NMC Foundation Matters Newsletter - Winter 2016

Jasper Manifold (NMC ’16) has spent hundreds of hours mastering the latest technologies in the Makers Space, or co-operative technology workshop, at Parsons-Stulen.

His skills earned him an invitation to the Governor’s Economic and Education Summit.

Your generous support keeps the latest technologies available to students like Jasper every year.

NMC Student Learns Latest Technology, Represents College

Your Support Keeps Cutting-Edge Resources At Students’ Fingertips

When Jasper Manifold (NMC ’16) was searching for the right college, he thought he’d have to choose a school that focused on just one of his two passions: aviation or robotics.

Thanks to you, Jasper didn’t have to choose. Your support makes NMC programs strong, and students like Jasper can build skills in multiple fields of study.

Jasper is pursuing an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) with an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Specialization and an AAS in Robotics and Automation. Jasper’s pursuit of higher education in aviation and robotics is the culmination of a lifetime of passion. On his 5th birthday, Jasper flew in a Cessna, and he’s been hooked on flying ever since. In high school, he helped start a radio control club, which sparked his interest in robotics.

At NMC, Jasper spends a lot of his time in the Makers Space, or co-operative technology workshop, at the Parsons-Stulen building. As a student worker, he keeps the space organized and stocked with the latest technologies. Jasper helps students with projects, assists instructors with class material preparation, and works on personal projects.

“As a student, I’ve been able to keep up on the digital revolution. I get to work with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, 3D printers, and so many other cuttingedge technologies on a daily basis. It’s incredible that as students we have access to these resources,” says Jasper.

Jasper’s formative hours in the Makers Space scored him an exclusive invitation to the Governor’s Economic and Education Summit last spring. He was one of 12 college students invited to the summit, which focused on the collaboration between higher education and businesses. Jasper networked with Michigan businesses and top-level decision makers at the daylong event, telling his NMC story to influential leaders like Governor Snyder and one of Google’s education experts.

Jasper credits NMC and its supporters with his invitation to the summit. “People supporting NMC is what keeps our College on the curve,” says Jasper. “I have to thank everyone who supports NMC. Without them, the NMC experience would not be as hands-on. It would not be the learning space that it is today.”

Issue: Winter 2016

MICHIGAN COLLEGE

nmc.edu/foundation

NORTHWESTERN

FOUNDATION MATTERS

Exciting Changes To The Dennos Coming Soon The Dennos Museum Center broke ground on a 14,993 square foot expansion in August!

Audio Technology students mix sounds on the Raven MTX console. NMC was the first educational institution to receive the virtual mixing board.

Mixing Music With Technology 17 regional artists created “Art Shovels” for the Dennos groundbreaking on August 15

Thanks to your support over the last 25 years, and to transformational gifts from Diana and Richard Milock and Barb and Dudley Smith III, the Dennos of the future will include two new permanent art collection galleries, a new sculpture gallery, a larger Inuit gallery, additional classroom space, backstage storage for musical equipment, and an improved loading dock.

Here’s to the next

Learning The Latest Audio Technology Is Affordable For Students, Thanks To You! The Audio Technology program at NMC is a vibrant hub of energy and creativity.

Walk into the Okerstrom Fine Arts Building, Milliken Auditorium, or the University Center on any given day and you’ll find Audio Tech students recording the musical performances of fellow classmates or bands from the region.

“The program offers a ton of resources and opportunities for students entering the industry,” says Audio Tech student T.J. Hall.

Thanks to you, one of those opportunities is the chance to work with new, cuttingedge recording equipment. “NMC is often the first institution to receive new highlevel technology,” says Director of Music Programs Jeff Cobb.

One of the newest tools used for experiential learning is the sound system in Milliken Auditorium, generously donated by Diana and Richard Milock. Students use Milliken as a laboratory for live sound engineering. Soon, their classroom and laboratory space will grow thanks to another gift made by the Milocks—the transformational donation that will help expand the Dennos Museum Center.

Not only do students graduate from NMC with knowledge of the newest tools; they also graduate as accomplished musicians. While in the program, students nurture musical talent while developing technical skills. “We have something very special here at NMC,” Jeff notes. “There are not many programs in the country with the same breadth and depth of learning.”

Peepeelee

Kuniliusee

Edward Weston

Gene Davis

Micheal Kenna Kathe Kollwitz

George

Grosz

Sally Rogers

Jean Larson

Lovis Corinth

Albrecht Dürer

Rembrandt van Rijn

Wynn Bullock Bill Schwab Diane Carr

To earn an Associate in Applied Science, Audio Tech students study in the areas of live sound, studio recording, and digital audio. Additionally, students can earn highly desirable certifications through Avid technologies, a top name in industry equipment, and Apple.

Clifton McChesney James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Pierre-Auguste

Renoir Mel Leiserowitz

Thanks to your support of education and the arts, NMC students are well-prepared for a multitude of exciting musical and technological careers.

New Law Enforcement Scholarship Honors Francis Pronger Siblings Celebrate Father’s Legacy, Family Ties To NMC The Pronger siblings have deep roots at NMC. “We live, eat and breathe NMC. Every person in our family appreciates what NMC has done for us,” says Derk Pronger (NMC ’88), now Chief Operations Officer at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Derk, the youngest of five, earned his Associate of Arts in Business Administration at NMC.

“Investing in education and NMC has been a source of great pride for our family.”-Scott Pronger

His siblings also attended NMC. Their late mother, Peggy Pronger, was nursing faculty; their late father Francis Pronger, former Michigan State Police Traverse City Post Commander, was an NMC adult student of the year and a guest lecturer.

Several years ago, the Pronger siblings, Tami, Cindy, Scott, Todd, and Derk, created the Peggy A. Pronger Nursing Scholarship. They have

Richard and Sally Lewis support NMC now through a Charitable Gift Annuity and for many years to come though a bequest.

Like you, Richard and Sally Lewis have a special place in their hearts for the College. Richard graduated from NMC. Sally worked at the College for 17 years teaching in the music department—everything from theory, sight singing, and music history to piano and organ.

This summer the Lewises created the Richard C. and Sally A. Lewis Scholarship Fund to support NMC music students who demonstrate academic and artistic achievements. They were able to fund this scholarship today with a Charitable Gift Annuity and will continue to provide for students for years to come through a bequest.

“We have to take the IRA distribution. Rather than put it in an investment account, we began several charitable gift annuities,” says Richard.

been touched by the impact. “Maybe 6 or 7 years ago, I was working for Beaumont Hospital downstate and [met someone] who had won our mom’s scholarship,” Derk says. “She told me how much she appreciated it, what it meant to her…You know you’re making a difference.”

Now, the siblings have initiated the Francis D. Pronger Scholarship, which supports law enforcement students.

“Investing in both [community and education] were core beliefs of our parents,” Cindy Pronger explains. “Our father’s time with the College was just one example of his desire to engage and be a part of something bigger than himself. It is just natural that the College be part of his legacy.”

So, what inspires the family to give back? Scott Pronger sums it up: “NMC is a great institution that provided a foundation for many of us. The nursing and criminal justice professions are essential service professions that benefit us all. Investing in education and NMC has been a source of great pride for our family.”

Strong NMC Ties Inspire Couple To Create Scholarship

Richard And Sally Lewis Make A Difference For Students With Charitable Gift Annuity Following her time at NMC, Sally received a B.M. from Michigan State University in 1971. Later, she graduated from the University of Michigan with an M.M. in keyboard performance. Richard had a successful career at Parsons Aircraft. Later, he ran a successful alarm company that was sold to EPS Security, and this success enables the Lewises to give back to their community.

Like you, Richard and Sally stay connected to NMC in many ways.

The couple gives annually to the music department and the Annual Fund. They have been members of the Dennos Museum Center every year since the museum opened in 1991. Now, with their planned gift, Richard and Sally have ensured their support for NMC will continue far into the future.

Make a Gift and Guarantee Income for Life Support what you love at NMC while increasing your

income. If you’re 65 or older, you can generate lifetime payments for yourself or a loved one and make NMC part of your legacy. For more information, call (231) 995-1021.

NMC provides many support services and resources to students. Thanks to an NMC Foundation Innovation Grant, all students will now have access to ReadSpeaker, a text-to-speech literacy tool.

Your Annual Fund Gifts Make Learning Accessible To All Students

Adjusting to the amount of reading required for college can be difficult for any student, but imagine the challenge you’d face if you had a learning difference like dyslexia, ADHD, or a vision challenge; or if English were your Second Language (ESL). Even the smallest reading assignment can be daunting for students with learning differences or language barriers.

Baumeler, used the award to purchase ReadSpeaker, a digital textto-speech literacy tool. The software converts any digital text to spoken word.

Thanks to your Annual Fund support, the NMC Foundation awarded an Innovation Grant to help remedy this challenge for students. NMC’s Disability Support Services Specialist, Leanne

Leanne’s mission is to foster a love of learning in NMC students, rather than a feeling of frustration due to a learning difference or language barrier.

Did you know that the Annual Fund supports Innovation Grants at NMC? Innovation Grants fund opportunities that emerge during the year and occur outside of normal NMC budget operations.

“I was so thrilled to be awarded the NMC Foundation Innovation Grant,” says Leanne. “With the grant I was able to purchase a campus-wide license for a wonderful, robust literacy support tool for all students. [Our campus-wide learning interface] now has a ‘listen’ button, so all digital material can be read aloud.”

She believes the tool will increase the reading comprehension of native English speakers, and will also help ESL students bridge the comprehension gap from conversational English to academic English. Leanne predicts the long-term effect of the tool will be increased student persistence and completion at NMC.

MONTHLY GIVING: An Easy Way You Can Support Community Education “My late husband Jim was a member of the outstanding faculty at NMC. It is vital that we support the College that offers many educational opportunities to our community.” –Catherine Valovick

Catherine Valovick, pictured with her grandson Nathan, makes a monthly recurring gift to the NMC Foundation.