News Release from Northwestern Michigan College 1701 E. Front St., Traverse City MI 49686 Contact: Paul Heaton, 231 995-1019, email: pheaton@nmc.edu Date: January 29, 2008 News & Events

Buy BBQ tickets and win - or give - a full NMC scholarship

TRAVERSE CITY – NMC will celebrate serving the 500,000th guest at this year's annual Barbecue by holding a drawing for a truly grand prize: A full scholarship.

Anyone who buys a ticket to the 53rd annual picnic, to be held under the pines on main campus May 18, is eligible to enter.

Barbecue ticket sales kick off Feb. 16 at the Grand Traverse Mall. Join NMC at Center Court (between the movies and the food court) from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. to purchase tickets and enter the drawing. Festivities will also include children's games, a climbing wall, prize giveaways and a special appearance by a life-size faux buffalo, a popular attraction introduced at the 2007 Barbecue.

The scholarship winner will be drawn from all entrants on Barbecue Day. The tuition offer is good for 10 years and may be redeemed by anyone the winner chooses.

The late Gerald W. Oleson and his wife Frances, founders of Oleson’s Food Stores in Traverse City, started the annual fundraiser picnic in 1956. Oleson’s Food Stores continues to donate the food. An average of about 10,000 people attend every year, raising a cumulative $1.5 million for college programs and equipment. Based on past attendance NMC determined the 500,000 guest would be served this year.

NMC is accepting advance ticket orders prior to Feb. 16. Contact Martha Griggs at 231-995-1020 to place an order. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 on Barbecue Day. In addition to the meal, children’s games and activities are held throughout the day, and both the Dennos Museum Center and Rogers Observatory on Birmley Road are open to the public free of charge.

Ticket Order Form