Honoring Michelle York - art teacher impacting JNC

Honoring the Memory of Michelle York 

The JNC Staff is honoring the memory of Michelle York, a former art teacher at Lahser High School, who sadly passed away at the end of March. During her time teaching, Mrs. York’s class contributed to one of the most memorable aspects of our Nature Center’s facade, the two Great Horned Owl murals that flank our front door. 

As one of two classes that helped complete this project, Mrs. York’s students created the small tiled border that creates the frame of the mural. Without their creative contributions, the JNC wouldn’t be the same. We are so honored to house a piece of Mrs. York and her students’ artistic legacy.

Michelle grew up in Rochester, Michigan. She attended the Center for Creative Studies where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Michelle expressed her love for art while teaching for 28 years in the Bloomfield Hills School District. In 2018, she moved to Traverse City to retire and found an amazing community of local artists and dear friends.