January 2026

Former Northern Michigan University student and Wildcat football player Nick Baumgartner has qualified to compete in his fifth straight Olympics at age 44 as part of the USA snowboard cross (SBX) team. The Iron River native won a gold medal in 2022 with Lindsey Jacobellis in the debut of the mixed-team SBX event, becoming the oldest snowboarder to win an Olympic medal and the oldest U.S. gold medalist since the Winter Games in 1948.

Northern Michigan University will participate in the 2026 Education Preparation Provider Collaborative, a new two-year statewide initiative designed to improve teacher preparation recruitment, retention and quality, and to form a strong foundation to help teacher preparation programs be responsive to the evolving needs of today's students. NMU is one of only five Michigan universities selected as educator preparation programs for the collaborative.

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance made a strong showing at the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF) Region 3 Festival in Madison earlier this month. Senior Liam Fisher was the region winner in the Music Theatre Intensive vocal category, and freshman Neel Archis Manish was region runner-up for the Irene Ryan acting award. NMU's production of CTRL+ALT+DELETE, directed by Jimmy Ludwig, also won the BOLD Audience Choice Award after two sold-out performances at the festival.

Northern Michigan University Theatre and Dance will host a staged reading of "Tragedy Sound," a play written by NMU alumna Karen Saari, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, in Jamrich 1100. The reading is free and open to the public. The production follows three U.P. women who are lifelong friends as they find themselves stranded on Lake Superior after accepting a dare to embark on a canoeing trip.

Northern Michigan University students helped to create environmental education programs for the Historic Thunder Bay Inn in Big Bay. NMU's Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management program's partnership with the inn will result in an Environmental Education Center (EEC) on the hotel property and related educational programs and activities. This aligns with owners Mark and Sue Bevins' goals to expand access to outdoor recreation and educate people about the local culture and history.

Former Wildcat hockey player Dominik Shine has been selected to play in the AHL All-Star game Feb. 10-11 at the BMO Center in Rockford, Illinois. The forward played for NMU from 2013-2017. He is in his 10th season as a Grand Rapids Griffin and, in December, became only the third player in team history to reach 500 games. 

The application window is now open for Northern Michigan University donor-funded student scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year. All NMU students are eligible to apply for the scholarships through Feb. 16. 

Michigan's public universities generate nearly $45 billion in net new economic activity each year, supporting more than 129,000 jobs and contributing more than $7 billion in state tax revenue, according to a new independent economic impact study released by the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU).

Northern Michigan University has officially taken its first step toward becoming a certified Plastics Reduction Partner through the National Wildlife Federation, by submitting a commitment letter that outlines its dedication to reducing single-use plastics across campus. This initiative marks a significant milestone in NMU's broader sustainability goals and reflects its leadership in environmental stewardship within Michigan's Upper Peninsula.