Community - NMU Events and Announcements

Community

Celebrate the traditional arts and cultural heritage of the Upper Peninsula at the Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival!

The festival brings together traditional arts practitioners from across the Upper Peninsula and Upper Midwest, representing a variety of cultural backgrounds and traditions. In addition to showcasing traditional arts, the festival will offer opportunities for participants to learn more about the art forms and traditions of the region.

Pre-festival events will begin Wednesday, Sept. 30, followed by the main festival Friday, Oct. 2 – Sunday, Oct. 4.

Visit the Upper Peninsula Folklife Festival website for the full schedule of events and additional information.

Community

The annual Plaidurday all-campus photo will be held on Friday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. We will gather outside of Jamrich Hall, near the Wildcat statue, for donut holes, hot cider, and coffee provided by NMU Dining. We'll take the photo shortly after 10 a.m., so arrive a tad early and be ready!

This is a great way to show off your favorite plaid, enjoy some treats, and feel the warmth of our community before heading to the Investiture Ceremony. 

See you there! 

Community

Explore STEM through hands-on, minds-on learning with College for Kids!

College for Kids gives students in grades K–5 the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through creative, hands-on activities. The program encourages curiosity about the world around us and beyond while helping students better understand and influence their world.

Fall 2026 College for Kids will be held from 9 – 11:30 a.m. at the Seaborg Center on Oct. 17 and Nov. 14. 

Participants may attend one or both dates, with multiple classes available for each age level. The cost is $15 per class.

Children who are 5 years old before Sept. 1, 2026, and are currently enrolled in kindergarten are eligible to participate.

For more information about classes and registration, visit the Seaborg Center Student Programs website or contact the Seaborg Center at 906-227-2002, Renee Jewett at 906-227-2196, or rkivioja@nmu.edu. 

Community

Discover one of the world’s oldest percussion instruments during a hands-on rhythm bones workshop with U.P. musician Randy Seppala, aka “Da Bones Man.” Learn about the history and tradition of rhythm bones and get an introduction to playing this unique folk instrument. 

The workshop will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, in The Woods, Classroom 104A, as part of NMU’s Investiture Week and the kickoff to the U.P. Folk Festival. 

The event is sponsored by the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center. 

For more information about the Presidential Investiture of Dr. Chris Olsen and the full schedule of Investiture Week events, please visit our Investiture website. 

Community

Make a difference during Investiture Week by donating blood at the Campus Blood Drive! NMU students, employees, and community members are invited to stop by Jamrich Hall between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, to donate. 

The blood drive is sponsored by the NMU Student Nursing Association. 

For more information about the Presidential Investiture of Dr. Chris Olsen and the full schedule of Investiture Week events, please visit our Investiture website. 

Community

Come enjoy some ice cream as we celebrate the upcoming presidential investiture of Dr. Chris Olsen! NMU students, employees, and community members are invited to join us on the Northern Center lawn at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28. 

Bring the family! 

In case of rain, the event will be held on the first floor of the Northern Center, near the NMU Bookstore. 

For more information about the Presidential Investiture of Dr. Chris Olsen and the full schedule of Investiture Week events, please visit our Investiture website. 

Community

Kick off Investiture Week with a morning of service on Saturday, Sept. 26. From 9 a.m. to noon, NMU students, employees, and community members are invited to help clean the graves of Civil War veterans at Ishpeming Cemetery. 

All cleaning supplies and equipment will be provided. 

Donuts and coffee will also be provided as volunteers spend the morning together caring for and preserving an important piece of local history. 

This service event honors Dr. Olsen’s passion for history. He holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in history, with his academic work focused on 19th-century U.S. history, politics, and political culture. Before moving into broader university leadership, he spent 14 years as chair of Indiana State University’s Department of History. Read more about President Olsen here. 

For more information about the Presidential Investiture of Dr. Chris Olsen and the full schedule of Investiture Week events, please visit our Investiture website. 

Community

Join the NMU Center for Rural Health and the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan for a free Seizure Recognition & First Aid Training. Be part of a community-wide effort to build awareness and confidence in seizure recognition and response. 

The training will take place from 6– 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, in Peninsula V of the Northern Center. 

What You'll Learn

• How to identify common seizure types and warning signs
• Steps for providing safe and effective seizure first aid
• Best practices for responding with confidence during a seizure

Upon completion of the training, you will receive a certification valid for two years.

This training is free, but advance registration is required. 

Register for the Seizure Recognition & First Aid Training

Learn more

• NMU Center for Rural Health
• Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan

Community

Join the NMU Center for Rural Health and the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan for Under the Lights, a coming-of-age film about Sam, a 17-year-old living with epilepsy who longs to experience a typical high school life. 

Determined to attend his prom, Sam faces a difficult decision, knowing the flashing lights may trigger a seizure. The film explores themes of independence, friendship, resilience, and living with epilepsy. 

The screening will take place from 6 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in Peninsula II of the Northern Center. 

The event is free, but advance registration is required. 

Register for the Under the Lights screening

Learn more

• NMU Center for Rural Health
• Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan

Community

Orange Shirt Day learning circles present opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community members to learn about Indian Boarding School experiences and about healing and justice for survivors and families.

The Learning Circles will also help participants prepare for NMU's Orange Shirt Day commemoration event on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. 

Learning Circles will be held from 6–8 p.m. on Sept. 9, 16, and 23 in the Whitman Hall Commons.