InvestUP Partners with Upper Peninsula Universities to Advance Regional Economy
The Upper Peninsula is fortunate to be home to three universities, collectively supporting an enrollment of more than 15,000 students. These institutions of higher learning cultivate a vibrant pool of skilled individuals educated in the region. To leverage this demographic advantage, InvestUP has collaborated with Northern Michigan University (NMU) and Michigan Technological University (MTU) to establish two new programs that provide students the chance to gain practical job experience in the U.P. while pursuing their studies, highlighting the abundant opportunities that await them here after graduation.
NMU Rural Fellows Program
The Rural Leadership Fellowship, a program is a public-private partnership with InvestUP, is a paid and scholarship-supported applied learning experience for students interested in rural economic development and public sector careers. Student fellows are mentored by an Advisory Committee of experienced leaders in planning and executing a project in the U.P. that has been identified as a community economic development priority.
MTU SHERPA Program
Offered in partnership with InvestUP, this Entrepreneurial Fellows Program helps nascent startups get on their feet so that they can take the next steps toward developing their businesses and better leverage existing support resources. Student fellows from Michigan Technological University and Northern Michigan University are connected with early-stage companies across the U.P. to help them reach critical milestones in market validation, customer engagement, and commercialization – building regional momentum while giving students real-world experience in taking on leadership roles with the companies they are serving.
SHERPA FELLOWS
Chris Anderson
NMU STUDENT & FOUNDER, RECYKOAL
“The Sherpa program gave me invaluable, real-world experience that pushed me beyond the classroom and into hands-on problem solving. I was able to explore innovative technologies while learning how to apply them to real challenges faced by businesses and communities. This experience sharpened my skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability—qualities I’ll carry forward as I work to create solutions that make a lasting impact.”
Sergiy Blackwood
NMU STUDENT
“The unique nature of the fellowship develops an unusually diverse range of skills beyond what we learn in the classroom. Those skills set fellows apart from others as we apply for internships, jobs, or graduate programs. This program welcomes students with all backgrounds and perfectly fits at the intersection of business and science.”
Liv Jarzabek
NMU STUDENT & MID MARKET CLIENT MANAGER, LENOVA
“The Sherpa program shaped me into the saleswoman I am today, teaching me how to navigate the professional world, communicate with confidence, and understand the inner workings of complex businesses. I learned that while ideas may start with one person, it takes a team to bring them to life—and that sales is the driving force behind it all. The Sherpa program built on this foundation by focusing on customer discovery and research, showing me how to ask the right questions, uncover real needs, and use insights to create value. Together, these experiences taught me that business success starts with understanding people.”
Emmanuel Teigong
MTU STUDENT & CO-FOUNDER, SOLIDWAVE SOLUTIONS
“Participating in the Entrepreneurial Fellows program has been one of the most transformative experiences of my academic journey. I was able to sharpen my skills in customer discovery, market validation, and business acumen, as well as networking and building meaningful relationships within the innovation ecosystem. I gained firsthand experience engaging with real-world stakeholders, evaluating market opportunities, and navigating the challenges of technology commercialization.”
David Shonnard
FOUNDER, RESURGENT
“The support from the Fellows was instrumental in learning of challenges faced by specific candidate lead customers identified by the students was very beneficial and enabled us to come up with a system design for how their waste in a circular material reuse system.”
NMU FELLOWS
PAST PARTICIPANTS
Lexi Hagan
"It's like a little slice of paradise, and if I can do something that helps impact the economy to make it better for U.P. residents, that would be awesome. I'm really grateful to be selected for this fellowship. It will allow me to make some great connections with community leaders before I graduate in December, which might give me a leg up in the job market. It will also impact me as a student to get practical experience alongside all of the concepts I'm learning about in class and see how they apply to the real world."
Due to the success of the program, Lexi chose to start a career in economic development, and now serves as the Executive Director of the Menominee Business Development Corporation. Her role is to attract new businesses to the area, retain existing businesses, and help them identify available grant opportunities.
Anne McIlhagga
"As a student, it's wonderful and inspiring to see pieces of what I'm learning in my classes come together through real-world applications. Others wait years for that to happen, but I'm getting it now. This will give me an advantage as I pursue graduate programs and a future career in local government, especially in a rural environment. I'm also able to network with those who serve in Marquette's government and on the fellowship advisory board. They are valuable resources I wouldn't be able to access without this fellowship opportunity."
OUR NMU RURAL FELLOWS
Miki Rogers
Miki Rogers is working with Partridge Creek Compost in Ishpeming. The focus of her project is designing a comprehensive framework to expand and support the local food system. Through this work, she is engaging with a variety of stakeholders throughout the local food supply and processing chain.
Rachel Raak
Rachel Raak is assisting the Village of Laurium in developing its first 5-year Parks and Recreation Plan. Through this work, she is helping to support a major priority for the village, which will enable public funding eligibility to transform public park and recreation sites, such as the Gipp Ice Arena, ball fields, and other public recreation access areas.
Travis Garvey
Travis Garvey is working with the Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity to support the rollout of a new program that assists underserved rural communities in developing plans for priority projects that are required for various public funding sources. Through this work, he is assisting the agency to provide planning support and technical assistance for underserved communities while also helping communities to navigate cross-governmental resources, including state agencies, institutions of higher learning, philanthropy, and other partners.
Aimee Doyle
Aimee Doyle is working with the Marquette County Emergency Management Department to implement a small business and nonprofit disaster resiliency initiative. She is learning nationally recognized best practices in emergency management, homeland security, and workplace safety while assisting the department in aligning federal and state assistance for small businesses and nonprofits with emergency management aid.
WILDCAT COLLECTIVE
The Wildcat Collective: Leaders of Honor and Ambition is a partnership between Northern Michigan University and InvestUP designed to unlock potential and retain talent in the U.P. This multi-year program provides NMU students with paid internships, mentorship, and leadership training, removing financial barriers while strengthening community ties. Open to students from all backgrounds, the program fosters inclusivity, drives population growth, and connects education to real-world opportunity. By developing the next generation of leaders and helping them build careers in the region, the Wildcat Collective is investing in both students and the U.P.’s future.
WILDCAT COLLECTIVE PARTICIPANTS
Erika Rivers
"Once I realized I could start over and move to Marquette, I found home. I quickly became inspired by the way the community would consistently come together to advocate for the surrounding natural areas. I found my passion in environmental science and sustainability, and am pursuing a degree at North Michigan University and through my involvement on campus with the Wildcat Collective Leaders of Honor & Ambition Mentorship Program I have been given the opportunity to intern with the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy. I am very thankful at this opportunity to work alongside inspiring professionals in the career I am pursuing"
Alex Cline
“Living and working in the U.P. has challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s taught me how to be resourceful, how to find strength in solitude, and how to keep going even when things feel uncertain.”
Meegan Smith
"I came to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula a few years ago after my first heartbreak. I was in a really bad place mentally, but being amongst the red pines, paper birch, precious woodland creatures, roaring rivers, and Mother Superior made my transition back to reality so liberating. I came here with what felt like nothing, and I was met with an abundance of love, compassion, and community. I have made a home here with the friends I’ve collected through my education at Northern Michigan University and employment with the Marquette County Office of the Public Defender. As a born and bred Michigander, I can confidently say that there is no place on Earth quite as sweet as the Upper Peninsula. Living here is like taking your first deep breath after a long winter slumber, like a warm embrace from your grandmother, both rejuvenating and empowering."
IN THE NEWS
- Rural Leadership Fellowship Continues to Boost Regional Community and Development Projects
- Travis Garvey Joins Building the Bridge to Talk Capacity Building in Action
- Student ‘Sherpas’ Help Early-Stage U.P. Companies
- Rural Leadership Fellows Advance U.P. Projects
- Hagen is New MBDC Executive Director
- NMU and MTU to Collaborate on Fellows Program
- Rural Leadership Fellows Help Advance Community Projects
- New NMU Fellowship Promotes Economic Development in the U.P.
- New Wildcat Collective Partnership Benefits Students, U.P. Communities