June 2018

Alumnus Honors Parents with World Records

Jun. 13, 2018 —

Fueled by a desire to honor his parents, NMU alumnus Ron Sarchian (BS '87) has set seven Guinness World Records and plans to pursue more this summer. The former Wildcat football player punched a heavy bag for 50 hours, nine minutes. He also split 42 watermelons with a karate chop in one minute on the "Today" show.  The industrial technology grad worked seven years for Boeing in Seattle before moving to Southern California to be an actor, stuntman and personal trainer to the stars.

Grad Students to Attend International Charr Symposium

Jun. 13, 2018 —
Two NMU biology master's degree candidates will attend the 2018 International Charr Symposium June 18-21 in Duluth. They are among four students being sponsored by the Greater Lake Superior Foundation. Grace Zimmerman's research statement indicates she is "looking at the influence of food availability and temperature on individual differences in metabolic rate in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)." Jacob Bowman is focusing on "how the metabolic physiology of individual brook trout determines their life history characteristics, including migration and movement within streams.”

UC Project's First Phase Begins

Jun. 11, 2018 —

The south wing of the University Center was gutted after a demolition kickoff event last week, launching the first phase of the building's renovation. The book store previously relocated to the Peter White Lounge and West Hall and the North Wind Office to Gries Hall to accommodate reconstruction. The first phase is scheduled for completion in April 2019. Renovations to the Great Lakes wing will begin April 2019 and be completed in August 2019.

NMU Student Competes in Canadian Nationals Yo-Yo

Jun. 11, 2018 —

NMU engineering design junior Jordan Walker-Jenkins recently competed in Canada's largest yo-yo competition to see how he stacks up against the best "return-top specialists." A resident of Brimley, Walker-Jenkins has retained his Canadian citizenship, which made him eligible to compete in the country's national championship. While he did not advance to the finals, a video of his preliminary round is impressive and supports his contention in a sootoday.com feature that “Modern yo-yo-ing isn’t just like, do walk the dog and then maybe rock the baby on stage.

Grad Guest Edits Literary Journal

Jun. 8, 2018 —

Recent MFA graduate Amy Smith will guest edit an upcoming edition of "Stirring" literary journal, which revolves around a theme: Hot Mess. The poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction Smith selects for publication will celebrate "fantastical failures that we can’t look away from, moments when steering into the skid is the best decision.

Grad's Volunteer Chaplain Group Honored

Jun. 7, 2018 —
Ken McNaughton ('92 BA), volunteer chaplain for the Spokane Valley Fire Department, played an instrumental role in founding the Inland Northwest Fire Chaplains. The nonprofit group provides care to first responders, firefighters and grieving families. It has responded to medical emergencies, fires, car accidents and last year's Freeman High School shooting. In May, the INFC was presented with the 2017 EMS Special Services Award by the Spokane County Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Council.

Alumnus Named Grand Rapids Library Director

Jun. 6, 2018 —

John McNaughton (BA 1999) was recently affirmed as director of the Grand Rapids Public Library. He has 17 years' experience, most recently as director of the Romeo District Library in southeast Michigan, where he helped to create a Teen Services department, re-design the lobby to improve customer services and developed a new strategic plan. McNaughton previously served as director of the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library. He earned an English degree from NMU and his master's in library and information science from Wayne State.