Northwestern Michigan College Alumni

06/01/2026

As Northwestern Michigan College Aviation prepares to celebrate 60 years of excellence, a recent feature by The Traverse Ticker shines a spotlight on six of our incredible aviation alumni. Their career trajectories stretch from local flight instruction right here at Aero Park to global commercial airlines! ✈️🌲🌊 Check out their stories here.

No matter where you travel in the world, the pilot on your next flight could very well be a graduate of Northwestern Michigan College. Ahead of NMC Aviation’s 60th anniversary next year, we sat down with six alumni to get their stories. Josh Shivley, Class of 2014 Roots: “I have the cliché pilo...

05/29/2026

Don't forget to share your favorite books or what's currently on your nightstand with the NMC alumni community! When you submit a recommendation for our Hawk Owl Reads summer list, you'll be entered for a chance to win one of eight $50 VISA gift cards! 💳✨

Speaking of great books, Hawk Owls, have you dived into any of our May picks yet? Drop your recommendations here! 🔗https://forms.gle/8QFHGcAuW2nJi93Z9

05/28/2026

Be part of the team: Volunteer at the NMC Scholarship Open! ⛳️ We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers on Thursday, August 6, to help make our biggest annual fundraiser a massive success. Whether you can give an hour or the whole day, we have a spot for you.

🔗Click the link to sign up today!: https://signup.com/go/UOtLEvi

05/27/2026

Honoring a true cornerstone of our community and the NMC family. 🌲🕊️ The legacy of Richard C. Lewis (Class of 1956) is beautifully woven into the very history of both Northwestern Michigan College and NMC Aviation.

His connection to NMC dates back to the college's earliest days, when he attended classes in the original Quonset huts near the airport and watched our first campus buildings rise. While he valued the education that helped him go on to successfully found Universal Alarms Company, it was the lifelong friendships he made as a student that he cherished above all else.

A lifelong enthusiast of airplanes, Richard was profoundly inspired by his time working as a lab technician for Parson Aircraft Corporation on NASA’s historic Man-to-the-Moon project. Today, that deep passion for aviation lives on at NMC.

Thanks to his incredible generosity, 235 of his beautifully handmade model airplanes have been donated to the college and will be proudly displayed in the Aviation Administration building—a lasting tribute to his memory and a gift to future aviators. ✨✈️

We are deeply grateful for his life, his entrepreneurship, and the incredible legacy he leaves behind on our campus.

Click the link to read the full tribute: https://www.nmc.edu/about/foundation/alumni/outstanding-alumni-2026.html

05/26/2026

From starting college at just 15 to commanding a Boeing 747! ✈️👑

Kelly C. Lepley (Class of 1990) is a true high-flyer who achieved the coveted rank of Captain on the B-747 at age 47—a milestone that highlights an absolutely extraordinary aviation career.

Her journey took off right here at NMC. Enrolling as a teenager, she found a nurturing environment that helped her build the crucial study skills and maturity she needed to fast-track her dreams. By age 21, she had already earned all of her flight ratings, taught over 700 hours, and secured her very first airline job! 🧑‍✈️✨

She credits NMC Aviation instructors Greg Young and Don Rodriquez for drilling in the rock-solid foundation and standard of exceptionalism that guide her every single time she steps into an aircraft. We are so proud to see her soaring to such incredible heights! 🌲🌊

Click the link to read her full story: https://www.nmc.edu/about/foundation/alumni/outstanding-alumni-2026.html

05/25/2026

Today, we reflect, honor, and remember the courageous service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We carry their memory with deep respect and gratitude. To all our veteran Hawk Owls and military families, thank you for your service. 💚💙

05/21/2026

NMC Alumni & friends! This is your last call for the Traverse City Pit Spitters night on June 5th! If you want to: 🍻 Connect with old friends. 🎆 Watch the best fireworks show in town. 🦉 Show off your Hawk Owl pride...you need to register NOW. Don't strike out by waiting too long!

🎟️ https://forms.gle/7bXQMH4b5UjzDhUM6

05/20/2026

Celebrating an incredible history-maker at NMC! 🚔✨

As the college’s first-ever female Director of the Police Academy and Criminal Justice Program, Gail Kurowski (Class of 1983) has built a defining legacy in regional law enforcement. In her role, she pours her passion into a major goal: running the absolute best police academy in Michigan and inspiring the next generation of public safety professionals.

Beyond her historic professional impact, her greatest pride is rooted right at home—including a beautiful 36-year marriage and their two daughters. Gail looks to her husband as her ultimate role model, drawing daily inspiration from his fierce work ethic, his journey building his own company, and his unwavering dedication to their family. ❤️

We are so grateful for her ongoing leadership, dedication, and the standard of excellence she sets for our students every single day. 🌲🌊

Click the link to read her full story: 🔗https://www.nmc.edu/about/foundation/alumni/outstanding-alumni-2026.html