Alumni

Northern Michigan University alumni and twin brothers Bill and Pat Digneit received a 2021 Catalyst Award from the Community Foundation of Marquette County as co-owners of the local business, Double Trouble Entertainment. Four Catalyst Awards were presented to individuals, organizations and businesses for helping to "build community through volunteerism or philanthropy and inspiring others to do the same."

“All I really needed to know about teaching kindergarten I learned at Northern.” Northern Michigan University Alumni Achievement Award recipient Susan (Hlavaty) Meier uses that twist on the title of Robert Fulgham's best-selling book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, to summarize how NMU prepared her for a 32-year career in the classroom. The 1987 graduate retired last year from South Elementary School in Ithaca, Michigan. 

Northern Michigan University 2021 Alumni Service Award recipient Lina Blair is dedicated to advocating for students and removing barriers to their academic success. She has implemented services related to mental health, COVID-19 relief, housing and food insecurity as director of Student Life and Conduct at Grand Rapids Community College. 

T.J. Weber, Northern Michigan University's 2021 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient, is known in the fields of marketing and public policy for his research on the role political values and online misinformation have on decision-making related to vaccines, global warming and consumption. The 2011 marketing graduate was recently named the Richard & Julie Hood Endowed Professor of Marketing in the Orfalea College of Business at Cal Poly University. He is among the youngest chaired professors in the United States. 

Northern Michigan University alumnus Kyle Bladow ('07 BA, '09 MA) will present "Environmental Justice in Louise Erdrich's Speculative Fiction" as the inaugural speaker for the Department of English's new Visiting Scholar Series. His talk is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in room Peninsula I of the Northern Center. It is open to the public.

Northern Michigan University's 2021 Homecoming will feature a full slate of activities for alumni, faculty, staff, students and community members Oct. 1-3. NMU is offering a schedule of ways for Wildcats—both near and far—to get involved and share their green and gold pride. This year's celebration is sponsored by Innovate Marquette SmartZone's Make it Marquette campaign. 

Five Northern Michigan University alumni, faculty and staff were among 11 recipients of the 24th annual City of Marquette Art Awards, presented Sunday, Sept. 12. The red-carpet affair honored outstanding individuals who have made an impact on arts and culture in Marquette. 

Lt. Col. Kip Taylor, a 1985 NMU alumnus with Marquette ties, was killed on 9/11 when a plane flew into the Pentagon. The 38-year-old aide to the Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel was among 125 who died inside the building. A plaque memorializing Taylor was dedicated and positioned on Veteran's Rock on NMU's campus in 2009. He had entered the university on basketball and ROTC scholarships, and was commissioned into the Adjutant General Corps by his father, who ran the military science program.

NMU alumnus Josh Scutt ('94 BS) has been promoted to senior vice president of sales with Paylocity Holding Corp., a leading provider of cloud-based HR and payroll software solutions. He was previously featured as a "Top 100 Global Sales Leader of 2020" by The Modern Sale.

Evelyn Massaro received a wonderful parting gift shortly before retiring July 1 as station manager at WNMU-FM at Northern Michigan University. She was selected as the 2021 Public Media Impact Professional Award recipient by the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters. The prestigious award recognizes an MAPB radio or television professional who provides “lengthy and exceptional service.”