Late last winter, U.S. Army veteran and NMU student Travis Syrja was having major issues with his existing boiler, which proved unfixable. The single father resorted to using small electric heaters in his Negaunee home. That won't be necessary this season. Through the support of area businesses and the efforts of his instructor and fellow second-year students in Northern's HVAC/R program, Syrja's home is now equipped with a new boiler.  

An innovative technology prototype developed by alumni-owned, Marquette-based Kall Morris Inc. (KMI) arrived at the International Space Station for testing earlier this week. The company's REACCH capture and effector uses gecko-inspired adhesion to secure and selectively release space objects of nearly any shape, size or surface condition without causing damage. With this mission, KMI advances its goal of developing a full-scale debris removal spacecraft known as Laelaps. It also reinforces the company's commitment to “keeping space clear for all,” enhancing safety for future space exploration, and advancing in-space servicing and manufacturing.

NMUDoIt, a student theater group established early this year at Northern Michigan University, will present its first full-length production—the musical The Last Five Years—at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 through Saturday, Nov. 16, in the Panowski Black Box Theatre. Tickets are free (donations accepted). Written and composed by Drama Desk winner Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years is described as an emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their 20s who fall in and out of love over the course of five years.

Northern Michigan University will host a public panel presentation titled “Refugee Voices of Resilience” on Thursday, Nov. 7. Former refugees and migrants who now serve in government, humanitarian and educational roles will share their journeys to where they are today, highlighting their work in supporting vulnerable communities and giving back.

High school seniors who reside in the Upper Peninsula and plan to pursue studies in a healthcare-related field at a college or university next fall are invited to participate in the fifth annual National Rural Health Day Essay Contest. The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health is coordinating the contest with the Michigan Center for Rural Health and the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan. The essay submission deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 12.