Introducing the NEW Alumni e-Newsletter This month Kalamazoo Valley Community College's alumni newsletter ushers in a new design and format. We're compiling recent Kalamazoo Valley news and events as well as alumni information designed to quickly keep you informed and connected. We hope you will enjoy this newsletter, along with future updates to the alumni pages on our website and Facebook page. Director's Message Alumni play a vital role in the growth of our college, students and communities. We here at Kalamazoo Valley Community College are grateful for all that you do to improve our region, state and country.
The college is proud to be a significant partner with the state of Michigan in the goal to increase the level of education in Michigan. The state is aiming to increase post-high school education from 49 percent of the population to 60 percent by 2030. The results will have a tremendous impact on our communities.
As more people go back to college or chose to work on some type of post-secondary credential with us, we are seeing an increased need for scholarships and financial support. Returning students face real barriers in areas such as the high cost of childcare, transportation, housing or the tools needed for their new careers.
In this season of giving, please consider contributing to the Alumni Scholarship Fund held at the KVCC Foundation. One hundred percent of your gift goes to students who need some extra support. Thank you again for all that you do to make us proud!
Alisha Siebers
Associate Vice President for College Advancement
and Executive Director for the KVCC Foundation asiebers@kvcc.edu
269.488.4821
Introduction of KVCC Foundation and Alumni Staff
Dr. Alisha Siebers joined Kalamazoo Valley Community College and the Foundation in August. Alisha came to Kalamazoo Valley from the Vicksburg Cultural Arts Center, where she was the director of their regional art scene. She brings a deep appreciation for our students because she taught college courses for 20 years. She also brings to the Foundation a decade of fundraising experience, including many years leading United Way campaigns. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of California-Berkeley, and is a specialist in Victorian science and literature. Also, fun fact-four of her children are attending college or graduate school this year!
Annette Chapman recently joined the team in October as Foundation Officer. Most recently, Annette was the Senior Vice President of the Battle Creek Community Foundation where she managed the grantmaking and scholarship functions. During her 17 years at the BCCF, she specialized in project management, operations, development, and strategic planning. She also served as the Executive Director of the Battle Creek College Access Network where she assisted people in achieving post-secondary credentials. Annette is a graduate of Michigan State University.
Denise Thomas is the Coordinator of Alumni Affairs. She began employment at Kalamazoo Valley in 2013, and is an alum of the college herself, having graduated in 2001. She went on to earn a bachelor degree in 2012 from Spring Arbor University. As an alumna, she is enthusiastic about what Kalamazoo Valley offers to students and the community.
Kalamazoo Valley's new Mascot!
This summer the cat was literally let out of the bag!
Meet our new Cougar mascot. Students are currently submitting name suggestions and the new name will be announced soon. Stay tuned!
Alumni Business Directory Coming Soon Beginning with the new year, check out online our new Alumni Owned Business Directory. The directory was created to highlight the accomplishments of alumni and provide a searchable directory for students, alumni and the community who wish to do business with fellow Cougars.
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. Get started by browsing all of the listings or search for a specific service.
Alumni Spotlight Kalamazoo Valley alumna Heather Briggs is a photographer who graduated magna cum laude from Andrews University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography. Her passion is sharing her story of overcoming severe dyslexia. Her series titled A Stupid Brilliance was displayed in the ArtPrize competition in 2017. She also received third place in the 2018 West Michigan Area Show. Her goal is to inspire others to overcome their weaknesses through their strengths.
"I loved taking art classes at Kalamazoo Valley," Briggs said. "It got me into the dark room. I loved the atmosphere at the Center for New Media. It's urban and edgy and I love that the instructors are very open. If you ever need help, they're there for you."
Briggs said she was destined to be an artist. "I was pretty much doodling, coloring and making random things from the age of four," she explained. She was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 10 and found participation in art programs to be extremely helpful.
Because she has experimented with many different mediums, Briggs has become comfortable with learning through the creative process. "Some pieces I keep just because I hate them," she said. "It's ok to fail. It's ok to take risks and learn from it. Failure is part of the process. You make, fail, make, fail, make. You have to be able to grow, adapt and transition."
Last year, Brigg's Flight of Fern series won the Director's Choice award in Kalamazoo Valley's Alumni+ Art Show. "That sent me on a path of exploring media," she said. "I've gotten several commission jobs from it and I'm developing a following." Flight of Fern is an origami piece. "I love taking a piece of paper and turning it into a two-dimensional shape," she explained. "The process fascinated me and I started falling in love with shapes."
Briggs is always looking for items that she can incorporate into her artwork. "I collect botanicals, small flowers, small leaves - anything that would make a good print. I encourage other people to see the detail in nature." View her work and learn more about Heather Briggs here.
News Worthy
Articulation Agreement
Administrators from Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College signed more than 50 articulation agreements on Monday, November 6th, which will allow students to transfer seamlessly between the two institutions. Read more
Kalamazoo Valley to Open School of Cosmetology and Barbering In response to the growing need for hairstylists and personal care professionals, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is establishing a School of Cosmetology and Barbering. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects over the next 10 years that the demand for personal appearance workers will grow by 13%, hairdressers and hairstylists by 11% and barbers by 8%.
Classes will be taught in renovated spaces on the college's Texas Township Campus, located at 6767 West O Avenue in Kalamazoo. The nearly 10,000 square-foot lab space will include the cosmetology school's salon and spa and the barbering school's barbershop. Both spaces will eventually offer discounted services to the community so students can hone their skills.
Enrollment will open in Fall 2024 to anyone interested in a career in cosmetology and/or barbering. Learn more
November 28, 2023marks the day of the global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Please consider a gift to the KVCC Foundation's Alumni Scholarship Fundand make a difference in the world of a future alumni.
*All gifts to the Kalamazoo Valley Community Foundation are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. You should consult your tax advisor or applicable federal and state income tax instructions.
Mug Club Memberships Now Available Kalamazoo Valley's sustainable brewing program is now offering $40 Mug Club memberships. Mug Club members will receive the following benefits for Taps On Tuesday events for the 2023-2024 school year:
A 20 oz. numbered, Kalamazoo Valley Sustainable Brewing branded mug
$1 off all draft beer food and specials
Priority registration for special events and membership renewal
There are 50 available membership positions, so come grab one while they last.
Center for New Media Art created by three local artists is on display at the Center for New Media at Kalamazoo Valley throughout the month of November. The Colors of (Un)Common Childhood features the work of local artists Heather Briggs, Heather Boersma and Jacqueline Baerwald. The show opens during November Art Hop at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. Learn more
Visiting Writers Series Kalamazoo Valley's "About Writing" Visiting Writers series is coordinated by English instructor Julie Stotz-Ghosh, Ph.D., and offers students and community members the opportunity to talk with professional writers and listen to their work. All events are free, open to the public and include a craft talk and a reading by the author.
BONNIE JO CAMPBELL with film producer/director Haroula Rose
Feb. 2 | Dale B. Lake Auditorium
Texas Township Campus | time TBA
In partnership with the Kalamazoo Film Society and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Kalamazoo Valley will host a conversation with Campbell and Rose about the film adaptation of Campbell's book "Once Upon a River," a meandering story of survival about a Native American girl's search for her estranged mother. Campbell will also discuss her new novel, "The Waters," which will be released in January 2024. On an island in the Great Massasauga Swamp - an area known as "The Waters" to the residents of nearby Whiteheart, Michigan - herbalist Hermine "Herself" Zook has healed the local women of their ailments for generations.
Hot Chocolate Holiday
Visit the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for more family fun after the Nov. 18 Holiday Parade in downtown Kalamazoo. Enjoy free winter-themed crafts and activities from 12 - 3 p.m. Create your own "hot chocolate" ornament and show off your coloring talent while learning about the upcoming winter program events at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. In the Innovation Lab, learn about density and how to make a marshmallow sink. Visit the planetarium to experience "Let It Snow;" a full-dome video with images choreographed to classic holiday music. This show is both fun and suitable for any age and will be offered at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Planetarium tickets are $3 per person. Museum general admission is free.Update Your Alumni Contact Information
Have you moved? Changed your name or have a different email address? If you have new contact information, please take a moment and complete the Information Update form.
