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Northern Michigan University 1997 history alumnus Philip Webb completed Spain's famous pilgrimage trail, El Camino de Santiago—also known as “The Way”—walking 621 miles over 38 days on the longest, most arduous route. The UNESCO-listed trail originated in medieval times, when pilgrims made a spiritual journey to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela to visit the reported tomb of the Apostle Saint James. Now more than 300,000 people from all over the world traverse it each year for a variety of reasons. Webb's pilgrimage was fueled by a desire to deepen his Catholic faith, engage in self-reflection and raise money for a charitable cause.

One of Northern Michigan University's charter schools, Walton Charter Academy in Pontiac, is among five 2022 Building the Hope Schools in Michigan recognized by the Education Trust-Midwest for outstanding pre-pandemic academic progress and growth among underserved student groups. All offer strategies that can be leveraged to help students recover from learning loss attributed to COVID-19.

Northern Michigan University's Julie Rochester received the prestigious David Knight Award at the 2022 NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative Association (FARA) Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. The award is presented yearly to an individual who has provided outstanding service to the organization. Rochester spent six years on the FARA Executive Committee, in capacities including D2 representative, vice president and president. 

Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum is hosting the School of Art and Design's Fall 2022 Senior Exhibition. The works of graduating students from all concentrations will be shown. The exhibition will end with a closing reception from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16, with awards being presented at 8 p.m. that same night. The event is free and open to the public.

Northern Michigan University alumna Jackie Jahfetson has been hired as a full-time reporter for The Bismarck Tribune, writing about energy and environmental issues in North Dakota.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Bruce Remington, a member of the technical staff at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has been honored with the American Physical Society's (APS) 2023 George E. Duvall Shock Compression Science Award. The award recognizes contributions to understanding condensed matter and non-linear physics through shock compression.

Northern Michigan University students enrolled in a new course this semester had to interview for a spot on the limited roster, undergo a background check and sign a non-disclosure agreement. They also lock up their cell phones and laptop computers before they enter the associated classroom/lab, and pore over materials retrieved from a storage room that was re-keyed for restricted access. Such precautions are necessary because the students are tasked with re-examining and digitizing the entire file for an actual Upper Peninsula cold case that began as a missing person's report and shifted to a homicide.

For the first time in Northern Michigan University history, the student commencement speaker will be an NMU Global Campus graduate. Jeff Ferrington has completed a bachelor's in Applied Workplace Leadership entirely online from his home base in Macomb Township, but he will bridge the distance and deliver his speech in person at the Superior Dome on Saturday, Dec. 17. Ferrington calls himself a “second chancer” for getting the opportunity to finish the NMU degree he first started as an on-campus student in 1996.

Diana Lafferty, assistant professor of wildlife ecology, will be the faculty keynote speaker for Northern Michigan University's Dec. 17 commencement. She was selected through a nomination process overseen by ASNMU, the student government organization. 

Higher education and public policy leader Linda Thompson will receive an honorary doctorate degree in nursing at Northern Michigan University's Dec. 17 commencement. She has served as president of Westfield State University in Massachusetts since July 2021. In a previous capacity as dean of nursing at Oakland University, Thompson played an instrumental role in facilitating the creation of NMU's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Northern Michigan University ranks as the top Division 2 school in the nation in the 2022 Higher Education Social Media Engagement Report released by Rival IQ. The social media analysis company said NMU dominated D2 overall by ranking 5th on Facebook, 9th on both Instagram and Twitter and 12th on Tik Tok through “prolific posting and high-quality content.”

Northern Michigan University student Rev Derek Baluyut is a 2022-2023 American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholar. The program awards renewable scholarships of up to $5,000 per academic year to undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups in the chemical sciences, majoring in chemistry-related disciplines, and intending to pursue chemistry-related careers.

Northern Michigan University's sixth annual Day of Giving event on Nov. 29 has raised $950,000 in gifts and pledges to date, offering a blend of support to build endowments, increase scholarship dollars and provide direct funding to departments and programs.

Northern Michigan University alumnus Ray Kisonas has left his reporter/editor post with The Monroe News after more than 36 years to become vice president of news at NewsNet, a 24-hour national television network based in Farmington Hills. According to a story published in the paper, he will be in charge of the news organization and the content of the network, which is broadcast in 60 markets and on streaming platforms.

Northern Michigan University junior Luke Tschumperlin is enrolled in the Disney College program. He is working at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida until January while taking online classes at NMU. Tschumperlin is able to network with professionals throughout the Walt Disney Company, take part in learning and career development sessions, and live and work with people from around the world.

Northern Michigan University criminal justice major Jersey Hoover, who successfully harvested an 8-point buck with her bow over Thanksgiving weekend, has received a scholarship for her commitment to engaging new audiences and/or generations with Michigan's natural resources and rich outdoor heritage. The Hancock native is one of only five college students statewide selected for the 2022 John A. Muter Memorial Scholarship, named for a sportsman who passed away in 2016 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. 

Northern Michigan alumna Roxanne Daust received the 2022 Evergreen Award of Marquette County. The award honors individuals who are dedicated to supporting and mentoring women and girls and helping them to reach their full potential as leaders.

“Food for Fines” returns to Northern Michigan University, giving individuals an opportunity to alleviate parking fines by contributing non-perishable food items or personal care products to the NMU Food Pantry. The NMU Police Department will accept donations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, through Dec. 9.

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) has again selected Northern Michigan University for its list of Top 200 Colleges for Indigenous Students. The 2022-2023 list appears in the 29th annual Special College Issue of AISES' quarterly magazine, Winds of Change. 

Northern Michigan University Biology Professor Neil Cumberlidge collaborated on a Sierra Leone expedition that located two land-dwelling crab species “lost to science” and feared to be extinct. For one, last spotted 225 years ago, the only clue was a specimen label that read “Sierra Leone.” The team's work was featured in The Guardian in November as part of a series on rediscovered species by prominent British journalist and photographer Graeme Green.