentral High School.

AA, BA, MA, EdDIn December 20

Victoria Derks wcomplete an ed

cational quadrucrown our de

grees, three earthrough NMC an

its partners.

Derks, a Travers

City native, earnher associates degree rom NMC in 1989

At the time the University Center didnt ex

so she headed out o state or her bachelAter returning to Traverse City she earne

her masters in curriculum and teaching Michigan State Universitys UC program in

2001. Shes now enrolled in CMUs educational ladder program at the UC, en route her Doctor o Education.

This University Center is abulous. I nevedreamed Id be able to get all this here,

said Derks, an elementary Spanish teachein the Traverse City Area Public Schools.

I can be rom Traverse City and I can getthree degrees.

Derks said increasing her skills has alsoproved practical. One school she taughtin closed. Another program was dissolved

Pursuing the advanced degrees means shcan adapt to the changing education envi

ment. In addition to her classroom dutiesshe is TCAPS district support specialist o

elementary world languages.

I just want to have more opportunities,she said. I love teaching and I love to hav

a part o how its changing.

Hall, in act, had an option to take onesummer class at CMUs Mt. Pleasantmain campus. Doing so would haveshaved more than 200 miles o each trip,yet she chose to stay with the cohort andtake the class in raverse City.

Te cohorts really are nice or the adultstudents because you get that peer pres-sure to keep going that youd get on acampus, said Dr. Merodie Hancock, vicepresident or CMUs global campus. Ithelps with completion.

And everyone in the cohort has etchedthat date in stone.

We made a pact. We are all going towalk in December 13, said Jennier Sab-sook o Charlevoix, instructional services

coordinator with the Char-Em ISD.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


4/8

Dont miss the current exhibits,closing June 16:

BenjaminBuschsTeArtinWarwartime photography

HarveyGordonspaintings(above)

CommunityCurators

During exhibit changeover June 17-29,explore the Discovery Gallery or Inuitgallery or hal-o admission.

Congratulations

Te ollowing employees retired this year. Collectivelythey provided more than 300 years o service to NMC.Tey are listed with their titles upon retirement.

Judy Albers, Assistant to the Museum Director, 25 years

Jay Beery, Technical Instructor, 30 years

Sonia Clem, Annual Giving Ocer, 10 years

Jim Crockett, Communications Adjunct Instructor, 11 years

Carol Danly, Event Scheduler, 10 yearsDorthy Dunham, Custodian, 14 years

Bea Gauthier, Oce Manager Technical Division, 18 years

Kathy Gordon, Groundskeeper, 27 years

Jean Johnson, Oce Manager Maritime Academy, 12 years

Chris Keenan, Director o Human Resources, 25 years

Charlene Lutes, Director Bridge Program, 23 years

Natalie Miller, Custodian, 5 years

Mary Norris, Business Instructor, 30 years

Mark Puchala, Humanities Instructor, 25 years

Linda Rea, Secretary Center or Instructional Excellence, 19 years

Ann Swaney, Librarian, 28 years

4

March with NMC in theCherry Royale ParadeJoin in celebrating the college by marching in the 2012 National CherryFestivals Cherry Royale Parade through downtown Traverse City on July

NMC will provide banners rom the various academic programs as well a

NMC T-shirts or participants. Participants will convene at 9:30 a.m. onJuly 14 on State Street. Exact location TBD.

Alumni interested in participating should contact Kay Hall at khall@nmc.

or (231) 995-1119 to provide a shirt size and be inormed ourther details.

Coming June 30Howard BenTr: The Lightness of Being Cast Glass Sculpture

Benr pioneered the use o cast glass or monumentalindoor and outdoor sculpture. His newest body o workreects on lightness and strength, architecture and thehuman orm.

Employing inspirational architectural orms spires,minarets, obelisks and stupas each sculpture has a ootanchoring it rmly to the ground, a demarcated waist andculminates in a head that continues the upward, devotionalmovement o the orm. Tey can be seen as individualgures orming a related amily group.

Art Quilts by Katie Pasquini Masopust

For nearly 30 years Katie Pasquini Masopust hasproduced high quality contemporary art quilts. From her

early beginnings asa painter dabblingin traditional quilt

making, her workhas evolved romstructured Mandalas and mind-blowingdimensional pieces to very painterlylandscapes and abstracts executed withthe nest abrics and most creativestitching techniques.

Her easy, energetic manner has madeher a very popular teacher and lecturer and she will present several programsand workshops at Te Dennos in October.

XVisit www.dennosmusem.org or details.
mailto:[email protected]://www.dennosmusem.org/http://www.dennosmusem.org/mailto:[email protected]


5/8

Measured by odometer, the NMC En-gineering Clubs road to the annual SAEBaja endurance race and its best nishever clocked in at just under 1,000 miles.

But measured by other yardsticks including the personal growth and

maturity o the students, the slope otheir learning curve and the collabora-tion o NMC aculty the April trip toAuburn University was an odyssey.

Sponsored by the Society o AutomotiveEngineers, the Baja race has been a tradi-tion o the Engineering Club and adviserJim Coughlin or several years. eamsdesign, build and race cars over a toughdirt course.

Te club was resh o the winter race,the Blizzard Baja held in February atMichigan ech, when Coughlins sonChris, a ormer NMC student and Bajaracer himsel, was diagnosed with a rarestrain o cancer.

Accompanying his son or treatmentin Indianapolis meant students were ontheir own to design the car, literally romthe wheels up. SAE provides teams withan engine, some design specs and a rule

book. Te rest is up to them.

Engineering Clubs Alabama Baja odyssey

You start with nothing, said clubmember Doug Grunder.

In years past, the team spent more timebuilding the car than designing it. Tisyear, design got equal attention. Te teamelt they had built their best car ever.

I had the most autonomous group okids ever or Baja, Coughlin said. I wasso proud. Tese kids rose to the occasionand built the car.

Ten, with 48 hours beore departure,they hit a roadblock: in Coughlinsabsence, they had to nd to other NMCaculty to make the trip.

Communications instructor MarkHowell and math and science instructor

Steve Drake stepped up. Howell spentthree years working on a NASCAR pitcrew and writes a weekly column or aNASCAR website. But on this trip hewas able to see the race track rom anew perspective.

From a proessors standpoint, itreally was a very ullling experienceto see NMC students not only bring theirideas into reality, and not just make themunctional but competitive, Howell said.

Tis was an amazing piece o design, areally smart piece o engineering. Tesekids had really done their homework.

Nicknamed Daisy, the car lived up to thteams expectations. Tey nished 35thoverall, their best nish ever, ahead o

schools like the University o Michigan,Michigan State and Georgia ech.In the suspension and traction category,their sel-designed and abricatedcomponents nished in 15th place.

In Indiana, Coughlin got good news,too. ests in early May showed noevidence o cancer in his son, Chris.reatment continues.

Tat was spectacular news. Teres

every evidence hell be cured now,Coughlin said.

And the Baja 2013 team may haveound some ringers. Howell has ideashow to improve the design report, theirlowest-scoring area this year.

I think Steve and I were both adopted,Howell said. Id like to think Im parto the team.

X Read more about NMCs response aterChris Coughlins diagnosis: www.nmc.ed

At let, NMC student Ian Connick drives NMCs vehicle at the annual SAE Baja race held at Auburn University in April. Top right, the NMC team bucklesMatt Kowalkowski as the competition begins. Lower right, Connick leads the vehicle rom Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez in the endurance r
http://www.nmc.edu/http://www.nmc.edu/


6/86

Campus briefsBond refnancing saves $250,000NMC will save nearly $250,000 through therenancing o college improvement bonds.

In January, college trustees authorized thecollege to seek bids to renance $1.6 million in

bonds initially issued in 2002 and used to undcapital improvements on campus. The lower

interest rate 2.05 percent vs. the originalrate o 5.05 percent means that over thematuration period, the college will save

$249,880 in interest.

NMC enjoys a very positive credit rating.

Renancing the bonds allows us to takeadvantage o that, said Vicki Cook, interim

vice president or nance and administration.

X Read more: www.nmc.edu

Culinary boot camp begins

In an eort to increase student completion andsuccess, NMCs Great Lakes Culinary Institute

has introduced a boot camp course or new

students.

The two-week class, Culinary 100, meets orour hours a day. Students must pass with a 2.0beore they can move on to their rst semester-

long class, Culinary 111.

Currently, culinary has about a 40 percent attri-

tion rate between the rst and second years othe program. Fees and costs or Culinary 111,

ormerly the introductory course, are relativelyhigh, including multiple uniorms and a $400knie kit. Laughlin hopes the boot camp, which

requires just one $70 uniorm, will ultimatelysave students time and expense by providing a

taste o the next two years.The boot camp was designed to lter people

out that shouldnt be there, said Laughlin.

Culinary 100 was piloted in January with a class

o 10. One student dropped and a second didnot pass, Laughlin said.

Hopeully it will increase the success rate ostudents in the program, he said. Its better

or everybody.

Students with two years o experience in a

table-service restaurant or coming rom acareer-tech center can waive Culinary 100.

XVisit www.nmc.edu/culinaryor more

inormation on culinary programs.

Early College agreement approvedbetween Suttons Bay, NMCBeginning this all, Suttons Bay High Schoolstudents will have the opportunity to graduate

with an associates degree or technicalcerticate rom NMC in addition to their

diploma and do so on the states dime.

Approved by the Michigan Department o Edu-

cation in April, the new Early College programallows academically capable Suttons Bay

students who commit to a ve-year high schoolprogram to begin taking college classes ingrade 10. They can take up to 66 college credits

during their high school career, replacing typicalhigh school courses with college courses.

Ater whats being called grade 13, studentscould transer to a our-year college as juniors.

X Read more: www.nmc.edu

X NMC oers dual enrollment toany qualiying high school student.Visit www.nmc.edu/dualenroll ormore inormation.

NMC investigates aviationopportunities in China

NMC President Tim Nelson, above right, signed

a memorandum o understanding with BeijingChannel Consulting CEO Xuyang Yao to mutually

investigate a study abroad program and poten-tial development o a fight training and aviation

academy in China.

Both organizations will assess options andcourses or NMC students and employees to

study and gain cultural experience in China.BCC and NMC will collaborate to assess the

potential o a new fight training and aviationacademy in China and, i viable or both partbring orward development o such a acility

Beijing Channel Consulting is an organizatiothat acilitates international exchange progra

or high school students, college students,teachers and aculty.

XVisit www.nmc.edu/aviation ormore aviation program inormation.

More than 100 get Dressedor Success

More than 100 job hunters intent on climbinthe career ladder attended the inaugural Dre

or Success event organized by students roNMCs Proessional Communications class

in April.

Students planned, publicized and executed tree event as a class project.

I am thrilled about how motivated the studewere to learn in this real-lie situation. The o

all grades went up and the students reporteeeling like they belonged to our community

a part o something bigger, said instructorKristy McDonald.

Dress or Success oered proessional clothnetworking and interview preparation, includ

ing resume writing tips and critiques and mointerviews conducted by local human resour

proessionals.

I need to get mysel spruced up, said SueParker o Fie Lake, above in red jacket, who

with a closet ull o new clothes to pursue hegoal o a job in a salon. A ormer hospital ho

keeper and home care aide, Parker earned acosmetology license in December and hopes

nd a position cutting and coloring hair.
http://www.nmc.edu/http://www.nmc.edu/culinaryhttp://www.nmc.edu/http://www.nmc.edu/dualenrollhttp://www.nmc.edu/aviationhttp://www.nmc.edu/aviationhttp://www.nmc.edu/dualenrollhttp://www.nmc.edu/http://www.nmc.edu/culinaryhttp://www.nmc.edu/


7/8

Last: First: Initial:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: ( ) Work: ( )

E-mail address:

What years did you attend NMC?:

Programs o study:

Proessional and personal accomplishments:

Keep in touch with NMCPlease help us stay in touch with you by providing your current contact information.(Please note that NMC does not sell or share your personal contact information.)

Information provided below may be included on the AlumniUpdates section of our website, and in a future NorWester.

Three ways to reply:

1) Return in enclosed envelope2) E-mail to [email protected]) Submit online, www.nmc.edu/alumni

Plan aheadJune 16Kids Free Fishing Day

10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Great Lakes Campus

X Ino: Becky Ewing,[email protected],(231) 941-4010.

John Lewis Veterans or Peace

Scholarship beneft7-10 p.m., Dennos Museum

Music, ood, silent auction to benet the

scholarship award to veteran or child oveteran attending NMC.

Tickets $20 available at treatickets.comor at the door.

June 21International Aairs Forum lecture

6 p.m., Milliken Auditorium

The Role o Women as Peace Makerswith presenter Dr. Susanne Riveles, a

longtime advocate or justice and humanrights internationally.

Missy Memorial Scholarship undraiser

Magnum Hospitality will donate a portion

o proceeds rom sales at Red Mesa Grillrestaurants in Traverse City and Boyne Cityand Pearls in Elk Rapids to a scholarship in

memory o the late Magnum employee.

Xwww.magnumhospitality.com

June 23Public viewing night, Rogers Observatory

9-11 p.m.

Also July 6 and 21, Aug. 3 and 25.

X For a complete list o 2012 dates,visit www.nmc.edu/observatory

June 28Maritime Spring Cruise returns to

Traverse City

Follow the T/S State of Michiganaround the

Great Lakes at www.nmc.edu/maritime

NMC Concert BandMusic o the Civil War7:30 p.m., Music House Museum, Acme

XMore summer concert dates:www.nmc.edu/music

August 25Fall semester begins

XGet customized NMC news and inorma-tion via e-mail at www.nmc.edu/news

X Follow NMC on Twitter to fnd ree eventson campus: http://twitter.com/NMCfree

Tee it up August 2The annual Scholarship Open, to be held Aug. 2 at Crystal Mountain Resort, raises unds or

scholarships including honors and presidential. More than 200 golers raised more than $60,02011. To sponsor or play, email [email protected], visit www.nmc.edu/gol, or call (231) 995-1
mailto:[email protected]://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/[email protected]://www.treatickets.com/http://www.magnumhospitality.com/http://www.nmc.edu/observatoryhttp://www.nmc.edu/maritimehttp://www.nmc.edu/musichttp://www.nmc.edu/newshttp://twitter.com/NMCfreemailto:[email protected]://www.nmc.edu/golfhttp://www.nmc.edu/golfmailto:[email protected]://twitter.com/NMCfreehttp://www.nmc.edu/newshttp://www.nmc.edu/musichttp://www.nmc.edu/maritimehttp://www.nmc.edu/observatoryhttp://www.magnumhospitality.com/http://www.treatickets.com/http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_4/[email protected]:[email protected]


8/8

Kathleen McManus Steven Rawlings Timothy YoungClass o 74 Class o 91 Class o 82

Non-ProftOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDTraverse City, MPermit No. 170

A Publication

Alumni & Frien

of Northweste

Michigan Colle

Spring/Summe

Three named Outstanding Alumni

Alumni rom three dierent decadeshave been named as NMCs 2012Outstanding Alumni.

Kathleen McManus, who earned anursing degree in 1974, is now executivevice president and chie operating ofcerat Munson Medical Center

Steven Rawlings, a 1991 aviationalumnus, is now regional manager ocorporate and government aairs orDE Energy

imothy Young, a 1982 graduate, isounder, president and che o Food ForTought, Benzie County-based creatorso organic and wild-harvested gourmetspecialty oods.

McManus, o raverse City, said sheconsiders her nursing education and thepatient care she went on to do post-grad-uation oundational to the leadershipposition she now holds.

As an alumnus, McManushas served on NMCs nursingadvisory board. She andMunson have also activelysupported NMCs advocacyor legislation to allow Michi-gan community colleges to oerbaccalaureate degrees in nursing.

Rawlings, o Kingsley, is a second-gen-eration NMC student. He has securedDE support or NMCs Water Studies

program, the Dennos Museum Center,and scholarships and programs. He ishalway through a two-year commitmentas co-chair o NMCs Annual Campaign.

I take the community service seriously,and Im very grateul I have an employerthat not only encourages its employees tobecome engaged but supports its employ-ees to connect with the communities inwhich we live, he said.

Young, o Honor, recalled being enrolled

at the University o Detroit school o

architecture when he decided he didntreally want to study architecture.

What I really got out o NMC was a

space to grow and mature, Young said.While he went on to study internation-ally and earn advanced degrees, I lookback most ondly at NMC as the mostormative years o my lie. Young iscurrently a member o both NMCsFoundation Board and Barbecue Board

Created in 1988, the Outstanding Alumnus award recognizes alumni or proes-sional achievement, community andproessional leadership and/or donation

o time, talent and resources to NMC.

1701 East Front Street Traverse City, Michigan 49686

College forKids startsJune 18

Stimulate andnurture theminds o kidsages 4-17 allsummer long with

dozens o classes in art, science,music, technology, adventure andmore. Registration is going on now.

X See the schedule at www.nmc.edu/eesor call (231) 995-1700.
http://www.nmc.edu/eeshttp://www.nmc.edu/ees

norwester - spring/summer 2012

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