Call for Nominations for Distinguished Alumni

Take a moment and meet Kalamazoo Valley's previous Distinguished Alumni

Patrick described his mother as courageous, committed, generous and driven. Despite being on a fixed income, she kept a log of all of the gifts she'd made. "I was unaware that she supported that many organizations," Allkins said. It was her generosity that inspired Allkins to create the scholarship fund. "We wanted others to continue the legacy of education and have the opportunity to succeed. It's a way to honor my mom and pay it forward."

In 2010 he established the Janet G. Allkins Memorial Scholarship through the KVCC Foundation as a tribute to his mother, Janet. Janet died in a car accident at the age of 90. She was a legal secretary who was still working at the time of her death. "She had that work ethic which stemmed from the Depression." 

Mr. Allkins served one tour in Vietnam with the United States Navy. Upon returning, he finished his schooling at Lake Michigan College and graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in psychology.  Allkins also served for several years on the KVCC Foundation's Board of Directors as well as many other community organizations.

Meet Patrick Allkins, co-founder of Frizkin Enterprises, the holding company that owns OnStaff Group and its three divisions. Patrick and his wife founded the company in 1985 and it has grown from one office in Kalamazoo to multiple offices in Southwest Michigan.

The scholarship is awarded to one student per semester. "The more students we can help, the better," Allkins said. "We continue to contribute to the fund and it continues to grow." Eligible applicants must be enrolled in the business administration program and have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours at Kalamazoo Valley with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Allkins knows his support of the college and its students will have a lasting impact on the community. "Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers an affordable way to gain education and training," he said.

NEW Alumni Business Directory Coming Soon!

Not a business owner? We encourage you to support the Kalamazoo Valley alumni or student-owned businesses in your community by tapping into their services and offerings. You will have the ability to browse all of the listings or search for a specific service.

Kalamazoo Valley University Center: Get a Bachelor's Degree on Kalamazoo Valley's Campus!
The Kalamazoo Valley University Center offers students to complete a bachelor's degree from a partner university, on our campus - in their desired program, quickly and cost effectively. Agreements with partner universities promote the necessary coordination and collaboration that enable our students to achieve their educational goals streamlined to accommodate their personal requirements. 

Here's how it works:

• Step 1: Complete a two-year AA, AS, or AAS degree from Kalamazoo Valley;*
• Step 2: Enroll in a bachelor's degree program through the University Center and transfer your degree as two years of study;
• Step 3: Complete years three and four of your bachelor's degree and graduate with a bachelor's degree from one of our partner universities.

The process is seamless. Remaining courses are covered through university partners located on Kalamazoo Valley's campus. In many cases, a third year of study at Kalamazoo Valley's tuition rates is also possible. Students may enroll directly upon graduation from Kalamazoo Valley or at anytime in the future. See more!