Awards and Recognition - Center for Student Enrichment

This annual award is designed to recognize an outstanding NMU student volunteer who has made an impact on the community through service. The winner is acknowledged by the university at the annual Leadership Recognition Banquet.  

To the world, Mike Nunnally was a member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center Boxing Team at NMU and one of the nation’s top-ranked amateur boxers. To his friends and community, he was a tireless volunteer who gave much of his time working with youth. So deep was his love for children that his life’s goal was not an Olympic medal – for which he was a contender – but to be an elementary teacher and role model for inner city kids in his hometown of Jackson, Tennessee. Tragically, Mike lost his life in 1996 while swimming in Lake Superior.

The Michael D. Nunnally NMU Student Volunteer Award was created by his friends to honor his life and commitment to community service. To nominate someone, please contact the Volunteer Center at volctr@nmu.edu or at (906) 227-2446.

2022-2023 Winner: Amber Essenmacher has accumulated over 650 hours of service! Some of Amber's community service projects include:

• Secretary of Hunt Hall for three years
• Member of the committee that created the first gender-inclusive/LGBTQ+ housing option, Barbary Lane, at NMU
• Co-chair of Pride Rock, who created the proposal, safety plan, survey and more for the the launch of Barbary Lane
• Volunteered at a live-in farm in upstate New York where she learned about sustainable farming practices and initiatives, ways that people can incorporate sustainability farming practices in their lives, trail maintenance, animal care, foraging and more

The purpose of this award is to recognize a student organization that has demonstrated the highest degree of volunteer service contributions to Marquette and the surrounding Upper Peninsula communities during the academic year.  Factors such as quantity and quality of service are considered when placing the award in the hands of the most outstanding service organization. We had no nominations for the 2022-23 academic year.

The 2021-22 winner was the Northern Michigan Constructors.

2021-2022 Winner: Following their mission statement, Conservation Crew consistently advocates for outdoor involvement and environmental protection through their yearly HIKE for Mental Health fundraising campaign. During the past two campaigns, they have collectively hiked over 829 miles and raised over $835 for HIKE for Mental Health 501 (c) (3).