Northern Michigan University alumni and friends are invited to join President Brock Tessman for three upcoming NMU Alumni Night events: Wednesday, March 12, in Lansing; Monday, March 24, in Fort Myers, Fla.; and Wednesday, April 2, in downtown Chicago. All events are free to attend and will include campus updates from Tessman, complimentary food and beverages, and an opportunity to connect with fellow alumni.

Northern Michigan University's Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will launch a new Okanagan Charter Concert Series, which highlights musical themes that support NMU's strategic commitment to well-being, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Both groups will perform pieces that advance the dialogue of mental health awareness. New Director of Bands Steven Riley will also mark his first NMU concert by incorporating a multi-movement suite by a Michigan composer that features the melodies of numerous folk tunes to honor the agricultural, maritime and lumbering history of the state.

Northern Michigan University 1977 alumnus and former Wildcat basketball player/assistant coach Tom Izzo became the winningest head coach in Big Ten Conference history Saturday night, when his Michigan State Spartans came from behind to beat Illinois 79-65. Izzo's 354th conference win surpassed former Indiana coach Bob Knight's record, which had stood for almost 25 years.

Northern Michigan University's Department of Music will host three performance events next week. All will be held in Reynolds Recital Hall. The first is a Superior String Alliance Pop-in Piano Trio Concert at noon Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Julie Bless, a 2010 Northern Michigan University graduate with a major in environmental conservation and a minor in biology, was honored as a "Twenty Under 40 Awards" finalist by the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network at a Jan. 24 ceremony.