Mary (Aho) Brunet, a 1991 Northern Michigan University graduate with a bachelor's degree in management, received the Hankookin Heikki Award for preserving and promoting Finnish culture in the Copper Country.

Seven Northern Michigan University faculty members have been selected to receive 2023 Faculty Research Grants. The awards of $7,000 each support scholarly activities such as publications, the creation of artistic works, manuscript development and research projects. The recipients and their project titles are:

Current and recently admitted Northern Michigan University students are invited to apply for NMU Foundation donor-funded scholarships for the 2023-24 school year. About 500 scholarships are available. The application system is open through Monday, Feb. 20.

A new exhibition titled "It's All Downhill: Alpine Skiing in the U.P." will open at the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University on Saturday, Jan. 21. It focuses on the region's skiing roots introduced by Scandanavians and the Alpine ski hills that have operated across the U.P. for the past 80 years. 

Northern Michigan University 1998 alumnus Kelsey Mann is directing "Inside Out 2," the sequel to the Academy Award-winning best animated feature. The movie is slated for release in June 2024. It will follow the original human, Riley, as a teenager encountering new emotions. The returning voices of Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith and Lewis Black will introduce familiar characters Joy, Sadness and Anger.