GIVE Northern Michigan 2017

give NORTHERN MICHIGAN

INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Creating Amazing … Support As a private arts high school tucked away in a tiny Northern Michigan town, Interlochen Center for the Arts sometimes gets pegged as an enclave community. But Vice President of Advancement Tim Dougherty says what often goes unnoticed is how hard the academy works to make inclusivity more than just a buzzword. In fact, nearly a third of Interlochen’s $40-million annual budget goes directly to financial aid. “Our typical student isn’t a kid who’s attended private school their whole life,” Dougherty says. “It’s a kid who’s an exceptional musician, but maybe lives in a town where they can only take that so far.” At Interlochen, 70 percent of students receive financial aid, and 30 percent pay full tuition. At most private

schools that ratio is reversed. In the coming years, Dougherty says Interlochen plans to keep up that tradition—and invest heavily in another key part of the center’s legacy: spaces for teaching and performing. On that front, the flagship project is a new $24-million building that will realize a 20-year goal of putting all the music operations in one centralized location. Students and faculty no doubt can’t wait for the building’s two new rehearsal spaces—which have adjustable acoustic architecture capable of adapting to the needs of choirs, chamber orchestras, or the next emerging voice from Interlochen’s singer-songwriter program. —L.B..

INLAND SEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

TOP: COURTESY OF INTERLOCHEN ARTS ACADEMY; BOTTOM: COURTESY OFINLAND SEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

Bigger Fleet and Dreams For years, Inland Seas’ “School Ship”—a three-masted schooner that doubles as a Great Lakes research classroom—has been one of the iconic summer sights on Grand Traverse Bay. So you can imagine the excitement when the organization doubled its fleet this past year. The new ship, Utopia, was a gift from the son of renowned Great Lakes ship builder Fred Peterson, who reportedly sailed it around the world at least a couple of times to prove its quality. Right now, the schooner is anchored in Traverse City, where it’s serving as Inland Seas’ STEM-focused classroom. “We’re doing really unique remotely operated vehicle programs from the boat,” says Fred Sitkins, executive director. “The students design and build their own ROV and test it out on our underwater challenge course to replicate the way these vehicles are used in industry and to give students a look at jobs in that field.” Coming goals, Sitkins says, include using Utopia to add even more technology-focused curriculum and renovating ISEA home campus in Suttons Bay. Mostly notably, new dorm facilities will allow the group to expand the breadth and depth of their research-focused education programs. “We draw students

from all over the Great Lakes region, but the limitation was always the distance and lack of affordable accommodations in our area,” Sitkins says. With the new facilities, ISEA can triple the capacity of overnight programs—and multiply Inland Seas’ impact on the health of our Great Lakes. —L.B.