Alumni

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees presented its annual Student Achievement Awards in advance of the May 1 commencement. Recipients were: Sarah Kendall of Faribault, Minn., Outstanding Graduating Senior; Elizabeth Mansfield of Boyne Falls, Mich., Outstanding Graduating Senior; Lauren Rotundo of Marquette, Outstanding Student of Any Class; Logan Hartz of Rochester, Ind., Outstanding Non-Traditional Student; and Andrea Fox of Euclid, Ohio, Outstanding Global Campus Student.

Northern Michigan University alumni are invited to participate in the fifth annual Return North Professional Careers Fair from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, May 20. The three Upper Peninsula-based SmartZones are collaborating on the virtual event, designed to connect jobseekers with local companies to network and explore career opportunities in the region.

Northern Michigan University criminal justice alumnus Jason Sides (BS) was appointed to the Michigan Correctional Officers' Training Council by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday. 

Jesse Porter, a 2020 Northern Michigan University entrepreneurship alumnus and current graduate student, earned the title United States Olympic Trials Champion for the 77kg weight class this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. The victory also gives him the No. 1 rank on USA Wrestling's National Team.

Marquette County Prosecutor and NMU alumnus Matthew Wiese (BS '84) has been appointed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's new Task Force on Forensic Science. The task force will submit a final report of recommendations on strengthening the use of forensic science in the criminal justice system to the governor and Col. Joseph Gasper, Michigan State Police Director and 1997 NMU alumnus.

Northern Michigan University alumna Margaret Vainio ('76 BA) recalls a life-changing trip to Finland with the NMU Arts Chorale when she was a student. As the group was preparing to leave, she asked the bus driver to drop her off at the train station because she felt inspired to stay there longer. A year later, she moved to Finland permanently and eventually was exposed to Asahi, a Finnish exercise program. Now she has started a second career as an Asahi instructor and will soon bring it to NMU.

Northern Michigan University's most decorated head coach, Sten Fjeldheim, has announced his retirement after 34 years as leader of the Wildcat Nordic ski team. The NMU alumnus also served stints as the head cross country running coach during his 35 years at the university. 

Tarra Nieman, a 2020 NMU outdoor recreation leadership and management graduate, is the 2021 Community Volunteer Ambassador at Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Colorado. CVAs spend a year in national park units across the country building relationships with communities and increasing the number of volunteers who serve at the parks.

Northern Michigan University Alumni Relations is hosting virtual alumni socials for graduates to join college deans as they share new initiatives and other updates from the departments within their colleges. Following each update, alumni are invited to turn on their cameras and microphones to ask questions and connect with fellow Wildcats from their respective colleges.

Northern Michigan University alumna Rebecca Pelky ('98 BS, '15 MFA) has won the 2021 Perugia Press Prize for her story-in-poems called “Through a Red Place.” She weaves into the collection her research into her Native and non-Native heritage in Wisconsin using archival documents and images of her ancestors.