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Northern Michigan University held its third NMU Day of Giving on Dec. 3. The event raised more than $850,000, nearly double the total from last year. More than half of the gifts went to support scholarships, about $100,000 directly to departments and the remainder to designated programs and greatest need.

The NMU Board of Trustees today unanimously approved investing $5 million in a series of initiatives designed to deliver innovative academic programs and essential new services to the Upper Peninsula.

Allison Opheim will graduate from Northern Michigan University on Saturday with the assurance of a new job as a communications and public affairs contractor with the U.S. Geological Survey in Fort Collins, Colo. She said working for a federal agency fresh out of college might have seemed a daunting prospect at one time, but she now considers herself fully prepared, thanks to the confidence and competencies she gained at NMU.

A new transfer partnership between Northern Michigan University and Oakton Community College in Illinois will create a "first-of-its-kind educational pathway" for Oakton students seeking to pursue a bachelor's degree tailored to the emerging cannabis industry. Representatives from both institutions formalized the agreement at a Dec. 11 ceremony at Oakton's Des Plaines campus.

Eight Northern Michigan University faculty members were honored at the recent Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship celebration.

NMU alumnus Brian Swift's parents were killed in 2013 when a logging truck—driven by a man with THC in his system—ran a red light and careened into their car. The Escanaba native channeled his grief into a personal crusade to keep drugged drivers off Michigan roads and spare other families from enduring similar, avoidable tragedies. 

Northern Michigan University's recent production of “What We Leave Behind: Addressing Climate Change Through Dance” has been selected to perform Jan. 9 at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Region 3 event in Madison, Wis.

NMU students in a previous advanced field production course produced a documentary on the Hungarian band Söndörgő. The program will air on WNMU-TV at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. It features concert footage from the group's performance in Marquette last April, interspersed with band member interviews.

Northern Michigan University professor James McCommons recently published a definitive biography of George Shiras III (1859-1942), the groundbreaking wildlife photographer who honed his techniques in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. But that work often overshadows perhaps Shiras' most notable achievement: establishing the legal foundation for what became the Migratory Bird Treaty Act while serving in Congress. 

Northern Michigan University graduating students have selected Health and Human Performance professor Scott Jordan to serve as the faculty speaker at December commencement. 

Connor Loftus of Plainwell, Mich., has been selected as the student commencement speaker for the Dec. 14 graduation ceremony at Northern Michigan University. 

NMU alumnus Scott Crady ('19 BA) is taking his degree to new heights ... literally. He spends his days in the mountains of Colorado providing photo and video services for Red Bull and Adidas. Crady captures sponsored professional climbers such as Sasha DiGiulian (Red Bull) and Molly Mitchell (Adidas) while they're in their element. 

"The New York Times" recently featured a piece written by Northern Michigan University English professor Rachel May titled "Love is Not a Tally Sheet." May reflected on adopting a son born prematurely, against her parents' strong objections, and what single parenting taught her about accepting help. May is the author of "An American Quilt" and is working on a memoir. 

NMU alumnus Greg Quayle of Champion was featured on the 'Today' show during a segment titled "Power of Gratitude: The Positive Effects of Giving Thanks." His daughter, Lindy, and wife, Linda, were both diagnosed with rare forms of cancer within five years of each other. During the televised segment, the women read letters to Quayle expressing gratitude for his love and support during their difficult times. See the introduction and full segment here.

Apple pie is a popular dessert served at many holiday celebrations. The regional cultivation history of the fruit, from native crab apples to modern hobby orchards, is the subject of a book co-authored by NMU professor of history emeritus Russ Magnaghi and alumnus David Smith (‘18 BS). Apple Culture in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Wisconsin Border is described as the first study dealing with an aspect of agriculture in an area better known for mining and timber.

Northern Michigan University alumna Jessica Betz took advantage of a collaborative program that allows students a seamless pathway from NMU's education specialist (EdS) degree to Central Michigan University's doctor of education (EdD). She recently became the first individual to complete the latter, as she successfully defended her dissertation titled “A Phenomenological Study of Remote, Rural Teacher Induction.”

Fueled by the rapid growth of its first-in-the-nation medicinal plant chemistry program, Northern Michigan University recently held a dedication for its new Shimadzu Analytical Core Laboratory for Medicinal Plant Sciences. Undergraduate students in the rigorous chemistry program have rare access to cutting-edge instrumentation and technology applicable to numerous career options in and beyond the burgeoning cannabis industry. 

Northern Michigan University theater and dance students will celebrate their accomplishments and showcase their talents through their senior capstone performances on Monday, Dec. 2.

Northern Michigan University's School of Music, Theatre and Dance will present a holiday cabaret of musical and dance performances from a variety of bonafide holiday classics on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the Northern Center.