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: May 2, 2008 News & Events

NMC to graduate largest class in 15 years

TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Commencement ceremonies for Northwestern Michigan College are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, in the Traverse City Central High School Gymnasium. 

This year NMC expects to graduate 520 students, the most in 15 years. Normally, about half of NMC graduates earn an Associate in Science and Arts degree and then transfer to another institution to complete their bachelor’s degree. Thirty percent will graduate with Associate in Applied Science degrees. Another 15 percent graduate from the Associate Degree in Nursing program, and 5 percent will receive professional certificates.

Two of NMC’s University Center partners also will participate:

• Ferris State University will honor its graduates who have completed various degrees, including the Bachelor’s of Business degree - Maritime option, created by a partnership with NMC’s Great Lakes Maritime Academy.
• Michigan State University, which offers a professional certificate which, coupled with an Associate of Applied Science degree from NMC, prepares graduates for commercial horticulture operations, landscape and nursery or turf grass management. 

The featured speaker for this year’s commencement is Dr. Keith Overbaugh, NMC Science Instructor and the 2007 Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award Recipient, an award selected by students.

Overbaugh earned a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Michigan State University in 1973 and practiced in the area until 2005. He ran his own practice, the Elk Rapids Animal Clinic, until 1988. He joined NMC as an adjunct faculty member in 1987 and the regular faculty in 1989. He continued to assist other local veterinarians until 2005. Overbaugh’s two children also attended NMC.

The ceremony will also include announcement of the winners of the 2008 Imogene Wise award, the Adjunct Faculty Teaching Excellence award and the annual Outstanding Alumnus award.