Alumni

Northern Michigan University Alumni Relations has announced three recipients of the 2025 Alumni Awards, all of whom reside in Michigan: Dr. Peter LaPine ('76 MA) of East Lansing, Distinguished Alumni; Barbara Coleman ('77 BS, '81 MS) of Marquette, Alumni Achievement; and Ian Lewis ('18 BS, '22 MPA) of Laurium, Outstanding Young Alumni.

Northern Michigan University alumnus John Berry Jr. has continued the philanthropic legacy passed down by his grandfather and father, whose entrepreneurial success heading the largest Yellow Pages advertising agency in the United States inspired them to give back to future generations in ways that reflected their core values, including education. John and Shirley Berry have become the leaders in lifetime giving to NMU, surpassing $10 million. Their most recent gifts of $3.5 million include $2 million to endow in perpetuity the College of Business Deanship in their names, and $1 million as an expendable fund to support the Northern Enterprise Center, the future home of the College of Business.

Northern Michigan University is partnering with Blackrocks Brewery in Marquette to launch Wildcat Gold, a new beer created by alumni, for alumni, in celebration of NMU's 125th anniversary. The gold lager will make its debut at the next Alumni Friday event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 23, at the Blackrocks Brewery Pub. It will also be offered at the Homecoming football game tailgate party on Saturday, Sept. 21, and at Wildcat hockey games this season, while quantities last.

A small group hiked into a wooded area in Marquette County early this week, straining their necks to gaze upward in search of the desired nest perched near the top of a towering white pine. Within it were two larger-than expected bald eaglets, about nine weeks old and on the verge of flying. It was a small window of opportunity to band the birds and collect data that sheds light on their population changes related to climate change, chemicals, disease and other factors. 

Three Northern Michigan University alumni, all of whom reside in the Upper Peninsula, have been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the NMU Board of Trustees. They are: Brigitte LaPointe-Dunham of Baraga; Steve Lindberg of Marquette; and Greg Toutant of Negaunee.

Northern Michigan University alumna Abbie Beekman ('16 BA) has advanced rapidly in a career that allows her to apply her double major in public relations and music at the nation's premier cultural and performance venue: the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Northern’s new bronze wildcat statue, a much-anticipated addition to the campus landscape, was unveiled and dedicated Sept. 21. The statue was made possible through a gift from the estate of former NMU Board of Trustees chair and longtime NMU supporter Gil Ziegler (’60 BS).