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aspireSPRING/SUMMER 2025 Healing the healers A new program addresses how NCMC nursing students navigate stress, burnout and the emotional demands of their calling — and why nurses’ well-being is just as vital as the care they provide. Story on page 10ASPIRE - YOUR NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE NORTH CENTRAL MAIN CAMPUS 1515 Howard St. Petoskey, MI 49770 231-348-6600 CHEBOYGAN CENTER (Cheboygan High School) 801 W. Lincoln Ave. Cheboygan, MI 49721 231-625-3614 GAYLORD CENTER 620 E. 5 th St. Gaylord, MI 49735 989-705-3775 ONLINE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dan Rasmussen, Chair Chris Etienne, Vice Chair Melissa Keiswetter, Secretary Jason Kromm Keith A. Pretty, J.D. James Shirilla, M.D. Janelle A. Wozniak, MSN LOCATIONS Aspire is an award-winning, biannual magazine produced by North Central Michigan College’s Marketing Department. Carol Laenen Vice President of Marketing & Strategy Catherine Coe Digital Marketing Manager Megan Van Horn Communications & Public Relations Manager Rachel Lefor Digital Media Administrator Kathryn Bardins Marketing Administrative Manager @NorthCentralMC www.ncmich.edu ONWARD UPWARD As we close another impactful academic year, we reflect on the progress and achievements that have strengthened our North Central community. From expanding programs to enhancing student experiences, we remain committed to empowering learners and enriching our region. Looking ahead, we are excited to build on these achievements and further elevate the North Central experience. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we will continue to reach new heights and create lasting effect. David Roland Finley, Ph.D. President 4 3 & 1 23 WWW.NCMICH.EDU Enrollment grew for the third consecutive year, increasing 4.8% in Fall 2024 and 5% in Winter 2025, fueled by new degree programs, expanded student support, and transfer opportunities. North Central successfully reaffirmed its accreditation through a Higher Learning Commission review, highlighting our commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement. Our first Practical Nursing class graduated, with 10 new Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) prepared to serve Northern Michigan’s healthcare community. The Child Care Initiative continues advancing a sustainable childcare system in Emmet County, with the NCMC Early Learning Center — opening Summer 2025 — serving as a model for scalable, high- quality early learning solutions. Progress continued on our $22M Career and Technical Education Enhancement (CATEE) project, including the new Martin Jahn Technology Center and an expanded Health Education and Science Center, which will strengthen workforce education in Northern Michigan. Early College partnerships grew with new agreements in Cheboygan Area Schools and Inland Lakes, building on existing collaborations with Petoskey, Boyne City and Gaylord. Timberwolf student-athletes excelled, with women’s basketball making history by reaching the NJCAA Region XII Great Lakes District Tournament and securing their highest MCCAA Northern Conference finish (5 th ). Two runners competed at the NJCAA Division II cross country championships, and volleyball earned a postseason bid after placing 2 nd in the MCCAA North Conference. A $396,500 Michigan Sixty by 30 grant will launch the Family Friendly Campus Initiative, which aims to provide childcare resources, a family room, and subsidies that help NCMC student parents succeed. New transfer agreements with Central Michigan University and Northern Michigan University allow NCMC Global Studies graduates to complete a bachelor’s degree in just two additional years. NCMC’s website was named a Top 10 Higher Education Website of 2024 by Modern Campus, highlighting an innovative, student-centered design that enhances user engagement and enrollment. 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5CALEB MIGDA ’16 NEVER PLANNED ON A NURSING CAREER — at least not at first. In 2013, he was working in outdoor maintenance, mowing lawns and plowing snow, while his wife worked part-time as a health clinic receptionist. Then, life changed when their family doubled in size. After their twins were born, the couple quickly realized their income couldn’t support their growing family. That’s when Migda made the decision to pursue a nursing degree at NCMC. “I realized I needed higher education, but I knew I couldn’t move our new family of four elsewhere in order to earn a degree,” Migda shares. “I felt that a career in healthcare would ensure I’d always have a job, and I chose NCMC because it was local and affordable.” Migda graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, a degree that set him on a path leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and a thriving career in healthcare leadership. A foundation of excellence Migda credits NCMC’s rigorous nursing program with preparing him for the realities of patient care. Scholarships also played a crucial role in Migda’s journey. The college’s Borra Scholarship eased the financial strain while he balanced nursing school with family responsibilities. “Our twins were two years old by the time I started the nursing program, so finding a balance between paying for school and supporting a family was difficult,” Migda shares. “Receiving the Borra Scholarship helped lift a tremendous financial burden.” Later, the same scholarship, along with grants from McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital, allowed him to earn his BSN from the University of Michigan-Flint with minimal debt. By 2019, Migda had earned two nursing degrees while accumulating just $5,000 in debt. Rising through the ranks Migda’s career took off at McLaren Northern Michigan, where he began as a nurse on the medical-surgical unit. His dedication to patient care earned him numerous accolades, including the DAISY Award, Nightingale Award, and McLaren’s Guardian Angel Award. But his ambitions didn’t stop there. When McLaren partnered with Grand Valley State University to offer significant funding assistance for employees pursuing a DNP degree, Migda saw another opportunity. He completed his doctoral degree in 2023, with research focused on bringing point-of-care ultrasound technology into primary care settings to help practitioners formulate diagnoses and treatment plans more efficiently. Giving back & looking ahead Now a nurse practitioner with McLaren’s hospitalist group, Migda finds fulfillment in direct patient care. But he also has a passion for education, having previously served as a clinical nursing instructor at NCMC. Looking ahead, he hopes to return to the classroom to help shape the next generation of nurses. His advice to them? “Don’t be discouraged about the time required to further your education. Take it one week at a time, and before you know it, you’ll have achieved what you set out to do.” Reflecting on his journey from early jobs to earning a doctoral degree, Migda puts it simply: Hard work pays off. “I know that’s kind of an old, tired saying, but it’s true. Before enrolling at North Central, all my prior academic attempts had been failures. It was at NCMC that I realized I can achieve anything I want if I just work hard for it — and the hard work was worth it.” p “By the time I graduated, I was prepared to successfully transition from the academic setting to the professional setting.” CALEB MIGDA A journey that began with a simple goal — to support his growing family — has led Caleb Migda to the highest level of nursing education. Hard work pays off ASPIRE - YOUR NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE 4GUIDEDby stars North Central’s JEWEL mentorship program is part of a constellation of support empowering women to reach their goals and give back to their community. VANESSA CHAVEZ SKILLFULLY BALANCES a Starbucks latte in one hand to greet Dibby Smith with a warm hug. Outside, snow swirls around North Central’s Borra Learning Center, but the warmth between the pair is evident. “Happy New Year!” they exclaim, their happy greetings slipping effortlessly between English and Spanish. Chavez, a second-year nursing student from Venezuela, is part of North Central’s JEWEL mentorship program, a collaboration with the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM). JEWEL empowers women by pairing them with mentors who share their own professional expertise and life lessons. For Chavez, that mentor is Smith, her “North Star” guiding her through the challenges of nursing school and life. A spark of connection Chavez joined JEWEL after an invitation from the WRCNM’s Stacey Burns, who walked her through the program’s process. At their first mentor/mentee event, she and Smith immediately clicked. “Dibby has been a role model, but more than that, she’s shown me what it means to be a compassionate, resilient nurse,” Chavez says. “Whenever I’ve felt overwhelmed by school and work, Dibby reminded me I could make it. She taught me to slow down and tackle one task at a time.” Continued on page 17 WWW.NCMICH.EDU 5 DISCOVERING A PASSION FOR RUNNING RUNNING ASPIRE - YOUR NORTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN COLLEGE MAGAZINE 6WWW.NCMICH.EDU ZACH MAENDEL IS A LEADER — on campus, on the cross country course, and in a role few would suspect. Along with being a standout on NCMC’s cross country team, Maendel is the talent behind Thunder, the college’s spirited Timberwolf mascot. He embraces both roles while excelling academically, earning All-MCCAA Academic honors and NJCAA Third Team All-Academic honors for 2023-24. Athletic Director Ashley Antonishen says Maendel exemplifies what it means to be an NCMC student-athlete. In recognition of his outstanding performance, Maendel was named the Timberwolves’ 2024-25 Male Athlete of the Year. “Zach leads with integrity, fosters unity among his teammates, and embodies the spirit of Timberwolf Athletics in everything he does,” Antonishen says. “Whether he’s on the cross country course or in costume as Thunder, Zach uplifts everyone around him.” Discovering a passion for running Maendel’s running journey didn’t begin with success; it started with struggle. His first race experience was thanks to his friends, all cross country runners, who encouraged him to sign up for a 5K. “It was terrible,” he laughs. “I had to stop and walk, and it hurt way more than I thought it would.” Still, he joined the cross country team his freshman year at St. Michael Academy. He soon discovered a talent and love for the sport, setting the stage for his collegiate career. “Running is something I look forward to each day,” Maendel says. “It also gave me an instant group to plug into: Before I even started classes, I already had a team.” Maendel made his mark at NCMC, qualifying for the NJCAA Division II National Championships in 2023 and 2024. Among his many achievements, he set a personal and college record 8K time of 27:35 at the Jayhawks Invitational in October 2024. “Entering the last mile, I knew something special was happening,” he recalls. “When I saw my time, I was ecstatic, because it was the culmination of all our training. That race gave me a lot of confidence going into the conference race that would help me qualify for nationals.” Maendel also took it upon himself to lead — on the course and across campus. While his success could be attributed to consistency and discipline — what Coach Rod Anderson calls the “easy answer” — the full explanation runs deeper. “Put simply, the entire team was better because of his presence,” Anderson says. “Zach has an exceptional ability to connect with people. He was the one who energized the team, sparked conversations, and brought everyone together as we trained, traveled, and competed.” The man behind the mask When Maendel isn’t racing across the finish line, he’s bringing energy to the sidelines as Thunder the Timberwolf. Maendel was NCMC’s first student mascot talent, beginning his 3.5-year role as Thunder when he was a 16-year-old dual-enrolled student. Some mascot performers find freedom in the costume, using it to step outside their comfort zone. For others, it’s simply an extension of their natural personality. “I don’t care whether people remember my name, but I hope to leave NCMC an even better place than I found it.” ZACH MAENDEL Continued on page 18 7 Truman Maher proudly wore the top half of Thunder’s costume including the paws, revealing that he has been one of the hidden talents for NCMC’s beloved mascot. Not to be outdone, Zach Maendel, a hidden mascot talent since 2021, wore the bottom half of Thunder’s costume including the feet and tail across the stage. 8Stafford Smith and Dudley Marvin received honorary degrees of Community and Educational Service in recognition of their contributions to the hospitality field. Beth LaForest, chief of staff at Livonia’s Schoolcraft College and a proud NCMC alumna ‘08, delivered the commencement address, encouraging graduates to consider education as a lifelong pursuit. COMMENCEMENT 2025 See more photos, watch the ceremony and browse our list of graduates: www.ncmich.edu/commencement THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES... 9 Next >