eNewsletter | May 2023 Shown l to r: Lucinda Stinson, chairperson, Board of Trustees; Dawn DeLuca, vice chairperson, Board of Trustees; Julie Rogers, state representative, 41st house district; President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.; Christine Morse, state representative 61st district; Sean McCann, senator, 19th district. Legislators and Local Representatives Meet at Kalamazoo Valley Updates about Kalamazoo Valley including another funding appeal for the college's $20 million state of Michigan Capital Outlay Grant for the construction of new facilities for the auto program and enhancements for other professional trades teaching and learning spaces were on the agenda on April 17 when college leaders met with legislative representatives, their aides and local governmental officials. More See the luncheon photos at on Flickr! Graduation Speaker Overcame Many Obstacles on the Way to Success Ramiro Rodriguez, the student speaker during Kalamazoo Valley Community College's 88th Commencement ceremony on April 30, plans to transfer to Western Michigan University to study law enforcement. "I started out not knowing what I wanted to do after high school. I decided that rather than jumping into a bigger university, I'd go to Valley because it gives me more leeway if I change my mind," Rodriguez said. He toured the campus as a high school junior and was impressed. Kalamazoo Valley instructors Kristin DeKam and Karen Rivard both made an impact on Rodriguez. DeKam, critical thinking and philosophy instructor, taught Rodriguez to think differently about his college experience. Rivard, who serves as director of criminal justice/law enforcement and fire science programs, was also a huge influence. More You're invited to the Twelfth Juried Alumni+ Art Show, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Kalamazoo Valley's Center for New Media and Arcus Gallery. The event is sponsored by Bell's Brewery. Enjoy works of art by Kalamazoo Valley Alumni artists that were submitted for cash awards. After viewing the work of our alumni artists, join us for the awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in room 120 at the Center for New Media. We look forward to having you join us in celebrating our Kalamazoo Valley Alumni artists! Attention alumni artists submissions will be accepted until May 18, 2023. Find all of the details at https://www.kvcc.edu/alumni/artshow/ Food for Thought Culinary Competition Winners Announced Culinary students from Kalamazoo Valley Community College teamed up with food scientists and research chefs from Kalsec for a cooking contest called Food For Thought. The April 13 competition culminated with the announcement of five semi-finalists and three top prize winners during a two-hour event at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health building on the college's downtown Bronson Healthy Living Campus. The competition was sponsored by Kalsec. "The program was a splendid celebration of the months-long planning effort and student preparation for the competition. Designed to help students more deeply understand the connection between chemistry and food, the experience provided extremely valuable experiences," said Provost and Vice President for Student Services, Paige Eagan, Ph.D. The five finalists were Susan Hubbell, Britany Williams, Jennifer Burnett, Alex To and Q Kwon. All finalists received a Kitchen Aid mixer. The top three winners and their scholarship awards were: $1,416 | 1st place | Jennifer Burnett Raspberry Mango Mousse Mango Chantilly and Raspberry Nut Salad $708 | 2nd place | Alec To Steak Chalapian Onigiri $500 | 3rd place | Q Kwon Duck- Galibi View photos from the event on Flickr. 2023 Opportunities for Education Scholarship Fundraising Event   Thursday, September 28 - 5:30 P.M. Food Innovation Center at Kalamazoo Valley Community College 224 E. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 The September 28 Opportunities for Education event will feature some of the region's most popular restaurants including student and faculty chefs from the college's culinary and brewing programs. Guests will enjoy a walk-around tasting under the "big tent" where they can sample signature dishes. Self-guided tours 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. This student scholarship fundraising event helps the Kalamazoo Valley Foundation provide scholarships for students with financial needs at Kalamazoo Valley. Your support helps to make a difference in the lives of our students. Please join us as a sponsor. Watch for details at www.kvcc.edu/foundation and view photos from last year's event.  Kalamazoo Valley Community College Ranks No. 1 Most Popular Among Kalamazoo County College-Bound Students in Class of '22 According to a recent report, the most popular college destination for class of 2022 graduates is the same for every school district in Kalamazoo County. Kalamazoo Valley Community College was the No. 1 choice in the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) service area. "We are gratified that students and their families are continuing to embrace the high-quality educational programs and support services offered by Kalamazoo Valley," said College President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D. "This top ranking comes as no surprise to us because we work diligently to make sure that the college is a great place where all students can learn, grow, thrive and find success." Kalamazoo Valley Community College was established in 1966 by the overwhelming approval of voters in nine local school districts. It is a comprehensive, fully accredited, public, two-year college with enrollment of about 10,000 students. Kalamazoo Valley offers 50 certificate programs and associate degrees in 60 areas of study. In addition to associate degree and certificate programs in business, health care, human and public services, math and the sciences and technical and industrial occupations, the college operates the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Center for New Media, student-run restaurants and an urban farm and food hub. Summer semester classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College began on May 8 and fall semester classes begin on Sept. 6. More information is available at www.kvcc.edu/register. About MI School Data MI School Data is the State of Michigan's official source for pre-K, K-12, postsecondary and workforce data to help residents, educators and policymakers make informed decisions to improve student success. Results of the MI School Data Report were published on April 19 by MLive.com. The full story can be found at https://bit.ly/ValleyRanks1. Hundreds Attended Foodways Outdoor Festival 2023 More than 500 people attended the April 15 outdoor festival of the sixth annual Kalamazoo Valley Foodways Symposium, which Kalamazoo Valley Community College and its Kalamazoo Valley Museum hosted at the college's Food Innovation Center in downtown Kalamazoo. Event organizer Hristina Petrovska, food systems program coordinator at Kalamazoo Valley, called the turnout amazing. With the theme of food and media, activities included seed sculpture making, a foraging walk, bike tune-ups and more. In the greenhouse, attendees could pot herb seedlings to take home. Outside, there were composting workshops and cooking demonstrations. Food vendors sold coffee, carrot cupcakes and hand pies, and a food truck featured Mexican cuisine. For dessert, students from Kalamazoo Valley's Student Culinary Club had blueberry peach tarts available for a small donation. It is a collaboration between Kalamazoo Valley Community College and the college's Kalamazoo Valley Museum, with support from the KVCC Foundation. This year, the symposium was a two-day event. It started on April 10 with a virtual keynote address by food media authority Emily Contois, Ph.D., where she explored "Food Media: Forging Past, Present & Future Connections." Nearly 40 people participated, engaging in a discussion about how media and food intersect in our culture. Contois is assistant professor of media studies at The University of Tulsa, where she is Faculty in Residence. Visit www.kalamazoofoodways.org for more information about this year's event and photos which was a collaboration between Kalamazoo Valley Community College and the college's Kalamazoo Valley Museum, with support from the KVCC Foundation. Also watch the website for updates about the 2024 Foodways Symposium, which will celebrate the cuisines and cultures of the African continent.  Museum Hosts Mental Health Fair on May 20 Event Augments its Exhibit on Mind Wellness, Shares Resources A one-of-a-kind Mental Health Fair approaching mind wellness from multiple angles comes to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday, May 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. The drop-in event includes services offered by a therapy dog clinic, the area's leading suicide prevention agency and the disability, racial healing and LGBTQ+ communities and four other organizations. Admission is free to the fair, the museum and to all exhibits. Advance registration is not required.  From 1 to 1:30 p.m., Sue Ellen Christian from the SWMI Journalism Collaborative will share the research the group has done on mental health in Kalamazoo during a presentation in the museum's Mary Jane Stryker Theater. In the next session, from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m., representatives from the WMU Therapy Dog Clinic will be bringing a dog, and will talk about how its program helps children and adults. Hear about the suicide prevention programs of Gryphon Place in the final session planned from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Also, the museum's "Mental Health: Mind Matters" exhibit will be open on the third floor for visitors to learn more. Through a series of interactive activity stations, the exhibit explores misconceptions about mental illness and has guests participate in empathy-building exercises and find out how to be kind to their minds. The exhibit runs until June 18. Additional details are at kalamazoomuseum.org. Kalamazoo Valley Community College to Launch Cosmetology and Barbering Institute As a response to the growing need for hairstylists and personal care professionals, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is establishing a Cosmetology and Barbering Institute as announced recently by Provost and Vice President for Instruction and Student Services, Paige Eagan, Ph.D. "With the retirement of Jacqueline Rush, owner and CEO of the West Michigan College of Barbering and Beauty, combined with increased student inquiries about personal care related program options and community partners interested in filling a local need, it seems that the timing was right to consider this new educational endeavor," Eagan said. "Over the past decade the college has focused on the connection of food-health-wellness and this is a reasonable next step in providing programs that could help our community positively move the needle on various social determinants of health." According to Cameron Buck, executive director of career and technical education at Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency, "KRESA is looking forward to working with Kalamazoo Valley Community College in serving area high school students as they grow, learn and prepare for the state licensure exams in cosmetology and barbering. This will be a great opportunity for students to continue their pursuit of an associate's degree in business or other related fields." Attention Kalamazoo Valley Alumni and Community Job Seekers Are you looking for a job? Could you use some help polishing your resume and interview skills? Kalamazoo Valley's career-jobs webpage may have just what you need! Whether in Michigan or another state, a job search using these links could reveal the job you're looking for. One local employer recently told us they posted 20-plus jobs at Indeed that included positions in North and South Carolina. KVCC Foundation Executive Director Retires After more than 30 years in the local media business and 13 years at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, three as the KVCC Foundation Executive Director, Linda Depta plans to retire. Her last day in the office will be May 18. In making the announcement President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D. said, "Linda has served the college and its students with great professionalism, commitment and enthusiasm. We will miss her dedication to our efforts. We wish her and her husband Dan great joy in this next exciting chapter of their lives." Until Depta's permanent replacement has been named, Brian Lueth, vice president for finance and business will serve as interim KVCC Foundation Executive Director. Correspondence may be directed to Vicki Warkoczeski, administrative assistant, vwarkoczesk@kvcc.edu. College Celebrates Retirees The college recognized recent retirees at a retirement celebration April 19 from 3:30 - 5 p.m. in Room 4240. See pictures from the event here. Congratulations and thank you to the following for your service to the college: Charles Devries, printer, 5 years. Kathleen Kerstetter, faculty - business, 6 years. Allan Reynolds, custodian, 8 years. Linda Depta, executive director of the KVCC Foundation and director of development, 13 years. Victoria Hileski, faculty - nursing, 14 years. Kathy Godin, coordinator of science/STEM education, 23 years. Don Benthin, director, Department of Public Safety, 24 years. Tim Welsh, vice president for information technology, 33 years.