Impact Stories

For NMC Aviation student and former Aviation Society President Grace Soneral, keeping her sights on the sky takes a relentless drive. Between holding down two jobs and staying active in the community, funding flight hours can feel like navigating heavy turbulence.

Thanks to you, that financial burden is lifted. Scholarship support allows Grace to work fewer hours and dedicate her energy to cockpit proficiency, organizing company tours for classmates, and representing NMC on the national stage at the NIFA competition and the Air Race Classic.

Beyond the flight deck, Grace invests her free time mentoring 7th-grade girls at her local church, inspiring young women to pursue aviation, and enjoying Northern Michigan life—whether playing pickleball, softball, or unwinding on the beach with a good book. Her ultimate goal? Flying for corporate aviation, where she can build meaningful professional relationships and welcome passengers safely to their destinations.

"This scholarship is more than financial support; it is a recognition of the hard work I put in day in and day out. Knowing that donors believe in my vision gives me incredible hope and the drive to maintain the highest standards in everything I do."

When this Construction Management student, Luke Klug, left college in 2019, he never imagined he would return. But in 2023, he took a leap of faith, enrolled at NMC, and discovered what he calls "some of the best years of my life as a Hawk Owl." Working full-time while pursuing his associate degree, he has been determined to pay for his education out of pocket to graduate completely debt-free.

Receiving the NMC Honors Scholarship provided the vital breathing room he needed. The financial support relieved the stress of funding upcoming semesters, allowing him to step out of his comfort zone, complete a hands-on Honors Project under faculty mentorship, and stay focused on his long-term ambition: founding a residential construction company in Northern Michigan alongside his dad and brothers.

Guided by integrity, humility, and a deep commitment to the region, Luke is eager to pay it forward by mentoring the next generation of trades professionals—just as NMC faculty and industry mentors did for him.

"This scholarship is a blessing in disguise. It helps me stay on track without taking out student loans or worrying about how I'm going to afford my next semester. I am so grateful to be chosen for this opportunity."

When she first arrived in Michigan from Peru to work a winter season at a local ski resort, Shirel Lozada never imagined it would lead to her calling. Captivated by Northern Michigan’s winter landscape and welcomed by a close-knit local community, she made the life-changing decision to move to Traverse City and pursue nursing at NMC—the largest nurse training program in Northern Michigan.

Now in her second year, Shirel is thriving. Through hands-on clinical rotations in unit B4 at Munson Medical Center, she is gaining real-world patient care experience early in her degree. While balancing a demanding academic schedule and participating in the Honors Program every semester, scholarship support provides the financial peace of mind she needs as an international student.

With tuition burdens lifted, she is focused on her path ahead: passing the NCLEX exam next spring, completing a local nursing residency, earning her Bachelor’s degree, and ultimately serving Northern Michigan as a Nurse Practitioner.

"Receiving this scholarship is an honor, and I feel both proud and grateful. It alleviates the financial burden of attending school, allowing us to focus entirely on our studies. Donor support makes all my progress and success in this chapter of my life possible."

After serving five years in the United States Marine Corps, transitioning back to civilian life while supporting a young family brought new challenges to Justin Bartrum. Seeking a flexible, military-friendly institution that accommodated a full-time working father, he took a step forward in 2017 and enrolled at NMC.

Though he initially lacked confidence in math, an encouraging instructor in a foundational algebra class transformed his understanding, igniting a wave of momentum that carried him onto the Dean’s List and into the Honors Program. That educational spark has already helped him advance from a field mechanic to a Business Process Management role at a publicly traded company. Now earning his Associate Degree in Computer Information Technology (CIT) with plans to transfer to Ferris State University for Computer Science, he balances coursework, family bonding, and passion projects—including making custom fragrances—all while showing his kindergarten-aged daughter that learning has no age limit.

Receiving a donor-funded scholarship relieved financial stress and affirmed that Justin’s hard work and commitment were recognized by the NMC community.

"I see now that my choices to push beyond what I feel I am capable of produced results I never could have expected. I hope to show my children that pursuing a degree has no age limit, and struggling previously doesn't mean you can't excel and thrive. Thank you for investing in me."