All News Releases

Alumna Settling In as New Superintendent

Kattula with students
Sep. 26, 2018 —

Heidi Kattula ('98 MA), the new superintendent of East Grand Rapids Public Schools, is featured in a School News Network article. She has 26 years of experience in public education. She also serves as the treasurer of International Baccalaureate Schools of Michigan, which focus on educating from a global perspective. East Grand Rapids is exploring the designation and Kattula was a principal in Bloomfield Hills when it became the first IB district in the state.

NMU Presents 'Sweeney Todd'

Paul Truckey as the barber Sweeney Todd
Sep. 26, 2018 —

Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre will present the dark and haunting musical Sweeney Todd in time for the Halloween season. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26 -Saturday, Oct. 27 and Tuesday, Oct. 30-Saturday, Nov. 3. An additional 1 p.m. matinee is scheduled Nov. 3.

Viano String Quartet to Perform at NMU

Image of Viano String Quartet
Sep. 25, 2018 —
The Viano String Quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, in Reynolds Recital Hall as part of Northern Michigan University's Siril Concert Series. Admission is free. The ensemble's name was created to describe the four string instruments, each beginning with the letter "v," that play both melody and harmony to create a unified instrument called the "Viano."

New Wildcat Statue Unveiled

Wildcat statue
Sep. 21, 2018 —
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).

NMU Board Invests in Strategic Plan

Image of a board meeting
Sep. 21, 2018 —
The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved a 2018-19 general fund operating budget of nearly $113.8 million. The budget is $3.7 million, or 3.4 percent, higher than last year. The university is advancing its strategic plan with investments in student scholarships, new academic programs, a student success center and athletics. The increase also covers contractual obligations and inflationary cost increases related to utilities, supplies and other expenses.

NMU Reports Increase in New Students, Undergrads

Students in the NMU academic mall
Sep. 20, 2018 —
Northern Michigan University’s new student enrollment has increased 9.9 percent this fall, thanks to a second consecutive year of growth in first-time freshmen and a significant boost in transfer students. New freshmen numbers are up by 107, or 7.1 percent. Transfers have increased by 81, or nearly 20 percent, according to the university’s 10th day enrollment report. NMU's total undergraduate population also increased for the first time in eight years. It is up by 71 students, or 1 percent, over last fall.

Teachable Moment: Alumna Rescues Student at Black Rocks

Blackrocks
Sep. 19, 2018 —

“Reach or throw; don’t go.” NMU alumna and former Wildcat swimmer Shawn Robinson-Sobczak (’98 BS) routinely recites that phrase when she leads swim lessons or serves as a lifeguard instructor. When someone is in distress and it’s not possible to extend a hand to pull the swimmer to safety or throw something that floats, bystanders should not risk their own lives by entering the water. But Robinson-Sobczak has also been a certified lifeguard for 34 years.

NMU Holds Community-Wide Ice Cream Social

Ice cream social
Sep. 19, 2018 —

Northern Michigan University held a community-wide ice cream social as part of Homecoming week on Sept. 18. There was a good turnout of students, faculty, staff and Marquette-area residents, despite the drop in temperature from previous days. Fritz and Jan Erickson assisted Dining Services staff in serving up waffle cones and bowls with scoops of vanilla or mint Mackinac Island fudge. The event also featured Double Trouble DJs music, large lawn games and bounce houses.

'Lost Boy of Sudan' Speaks at NMU

Image of John Dau
Sep. 18, 2018 —
John Dau will present “God Grew Tired of Us: The Lost Boys of Sudan” at Northern Michigan University. He was one of 27,000 boys in the war-torn country forced to flee their villages when the northern government began attacking the south. His talk is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, in the University Center Great Lakes Rooms. Admission is free for NMU students and $2 for the general public.

Teachable Moment: Alumna Rescues Student at Black Rocks

Image of Shawn Robinson-Sobczak jumping off Black Rocks to save someone
Sep. 17, 2018 —
“Reach or throw; don’t go.” NMU alumna and former Wildcat swimmer Shawn Robinson-Sobczak (’98 BS) routinely recites that phrase when she leads swim lessons or serves as a lifeguard instructor. When someone is in distress and it’s not possible to extend a hand to pull the swimmer to safety or throw something that floats, bystanders should not risk their own lives by entering the water. But Robinson-Sobczak has also been a certified lifeguard for 34 years. So when an NMU student took too long to surface after jumping off Black Rocks and a friend struggled to assist him, her rescue instinct took over and she leaped in to help.