December 2025

Nearly 30% of Michigan's maple syrup production was wiped out by a March 2025 ice storm in the northern lower peninsula. Northern Michigan University alumnus Richard Anderson (‘78 MA), who co-founded Iron Fish Distillery, recently partnered with the Michigan Maple Syrup Association to use his business as a force for good by releasing a special edition Ice Storm Whiskey to help generate support for those impacted.

Northern Michigan University Assistant Professor Jelili Adebiyi from Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, along with two student researchers, recently shared their work with peers from across the region at the Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability Conference in Illinois. 

Benjamin Manogura, a May 2025 Northern Michigan University controlled environment agriculture (CEA) alumnus, has embarked on a new and unique position in his career. He is a research and development specialist and cultivator for Cai Foods in New Buffalo, Mich., which operates America's first indoor wasabi farm.

Northern Michigan University recently held a dedication ceremony for a new permanent display of flags in the Superior Dome representing each of the five Upper Peninsula tribal nations: the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; and the Keweenaw Bay, Hannahville and Bay Mills Indian Communities.

The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health has announced the winners of its annual essay competition for U.P. high school seniors to celebrate National Rural Health Day. This year's contest was sponsored by the Literacy Legacy Fund of Michigan and the Michigan Center for Rural Health. The top three prizes in each U.P. region—east, central and west—were $500, $250 and $100.

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees elected NMU alumnae Missie Holmquist of Marquette as chair and Brigitte LaPointe-Dunham of Baraga as vice chair, effective Jan. 1.

The book selection for Northern Michigan University's annual Common Reader Program (CRP) is Tourmaline's “Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson,” which was published this past May.

Two Northern Michigan University education majors recently wrapped up their fall semester student teaching placements in New Zealand, supported in part by the Joseph and Nancy Prinzi Educational Study Abroad Scholarship. Elementary education major Kari Betters and secondary English education major Taylor Priestley even connected with donor Joe Prinzi, who was visiting the country, when he treated them to dinner at a revolving restaurant in Auckland's Sky Tower. 

After learning about Northern Michigan University's nursing program from an NMU Admissions representative visiting his Illinois high school, Vince Rodkey said it was his follow-up campus visit and introduction to the surrounding natural environment that convinced him he belonged in Marquette.