NEXUS
THE NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE
Nexus is published twice a year
by the NMC Office of Public Relations,
Marketing and Communications and
designed and printed by MyNorth Media.
Alumni notes and updates may
be submitted at nmc.edu/alumni
or via e-mail at alumni@nmc.edu
For correspondence and
address updates:
1701 E. Front St.
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 995-1021NMC BOARD OF TRUSTEESLaura J. Oblinger, Chair
Rachel A. Johnson, Vice Chair
Kenneth E. Warner, Treasurer
Andrew K. Robitshek, Secretary
Douglas S. Bishop
Chris M. Bott
Kennard R. WeaverNMC PRESIDENTNick Nissley, Ed.D.EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORSCari Noga EDITOR, WRITER
Diana Fairbanks EDITOR
Cara McDonald EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
Tim Hussey ART DIRECTOR
Joan Sodini BRAND CONSULTANT
Emily Crull PHOTOGRAPHER
Kevin Marquardt PHOTOGRAPHER
Chelsie Niemi PHOTOGRAPHER
Jacqueline Southby PHOTOGRAPHERProduced by MyNorth Media. 125 Park St., Suite 155,
Traverse City, MI 49684. 231.941.8174. mynorth.com- EDITOR'S NOTE
WE WELCOME ALL
WELDING STUDENT LOGAN PUTNAMAs I write this, I’m fresh off a seven-state road trip to the Gulf Coast. My family often tracks license plates on long trips like this spring break ritual, but this year, I tracked community college signs.
We ate breakfast near Lake Michigan College in South Haven. Before lunch, we passed Ivy Tech in Indianapolis. Crossing into Louisville, Jefferson Community and Technical College greeted us, one of multiple campuses in Kentucky and in Tennessee. Coastal Alabama in, of course, coastal Alabama. On the return north we passed Sinclair (where NMC President Nick Nissley formerly worked) in Dayton, Ohio.
The only four-year school sign I spotted was for the University of Michigan. Our route could explain that. Maybe I just missed those signs while reading or napping. But after working at NMC as long as I have, I also see it as reflecting the welcome factor in community colleges.
Unlike many four-year schools, we’re gate openers, not gatekeepers.
We want you as a student. From submitting your application to finding your way to campus, we want you to get here. Once you do, we’re ready to help you chart your own path.
Just read the student stories in this issue. Anastasiia Hrukach is a Ukrainian high school exchange student who found herself stranded in the U.S. due to the war in her home country.
She’s spent her unexpected year here dual enrolled at NMC. And then there’s Logan Putman, who thought high school was hard enough and never planned on college. Now he’s pursuing his welding certificate and a long-held dream of becoming a welder.
NMC welcomed both and now both are looking at brighter futures. We’ll do the same for you. NPlease take a moment to complete our reader survey. Your input will help us improve the magazine, and could win you a Lobdell’s gift card. - AERIAL VIEW
FLYING ACRES
A business idea takes flight, meaning more jobs for NMC grads.Bryan Hammis first started “playing with drones” at NMC in 2011 while a student
in the traditional aviation program. Once he earned his private pilot’s license and
instrument rating, a love of agriculture led him to a job as a crop production manager
on a farm in Montcalm County, and he thought he might start a crop-spraying business.He opted to continue his education at Michigan State University’s Institute
of Agriculture Technology. In 2019, an MSU partnership with NMC led Hammis
back to Traverse City for a two-week elective course and his UAS license. He then
conceived Flying Acres, a business providing aerial application services to farmers.
Business took off as soon as he and his wife Kaitlynn created their website last
fall. This summer he expects to hire up to three NMC UAS students to meet the
demand for Flying Acres’ services.“We are going to be working closely with NMC through the years,” Hammis said.
“It’s great for us and we want it to be great for the college as well.” N▶ Photos by Kaitlynn Marie PhotographyNMC debuts a stand-alone degree in uncrewed aerial systems this fall. nmc.edu/uas