NMC names 2025 excellence winners
TRAVERSE CITY – Northwestern Michigan College has recognized the following employees for excellence in the 2024–25 academic year:
Becca Richardson
(download high-resolution photo)Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award: Becca Richardson, mathematics. Chosen by a student selection committee, award criteria includes teaching excellence, rapport with students, innovation in the classroom and a sense of dedication. Student nominators said of Richardson, an NMC alumna who began teaching at NMC as an adjunct in 2013 and became full-time faculty in 2018:
- “She lays out everything a student could possibly need to excel in her class. Mathematics is very challenging, but because of her guidance, her availability whenever I text her (and I mean whenEVER), and her as a person is why I’m here.”
- “Becca uses several different learning styles to promote understanding of the material. She includes concepts that are applicable to personal needs such as; budgeting, saving for a house, retirement, investments. Applying the knowledge to the real world helped me truly understand and appreciate the math needed in these areas.”
Initiated by a contribution from longtime NMC benefactors Harold and Imogene Wise in 1970, the award was first made to a full-time faculty member in 1971.
John Lutchko
(download high-resolution photo)Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award: John Lutchko, Marine Technology. Chosen by a student selection committee, award criteria includes teaching excellence, rapport with students, innovation in the classroom and a sense of dedication. Lutchko is also an NMC alumnus. He graduated in 2013 and began his career as the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute lab coordinator and manager. Last year he was named GLWSI director. Student nominators said:
- “He really cares about the subject and his enthusiasm for it keeps our attention. He also goes above and beyond to help students keep up with coursework.”
- “He is also always there to help with students whether it be about class or even if you’re struggling with time management. He truly loves his job and is invested in getting students involved.”
The award was created in 1999 as a companion to the Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award. See a full list of all past faculty and adjunct faculty excellence winners at nmc.edu/cie.
Katharine Marvin
(download high-resolution photo)Staff Excellence Award: Katharine Marvin, Director of Development & Alumni Relations. Marvin, who joined the college in 2015, demonstrates an innate ability to lead with grace and collaborate with enthusiasm. Her achievements this year include securing $1.4 million in gifts for a wide range of programs, including Nursing, Culinary, Construction Technology, Aviation, WNMC and the International Affairs Forum. Her proactive approach to friendraising has cultivated relationships that have blossomed into significant future investments, exemplified specifically by a $500,000 planned gift designated for aviation scholarships. She has also stepped up to hire and mentor new colleagues, serving on no fewer than six search committees as NMC worked to build a strong and cohesive Advancement & Community Engagement (ACE) team.
Team Excellence Award: Public Relations, Marketing & Communications: Diana Fairbanks, Emily Crull, Steve Kellman, Cari Noga, Deanna Silkowski, Joan Sodini and Kelly Yauk (below, left to right). PRMC was cited for its work exemplifying the college values of innovation and collaboration. Over the past year PRMC developed a comprehensive brand strategy, a proactive, strategic endeavor that involved all internal stakeholders and external partners. Funded by a Lumina Foundation grant, the strategy forges alignment between NMC’s mission and messaging, empowering every employee to effectively communicate the college’s distinct value to all those it serves. In addition, PRMC’s strategic enrollment marketing efforts have significantly contributed to six straight semesters of enrollment growth. Finally, PRMC serves the entire college as a central hub for prioritizing and fulfilling all promotion, communication and marketing requests. (Select a photo below for a high-resolution version.)
Release Date: May 23, 2025
For more information:
Cari Noga
Communications Director
cnoga@nmc.edu
(231) 392-1800 (mobile - text preferred)