Amazing news! Community college is now free for students who completed high school in 2023 and 2024. The State of Michigan's recently passed budget includes a Community College Guarantee, which covers the cost of tuition for a credential or an associate degree.
To be eligible, students need to attend full-time and have a high school degree or equivalent. Those who qualify for Pell grants will also receive $1,000 from the State in addition to their tuition coverage. For those who are interested in coming back to school after a break, the MI Reconnect program also offers free tuition to returning students who are 21+ and who have not yet earned a degree or credential.
We here at Kalamazoo Valley are excited to open our doors to those who might have wanted to earn a degree but couldn't afford it. At the Foundation, we are working harder than ever to raise funds for our students because we know that once these students get their foot in the door, they are going to need support as they reduce their work hours to attend college full time. What an exciting time for our region! Dreams are going to come true this Fall Semester!
Alisha Siebers
Associate Vice President for College Advancement
and Executive Director for the KVCC Foundation asiebers@kvcc.edu
269.488.4821
Kalamazoo Valley Student Tyesha Powe Promotes a Culture of Giving
Thirty-three-year-old Kalamazoo Valley student Tyesha Powe has traveled the country, networked with countless community organizations and enjoys attending an array of engaging events - all while giving back to the community. She's done this through volunteering for more than 300 community events and activities over the last 15 years.
"Volunteerism is important to me because it's a way to give back to my community," Powe explained. "It's a way to pay it forward and is the gift that keeps on giving. I want to revitalize my community and help others see the beauty within it."
The 2009 Loy Norrix High School graduate was first exposed to volunteerism during her time as a high school student. PeaceJam, a U.S.-based global youth organization led by Nobel Peace laureates, helped to educate her on the impact of volunteerism. Through the initiative, Powe collected non-perishable items for the needy, learned about the Nobel Peace laureates and met human rights activist and theologian Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Powe's commitment to volunteering was cemented in 2015 through actively choosing to say "yes" to opportunities. She attributes the change in mindset to reading the book, "Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person" by Shonda Rhimes.
Powe keeps a thorough record of her volunteer efforts by collecting photos of each of her experiences. She's volunteered with Western Michigan University, the Kalamazoo Civic Theater, the Kalamazoo Public Library, Public Media Network, Care Collective of Southwest Michigan, the Family Health Center, Cradle Kalamazoo and more.
Powe says her experiences have helped her to enjoy life while inspiring others to do the same. "I've become an advocate for fun," Powe said. "I've gathered people together to experience life through volunteering. I'm kind of a jack of all trades for helping people have fun, connect and engage." One of her highlights includes meeting world famous retired NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar while ushering during his visit to Miller Auditorium in 2017.
Powe's dedicated mindset brought her to Kalamazoo Valley in 2023 to pursue an associate degree in general studies. She is a student in the Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program (KVAAP) and has enjoyed exploring different career paths while excelling in college. New Scholarship - Alumnus PJ Mielke
The PJ Mielke Wind Turbine Scholarship has been recently established. PJ attended and graduated from Kalamazoo Valley's Wind Turbine program as a Service Wind Turbine Technician. This was a second career for PJ as he was in the military and later worked in crime prevention. After graduating from the program, he went on to work at a wind turbine company and became a valuable resource as the go-to man turbine building and problem solving. This scholarship was established in honor of PJ so that others can also have the opportunity to learn this career that he so loves. Anyone enrolled in the Kalamazoo Valley Wind Turbine program is eligible.
Museum Planetarium Show of Queen's Biggest Hits Coming in August Eleven of Queen's biggest hits, such as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Another One Bites the Dust" and "You're My Best Friend" have been paired with incredible full-dome graphic visuals to create a memorable planetarium experience. The 38-minute "The Queen Light Show: From Mercury With Love" will be presented every Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in August. The show is intended for grades 5 and up. The cost is only $3, with free general admission to the museum. Click here to buy tickets and to learn more about the show.Update Your 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. Help us stay in touch with you by submitting your online contact form.
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