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 6, 2008 News & Events

NMC BBQ is May 18; win a full tuition scholarship

TRAVERSE CITY – Northwestern Michigan College will host the 53rd annual Barbecue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18 on main campus. To celebrate serving the 500,000th guest, this year’s community picnic will feature a drawing for a truly grand prize: A full tuition scholarship.

Anyone who buys a ticket is eligible to enter. The scholarship winner will be drawn from all entrants at 5 p.m. on Barbecue Day. The tuition offer is good for 10 years and may be redeemed by anyone the winner chooses.

Also new this year:

• A veterans’ tent, where interviews videotaped by students of NMC history instructor Jim Press as part of the national Veterans History Project will be shown. Other artifacts and memorabilia will also be on display. Veterans can also sign up to be interviewed next semester.
• Shuttles from campus parking areas
• Additional children’s activities, including the return of the popular climbing wall

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. About 9,000 people attend every year, raising $1.4 million for college programs and equipment over the years.

In addition to the traditional menu of buffalo steakettes, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, ice cream, coffee, milk and soda, the schedule of events held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. includes:

• Serving lines open
• Children’s games
• Rogers Observatory (1753 Birmley Road) open
• Free admission to the Dennos Museum Center
• College displays and classroom demonstrations
• Buffalo cam – Meet NMC’ life size s faux buffalo in person or streamed online
• Quilt raffle to benefit the George C. Comden Scholarship Fund
• WNMC 90.7 FM live broadcasts

Specific events will be held as follows:

• 11 a.m. – Presentation of the colors
• Noon – NMC student pottery sale, Fine Arts Building
• Noon-2 p.m. – Alumni reception, Health & Science Bldg., Room 101
• 2 p.m. – NMC Community Concert Band performance, Milliken Auditorium
• 4:30 p.m. – Quilt raffle drawing
• 5 p.m. – Scholarship winner drawing

Entertainment line-up:

• Noon-12:30 p.m. – Grand Traverse Fife & Drums
• 1 - 1:45 p.m. – NMC Hip-Hop Dance Troupe
• 2 - 2:45 p.m. – Breathe Owl Breathe
• 3 - 3:45 p.m. – John Kumjian of New Third Coast with Chris Skellenger and Paul Koss
• 4 - 4:45 p.m. – Andre Villoch

Barbecue tickets are $5 in advance and $6 on Barbecue Day. Tickets are available at NMC, Oleson’s Food Stores, local financial institutions, area elementary schools, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Terrace Shopper, Holiday Shopper (Acme), Grand Traverse Mall - Michigan Army National Guard office and Elmbrook Golf Course.

For more information, contact the NMC Office of Institutional Advancement at (231) 995-1020.

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