This weekend I joined the City of Portage volunteer group to help clean up debris from the tornadoes that hit last week. I was astounded and overwhelmed by the amount of damage I saw as I walked through neighborhoods to move brush and trash to the curbs. I found myself wondering how we will ever clean up the mess - the giant piles of enormous uprooted and snapped off trees seem like they will take years to remove. I felt that my small efforts to help were just a drop in the bucket and probably weren't worth much. However, I reminded myself that great things happen through small steps: cleaning up after a disaster, raising a family, changing lives through education - they all are enormous projects that are only achieved by small bites, day after day. I hope, at the very least, that my clean-up efforts sent the message that our community cares for those who were impacted by the tornadoes. In the end, I might not be able to do much alone, but when I unite with a whole community, we can achieve great things. Thank you to all of you for the small and large things you do to make our community a better place. Together, we can make an impact.
If you would like to contribute funds to help with the tornado recovery efforts, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and our local United Way are collecting donations which they will forward to the nonprofits that are helping displaced families. To donate to the relief fund, visit kalfound.org
Alisha Siebers
Associate Vice President for College Advancement
and Executive Director for the KVCC Foundation asiebers@kvcc.edu
269.488.4821
Alumni Business Directory on Foundation Website
Our Alumni Business Directory is growing!! Check out all the alumni owned businesses.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. Business Directory 2024 Distinguished Alumni - Rose Mary Wood by Denise Thomas - Alumni Coordinator
Pictured: Dr. Marshall Washington, College President, Rose Mary Wood, Distinguished Alumni Recipient and Carrie Yonkers, Alumni Committee Chair and Executive Vice President of Bell's Brewery
It's a challenge to capture the full impact of someone's life in a few paragraphs--especially someone like Rose Wood, who lives life to the fullest!
You could say that Rose grew up with Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She was 17 years old when she began taking classes at Kalamazoo Valley. She married and left college to start a family, but over the next 10 years, she persisted in her education and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Technology. She then moved with her family to Montana, where she worked for a doctor and did the evening news there.
When her family, which included 6 young children at the time, returned to Michigan, Rose spent the next 5 years taking evening classes, earning a BA at Western Michigan University with a major in English and a minor in Elementary Education. She then earned special education endorsements from Nazareth College and WMU, along with employment specialist certification and teacher consultant certification.
Rose taught special education in several school districts and, during this time, she and her husband adopted 15 children with special needs. She returned to WMU for a Master's Degree, while teaching full time with 13 children at home. She held many titles while in education: homeless liaison, homebound education coordinator, transition coordinator, reading specialist, and more. At home, she instilled a culture of volunteerism. The Wood family is well known for their community involvement that included hosting foreign exchange students and packing gifts and food for those in need at Christmas. In 1989 the entire Wood family was presented with the STAR award by the Kalamazoo Gazette and the Voluntary Action Center for their outstanding work in their own community and beyond. According to the Gazette, the Wood family was known for its size and its enthusiasm for helping others.
After teaching for 20 years, in 2005 Rose returned to Kalamazoo Valley, this time as an instructor. She taught our students college English and writing for 10 years. Then, thinking she was ready to retire, she was contacted by the Department of Human Services and accepted the call to be an adoption mentor for Kalamazoo County. Rose's experience and expertise in special education and advocacy was well known. Trying to retire again, she was approached by The Arc of Allegan county to advocate for special needs students in the public schools. She eventually served as executive director. You can see a pattern in all of her vocations: if someone needed help, Rose was there to educate, advocate and support them.
Now truly retired, Rose has turned her attention to writing, traveling and her artwork. She's entered the Kalamazoo Valley Alumni Art show for the last 3 years and she's writing a book on the history of Cass County.
Thank you Rose, for your life of service. When you saw needs in our community you took action and poured your energy into helping others. We are grateful for your inspiring example and are proud to honor you.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Hosts Open House for its New Cosmetology and Barbering School
The public is invited to tour Kalamazoo Valley Community College's new School of Cosmetology and Barbering Thursday, May 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The nearly 10,000 square-foot lab space is located in a renovated building on the college's Texas Township Campus and includes the cosmetology school's salon and spa and the barbering school's barbershop. Staff will be available to answer questions about the new school and its program offerings. Kalamazoo Valley will provide noncredit, employer-recognized credentials which will prepare students to take state cosmetology and barbering licensing exams with the possibility to build upon these certifications. Learn more about this exciting new program here.
Alumni Spotlight - Tom Vaughn of Mattawan Mechanical Services
Tom Vaughn II, the owner of Mattawan Mechanical Services, has navigated a remarkable path from the humble beginnings of his garage-based shop. A graduate of Mattawan High School in 1983, Vaughn delved into the world of HVAC, studying at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Since 2000, he has been providing top-notch services at 28895 Red Arrow Highway in Paw Paw, Michigan.
With an impressive 36 years of experience in the HVAC industry, Vaughn has embraced the evolving landscape of his field, recognizing the importance of education along the way. "I chose Kalamazoo Valley because I started Mattawan Mechanical Services and wanted the training and degree to go along with my mechanical license," he explains. "At Kalamazoo Valley, I learned troubleshooting and basic HVAC skills." His commitment to education extends to his employees, whom he reimburses for HVAC classes taken at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Today, Mattawan Mechanical Services boasts a team of 14 dedicated employees. Their services encompass a wide range, including HVAC system servicing and installation for new construction, light industrial projects, and existing residences. They also specialize in equipment replacement and retrofitting.
Beyond the business, Vaughn and his wife, Elizabeth, are deeply rooted in their community. They firmly believe in giving back, regularly volunteering and sponsoring various community initiatives. Vaughn emphasizes the potential for a rewarding career in HVAC for anyone, stressing the importance of consistency and quality work. "Establishing a successful business doesn't happen overnight," he notes. "You have to provide excellent customer service from start to finish and be prepared for busy and slow seasons."
Tom Vaughn II's journey exemplifies dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence in the HVAC industry. Through his leadership and passion for education and community involvement, Vaughn continues to make a lasting impact both professionally and personally.
2024 Valley Giving Week Update The KVCC Foundation would like to express our sincere appreciation to all of you for your contributions to the 2024 Valley Giving Week appeal-it was a great success! During this time, the Foundation was able to raise over $5,000 in new gifts and payroll deduction pledges. This coupled with $6,600 of existing payroll deduction gifts brings the combined gifts and pledges from donors, faculty and staff to over $11,600 for unrestricted financial assistance to students.
Valley donors, faculty and staff overwhelmingly continue to support students with your time, talent and treasure. We appreciate you and everything you do to make a difference in the life of a student!
Where are Kalamazoo Valley's Alumni?
Kalamazoo Valley alumni are well represented, residing in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Across the world, our alumni reside in 17 foreign countries. The top five states that Cougar alumni call home are, by number of resident alumni, Michigan, Florida, Indiana, Texas and Illinois. Internationally the top three countries with resident Kalamazoo Valley alumni are Canada, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.
Keep us up to date on where you are. Update your contact information here.
New Interactive Exhibit Illuminates the Wonders of Skin
Explore the shape-shifting, color-changing and adaptable nature of skin and the technological innovations it inspires in the interactive, traveling exhibit �Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity,� available from Feb. 10, 2024 through June 2, 2024 at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The free exhibit aims to inspire wonder and curiosity about this uniquely complex organ, illustrate the incredibly adaptive properties of skin across all organisms, and spark dialogue and reflection about skin's role in shaping human culture and identity.
Staff Support If we can be of any assistance to you please give us a call.
Alisha Siebers Annette Chapman Denise Thomas
Executive Director Foundation Officer Alumni Association Coordinator
269.488.4821 269.488.4442 269.488.4314 asiebers@kvcc.eduachapman@kvcc.edudthomas1@kvcc.edu
