Around NMU

As the NMU Food Pantry closes out the academic year and prepares for more limited hours this summer, statistics indicate an increase in the number of visits. The pantry opened in November 2017. Students stopped in 341 times during the winter 2018 semester, compared with more than 500 visits recorded over the same semester this year. More than 125 individuals have utilized its services since January, according to the Dean of Students Office.

The grand opening of the Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute at NMU—the only facility of its kind in the U.P. and one of six statewide—will be held Thursday, May 2. The institute offers non-degree and industry credentials relevant to emerging careers in cybersecurity. It also augments NMU's existing cyber defense bachelor's degree and provides additional career exploration and training opportunities with U.P. K-12 school districts and postsecondary institutions.

NMU's Behavioral Education, Assessment and Research (BEAR) Center received a $20,000 grant from the Superior Health Foundation. The funding will help to develop a professional association to support educational and development needs of professionals working in areas related to Applied Behavior Analysis techniques. ABA is used extensively at the center. 

Northern Michigan University Recreation Sports and Marquette Ending Hunger present the Dance 4 Food 2019 Zumbathon® Charity Event at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 at the Vandament Arena. Those attending are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to local food pantries.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced her first appointment to the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. Bridget Summers of Baraga will fill a vacancy created by the unexpected death of Travis Weber in February. Summers is vice president of the Baraga County Chamber of Commerce and director of the Village of L'Anse Downtown Development Association. She previously served as director of Settlements and Global Operation at Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.

Northern Michigan University ranks No. 4 on a list of the best online colleges in Michigan. SR Education Group released its 2019 national rankings on GuidetoOnlineSchools.com.

In large part because it is home to NMU and situated near Lake Superior, Marquette has been ranked among the "10 Great Active Outdoor Towns in the North Country" by northoutdoors.com.

The Marquette Choral Society's upcoming spring concert is titled Russian Nights: Rachmaninoff and Chesnokov. Under the direction of Music Director and NMU Professor Erin Colwitz, the group will perform without instrumental accompaniment. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in Reynolds Recital Hall.

An awards ceremony kicked off Northern Michigan University's 24th Annual Celebration of Student Scholarship on April 11. Undergraduate and graduate students were honored in various categories of poster presentations. There were also awards for an essay competition, projects using Lydia Olson Library and/or NMU Archives resources, and technology innovation. 

Northern Michigan University biology graduate student and teaching assistant John Whitinger was recently awarded Best Poster at the Michigan Chapter of the American Fisheries Society-Wildlife Society meeting, held recently at the Treetops Resort in Gaylord. The win marks the first time that NMU has been recognized for a top research project at the meeting, according to NMU biology professor Brandon Gerig.