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Two Northern Michigan University alumni who maintained longtime connections with their alma mater through service or occupation will receive honorary degrees at NMU's commencement: Scott Holman, a 1965 alumnus and NMU Trustee Emeritus; and Thomas Holmstrom, a 1959 graduate and Professor Emeritus of Economics.

Derek Estes, who assumed the role of executive chef with Northern Michigan University Dining in mid-October, was honored earlier this month as the Culinarian of the Year by the Upper Peninsula Chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF). He previously served as operations manager for Northern Center catering events. The NMU alumnus also achieved Certified Executive Chef status from the ACF one year ago.

Al Gray of Marquette, who holds two degrees from Northern Michigan University, was recently appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the first statewide LGBTQ+ commission. Gray earned a bachelor's in philosophy and sociology in 2018 and a Master of Social Work in 2023. They serve as an LLMSW at Suunta Integrative Health, program coordinator for Trace Holistic Inc., and volunteer co-facilitator with the Upper Peninsula's Stand with Trans Teen support group, according to a press release.

Northern Michigan University is making another appearance on the American Indian Science and Engineering Society's (AISES) list of the Top 200 Colleges for Indigenous Students. The 2023-24 installment is published in the December special college issue of Winds of Change magazine.

Ladislav Hanka, the Kalamazoo-based artist behind the label designs for Bell's Two Hearted Ale, recently donated three illustrations of the late judge, author and avid fisherman John Voelker to the permanent collection of Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum. Voelker was the original subject on the labels before Hanka created the now-iconic trout image. The artist and his work for Bell's are featured in the documentary, A Two Hearted Tale, now screening at the museum. A special showing followed by a virtual Q&A with the filmmakers is scheduled at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, in Art & Design room 165.

Stacy Boyer-Davis, associate professor of accounting, will be the faculty keynote speaker for Northern Michigan University's Dec. 16 commencement. She also serves as assistant department head of accounting and the MBA program in the College of Business.

After spending a semester at Northern Michigan University, Nataly Zuniga Sosa will return to her home country of Honduras with much more than positive memories and a greater understanding of American culture and U.S. higher education. The sixth-year medical school student, who wants to specialize in pediatrics, is equipped with valuable knowledge and program ideas that she plans to implement in poverty-stricken areas of Honduras, gleaned from conversations with NMU Center for Rural Health Director Elise Bur.

Northern Michigan University has been awarded a competitive Student Select Support Services (4-S) grant, worth about $100,000 annually over a six-year cycle, as part of the state's larger King-Chavez-Parks initiative. The 4-S program is designed to develop retention programs to benefit academically- or economically-disadvantaged students enrolled at four-year public and independent educational institutions throughout the state.

There is a new Commuter and Nontraditional Student Organization at Northern Michigan University designed to help students stay connected with the campus community, even if they live outside of Marquette. The program allows students to volunteer as Community Officers, a role similar to residential or community advisers. The only difference: they are located in the cities surrounding NMU, rather than on campus.

Northern Michigan University's Spanish Club took a recent trip to Chicago, where students visited the National Museums of Mexican Art and of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.

The Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock—formerly part of shuttered Finlandia University and now managed by Finlandia Foundation National—has joined UPLINK, an effort to digitize Upper Peninsula historical materials to facilitate online access and preservation. The Central U.P. and Northern Michigan University Archives hosts the UPLINK website and is the principal service site in the region.

Northern Michigan University's music department will hold two concerts to close out November. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum will host screenings of the film, A Two Hearted Tale, a heartfelt look at the history of the iconic trout label adorning the Bell's Brewing IPA by that name and its eccentric artist, Ladislav Hanka. Daily screenings will take place at 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday through Dec. 15, with an additional 7 p.m. screening on Thursdays. A special screening at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, in room 165 of the Art and Design Building will feature a Q&A with the filmmakers afterward via Zoom.

Northern Michigan University student Riley Diehlman of Muskegon had the opportunity to participate in the White House Tribal Youth Forum the week of Nov. 5 in Washington, D.C. She is an enrolled member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and is pursuing an associate degree in Native American community services.

Up-and-coming Philadelphia-based musical artist Noah Richardson will perform at Northern Michigan University on Thursday, Nov. 30, in the Northern Center grand ballroms. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the opening act, Iridescence. Registration is required through The Hub, where NMU students are free of charge, and the general public pays $10.

Former NFL defensive end R.K. Russell will give a keynote speech and answer questions in a moderated Q&A at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, in Jamrich 1100 at Northern Michigan University. He will also sign his memoir The Yards Between Us: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Football, which will be sold at the event and has been optioned for a TV series.

Northern Michigan University Alumni Relations will host two virtual events as part of its Northern Now series for NMU alumni and friends: a holiday cooking segment on Wednesday, Dec. 13; and a chat with President Brock Tessman on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Both begin at 7 p.m. EST. 

A Northern Michigan University librarian was accepted into the highly competitive American Library Association's (ALA) Emerging Leaders Program. The program accepts no more than 50 participants each year, and Emera Bridger Wilson is one of them for 2024.