The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees will recognize five recipients of its annual Student Achievement Awards for their contributions to the quality of life at NMU. Read brief summaries of the recipients below, with links to their extended feature stories.
NMU senior Olivia Dunn has defied her self-described anxious and introverted nature by actively seeking out leadership opportunities and new experiences, including a year of study in Germany. From the moment the West Bloomfield native stepped foot on campus as a freshman, Dunn adopted an “embrace uncertainty” mantra to guide her decision-making. It has obviously worked well. She will receive an Outstanding Graduating Senior award from the NMU Board of Trustees. Read her full story here.
Bailey Gomes of Swartz Creek, Mich., is the second Outstanding Graduating Senior Award recipient. She graduates May 6 with a bachelor's degree in forensic biochemistry and a minor in human biology. Gomes has been a member of NMU's Honors Program and served as editor-in-chief of the honor student journal, Conspectus Borealis. Read her full story here.
Amanda “Mandy” Bonesteel first enrolled at Northern following her 1999 high school graduation, but paused her education to marry, raise a family and hold various jobs. Two decades later, while working as a wildland firefighter, she decided to return to campus to complete a degree. Her persistence paid off. Bonesteel earned a bachelor's in sociology in December and will receive the Outstanding Nontraditional Student award from the NMU Board of Trustees before May commencement. She is now a graduate student in Northern's MPA program. Read her full story here.
Catherine Peterson of Bloomington, Ind., will be recognized by the NMU Board of Trustees as the Outstanding Global Campus Student. She is completing an online master's degree in educational administration/supervision. NMU's Global Campus allowed Peterson to continue teaching earth science and biology at a high school while taking classes and working toward the degree she will receive on May 6. Read her full story here.
Kayla Stevens of Howard City, Mich., has been selected as the Outstanding Student of Any Class Standing for her significant contributions to the NMU community. The senior will graduate with a degree in elementary education and integrated sciences. She chose NMU because she said it felt like a second home. Stevens enrolled with several science credits and first intended to focus on the medical field. But she developed a love for teaching and decided on an education career instead. Read her full story here.
The recipients will be honored by the board at a luncheon on May 5.