July 2018

Drake Nagel ('12 BFA) puts his graphic design skills honed at NMU to work on behalf of his two culinary ventures: Happy's Taco Shop in Petoskey; and a food truck business that extends to Traverse City. In a Petoskey News-Review artist profile, Nagel said cooking is his first love, but he also recognizes the importance of establishing a brand through a logo and other visual elements. So he has combined both talents, creating a number of menu boards for the food trucks and designs for available merchandise offered through the company.

NMU alumna Stacy Schwenke ('07 MAE) has joined the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth. She fills a new position dedicated to strategic management of the organization's grants and contracts, which comprise about 55 percent of NRRI's research funding. NRRI's mission is to "deliver research solutions to balance our economy, resources and environment for resilient communities." Schwenke's previous research administration work experience included positions with University of Wisconsin System campuses and the Marine Biological Laboratory.

Ronnie Tucker, a former weightlifter at NMU's Olympic Training Site, helped to save the life of an unresponsive newborn outside the Michigan State Police Jackson Post. He has been a state trooper for eight months. Tucker was first on the scene to assist a couple in an SUV parked outside whose baby emerged feet first and wasn't breathing. With CPR equipment from his vehicle and the training he underwent in the police academy, he kept the newborn's airway open and tried rubbing her chest for stimulation, eventually finding success.

Northern Michigan University is listed first in a Forbes article titled "From Chemistry to Culinary: 10 Educational Programs for Students Eager to Learn About Cannabis." The description for NMU states that there is renewed and enthusiastic interest in medicinal plant chemistry as it relates to the herbal extract market and, more recently, to the emerging cannabis market. "The degree balances coursework in chemistry and biology with lab experience.

NMU President Fritz Erickson is among more than 220 individuals and groups who committed to standing up for civility in public debate and discussions of policy. They signed on to an open letter spearheaded by Gov. Rick Snyder, which appeared in both the Detroit News and Free Press. Read the contents here.

Northern Michigan University is among the "best colleges for seniors in every state," according to a Cheapism blog shared on msn.com. NMU was one of only three Michigan universities to earn the designation. It waives tuition for on-campus classes for students 62 and older who complete a free application for admission. See the full listing here.