NMC Foundation Matters Newsletter - Spring 2018

Thanks to your scholarship support,

Hunter Lumsden (NMC ’18) is using his Presidential Scholarship to study how to help others overcome mental illness and substance abuse.

Presidential Scholar Vows to Help Others

Thanks to You, Hunter Prepares to Tackle Mental Health, Substance Use Challenges

Hunter Lumsden (NMC ’18) never thought he’d spend time in a psychiatric hospital. He graduated at the top of his class at Traverse City West High School and was a star on the soccer team. Hunter’s accomplishments earned him a Presidential Scholarship from NMC—a full-ride based on academic merit made possible by your generous support.

The scholarship was a relief for Hunter and his family. His parents own Cicero’s Pizza in Interlochen. The family business was thriving, but as small business owners Hunter’s parents could only help so much with tuition.

Hunter started his first semester at NMC taking business classes. Just like in high school, he earned good grades. No one suspected that Hunter was experimenting with drugs.

For Hunter, it was a way to cope. He had strong family relationships and a bright future ahead, but he felt desperately hopeless. Underneath the good grades and amiable personality, he was struggling to deal with the extreme highs and lows he was feeling.

But, rather than helping him cope, the drugs exacerbated his symptoms of mental illness. Hunter hit the most extreme low of his life. His family rushed him to Inpatient Mental Health Services at Munson.

Everything was on hold for Hunter, including college. As his family split their time between Cicero’s and Munson they wondered—would Hunter recover?

Thanks to social workers at Munson, he did. They diagnosed Hunter with bipolar disorder. Social workers helped him reconnect to his healthy self and find productive ways of coping.

When Hunter was ready to return to NMC, he was welcomed back with open arms. He picked up right where he left off—as a Presidential Scholar earning good grades. But, one thing was different: Hunter began focusing his studies on social work so he can help others experiencing mental illness and substance abuse.

Hunter is grateful for the social workers who helped him recover.

And, he’s thankful for your support of NMC, which has given him the opportunity to pursue a meaningful career.

Issue: Spring 2018

MICHIGAN COLLEGE

nmc.edu/foundation

NORTHWESTERN

FOUNDATION MATTERS

Support NMC Scholarships at the 38th Annual Scholarship Open!

Join us on August 2, 2018 for Northern Michigan’s premier golf tournament.

Enjoy a round of golf on one of the Grand Traverse Resort’s award-winning courses.

Proceeds support merit-based scholarships like the one Hunter Lumsden received (cover story) including Honors, Academic Area, Presidential, and Founder’s Scholarships.

International Affairs Forum Celebrates 25 Years Your Support Brings Global Topics to Traverse City Thanks to your generous support, the International Affairs Forum brings discussions of critical matters of the world to Traverse City. IAF’s popularity continues to rise as it enters its 25th year.

For nearly 25 years, you’ve made it possible for great minds to gather, learn, and discuss the critical matters of the world. Since 1994, the International Affairs Forum’s (IAF) events and conferences have been a community hub for topics of global significance.

This Winter/Spring season, IAF is hosting speakers on topics including Iran, U.S./ China trade, Rohingya refugees, and the U.S./Mexico border. Thanks to you, IAF can bring foreign policy experts to Traverse City to discuss these important and pressing matters. In an increasingly globalized world, the programming is relevant to everyone—students and educators, businesses leaders, and community members.

Events are free to current students and educators, and many NMC faculty members offer extra credit for attendance at IAF lectures. Thanks to your generosity, any profits from IAF programming support Global Opportunities Scholarships for NMC students participating in short-term study abroad experiences.

CALL (231) 995-1021 or VISIT NMC.EDU/GOLF

Karen Franseen, who supports IAF as a Patron Member, recalls a time when this region felt somewhat distanced from international affairs. She and husband Col. Leonard Franseen support IAF because they want access to well-informed, knowledgeable speakers that can help them understand what is really going on in the world.

Now they have that right here in Traverse City. Karen says, “We give to IAF because it is a valuable resource to our community.”

REGISTER TODAY!

Since 2012, retired diplomats Karen Puschel and Jack Segal have co-chaired the program and brought added esteem to IAF. They secure key speakers who open our Traverse City window onto the world.

Are you wondering how you can support or get involved with IAF in its 25th year?

Please contact the NMC Foundation for more information.

Dr. David MacIntosh (NMC ’65) established the James L. Spenceley Endowed Scholarship in honor of the math instructor who deeply influenced him. In this photograph, James (Jim) Spenceley poses with NMC colleagues in the 1960s. Pictured from left to right: Helen Core, Jim Spenceley, Art Moenkhaus, and George Kuhn.

Alumnus Honors Instructor

Dr. David MacIntosh Supports Students Through the James L. Spenceley Scholarship for Mathematics For exceptional math students at NMC, the James L. Spenceley Scholarship represents an opportunity to continue their education.

NMC alumnus Dr. David MacIntosh (’65) established the endowed scholarship in

2015 to provide talented math students the financial support they need to complete their degrees.

David and his wife, Dr. Lorah Wright (NMC ’85), make annual gifts to the scholarship fund. The award is an ode to the late NMC math instructor Jim Spenceley, a World War II veteran turned math teacher who dedicated 30 years to NMC students. He was a two-time winner of the Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award. In retirement, he served on the NMC Board of Trustees.

A longtime cardiologist who retired from Munson Medical Center in 2016, David says NMC was instrumental in shaping his career. He credits instructors who were “very willing to assist students in achieving their goals. Mr. Gahn, Mr. Rudd, Mr. Shumsky, and Mr. Spenceley were all outstanding educators and mentors.”

David believes NMC’s small class sizes and his personal relationships with instructors propelled him to a successful career in medicine. His scholarship gives mathematics students at NMC the chance to experience that same strong start to their education.

“I am so thankful that I have been chosen to receive this award. I have been very concerned about the cost of college and this award is so helpful in relieving that concern. I am looking forward to learning more of what opportunities are available to me as a mathematics major.” –James L. Spenceley Scholarship Recipient

Continuing the Art of Giving Back Chris Dennos Carries on Family Tradition Chris Dennos, volunteer chair of the committee to support the new Dennos, recently made a significant gift to the museum, following in the footsteps of her parents, Michael and Barbara Dennos.

exposing students to new mediums of expression.

Chris is grateful for her own introduction to art at a young age, and credits her parents with showing her the transformative power of art.

Chris’ generous gift supports the expansion of the Dennos Museum Center, which gives the museum much-needed gallery space to display its growing permanent art collection and world-renowned Inuit art collection.

She also credits her parents with modeling generosity.

During their lifetimes, Michael and Barbara Dennos supported countless charitable causes in our region, and Chris says the Dennos Museum Center was their greatest pride and joy.

And, the expansion allows NMC faculty to integrate more art into their curricula,

Their selfless giving not only helped establish the museum; it gave people in our region a

place to be inspired, delighted, and transformed.

Chris hopes you will say hello when you visit the new Dennos—you can find the dedicated volunteer at the reception desk most Fridays.

Chris is proud, and believes her parents would be too, that the Dennos Museum Center is a place where volunteerism, vibrant creativity, and personal contributions bring us together; a place that leaves a footprint of commitment, generosity, culture, and beauty for generations to come.

Following her parents’ example, Chris Dennos made a significant gift to the Dennos Museum Center’s expansion. Chris is also a dedicated museum volunteer, and hopes you’ll say hello when you visit the new Dennos.

Who-hoo-hoo are the Hawk Owls?

Your Annual Fund Support Helps NMC Students (Hawk Owls) Every Day PM AM

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Take a look at how this Hawk Owl spends a typical day working hard during the semester—all thanks to you!

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Your Annual Fund gifts support every student, every day at NMC. Visual Communications student and scholarship recipient Sarah Moore (NMC ’19) is one of those hardworking students.

Sarah is grateful for your scholarship support. “Receiving scholarships was the deciding factor for me attending college or not,” she says. “Without it, I wouldn’t be here.”

8:30 a.m.

Catch a ride to NMC with dad on his way to work 9:00–10:15 Arrive on campus, study at Osterlin Library until class time 10:15–12:15 p.m.

Visual Communications 127: Digital Imaging 12:15–1:00 Lunch, work on projects with classmates 1:00–3:00 Art 131: 2D Design 3:15-4:00 Study at Osterlin Library until ride to work arrives 4:30–10:00 Work as cashier and grocery bagger at Oryana Community Co-op

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Thank you to this year’s Annual Fund Capstone and Lead Donors Gifts to the Annual Fund Help Every Student, Every Day at NMC CAPSTONE $10,000 Clinton Ames Ross & Brenda Biederman Casey & Dana Cowell DTE Energy Foundation John & Jane Matz Patricia & Kenneth Warner

LEAD $5,000 Chemical Bank H. Cox & Son Wayne & Terry Lobdell Terry Malone Paul Maurer

Timothy Nelson & Nancy Johnson The Noverr Family The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation Bob & Pauline Young Alan & Mary Zelinski