Join us in celebrating 125 years

Since 1899, Wildcats have triumphed, building a communal strength that expands beyond campus into the Marquette community and Upper Peninsula region. Never faltering or staying in one place; always forward, always onward, with an iron will and an uncommon warmth.

Gold NMU 125th anniversary logo on a dark green background

Northern Magazine: 125th Anniversary Edition

The fall 2024 issue of Northern Magazine is a special celebration, anniversary edition. Follow along NMU's history through the decades and maybe see some familiar faces along the way. The digital version is live now; look for a hard copy landing in your mailbox!

Read On!

It's hard to put 125 years of history into one video, so instead, we present to you some of the institutional highlights.

An autumn photo of Northern Michigan University's outdoor Wildcat statue

Students Receive 125th Celebration Scholarships

Northern kicked off its 125th Anniversary Celebration by awarding three students scholarships at the start of its Charter Week on Monday, April 29. 

Each student received an award of $1,250 that can be used toward their NMU costs for the Fall 2024 semester. 

The recipients were:  incoming student - Sophia Haraison; undergraduate student, Tay Linder; and graduate student TJ Jasinski.

Tell Your Story NMU Graphic

Tell Your Story

As part of its 125th anniversary celebration this year, Northern Michigan University is collecting stories and reflections from alumni, faculty, staff, and community members to share throughout 2024 across various NMU platforms. Photos and recordings up to a minute in length are also welcome. Audio recordings will be played on NMU's RadioX during the 125th anniversary celebration. 

Tell Your Story
1980's black and white NMU marching band photo

NMU's Alma Mater

The Alma Mater Work Group selected Communication and Media Studies Professor Dwight Brady’s "Northern Pride" as the top submission and recommended it as the alma mater to President Brock Tessman and the Executive Council, where it was approved. 

Northern Pride will make its official debut at the 2024 Homecoming football game on Sept. 21.


 

 

Listen Here
The seal for Northern State Normal School, which was the name of NMU from 1899-1927

Give us a school, a Normal School!

By the late 19th century, the Upper Peninsula flourished with immigrants who had come to work in the copper and iron mining and logging industries. Their children needed an education, but 75% of teachers in the area had no formal training and were likely fresh out of secondary school. Notable Marquette residents including Peter White lobbied for the establishment of what was then called a normal school—a translation of the French term école normale—to train and certify teachers in the region. The state legislature refused the first few proposals, but on April 28, 1899, Gov. Hazen Pingree signed a bill authorizing Northern State Normal School in Marquette. The pen he used on that fateful day is stored at the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center on campus.

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Stories

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Brian Dufort Thumbnail

Brian Dufort

'93

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Dorothy Elaine Paad Thumbnail

Dorothy Elaine Paad

'20 BA

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Kenneth Longfield

'60s

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Taryn Francis

Taryn Francis

'93 BA, '97 & '2010 MAE

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Steve Shaughnessy Thumbnail

Steve Shaughnessy

BS '72, MS '79

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Christine Lange Byrne Thumbnail

Christine Lane Byrne

BS

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Debbie Gibson Brown Thumbnail

Debbie Gibson Brown

BS

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John Kramer Tumbnail

John Kramer

BS '96

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Katie Buhrmann Thumbnail

Katie Buhrmann

BS

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Michael Matter thumbnail

Michael Matter

'72 BS

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Allison Hayes

'23 BS

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Beverly Johnson

'11 BSW

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Gary Lundgren

'76 BS

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Joel Kaskinen

'16 BS

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Nancy Daley

'70 BS

We want you to share your story!

If you are interested in sharing your NMU stories and experiences, please fill out the form linked below!

Share your story!

*All vintage photos on this website are courtesy of UPLink's extensive archival yearbook collection as well as the Northern at 100 publication