Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) has announced the 2026 recipients of its Fellow award, typically touted as the college’s “highest honor.” This year’s four awardees are Doug Bishop, a former NMC board trustee; Jim and Diana Huckle, a husband-and-wife duo of “longtime supporters”; and “alumna, supporter, and volunteer” Peg Jonkhoff.

NMC has given out the Fellow award annually since 1964, bestowing the honor upon individuals “who have demonstrated influential networking on behalf of the college, a pattern of outstanding financial or personal time contributions to NMC, or as a retiree of the college, continue to contribute back to their academic or professional fields as volunteers, mentors or advisors.” A full list of previous recipients can be found on NMC’s website.

Bishop served on the NMC Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2024, totaling 18 years of service. He was initially appointed in July 2006 to fill a board vacancy, and went on to run for – and win – several elected terms as a trustee. In a Monday press release announcing this year's Fellow honorees, NMC also describes him as “a significant financial supporter” of the college who “holds emeritus status with the NMC Foundation Board.” Bishop also practices law in Traverse City (and has since 1977) and is a retired captain of the U.S. Naval Reserve.

Jim and Diana Huckle “set a high standard for philanthropic contributions and influential networking on behalf of the college,” according to the press release, “with annual giving that began in 1991 and continues today with catalytic and transformative gifts, particularly toward the college’s newer, innovative programs such as the Experiential Learning Institute and freshwater initiatives.” The pair are also honorary NMC Foundation Board members.

Diana Huckle’s Fellow award is the only one of this year’s four to be given posthumously, as she passed away in 2024.

Jonkhoff, finally, is an NMC alumna, having graduated from the college in 1976. She is well-known throughout the Traverse City community as the vice president of the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, which bears her family name. Previous to receiving the Fellow award, Jonkhoff, was named an “Outstanding Alumnus” of NMC in 2013. She also serves on both the NMC Foundation Board and the steering committee for the college’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have individuals like Doug, the Huckles and Peg, who are so dedicated to NMC's mission,” said Mark Keely, current chair of the NMC Board of Trustees. “They are all truly deserving of this prestigious honor.”

Pictured (from left): Bishop, Jim Huckle holding a photo of late wife Diana, and Jonkhoff.