Around NMU

WNMU-TV 13 at Northern Michigan University has been awarded a $576,532 grant from the Public Media Bridge Fund to stabilize operations for the coming year, as the station transitions toward a more sustainable operating model.

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.

When Northern Michigan University senior success adviser and instructor Ryan Bond was notified that he was the students' choice for commencement speaker for the Dec. 13 ceremony, he said he had to re-read the email several times for its contents to sink in.

Mike Letts, Northern Michigan University associate professor of art education, was selected "Higher Education Art Educator of the Year" by the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA). He received the award at the MAEA annual conference in November in Traverse City, where he also presented a workshop titled “Teaching Critical Thinking with Art.”

Northern Michigan University's School of Art and Design is hosting its Fall 2025 Senior Exhibition at the DeVos Art Museum. A closing reception is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, with an awards announcement at 8 p.m. 

Northern Michigan University is featured in the Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges: 2026 Edition. NMU earned a GreenScore of 91 points out of 99, securing a spot on the list of 388 unmarked colleges that meet the standards for practicing and promoting environmental responsibility. This is NMU's second appearance in the guide.

Northern Michigan University is one of a select group of only 30 undergraduate institutions nationwide that The Princeton Review has named to its Mental Health Services Honor Roll for 2026. On a related note, NMU is also featured in The Princeton Review's “Guide to Green Colleges: 2026 edition,” for practicing and promoting environmental responsibility. 

The NMU Food Pantry is on track to record its highest usage ever, topping the 2,000+ visits last year. Thanks to a collaboration with the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) program, there are now greens and herbs to expand the pantry's offerings in Gries Hall and at its satellite location in the Jacobetti Complex. Two CEA students are engaged in a service-learning initiative to grow the fresh, nutritious produce for their peers in hydroponic units funded through part of a $125,000 Swipe Out Hunger grant.

Northern Michigan University students had an opportunity to design and prepare original dishes that they recently presented to their professor and a team of alumni representing the Delft Bistro in downtown Marquette. The restaurant is running select creations as a special feature menu Dec. 1-28, and students whose dishes were chosen will receive a complimentary dinner at the Delft for themselves and a guest to celebrate their achievement alongside classmates.