North Central to celebrate Class of 2026 graduates on May 8

North Central Michigan College will mark the end of another successful academic year with two important ceremonies on May 8.

The college will hold its 66th annual commencement exercises at 7 p.m. inside Petoskey Plastics Arena in the college’s Athletic Center. Nearly 300 graduates will participate in commencement. A reception for graduates and guests will follow the ceremony.

“Commencement marks both an achievement and a beginning,” said NCMC President David Roland Finley. “We’re proud of what our graduates have accomplished and excited to see how they carry that momentum into our communities, workforce, and beyond.”

Frank Ettawageshik, a longtime Northern Michigan leader and former Tribal chairman of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, will deliver the commencement address.

A Harbor Springs resident, Ettawageshik has dedicated more than 40 years to public service, including 16 years in tribal elected leadership, 14 of those as chairman. During his tenure, he helped advance key regional and international agreements, including the Tribal and First Nations Great Lakes Water Accord and the United League of Indigenous Nations Treaty.

He currently serves as an appellate justice for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Court and has been executive director of the United Tribes of Michigan since 2009. His work spans state, national, and international boards and commissions focused on environmental stewardship, tribal sovereignty, and education.

“Frank’s leadership reflects a deep commitment to community, stewardship, and service,” Finley said. “His perspective and life’s work will resonate with our graduates as they prepare to make a difference in their communities.”

In addition to his public service, Ettawageshik is a traditional Anishinaabe storyteller and potter whose work is held in collections worldwide.

During the ceremony, college officials will confer an honorary degree of Community Service upon former trustee Phil Millard in recognition of his longstanding leadership and service to North Central Michigan College.

Millard served on the NCMC Board of Trustees for nearly two decades, including 11 years as chair. During that time, he helped guide key initiatives that expanded access, strengthened student support and enhanced campus facilities.

Millard’s contributions supported the launch of Early College programs, the establishment of the Career Development Center, and the college’s approval for distance delivery. He also played a role in projects including the Mobile Fab Lab, library renovations, the Harris Sculpture Garden, and the Campus Cupboard food pantry, as well as the Building Tomorrow Together campaign and the launch of intercollegiate athletics.

“Phil’s leadership and steady commitment to North Central have made a lasting difference for our students and our community,” NCMC President David Roland Finley said. “This recognition reflects the depth of his service and how deserving he is of this honor.”

North Central’s nurse pinning ceremony, the annual tradition that marks the completion of students’ nursing coursework, will be held immediately prior to commencement, at 4 p.m. in Petoskey Plastics Arena. Twenty-six student-nurses will receive their pins. A reception for nurses and their families will follow the pinning ceremony.

Joseph Variot, a North Central Michigan College nursing alumnus and adjunct nursing instructor, will serve as the keynote speaker for the nurse pinning ceremony.

Variot’s path to nursing reflects a journey shaped by years of work, family life, and a commitment to serving others. After beginning his college education at Oakland Community College and Wayne State University, he built a career in construction, owning and operating his own contracting business for nearly two decades. He later returned to the classroom to pursue his interest in healthcare, completing his nursing prerequisites at North Central before graduating as a registered nurse in 2012 and earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014.

Following graduation, Variot gained experience in long-term care and at Munson Medical Center, where he served as a floor nurse, charge nurse, and patient care coordinator. He currently works as a pool nurse at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center and serves as an adjunct instructor at North Central, helping prepare the next generation of nurses.

Both nurse pinning and commencement will be livestreamed for those unable to attend. 

For more information about both events, including a list of graduates by academic program, visit North Central's Commencement webpage.