Commencement is on April 29

Kalamazoo Valley Community College will be celebrating its 81st commencement at 4:00 p.m. on April 29th at Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University. It’s free and open to the public. The ceremony will be broadcast live through Public Media Network on channel 191 with Charter Communications and channel 99 with AT&T U-Verse.

President of Kalamazoo Valley Community College Dr. Marilyn Schlack will deliver her final address as president, as she is set to retire after 35 years with the college.

Graduating student-athlete Ralph (Tre) Stanley Humes III was selected as the student speaker. Dr. LaSonda Wells, counselor, has been named the faculty speaker.

“I chose Tre to speak at the commencement because of his excellent character and standout leadership on the basketball team as well as in the classroom,” said Athletic Director and Student Relations Coordinator Russ Panico. “Tre is a great representative of the student body.”

Despite his busy schedule juggling basketball and his academics, Humes graduated with a 3.7 GPA and has received offers from several four-year universities to continue his basketball career in the fall. He will graduate with a business administration degree with hopes to earn a bachelor degree in business as well and is leaning towards investment banking.

“The hardest part about being a student athlete would have to be finding a good balance of working out and maintaining great study habits when you are physically exhausted all of the time,” said Humes. “The positive work environment at Kalamazoo Valley definitely helped me succeed. The most important advice that I have for current students would be to go to class. As long as instructors see your face every day they are usually more than willing to help you if you are struggling in an area. Also, it’s so important to utilize all of the resources that Valley has to offer.”

Dr. LaSonda Wells said she is also very honored to be chosen as faculty speaker. “Being a counselor, I get to work with many students along their academic journey. As a student marshal I’m usually back stage congratulating students and preparing to walk with them on stage lead them to their seat, so it's an additional privilege to give some words of wisdom from the stage.”