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E-Newsletter | October 2023

 
 
Director's Notes
In the past month that I've been the new Executive Director of the KVCC Foundation, I have been amazed by the lengths the faculty and staff will go through to support our students. It's heartwarming to see how much they, along with all of you, care about helping our students as they make major changes in their lives. It takes so much courage to come to college and to try new things. Your support has not only helped our students overcome barriers like the high cost of childcare, housing and transportation, but has also shown them that we believe in them and that we have their backs.
 
I'm excited to serve as a matchmaker between you and Kalamazoo Valley, and to find ways that we can partner together to nurture the next generation of skilled workers. I have a deep respect for our students, based on my 20 years of experience teaching literature in various colleges. In addition, I have an admiration for the generosity of our community, which I have witnessed firsthand as a nonprofit executive director and as a United Way campaign leader. I'm looking forward to future newsletters where we can share with you the impact of our collective giving.
 
As we enjoy the deepening fall colors and our cooler evenings, I can't help but think about how we all go through different seasons in our lives. Sometimes we are in the middle of a carefree summer, sometimes we are experiencing a winter season where we have to slow down and focus on the essentials. Here at Kalamazoo Valley, we are grateful to all of you who are helping our students transition to a new season in their lives.
 

With gratitude,


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

OFE Event Was a Success
Thank you for making our 2023 OFE Scholarship Event such a success! With your partnership, we enjoyed a delightful evening and were able to raise over $111,000.

It was heartening to see how much the community cares about our students. With these donations, we'll be able to provide over a hundred scholarships that will help students leap over financial barriers and move toward their new lives. Your support means the world to them-not only financially, but also emotionally because your gift helps them feel that the community believes in them.

We anticipate that additional gifts will come to the Foundation over the next few weeks. Information on how to donate is located at www.kvcc.edu/foundation. See the entire event photo album here.

On behalf of our students, their families and the communities we serve, thank you!
Alumni Profile: Heather Briggs
 

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. more
View her work and learn more about Heather Briggs here.

The Colors of (Un)Common Childhood
The November art exhibit at the Center for New Media, The Colors of (Un)Common Childhood, features the work of local artists Heather Briggs, Heather Boersma and Jacqueline Baerwald. The show opens at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 and runs through the end of the month.
More

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.

 
Visiting Writers Series Returns on October 19
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.
 
Sara Lupita Olivares 
Oct. 19 | Student Lounge, Texas Township Campus | 10 a.m. craft talk | 2:15 p.m. reading
Olivares is the author of Migratory Sound (The University of Arkansas Press), which was selected as winner of the 2020 CantoMundo Poetry Prize, and the chapbook Field Things (dancing girl press). Her poems have appeared in The New York Times, Hayden's Ferry Review, Black Warrior Review, Salt Hill Journal, Quarterly West, and elsewhere. She is an assistant professor of English at the University of Illinois Springfield.

 

Saturday, Oct. 14 | Noon - 4 p.m. | FREE

Learn about "Health and Medicine: The Healing Power of Chemistry" by engaging in exciting experiments and captivating demonstrations.

Museum Mayhem

Saturday, Oct. 28 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | FREE

Free planetarium mini-shows, hands-on activities, puking pumpkin chemistry demos, storytime and more seasonal surprises!
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Kalamazoo Valley Community College · 6767 W O Ave · Kalamazoo, MI 49009-7402 · USA