February 2024

In conjunction with Women's History Month, the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will open its “Extraordinary Women of the U.P.” exhibition at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in its Gries Hall gallery. Admission is free. The exhibition will remain on display through Saturday, July 27, and begin touring the Upper Peninsula in fall 2024.

Northern Michigan University student finalists participated in The Big Pitch, the culminating event in the College of Business' New Business Venture Competition, on Feb. 23. They presented their ideas before a panel of judges for a share of thousands of dollars in funding. The winners were announced at the close of Innovation Week, hosted by Innovate Marquette SmartZone and SISU: The Innovation Institute at NMU.

James A. Strain, professor of percussion at Northern Michigan University, will present a faculty recital featuring the music of Clair Omar Musser at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Musser, considered the founder of the modern concert marimba, was instrumental in the development, design, promotion and early pedagogy for the instrument.

NMU alumna Amanda Giracca, who earned a master's degree in English, has expanded her role with Literacy Network (LitNet). She joined the LitNet team in 2020 and most recently served as the organization's Grants and Communications Coordinator. She joins the staff full-time with the additional role of New Programs Coordinator.

Distinguished pianist Jeonwong Ham will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, in Reynolds Recital Hall as part of Northern Michigan University's Siril Concert Series. In addition to her concert performance, Ham will offer a free piano technique workshop for piano teachers and practitioners, and two free piano masterclasses for NMU students and community members.

Hyeonji Noh, an international student from Seoul, South Korea, came to Northern Michigan University to study English and multimedia production, with the eventual goal of returning to her home country to teach English as a foreign language. Jumpstarting her career with online content, Noh uses her social media presence to create a community of English as a Second Language learners whose native tongue is Korean. She has amassed more than 30,000 Instagram followers with her videos and educational language content.

The College for Kids Jr. program at Northern Michigan University's Seaborg Center provides hands-on, minds-on experiences for children in grades K-6 within science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The next classes will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23, and/or Saturday, April 20.

The Scottish folk-rock group Skerryvore will return to Northern Michigan University for another high-energy performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in Forest Roberts Theatre. The concert is part of the annual Winter Roots Festival co-sponsored by the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center, Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival and Ore Dock Brewing Company.

Due to the inclement weather, the Northern Michigan University Orchestra Children's Concert scheduled for this evening has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in Reynolds Recital Hall.

Northern Michigan University undergraduate student Vanessa Steigauf, originally from Singen, Germany, co-authored an article in "Nature," a weekly international journal publishing the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology. She is a neuroscience-cell and molecular biology student.