Northern Michigan University received a $50,000 award to fund the sixth year of its Jump Start Program, under the direction of Shirley Brozzo in the Multicultural Education and Resource Center. Jump Start is a King Chavez Parks initiative of the State of Michigan. It is designed to improve retention rates of academically and economically disadvantaged students through academic and career workshops and networking opportunities.

Upperclass peer mentors design programs to meet the needs of students they are teamed with, including study and career exploration sessions and social activities. These programs help participants become acclimated to college life at NMU and the City of Marquette.