For the week of October 3, 2005

From the 6th floor

Everyone's talking about the weather. Marquette County was warmer Saturday than Baghdad, Buenos Aires and Bermuda, but the 79-degree temperature didn't break any records. Neither did Sunday's 79-degrees: the record high for Oct. 2 is 87 degrees. This summer was one of the warmest in recorded U.P. history. According to the National Weather Service, the average 24-hour temperature in Marquette from June through August was 66 degrees. The highest average summer on record in Marquette was 66.7, in 1995. And what else are folks saying about the weather? Well, it is the U.P., you know: snow is in the forecast Wednesday for Munising and the Keweenaw.

NMU community saddened by the death of two students

Cassiano (Cass) Huckabee and Toni Copeland drowned off the beach at Picnic Rocks Sunday afternoon.  Cass was a freshman in the aviation maintenance technology program and a resident of Halverson Hall.  Toni was a member of the USOEC women’s wrestling team and a senior at Marquette Senior High School. We would like to extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Cass and Toni.

Increasing online offerings for graduate studies high on Dean Prosen's priority list

Continuing Education recently moved under the same organizational umbrella as the College of Graduate Studies and Research. The reorganization marks a return to a similar structure that was in place at NMU several years ago. Cynthia Prosen was named dean of the college early this year. In the wake of the merger, she has expanded not only her staff and role, but her vision. Prosen’s top priorities include the following: significantly increasing the availability of online options – from individual courses to degree-completion and graduate certificate programs; hiring a grant writer to help faculty cultivate new grant opportunities based on their interests and help manage grants once they’re obtained; and developing graduate certificate programs that respond to the needs of non-traditional students who are older, professionally established and may have family commitments on top of their jobs, making it difficult to come to campus during normal hours. As an example of the latter, Prosen said, “More than 200 non-profit organizations operate in the Upper Peninsula. There are a lot of wonderful people who lead these organizations and are devoted to their missions, but these people may not be skilled in the day-to-day operational aspects of running a business, which is essentially what they’re doing. Northern could offer a graduate certificate in non-profit management that would help these organization leaders function even more effectively and efficiently. Or perhaps a certificate in adult learning and development would be helpful, since so many workers change jobs in today’s fast-moving economic environment. There are hundreds of options along these lines, and online courses might be the most feasible way to offer these programs.” Complete story.

College of Business to offer International Business Seminar in Costa Rica

The College of Business will be offering MGT 285--International Business Seminar (4 cr.): Business and Culture in Costa Rica, 2 January-14 January 2006. Course participants will travel to Costa Rica and then to Panama. Highlights will include visits to Intel's chip plant; various agricultural plantations; museums; tours to historical and eco-tourism sites; and the world famous panama canal. Lectures will be provided by the US Consulate, Chamber of Commerce and Cultural Attaché. The class will take place between semesters--leaving Chicago on 2 January and returning to Chicago on the 14th.

An organizational/planning meeting will be held Monday 17 October. A partially refundable deposit ($500) is due in the College of Business by 14 October. The approximate price (which includes air fare and most breakfasts) is $2,500 (including deposit). For those students who do not exceed 18 credit hours for Winter 06, no additional tuition will be charged. This course is open to traditional and non-matriculating students; interested faculty and staff; and the community.

For more detail contact:
Dr. Charles Rayhorn, CFP®
Professor of Finance and Financial Planning
College of Business
Northern Michigan University
906-227-1839 (Work)
906-458-2269 (Cell)
crayhorn@nmu.edu

Wildcat Sports Update

In weekend action, the Northern Michigan University soccer team beat Ferris State, 2-1, on Saturday. On Sunday, the 'Cats fell to Grand Valley State 3-0. NMU is now 5-4 overall on the season and 1-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). 
The NMU volleyball team picked up an important road win with the 3-1 decision against the Ferris State University Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.  NMU took the first two games of the match 30-21 and 30-24.  FSU took the third game, 22-30, before the ‘Cats won the fourth game 31-29.  NMU is now 9-7 overall and 6-2 in the GLIAC.
The NMU cross country team ran away with the U.P. Championship on Friday, Sept. 30 in Houghton. The ‘Cats had five of the top six runners and took the title with 18 points followed by Michigan Tech with 43 and Finlandia with 85.
The football Wildcats had the week off.

NMU alumni in west Michigan planning tailgate party for NMU vs. GVSU game

WILDCAT TAILGATE PARTY! Saturday, October 29, 2005 4 - 7 p.m. Lubbers Stadium, Lot C – West Allendale, Mich. Cheer on the Cats. Meet old friends and make some new ones! Party hosted by David Gregory ‘92 and Joe ‘70, ‘79 and Nancy ‘70 Prinzi  Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages provided. Carry-ins permitted in this lot – no glass bottles. Look for Wildcat fans under the tent with the Northern flags. To purchase game tickets, contact GVSU at 616-331-8800. Questions can be directed to the NMU Alumni Association. (Toll Free at 877-GRAD-NMU or alumni@nmu.edu)

Hockey 'Cats ranked third

Northern Michigan University’s hockey team was picked to finish third in both the coaches and media polls.   Also released at last week's CCHA Media Day were the CCHA Preseason All-Conference Team and television schedule. NMU garnered 96 points in the coaches’ poll. Ohio State had 11 first-place votes and 121 points as the top team.  In the media poll the ‘Cats picked up a first-place vote and 494 points. Ohio State again was selected to finish first with 45 first-place votes and 622 total. 
“We’re real excited in Marquette for the season to begin,” said NMU Coach Walt Kyle.  “I think that we feel that we had a good run the last half of last year, and really made some strides in becoming the type of team that we want to become.”

It's never too early to plan your Wildcat Night Across the Country party

The hockey Wildcats will make their appearance on Fox Sports Detroit on Saturday, January 28th as part of Fox Sports' "Hockey Day in Michigan" double-header. Northern and Western Michigan will hook up in a 4:30 p.m. start at Kalamazoo, followed by Michigan and Michigan State in their annual regular-season tilt at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
Now is the time to start planning your Wildcat get-together. Last year, parties took place in 14 different locations across the country. We'd like to see even more this year. It's very easy to do. E-mail us and we'll tell you how.

From the E-mail bag

Shown in the photo: Royce Clapp, chase vehicle driver and America's Challenge balloonists Dennis Brown and John Kugler.

"Not just another Monday morning at the office." This comes to us from Mark Pontti '83 of Iron Mountain. Mark is Communications Manager at International Paper's Quinnesec Mill. The folks at IP had a surprise visit this morning. American's Challenge Team 12 hot air balloon, competing in the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, descended on their property. The object of the race is to see which balloon can make it the furthest north. American's Challenge was leading the race when it came down in Dickinson County this morning. ""It was exciting to think this international event literally touched down in the Upper Peninsula, " said Pontti. "Personally, I have always wanted to attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, now I have even more incentive to visit with my family." The three team members will rest up for a night before deciding whether to drive or fly back to New Mexico, in a plane. "If it were up to me...I would have landed before crossing Lake Superior too," Pontti added. Read more about the race.

"I thought that you might want to put this in the email bag. 'Mike Aisner to be inducted into the Bicycle Hall of Fame'. Mike Aisner attended NMU in the late 60's for two years before being transferred to Colorado U. While at Northern he worked at WNMU-FM & TV.  He is being inducted into the  Bicycle Hall of Fame on October 14."
Barry Axelrod '69
NMU Alumni Association President
Chicago, IL
takeoff95@aol.com

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