All News Releases

Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees has set room and board rates for the 2022-2023 academic year and approved seven new academic programs that will launch in the fall semester.

Five individuals and five agencies who assisted in the lifesaving rescue of Northern Michigan University employee Stephanie Penhale were publicly recognized at the April 29 NMU Board of Trustees business meeting. Penhale is director of the Network Infrastructure Center. She and her 22-year-old daughter, Lily, attended the session to personally thank those whose quick actions made a critical difference until more advanced medical care could be provided.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees presented trustee emeritus plaques to Rick Popp and Thomas Zurbuchen in recognition of their distinguished service to NMU. The two men were honored at the board's April 29 meeting.

Northern Michigan University NCAA champion swimmer Ondrej Zach, who won the men's 1,650-yard freestyle at the Division II national meet in March, was formally recognized for his achievement at the April 29 NMU Board of Trustees meeting.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees presented its annual Student Achievement Awards just before commencement, honoring four individuals for their significant contributions to the quality of life at NMU through extracurricular activities or work in a university department, and one for making a significant commitment to online education through NMU's Global Campus program. Recipients were (click on each name for a more detailed individual story): Jakob Lippert of Green Bay, Wis., Outstanding Graduating Senior; Valeta Gage of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Outstanding Graduating Senior; Veronica Line of South Range, Wis., Outstanding Student of Any Class; Matthew Goss, originally from Rising Sun, Md., Outstanding Nontraditional Student; and Claudia Chavez-Rhoades, Outstanding Global Campus student.

Jakob Lippert of Green Bay, Wis., was awarded one of two Outstanding Graduating Senior awards from the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. He also won the Library and Archives Research Award for a paper on the Associated Press and Nazi Germany. Lippert will graduate with full honors April 30, earning a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in German studies.

Valeta Gage of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was awarded one of two Outstanding Graduating Senior awards from the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. She also earned the Outstanding Academic and Clinical Excellence award in the Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences Department. Gage will graduate summa cum laude April 30 with a major in speech, language and hearing sciences and a minor in business administration.

Veronica Line of South Range, Wis. received the Outstanding Student of Any Class award from the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. She began her NMU journey in fall 2017 as a Harden Scholar, earning a “full ride” that covered tuition, fees, and room and board. She will graduate April 30 with full honors, earning a bachelor's degree in biology with a concentration in physiology and minor in Spanish.

Claudia Chavez-Rhoades of Marquette was selected as the Outstanding Global Campus Student award recipient by the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. She will graduate magna cum laude April 30 from the applied workplace leadership program, offered completely online and designed for nontraditional students and returning adult learners who have either completed associate degrees in any field or earned previous college credit.

Matthew Goss was selected as the Outstanding Nontraditional Student by the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. He will graduate April 30 with a bachelor's degree in construction management, after previously earning an associate degree in building technology.  

WNMU-FM producer and host Kurt Hauswirth recently won two Broadcast Excellence Awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. “The Local Shuffle,” a special edition of “The Shuffle” new alternative music program that premiered on the station just last year, was recognized as best musical programming. An interview he conducted with poet Moheb Soliman about his “HOMES” release and reading in Marquette earned a merit award for special interest and cultural programming.

Four student finalists recently presented their entrepreneurial ideas at the NMU College of Business' Big Pitch event, the culminating activity in the annual new business venture competition. Donald McKaba earned $3,000 for winning the Big Pitch with Wasteless, his plan for an “innovative shopping experience” that aims to reduce one-use containers that end up in landfills. Grace DeNoya won $5,000 for best business plan for You'd Never Know, a 100% gluten-free bakery, and $1,500 each for best trade fair display and crowd favorite.

Of the 1,120 students eligible to participate in Northern Michigan University's commencement on Saturday, April 30 (1,011 for the current semester and 109 for summer), more than 850 plan to march in the ceremony.  

Northern Michigan University honored several individuals and teams during its 2022 Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration. The individual and team award winners are featured in more detailed individual stories with photos at the highlighted links below. 

NMU Wildpups has been selected as Northern Michigan University's 2022 Team Innovation Award recipient. The Wildpups team included chair Michelle Andriacchi and team members Michelle and Dominic Andriacchi with Fonzie, Casey Hopper with Boris, Katie Taylor with Sadie, Rachel Nye with Maggie, and Anne Stein with Ramsey.

Madison Ngafeeson, associate professor of Business, is one of Northern Michigan University's 2022 Individual Innovation Award recipients for the development of business analytics courses, as well as his scholarship, professional development, service, dedication and the elite partnerships he has formed. 

Kurt Hauswirth, producer, host and announcer for WNMU-FM, is one of Northern Michigan University's 2022 Individual Innovation Award recipients for his passion and determination to embrace new technologies and improve existing technologies to create new opportunities.

Ruth Abbott, senior library assistant at Lydia M. Olson Library, is one of Northern Michigan University's 2022 Individual Innovation Award recipients for her persistence and passion regarding Open Educational Resources (OER).

The Superior Dome Consolidation/Realignment is one of Northern Michigan University's 2022 Distinguished Team Award recipients.