Some of the elementary students participating in the recent Marquette Alger Young Authors Conference stopped by to read their books to NMU President Brock Tessman and First Lady Kristin Tessman. Pictured left to right are: Logan Alba, 3rd grade, Lakeview; Evie Parent, Kindergarten, Graveraet; President Tessman; Ady Akerley, 1st grade, Graveraet; Brensen Westman, 4th grade, Gilbert; Kristin Tessman; and Ansley Sundberg, 5th grade, Aspen Ridge.

Northern Michigan University students assisted the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in achieving Certified B Corp status, which is based on using business as a powerful force for good and building credibility and trust with consumers. 

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees' Student Achievement Awards were presented to five recipients for their contributions to the quality of life at NMU. Gwendolyn Feamster from Linden, Mich., and Katarina Rothhorn of Lansing are the 2024 outstanding graduating seniors. Recipients of the remaining outstanding awards in their respective categories are: Erika Laitinen-Odbert of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Global Campus Student; Phoebe Martin, San Jose, Calif., Nontraditional Student; Mackenzie Baranski, Caro, Mich., Graduate Student; and Mary Kelly of Plymouth, Mich., Student of Any Class.

Students from Northern Michigan University's Biology and Psychological Science Departments dominated the award categories at the 28th annual Celebration of Student Scholarship held April 18. Students shared their work with the NMU and Marquette communities by presenting research posters and oral presentations. 

Northern Michigan University's spring commencement carries added significance for Kristie Peterson of Marenisco. The mother of three has achieved her deferred dream of earning a bachelor's degree by completing the online applied workplace leadership program through NMU Global Campus. And in a case of serendipitous timing—about a week before Mother's Day—she will march in the ceremony alongside her daughter and elementary education graduate, Nadia Rosemurgy.

In her 1990 student commencement address at Northern Michigan University, Rebecca Slough encouraged her fellow graduates “to lead with integrity, not because anyone is looking, but because it's who you are.” Twenty-five years later, her daughter Kylee (Slough) Deckert stood behind the podium, urging peers to approach the future with courage and “embrace success in all of its forms—not only what we achieve in our respective careers, but the type of people we become.” It is no surprise they expressed similar themes, because Kylee said her mom and dad instilled those qualities in their three children.

Northern Michigan University's Public Relations Students Society of America (PRSSA) hosted its 6th annual Coffee Crawl in downtown Marquette. This event is held yearly in April to coincide with Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  Proceeds go directly to the Women's Center of Marquette. This year's event raised more than $6,000.

By the late 19th century, the Upper Peninsula flourished with immigrants who had come to work in the copper and iron mining and logging industries. Their children needed an education, but 75% of teachers in the area had no formal training and were likely fresh out of secondary school. Notable Marquette residents including Peter White lobbied for the establishment of what was then called a normal school—a translation of the French term école normale—to train and certify teachers in the region. The state legislature refused the first few proposals, but on April 28, 1899, Gov. Hazen Pingree signed a bill authorizing Northern State Normal School in Marquette. The pen he used on that fateful day is stored at the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center on campus.

Northern Michigan University's School of Art and Design has opened its annual exhibition featuring the works of graduating seniors at the DeVos Art Museum. A series of related events is planned on Friday, May 3: a screening of student digital art from 6-7 p.m.; a closing reception beginning at 7; and the announcement of gold, silver and bronze award winners at 8. The exhibition runs through May 4. 

Eleven Northern Michigan University faculty members selected to receive awards of excellence for teaching, scholarship, leadership and technology innovation were honored at an April 22 celebration on campus.

 group of Northern Michigan University students enrolled in the advanced field marine biology course spent spring break on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, learning about marine science and how to identify ocean organisms. 

Northern Michigan University is partnering with Saginaw Valley State University to enhance behavioral health care in the Upper Peninsula by expanding educational opportunities for advance practice nurses at a cost savings of nearly 85%. Through the BRIDGE UP program, SVSU is offering its psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) training in collaboration with NMU to 31 U.P. nurse practitioners annually. The program is funded with a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources & Services Administration.

Political Science Department Head and Professor Carter Wilson is the 2024 recipient of the Stephen Young & Tricia Kinley Distinguished Faculty Award, Northern Michigan University's top honor for significant professional contributions to teaching, scholarship and service. He will be honored along with other faculty award winners at the Celebration of Excellence at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, in Ballrooms I and II of the Northern Center.

Elementary education major Grace Cook of Memphis, Mich. will appropriately reference the premise of a popular children's book when she delivers the student commencement address at Northern Michigan University on Saturday, May 4. She said author Patrice Karst's story about The Invisible String that permanently connects every person to the hearts of those they love has impacted her, and seems relevant as graduates leave their college friends to embark on their careers.

At the end of World War I, American soldiers—mostly from Michigan—were deployed to join the Northern Russian Expeditionary Force for a vaguely defined mission. They found themselves embroiled in a civil war, battling Bolshevik revolutionaries for months after the Armistice ended fighting in France. A new play inspired by these men, known as the Polar Bears for enduring harsh winter conditions, will have its world premiere May 9-11 at Northern Michigan University. The idea for Ghost Soldiers by Keli Crawford-Truckey stemmed from a war-time journal bound by leather from the boot of a dead Bolshevik soldier. It was kept by the grandfather of NMU employees Dan and Paul Truckey.

Northern Michigan University honored several individuals and teams during its recent Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration. Years of service milestones and retirees were also honored. 

UPDATE 4/19: The union ratified this agreement on Thursday and the NMU Board of Trustees approved it during a special meeting Friday morning.

The Northern Michigan University Dance Team qualified to compete in the National Dance Alliance (NDA) college nationals for the first time in history. Team members traveled to Daytona Beach, Fla, earlier this month. They competed in two Division II categories: pom, placing 8th in the nation; and jazz, placing 11th.