Published: April 22, 2009 06:50 am      

NMC names outstanding alumni

TRAVERSE CITY -- Northwestern Michigan College named three people as 2009 Outstanding Alumni.

-- Verna Bartnick, the owner of Old Mission Tavern and Bella Galleria, studied sculpture at NMC in the 1960s. She was an early supporter of the Dennos Museum Center. Her sculptures can be seen at St. Francis Catholic Church, at Clinch Park and in the Tanis Building lobby on NMC's main campus.

-- Bruce Byl received his associate's degree in aviation from NMC in 1979 and his bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. He previously was president and CEO of a Chicago-based Steelcase commercial furniture distributor and is now director of real estate and special projects for Northwestern Bank. He is the founder of Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan and has served on the NMC Foundation board.

-- Tim Dunn graduated from the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in 1992 and has been a registered pilot since 1998. He is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve and served five tours in Iraq.

The alumni will be recognized at NMC's commencement May 2.