Traverse City woman wins BBQ scholarship :: Northwestern Michigan College

Traverse City woman wins BBQ scholarship

Results of BBQ recycling efforts also announced

TRAVERSE CITY - Kristy Croy had already registered for fall classes at Northwestern Michigan College, but wasn't sure how she'd pay for them - until Sunday.

Croy decided at the last minute to attend the NMC Barbecue, and her ticket was drawn as the winner of a general tuition scholarship to NMC.

Croy, 35, of Traverse City, hopes to complete an Associate's Degree at NMC, studying Social Work. She works the third shift at the Goodwill Inn, and said assisting residents there has been the catalyst for pursuing more education in Social Work.

"As a mother trying to raise four children, I can't tell you how much this means to me," she said. "I've always wanted more education, now this scholarship will make it possible."

This is the third year that the NMC Foundation has offered the scholarship in conjunction with the annual Barbecue, and Croy will be the first to redeem the prize. At current tuition rate, the prize is worth more than $5,700.

Kathleen Guy, Executive Director of the NMC Foundation, said the scholarship is offered in part to thank the community for always helping NMC. "The NMC Foundation deeply appreciates the community's support for all facets of the college, from the Barbecue to the Dennos Museum Center to our Annual Campaign, scholarships and special gifts," she said. "We're here for the community, and we are here because of the community."

The total number served was 11,332, which included 408 who received home-delivered meals through the Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging. Attendance at Sunday's Barbecue was the highest since 1991. Coincidentally, the number on the winning ticket: 1991.

The NMC Barbecue Board also announced that more than 90 percent of all waste from Sunday's event was recycled or composted - nearly doubling efforts from last year. The Barbecue Board has set a goal of becoming a "zero-waste" event.

All plates and cups - even forks made from corn starch - were taken along with food waste and paper to Food for Thought's commercial compost operation in Benzie County. Cans and plastic bottles were recycled, leaving only a few containers of waste that were sent to the landfill.

"It was a great effort, made possible by cooperative patrons and extra volunteers," said Randy Smith of the Barbecue Board, who has spearheaded recycling efforts for several years. Among the groups providing additional volunteer help were the TC Young Professionals, Traverse City West's football players, and Student Ambassadors from NMC's honor society, Phi Theta Kappa.

Proceeds from this year's Barbecue will fund a number of special campus projects, including:

Nursing simulation mannikin
Lobdell's Teaching Restaurant wireless technology update
Milliken Auditorium stage lighting
Automotive Technology car lifts
Educational Media Technologies multi-media projection system
Milliken Auditorium video camera
Main campus ash tree replacement
Student Innovation Fund

The NMC Barbecue has raised more than $1.5 million for campus project. Due to the generosity of Oleson Food Stores, which donates all of the food for the event, all proceeds are used in support of NMC.

# # #