NMU Hosts MiKickoff for High School Students
Hundreds of junior and senior high school students toured campus and joined hands-on labs at Northern Michigan University's Jacobetti Complex.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Hundreds of junior and senior high school students attended a Northern Michigan University event at the Jacobetti Complex on Friday, November 6, 2026. The MiKickoff program featured a campus tour, hands-on labs, presentations from current NMU students, and an industry and academic expo.
Why it matters
MiKickoff is designed to help high school students who do not yet have a plan for higher education connect their interests and strengths to next steps after graduation. The event gives Marquette-area students direct exposure to campus life and career options close to home.
The event drew hundreds of junior and senior high school students to the Jacobetti Complex on Friday. The source does not provide an exact attendance figure or the number of participating schools.
The players
Northern Michigan University
A public university in Marquette, Michigan, that hosted the MiKickoff event for high school students.
Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential
The state agency that created the MiKickoff program to help students plan for life after high school.
Jeff Korpi
NMU Associate Vice President of Northern Student Experience, who was involved in the MiKickoff event.
The details
Students toured the NMU campus and took part in hands-on labs at the Jacobetti Complex. They also heard presentations from current NMU students and spoke with faculty members and industry professionals at an expo about career opportunities.
Timeline
Friday, November 6, 2026: MiKickoff event held at NMU's Jacobetti Complex.
Season Trajectory
The NMU event applies the statewide MiKickoff initiative, which targets high school students who lack a post-graduation plan. It places a university campus at the center of that effort by bringing students onto the Jacobetti Complex for tours, labs, and an expo.
High school students and families in the Marquette area can consider campus visits and career expos as part of post-graduation planning. Programs like MiKickoff offer a structured way to explore academic and industry options before choosing a path.
The takeaway
Students without a clear plan after high school can benefit from hands-on exposure to campus life and career fields. Early exploration through events like MiKickoff can help connect personal interests to concrete next steps.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education for other programs helping students plan after high school.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Uppermichiganssource.
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