July 2021

The Northern Michigan University Passport to Campus committee was selected for a 2021 NMU Distinguished Team Award. Once the decision was made to require all faculty, staff and students to have a COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus last year, this group of individuals worked “tirelessly” to accomplish that goal through a mass testing event in the Northern Center.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Four-Year Review Team was selected for a 2021 Northern Michigan University Distinguished Team Award. Members are Daniel Cullen and Jason Nicholas of Institutional Research; Kathryn Johnson of History; Joanne Sved of Institutional Research; and Shaun Thunell of the School of Clinical Sciences. 

Nearly 80% of Northern Michigan University employees and 63% of the overall on-campus student population have been vaccinated heading into the fall semester, according to a July 29 email from President Fritz Erickson to the campus community. The latter rate will increase, as many first-year students have yet to upload their information to the university's Bridge app. Erickson also reported that NMU is not holding a mass testing event or mandating vaccines, but is requiring that unvaccinated individuals wear masks indoors.

The Arts and Athletics Showcase for Homecoming 2020 has been selected for a 2021 Northern Michigan University Distinguished Team Award. The team included Chair Kylie Bunting and Robyn Stille of Alumni Relations; Erin Colwitz of Music; William Digneit and Jill Grundstrom of Theatre & Dance; Michael Forester and Ryan Stephens of University Marketing & Communications; Katherine Harvath of Intercollegiate Athletics & Rec Sports; Michael Lakenen of Broadcast & Audio-Visual Services; and Christine Lenzen and Jason Schneider of the School of Art & Design. 

The Admissions Events Committee has been selected for a 2021 Northern Michigan University Distinguished Team Award. The committee is comprised of chair Kate Hooper, Christina Carr, Allison Frorenza, Alyssa Lambert and Kimberly Randolph of Admissions; Jeffrey Koval of Broadcast & Audio-Visual Services; and William Richards of Business Intelligence & Information Services. 

The Northern Michigan University COVID-19 Dashboard has been selected as the 2021 NMU Team Innovation Award recipient. Chair Cindy Paavola of the Office of the President was joined by team members Michael Bath of the NMU Police Department; Anthony Bertucci, Christopher Danik and Genevieve Morgan of Business Intelligence & Information Services; and Christopher Kirkpatrick of the Health Center. 

Christopher Danik, director of software development/mobile apps at Northern Michigan University, is the 2021 NMU Individual Innovation Award recipient. 

Northern Michigan University senior Mckenna Green's professional selling marketing class project has evolved into a career-enhancing summer internship with a startup company. Green said that her internship at Mario's Backyard is helping her prepare for her post-graduation plans of launching a gym business of her own. 

Evelyn Massaro received a wonderful parting gift shortly before retiring July 1 as station manager at WNMU-FM at Northern Michigan University. She was selected as the 2021 Public Media Impact Professional Award recipient by the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters. The prestigious award recognizes an MAPB radio or television professional who provides “lengthy and exceptional service.”

Dorothy Paad dreamed of taking ballet lessons, and courageously defied naysayers who were convinced that was overly ambitious for a woman with cerebral palsy who relies on a wheelchair for mobility. Paad enrolled as a student at Northern Michigan University, where she found an “inclusive and welcoming” environment and participated in the performing arts trifecta of dance, theater and choir. Her positive experience at NMU inspired her to write a new children's book titled “Dance Your Dance, Sing Your Song.”