Around NMU

Jakob Lippert of Green Bay, Wis., was awarded one of two Outstanding Graduating Senior awards from the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. He also won the Library and Archives Research Award for a paper on the Associated Press and Nazi Germany. Lippert will graduate with full honors April 30, earning a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in German studies.

Valeta Gage of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was awarded one of two Outstanding Graduating Senior awards from the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. She also earned the Outstanding Academic and Clinical Excellence award in the Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences Department. Gage will graduate summa cum laude April 30 with a major in speech, language and hearing sciences and a minor in business administration.

Veronica Line of South Range, Wis. received the Outstanding Student of Any Class award from the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. She began her NMU journey in fall 2017 as a Harden Scholar, earning a “full ride” that covered tuition, fees, and room and board. She will graduate April 30 with full honors, earning a bachelor's degree in biology with a concentration in physiology and minor in Spanish.

Claudia Chavez-Rhoades of Marquette was selected as the Outstanding Global Campus Student award recipient by the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. She will graduate magna cum laude April 30 from the applied workplace leadership program, offered completely online and designed for nontraditional students and returning adult learners who have either completed associate degrees in any field or earned previous college credit.

Matthew Goss was selected as the Outstanding Nontraditional Student by the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees. He will graduate April 30 with a bachelor's degree in construction management, after previously earning an associate degree in building technology.  

WNMU-FM producer and host Kurt Hauswirth recently won two Broadcast Excellence Awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. “The Local Shuffle,” a special edition of “The Shuffle” new alternative music program that premiered on the station just last year, was recognized as best musical programming. An interview he conducted with poet Moheb Soliman about his “HOMES” release and reading in Marquette earned a merit award for special interest and cultural programming.

Four student finalists recently presented their entrepreneurial ideas at the NMU College of Business' Big Pitch event, the culminating activity in the annual new business venture competition. Donald McKaba earned $3,000 for winning the Big Pitch with Wasteless, his plan for an “innovative shopping experience” that aims to reduce one-use containers that end up in landfills. Grace DeNoya won $5,000 for best business plan for You'd Never Know, a 100% gluten-free bakery, and $1,500 each for best trade fair display and crowd favorite.

Of the 1,120 students eligible to participate in Northern Michigan University's commencement on Saturday, April 30 (1,011 for the current semester and 109 for summer), more than 850 plan to march in the ceremony.  

Northern Michigan University honored several individuals and teams during its 2022 Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration. The individual and team award winners are featured in more detailed individual stories with photos at the highlighted links below.