October 2021

Northern Michigan University honored Indigenous Peoples' Day Oct. 11 with an unveiling ceremony for a new sign on the academic mall acknowledging that the campus is located on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy. The event included songs by the Morning Thunder Drum, speakers and a group procession to the Center for Native American Studies' fire site near Whitman Hall.

Former NMU student Lor Sabourin is the subject of Patagonia's latest film series, "They/Them." The film premiered Oct. 6 and follows Sabourin's season-long effort to conquer “Cousin of Death” in Sedona, Ariz. Between footage of working on and redpointing the route, the Detroit native talks about life as a member of the trans climbing community, their outreach work with queer teens, and their ongoing recovery from an eating and exercise disorder.

Northern Michigan University alumni and twin brothers Bill and Pat Digneit received a 2021 Catalyst Award from the Community Foundation of Marquette County as co-owners of the local business, Double Trouble Entertainment. Four Catalyst Awards were presented to individuals, organizations and businesses for helping to "build community through volunteerism or philanthropy and inspiring others to do the same."

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will host a free opening reception for its new installation, “The Seventh Fire: A Decolonizing Experience,” at noon Saturday, Oct. 9, in its gallery in Gries Hall. The multimedia exhibit experience is funded in part by a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It will be on display through April 9. 

Northern Michigan University's 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Mary Jo Mulligan-Kehoe, demonstrated both patience and adaptability on her journey to a highly successful career in biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and in vascular biology at Dartmouth Medical School. She retired with four patents to her name, but remains active in service to her profession, and in creating visually engaging online science presentations for students in grades 6-12. 

“All I really needed to know about teaching kindergarten I learned at Northern.” Northern Michigan University Alumni Achievement Award recipient Susan (Hlavaty) Meier uses that twist on the title of Robert Fulgham's best-selling book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, to summarize how NMU prepared her for a 32-year career in the classroom. The 1987 graduate retired last year from South Elementary School in Ithaca, Michigan. 

Northern Michigan University 2021 Alumni Service Award recipient Lina Blair is dedicated to advocating for students and removing barriers to their academic success. She has implemented services related to mental health, COVID-19 relief, housing and food insecurity as director of Student Life and Conduct at Grand Rapids Community College. 

T.J. Weber, Northern Michigan University's 2021 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient, is known in the fields of marketing and public policy for his research on the role political values and online misinformation have on decision-making related to vaccines, global warming and consumption. The 2011 marketing graduate was recently named the Richard & Julie Hood Endowed Professor of Marketing in the Orfalea College of Business at Cal Poly University. He is among the youngest chaired professors in the United States. 

Upper Peninsula high school seniors who plan to enroll at a college or university in fall 2022 and pursue a health care field are invited to participate in an essay contest celebrating National Rural Health Day. Cash prizes to be awarded in the eastern, central and western U.P. regions are $500 for first place, $250 for second and $100 for third. The entry deadline is Friday, Oct. 15. 

Northern Michigan University Assistant Professor Stacy Boyer-Davis is the recipient of the 2021 Accountant Teaching and Excellence Award from the Michigan Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA). The award recognizes educators in the profession for the crucial role they play in shaping and growing the CPA pipeline and the future of the industry.