Northwestern Michigan College

The memories are made, the tassels are turned, and the photos are here! 🎓 Browse the photo gallery to see highlights from the 2026 Commencement ceremonies. Visit the link in our bio or head to nmc.edu/commencement. #graduation #commencement2026 #classof2026 #collegememories

“Years ago, a respected captain pulled me aside and said something I’ll never forget. ‘You are rare in that many officers are not willing to admit mistakes.’ Admitting mistakes is not a weakness. It is professionalism. It is accountability. And very often—it is leadership. You will also discover something else in your careers. When you step forward, when you make decisions, when you try to improve something—people will sometimes find fault in you. That’s part of leadership. It’s easy to criticize from the sidelines. It’s harder to take the controls, stand the watch or care for the patient. So listen to criticism that helps you improve but don’t let fear of criticism stop you from doing work that matters. Graduates, today you leave this campus with knowledge but more importantly, you leave with the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself. And wherever your careers take you—whether you are landing an aircraft in challenging winds, standing watch in heavy traffic in the foggy sea conditions or caring for a patient who needs calm in a difficult moment—people will depend on your judgment. People will trust your decisions. The world will not ask you to be perfect. It will ask you to be steady.” – Scott Powell, Great Lakes Maritime Academy Instructor and alum during his address to the 2026 graduating class at Commencement #leadership #maritimeleadership #nmc_tc #careerready

A big congratulations to our Great Lakes Culinary Institute — their smoked salmon chowder was voted attendees’ favorite at this year’s Empty Bowls event rub by the Northwest Food Coalition. 🥣👏 We’re proud to support an event that brings the community together to raise awareness around food insecurity in northwest Michigan while celebrating local food, farms and culinary talent.

MiCareerQuest Northwest 2026 took place last week at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center in Traverse City, giving middle and high school students a hands-on look at high-demand careers across Northwest Michigan. NMC staff were on hand with interactive displays and demonstrations, helping students explore future pathways through real-world experiences. Check out a few scenes from the event!

From Grand Valley State University - Traverse City: "GVSU's Northern Region held our first ER skills days for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at our regional center in NMC's Beckett building! 🩺 Thanks to investments in both faculty and facilities over the last few years, students no longer need to travel to Grand Rapids for this skills event. Abby Bobbitt PA-C, who works at Munson Healthcare Great Lakes Plastic Surgery and Skin Center was able to help our 2nd year PA students master the skill of suturing. She even caught the inquisitive eye of NMC President Nissley!"

Students from Beaver Island joined us for a tour Friday, May 8. After touring the Parsons-Stulen building, Great Lakes Campus and Front Street Campus they headed to Yuba to fly drones with our Uncrewed Aerial Systems team. NMC UAS Training Center Beaver Island Community School

We’re proud to share that our Neurodiversity Support Center is one of three 2026 winners of the city of Traverse City’s Sara Hardy Humanitarian Award! In addition, the two individual winners are both alumni. Marcelo Betti, legal director of Immigration Law & Justice Michigan, graduated in 2005. Abagail McKiernan, founder and president of HelpLink, formerly Spark in the Dark, a tech-enabled nonprofit, graduated in 2012. It’s an NMC sweep, of sorts, and more evidence that NMC alumni are leaders in our community. Marcelo, Abagail and the NSC, founded by the late Nancy Gray, an NMC faculty member, will receive their awards Monday, May 18, at a special city celebration.

Grab your friends and hit the course for a great cause! NMC’s Scholarship Open returns to Grand Traverse Resort and Spa on Thursday, August 6! Since 1982, this iconic northern Michigan golf outing has raised more than $2 million to help students access scholarships. Whether you’re golfing, networking, or supporting student success, every swing makes a difference. Register today at nmc.edu/golf #scholarshipopen #nmc_tc #charitygolf #supportstudents #communityimpact

“Commencement signifies the end of one chapter, and graduates—the beginning of many new ones. We know that transitions, while significant and exciting, sometimes feel a little daunting too. But graduates—look at the foundation you’ve built. You aren’t just leaving with a degree, you’re leaving strengthened by the values and mission that NMC has cultivated for over 75 years. You have persevered, you’ve reached your goals and you have earned your place amongst our alumni. An NMC education is designed to make a transformative impact and as we celebrate our anniversary, our proudest achievement is to see that transformation reflected in each of you.” –President Nick Nissley addressing the class of 2026

From a teenage start-up to an award-winning regional leader! 📈✨ Andrew Kohlmann (Class of 2004) is the CEO of Image360 Traverse City, where he has grown a small team into a powerhouse of nearly 20 employees. He credits NMC for instilling in him the value of lifelong learning—a foundation that allowed him to adapt, scale his business, and build a culture rooted in ethics. Inspired by his grandfather’s drive to always do "what is best and right," Andrew has made community impact a priority. From earning business accolades to launching a graphics recycling program, his leadership is about more than just the bottom line. 🌍🤝 Looking ahead, he is stewarding his company toward employee ownership while dedicating more time to his family and giving back to the community that supported him. We are so proud of his vision and his heart for service! Click the link in the bio to read Andrew's full success story.🔗 #NMCProud #NMCAlumni #NMCPride #NMC75 #OutstandingAlumni

Nurses consistently rank as the most trusted professional in the U.S. At NMC, we get that. In 1960, NMC took over leadership of a regional nursing program from TCAPS. The program is now the largest north of Grand Rapids. @tcapsnews @tcchs_trojans #nursingprogram #nmc75 #nursingcareer #healthcare

Curious about a future in Audio Technology? 🎧 Stop by Founders Hall at the Front Street Campus anytime during 6-8 p.m. on Friday, May 15 to see where creativity meets cutting-edge sound. Explore our studios, talk with instructors and get a feel for what you’ll learn in NMC’s Audio Technology program. #audiotech #audiotechnology #techeducation #nmc_tc #traversecity