Community leader K. Ross Childs passed away September 7, 2022 at the age of 85. His two decades of NMC trustee service included two years as board chair. A longtime Rotarian, he was proud to watch a chapter of Rotaract, a student Rotary group, launch at NMC in 2021. Childs and his late wife, Helen, also supported NMC philanthropically for 35 years. NMC honored his service to the college in 2022 by naming Childs an NMC Fellow, the college’s highest honor.

Following this recognition, friends endowed a scholarship fund in his honor.

▶ Memorial contributions may be made and designated for the Ross & Helen Childs Fund online at nmc.edu/give

A new associate degree in water quality environmental technology coming next fall will further expand NMC’s leadership in water-related programs as well as serve industry demand in the new blue economy.

The new Wet Tech degree, the first in the state, is part of NMC’s strategic plan, NMC Next. It joins four other NMC water-related degrees and programs:

An associate’s and a bachelor’s in Marine Technology, the only one in the world.

An associate’s in Freshwater Studies, the first in the nation when it was created in 2009.

The Marine Center–professional development and training in marine systems, geospatial technologies and land surveying.

Great Lakes Maritime Academy–Trains deck and engineering officers for the commercial shipping industry.

“This program will focus on training a workforce supporting the direct monitoring and cleanup of waters within the Great Lakes watershed and focusing on the direct impact to the quality of our water resources,” said Great Lakes Water Studies Institute Executive Director Hans VanSumeren.

NMC’s Great Lakes Culinary Institute marked ten years catering the Detroit Red Wings training camp, held in September at Centre ICE area. Team Performance Dietitian Lisa McDowell gave GLCI a five-star review for their service to 68 players, including 2022 National Hockey League rookie of the year Moritz Seider, third from left.

“Your team, led by Patty Cron-Huhta (second from left) took on a Herculean task to prepare delicious, nutritious homemade food from scratch. I’ve seen many training tables around the nation, (and) some of the finest hotels in New York City, Chicago, LA, etc. cannot hold a candle to your team,” McDowell said. Also pictured: GLCI chefs Bob Rodriguez, left, and Jim Morse, right.

NMC Dean of Students Lisa Thomas, left, and counselor Jackie Jorgensen, right, were named the recipients of the award, given in recognition of the individual or organization that has made the most significant service contribution to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. Following revelations of sexual assault and harassment in the maritime industry in 2021, Jorgensen and Thomas provided input and training to support and protect GLMA cadets as well as help shipping companies develop strong policies and programming around prevention and response while at sea. They worked with federal regulators, industry partners, GLMA and cadets. “The hope is that our cadets will set sail and have amazing experiences, but in the event that something happens out there it is important that we have safeguards in place,” Jorgensen said.

Early Childhood Development program coordinator Chery Bloomquist received a $12,000 grant as part of the Caring for MI Future initiative. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, the grant seeks to increase the number of students receiving the Child Development Associate credential while ultimately increasing Michigan’s early childhood workforce.