Two Upper Peninsula students were national award winners in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation's longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7-12. Berkeley Thompson of Marquette Senior High School won a Gold Medal and American Voices Award for her poem “On Buying Pre-Stirred Almond Butter," and Hannah Josefsen of Negaunee High School won a Gold Medal and American Visions Award in art for her painting, “Fragments of Identity."

The Northern Michigan University French Program will present a free French Baking Seminar featuring BabyCakes pastry chef Lisette LaFave. The event is open to the public and scheduled from 1:30-2:20 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in Whitman Hall 136.

Forty-three former faculty, staff and administrators have been selected as “transformative leaders” as part of Northern Michigan University's 125th anniversary celebration, based on their significant positive impacts on the university. The selections were made after a committee reviewed nominations and additional historical records.

Northern Michigan University will host the 2025 Great Lakes Cannabis Collaboration Conference from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Northern Center. The event will showcase developing trends in cannabis education and research, featuring insights from industry leaders and experts at the forefront of the evolving sector. The schedule includes speakers, an NMU alumni panel discussion, a networking lunch and student oral presentations/research posters.

Northern Michigan University Theatre & Dance has finalized a merger between its Wildcat Performing Arts Academy (WPAA) and Superior Arts Youth Theater (SAYT), which has been part of the Marquette community for more than 20 years and recently performed The Wizard of Oz on campus. WPAA will continue to focus on education and training, with workshops, summer intensives and other programming. SAYT will remain as the performance and design branch as it moves forward under the WPAA umbrella.