NMU's Best Buddies chapter participated in Sunday's local Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, which raised $13,000. Best Buddies International is a nonprofit dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The NMU Best Buddies team consisted of chapter members and Special Olympics athletes.

Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor will perform as part of Northern Michigan University's Siril Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Reynolds Recital Hall. Admission is free.

Northern Michigan University's College of Business will hold “The Big Pitch,” a competition involving six students pitching their business ideas to a panel of judges. The event is part of the 12th annual New Business Venture Competition. It begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 28, in Forest Roberts Theatre. A Business After Hours reception held in collaboration with the Lake Superior Community Partnership will precede The Big Pitch from 5-6:45 p.m. in the FRT lobby.

The Northern Center for Lifelong Learning will offer an advance care planning workbook session at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at the Upper Peninsula Health Plan office on Washington St. The registration deadline is Monday, March 25. Kate LaBeau, advance care planning program manager, will lead the discussion. This event is free to attend and open to the public.

Former Cadillac trooper and NMU alumnus Jeffrey Crofoot ('89 BS) now leads the Traverse City Computer Crimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. According to MI News 26 in Cadillac, he was promoted to the new position and rank of detective sergeant by the Michigan State Police. Crofoot will supervise troopers as they process electronic evidence related to criminal cases and manage web-based criminal investigations. The Saginaw native served in the Navy before obtaining his bachelor's degree from NMU.