General public tickets for the inaugural Innovation Week professional development conference at Northern Michigan University will be reduced by $25—to $175—for a limited time from Monday, April 10, through Friday, April 14. SISU: The Innovation Institute at NMU and Innovate Marquette are partnering to host the event, which will bring together thought leaders and creative minds in Michigan's Upper Peninsula May 8-10.

The second annual Great Lakes Cannabis Education Conference (GLCEC), which debuted last year as the first large-scale gathering of cannabis education in the region, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, in the Northern Center Ballrooms at Northern Michigan University. The conference seeks to showcase developing trends in cannabis education and scholarship, as well as insights from industry leaders and experts at the forefront of the sector's evolving landscape.

Northern Michigan University's new football head coach Shane Richardson will be featured during the next Northern Now digital event at 7 p.m. EST Wednesday, April 12. The discussion will be moderated by Steve Mariucci, NFL Network analyst and show host, with special appearances by New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh and NMU Athletic Director Rick Comley. All four are also NMU alumni.

NoMAD, a Northern Michigan University student organization that promotes local and underground music, is hosting an event featuring female-led rock and punk bands titled “Ra Ra Rock for Your Rights” at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 8 in the Northern Center Grand Ballroom. NoMAD is short for Northern Michigan Artist Discovery.

The top three finishers in Northern Michigan University's March 29 performance competition for music majors, all of whom will receive scholarships, were: Darren Hicks, a senior from Manistique, who received first place for his performance on the marimba; Nicholas Wegrzyn, a sophomore from Buckley, who earned second on saxophone; and Noah Nettell, a sophomore from Chassell, who placed third for his piano piece.