Around NMU

The Northern Michigan University COVID-19 Dashboard has been selected as the 2021 NMU Team Innovation Award recipient. Chair Cindy Paavola of the Office of the President was joined by team members Michael Bath of the NMU Police Department; Anthony Bertucci, Christopher Danik and Genevieve Morgan of Business Intelligence & Information Services; and Christopher Kirkpatrick of the Health Center. 

Christopher Danik, director of software development/mobile apps at Northern Michigan University, is the 2021 NMU Individual Innovation Award recipient. 

Northern Michigan University senior Mckenna Green's professional selling marketing class project has evolved into a career-enhancing summer internship with a startup company. Green said that her internship at Mario's Backyard is helping her prepare for her post-graduation plans of launching a gym business of her own. 

Evelyn Massaro received a wonderful parting gift shortly before retiring July 1 as station manager at WNMU-FM at Northern Michigan University. She was selected as the 2021 Public Media Impact Professional Award recipient by the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters. The prestigious award recognizes an MAPB radio or television professional who provides “lengthy and exceptional service.”

Dorothy Paad dreamed of taking ballet lessons, and courageously defied naysayers who were convinced that was overly ambitious for a woman with cerebral palsy who relies on a wheelchair for mobility. Paad enrolled as a student at Northern Michigan University, where she found an “inclusive and welcoming” environment and participated in the performing arts trifecta of dance, theater and choir. Her positive experience at NMU inspired her to write a new children's book titled “Dance Your Dance, Sing Your Song.”

NMU alumna Madiline McNamara has been conditionally accepted to Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine through its highly competitive early assurance program. She graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in biology with a physiology concentration and said she hopes to practice medicine in her hometown of Iron River or elsewhere in the Upper Peninsula.

Northern Michigan University's College of Business will begin offering a new bachelor's degree program in human resources management this fall, based on student interest and projected job growth. The curriculum will be aligned with Society for Human Resource Management standards so that students can earn a professional SHRM credential after they fulfill their degree requirements.

Clayton Root Jr. is a Northern Michigan University 2021 Excellence in Service Award recipient.

Maia Ogea, medical technologist at Northern Michigan University's Health Center, is a 2021 Excellence in Service Award recipient. Along with other members of the Health Center staff, Ogea faced the threat of exposure and illness throughout the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was nominated for her work in response to the pandemic. 

Bridget Kyle, associate director of athletics at Northern Michigan University, is a 2021 Excellence in Service Award recipient. She was nominated for her efforts in coordinating all the various rules for athletic teams to be able to participate in weightlifting and conditioning, practice and competition in a pandemic year.