Alumni Taps on Tuesday - JOIN US!
You are invited to join us for special Taps on Tuesday events on March 29 and April 26. These events, are designed to help you reconnect with the college, visit with friends and learn more about all the great things happening at the college!
These social events will be held in the 418 Restaurant at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building on the Bronson Health Living Campus from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Hosted by the college’s alumni+ group, the amazing skills of college culinary and brewing students will be on display for your enjoyment. Offerings include student-made beers, a local wine selection and shareable appetizers, all for just $5. All college community members and alumni are welcome to join the fun! Capacity is limited, so make your reservation now. Questions? Contact Denise Thomas at dthomas1@kvcc.edu.
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Ron Young Business Scholarship Helps Pave the Way for Student’s Success
Ron Young, a Kalamazoo Valley business instructor for 36 years before his retirement in August 2021, established the business scholarship to help students who may not qualify for other forms of financial aid. Young challenges other potential donors to, “Think about how much we spent when we were 18, 19 or 20 years old. We didn’t have a lot of resources, so $250, $500 or $1,000 could make all the difference for a student. It doesn’t require a lot of money, but it makes a big impact and shows a student that somebody believes in them and cares about them.”
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April is Community College Month
April is Community College Month. This month-long campaign is designed to increase awareness about the impact that community colleges, like Kalamazoo Valley Community College, have on the communities we serve.
The past two years have proven beyond a doubt that Kalamazoo Valley is an essential leader in the region. Kalamazoo Valley provides access to affordable, high-quality education for people from all walks of life. The credentials earned by our students prepare them to transfer to four-year universities or to fill in-demand careers in fields including healthcare, skilled and professional trades, technology, art and new media, culinary arts and much more. Community College Month is our opportunity to remind people about the huge influence our graduates made on the vitality of Southwest Michigan.
Many donors are reporting that they are ready to expand their philanthropy. The KVCC Foundation is able to provide more than $500,000 annually for student scholarships, yet needs outpace our ability to provide financial assistance. So that more students can achieve their educational goals, please consider making a gift in support of Kalamazoo Valley’s student scholarship fund during Community College Month. Learn more at kvcc.edu/foundation.
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Foodways Symposium
The 2022 Kalamazoo Foodways Symposium will take place April 5 - 9. The event is meant to inspire and empower the Greater Kalamazoo community to honor its agricultural history and heritage cuisines, celebrate good food and work together to build a just and healthy future for all.
This year’s theme of “Central American and Mexican foodways will be explored with experts both online and in person through lectures, workshops, demonstrations, food tastings and an outdoor Foodways Festival. The virtual keynote speaker, chef Claudia Albertina Ruiz Santiz, can be viewed live from a personal electronic device or at Kalamazoo College’s Dalton Theater on Tuesday, April 5. Experience live online cooking demonstrations during the evenings of April 6, 7 and 8. Participants will learn from expert instructors about fascinating cultural and heritage food topics as well as how to cook the food at home. Registration for these live virtual sessions will be available in the coming month at kalamazoofodways.org.
On Saturday, April 9, the symposium will conclude with an outdoor Foodways Festival on the property of the Food Innovation Center (FIC) of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, located at 224 E. Crosstown Parkway in downtown Kalamazoo. The Foodways Festival will include many who contribute to the community culture of Central American and Mexican foodways in Kalamazoo. There will be booths from local businesses and nonprofit organizations, food trucks, exhibitors, presentations, panel discussions, activities for kids, workshops, music and more. This event will take place rain or shine and includes a close-up look at the FIC’s greenhouse and innovative hydroponic and aquaponics growing systems.
The Foodways Symposium is a community collaboration made possible in part by a grant from the KVCC Foundation. The program and activities provide historical cultural and practical insights into food and food systems in Southwest Michigan. It serves as a convening point for students, practitioners and the community to come together to build a strong, vibrant local food system.
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Green Crystaline, by Stephen Moranto, 2021 Best of Show, glazed ceramic
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Calling All Kalamazoo Valley Alumni
We invite you to participate in the 11th annual juried Alumni+ Art Show to be held at the college’s Center for New Media on the downtown Arcadia Commons Campus. Held in conjunction with the June 3 Art Hop, this exhibition is a way to showcase works by our talented alumni. Alumni may enter the show if they have successfully completed at least one class at Kalamazoo Valley. Consider this opportunity to share what you’ve created since leaving Kalamazoo Valley and compete for cash awards! Submissions will be accepted from April 4 - May 19, 2022. Mark your calendars and plan to join us on June 3. Entry information can be found here.
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Cathy Green, 2021 Director’s Choice winner with Endangered (glazed ceramic).
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Call for Nominations for Distinguished Alumni Award
Do you know a Kalamazoo Valley Community College alumnus or alumna who has earned distinction in his or her career field? Are you aware of a Kalamazoo Valley alumnus or alumna who has modeled exemplary personal growth and accomplishment? Kalamazoo Valley Community College is inviting students, alumni, faculty, staff and members of the community to share the names and accomplishments of outstanding Kalamazoo Valley alumni to be considered for the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award. Award criteria, nomination form and submission guidelines can be found here.
To be considered for the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award, nominations should be received no later than June 30, 2022. Contact Denise Thomas, Alumni Relations Coordinator at 269.488.4314 or dthomas1@kvcc.edu for more information.
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Joel Fuce: Michigan Reconnect Brings Adult Learners Back to College
After being passed over for two promotions at work, 32-year-old Joel Fuce realized he needed to make a change. As a sales manager for a state-wide distributing company, he had stopped and started college four times since graduating from Portage Northern High School in 2008.
“Getting a degree was never that important to me,” Fuce said. “For the field I work in, it wasn’t required.” However, as his role within the company grew and he wanted to take on more responsibilities, his boss told him not having a degree was a “gigantic red flag.”
“A degree used to open doors for people,” he said. “Now, a degree just lets you knock on that door.” Determined to not be passed over for a promotion again, Fuce decided to make completing his degree a priority. He is now in his second semester at Kalamazoo Valley working toward a degree in business administration, attending tuition-free thanks to the Michigan Reconnect scholarship.
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Opportunities for Education
We hope you’ll join us on October 6 for Opportunities for Education, a scholarship funding event featuring some of the region’s most popular restaurants and beverage vendors including student and faculty chefs from the college’s culinary and brewing programs. Guest will enjoy a walk-around tasting under the “big tent” where they can sample signature dishes. Self-guided yours among the vegetables, flowers and herbs growing in the Food Innovation Center’s hoop houses and greenhouses will be available, along with samples of student-crafted, award winning beer and other beverages. More information coming soon!
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If you are interested in learning how you can help students, contact Linda Depta, Foundation Executive Director at 269.488.4821 or Dana DeLuca, Foundation Officer at 269.488.4442.
Find out more online:
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