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E-Newsletter | December 2023

Director's Message
Dacher Keltner, a professor at U.C. Berkeley who teaches "The Science of Happiness," is convinced that experiencing feelings of awe is a key part of a happy, fulfilling life. I completely agree! Since I have started working at Kalamazoo Valley, I am filled with awe as I walk through our campuses. Everywhere, I see signs of caring, courage and determination. I hear lively voices of engaged instructors flowing from classrooms, I see readers deep into their studies in our beautiful libraries, I watch groups of friends laughing together in the hallways. And, even beyond our campus walls, I notice all of our community partners, including you, caring about these dedicated students. I'm truly amazed by the community we are creating together. Pure joy!

Alisha Siebers
Associate Vice President for College Advancement
and Executive Director for the KVCC Foundation
asiebers@kvcc.edu
269.488.4821

Student Spotlight - Matthew Maka
A desire to keep his sister's car repair costs to a minimum sparked Matthew Maka's interest in studying to become an automotive technician. "I didn't want her to pay an arm and a leg after she crashed her car," he said. "My Dad and I helped fix her car and got her back on the road."

Maka, an Allegan High School graduate, ruled out an expensive automotive program at a college in Ohio before committing to Kalamazoo Valley. Receiving the Marshall Beachler Professional Trades Scholarship solidified his decision. "I'm very grateful for the support of this scholarship," he said. "It helps me pay for all of my classes and books. It has really helped me out tremendously this semester. It gives me peace of mind that I have support." He works fulltime at a Toyota dealership during the summer and parttime while he's taking classes.

Maka has always enjoyed school. He maintained a 4.0 grade point average during his sophomore to senior years of high school. He's also earning high marks while taking 17 credit hours this semester at Kalamazoo Valley. He credits his instructors with keeping him interested and motivated. "All of my auto instructors have been amazing," he said. "They're all different, but all are amazing." Maka loves working on cars and is confident that there will always be a demand for skilled auto technicians. "It's definitely a great investment," he said of his training. "You can definitely learn a lot and save yourself a lot of time and money. Everyone drives a car so techs are always going to be needed."

To apply for the Marshall Beachler Professional Trades Scholarship, Maka was required to submit an essay about his goals for the next five years. "I want to be a master technician for Toyota and to be able to fix anything on any kind of car," he said. Because of all of the hands-on instruction he's receiving in the auto lab at Kalamazoo Valley, Maka is certain that his goals are within reach. He stated "I'm certain that when I'm ready, my instructors can help me find a job by the end of the day,"

Michigan's Higher Education Goal
Michigan's goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from 49% today to 60% by 2030.

Sixty by 30 seeks to build a better Michigan in three ways:

Increase opportunity for all Michiganders and give residents greater access to the education and skills that create opportunities for better jobs and bigger paychecks.
Close the skills gap that challenges the success of our businesses and our state's prosperity. Jobs requiring skilled employees today, as well as jobs on the horizon, demand greater education and training than ever before.
Make Michigan more competitive for inclusive economic growth.

Sixty by 30 Strategic Plan

Giving Trends

Americans have always been known for their generosity. Just as in other difficult times, Americans stepped up giving during the pandemic. Now, the social sector is reporting trends that showed declines as the economy shifts and need is not as acute. Though total giving in current dollars has declined for the first time since 2009, in inflation-adjusted dollars total giving was comparable to pre-pandemic levels.

Some quick facts: In 2022, Americans gave almost $500b ($499.33 billion) to charity, a 3.4% decline compared to 2021. If you adjust this for inflation, the decline was 10.5%. The good news is that most issue areas received at or above their past funding levels. The areas that saw increases aligned with original donor preferences.*

*Source: Smith, Suzanne "Charitable Giving Trends from the Giving USA 2023 Report" LinkedIn July 13,2023

Valley Honors Program Students Win Statewide Awards
Four of Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Honors Program students were recently recognized as the finalists and winners of the Michigan Political Science Association's (MIPSA) statewide Undergraduate Student Paper Award. The news was announced on Oct. 20 at MIPSA's annual conference at the University of Michigan - Flint. The students include:

Ariadne (Aria) Markou | winner | "An Examination of the Work-for-Hire Doctrine in Copyright Law"
Janet Cencer | finalist | "Jury Nullification as a Constitutional Right"
Sadie Ferguson | finalist | "White Flight in Kalamazoo, Michigan"
Heather Weinert | finalist | "The Polarized Mind: The Psychology of Ideological Polarization"

"Saying that I am honored to win this award is an understatement," Markou said. "My topic was extremely personal to me, primarily because I wrote this paper for my sister and all her fellow educators who want [property] rights over what they create." more

NOW OPEN - Furniture Exhibit Featuring Two Centuries of History

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum's new "Off the Shelves: Exploring the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Furniture Collection" exhibit treats the public to a rare peek at its furniture collection that spans over 200 years of history, from one-of-a-kind items to mass-produced pieces. See Dobbin the horse, which was used to train cavalry officers; a reproduction of King Tut's throne that was on display at Gilmore's department store for years; the neon Hoekstra Hardware sign that graced the back entrance of the store for several decades; and other pieces that all tell stories. Check out the promo video here! The exhibit runs through Jan. 21. Entry to the museum and exhibit are free.

Update Your Contact Information

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Staff Support
If we can be of any assistance to you please give us a call.

Alisha Siebers Annette Chapman
Executive Director Foundation Officer
269.488.4821 269.488.4442
asiebers@kvcc.edu achapman@kvcc.edu

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Kalamazoo Valley Community College · 6767 W O Ave · Kalamazoo, MI 49009-7402 · USA