In honor of its 40th anniversary, the Hiawatha Music Co-op has donated 40 native trees and shrubs to Northern Michigan University. They will be planted in the Outdoor Learning Areas (OLAs) off Elizabeth Harden Drive between Whitman Hall and New Science. Volunteers are invited to participate at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 13.

Organizers of the NMU Food Pantry, which served 119 unique students over 341 visits this semester, extend their gratitude to members of the campus community and beyond who made donations to support its mission. They also encourage continued support over the summer, as food insecurity issues do not go on hiatus and the shelves are in need of restocking. The pantry will be open limited hours, from 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays, until the fall semester. It accepts non-perishable food items, along with personal care, hygiene and paper products. Financial donations also can be made through the NMU Foundation; payroll deduction is available.

Northern Michigan University has announced its outstanding graduating seniors and graduate students from each academic department. Most honorees will receive their degrees at NMU’s spring commencement on May 5.

Posture Plank, the recent invention of Marquette chiropractor Brian Kulbieda, puts a new spin on an old idea to help improve posture. With 16 years of experience running his own practice, Axis Chiropractic, Kulbieda knows the demands people put on their bodies on a daily basis and the poor posture and injuries that can result from being bent over a desk or standing on one’s feet all day.

Alex Camarillo-Lugo of Lake Forest, Calif., will serve as the student speaker at Northern Michigan University’s spring commencement on Saturday, May 5. She will receive a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and was named the department’s outstanding graduating senior.