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 5, 2008 News & Events

NMC names Todd McMillen 2008 Outstanding Alumnus

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Traverse City business owner Todd McMillen, owner of McMillen’s Creative Custom Framing, is NMC’s 2008 Outstanding Alumnus.

Now in its 20th year, NMC’s Outstanding Alumnus award recognizes alumni who donate their time, talent and resources to NMC in addition to significant professional achievements and community and professional leadership. Nominations are reviewed by a committee of alumni representatives and recommended to the NMC president.

Owner of the downtown shop formerly known at the Instant Framer since 1988, McMillen graduated from NMC in 1985 and subsequently studied graphic design at Kendall School of Design in Grand Rapids.

“I always said the education I got at NMC far outweighed the education I got at the private school,” said McMillen, a Gaylord native who lived in East Hall on campus.

Since returning to Traverse City he has remained an active, ardent supporter of NMC and particularly the Dennos Museum Center.

Among McMillen’s contributions to the college:

• Supporting NMC’s Scholarship Open golf tournament since 1995
• Involved in Dennos strategic planning
• In 2007, installed the Dennos-curated exhibit of Michigan artwork in Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s home
• Major donor for the outdoor sculpture Nexus, created by fellow alumna Sally Rogers and displayed east of NMC’s Health & Science Building

His other community involvements include serving as vice president of the Downtown Traverse City Association. He is also active with the Goodwill Inn, receiving its volunteer of the year award in 2007.

A dinner in McMillen’s honor will be held later this year.