April 15, 2024
Greetings Students!
On Sunday, April 28, we will celebrate the success of your fellow students during commencement ceremony. Many of you have friends and family who will be participating in this important event and I am so proud of their accomplishments. Maybe even you yourself are preparing to walk on the commencement stage in less than two weeks!
Some of you are on track to celebrate your own success in an upcoming graduation ceremony in future semesters. My advice to you in the coming month is to keep after your goals. Do not let anyone or anything stand in your way of achieving your dreams. If you're not graduating this month, if your schedule allows, consider taking at least one summer semester class to keep you moving toward completing you credential.
If you need encouragement, watch stories from others who continue to benefit from their Kalamazoo Valley Community College experience. Visit the college's YouTube channel to learn more. Like the people in these videos, we know that you have also been working hard and we congratulate you on your successes this semester.
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Celebrate Commencement on April 28 at Miller Auditorium
Kalamazoo Valley hold its April Commencement on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium, 2200 Auditorium Drive, Kalamazoo. Almost 500 students have petitioned to graduate and are eligible to participate in the ceremony. Board chairperson Lucinda Stinson will speak, along with accounting instructor Alison Nord and Leona Carter, who is graduating with an associate of arts degree in liberal arts.
Graduates will have the opportunity to reserve 10 tickets for the ceremony and will be required to pick tickets up in person in advance.
All guests, including family members and children (regardless of age), must have a ticket to enter Miller Auditorium. Guests without tickets may view the ceremony livestream via PMN1 (Charter 187/ATT 99) and the Public Media Network Roku and Apple TV apps. The ceremony will be rebroadcast throughout the month and will be available on-demand on the PMN website in May 2024. Please join us in congratulating our graduates and celebrating their success with them!
 
APRIL 15 - 19 Join the National FAFSA Week of Action!
Michigan is ranked 30th in the country for FAFSA submissions, and we are currently down 12,700 submissions from last year. The low rate of FAFSA participation means students miss out on important financial aid opportunities. Student Financial Aid Services can assist you at any time and also offers help at FAFSA Nights, every Tuesday from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Open Scholarship Applications
Attention students! Kalamazoo Valley's scholarship season is here, and the doors to financial support are wide open. Don't miss out on your chance to apply for scholarships that can help fund your education. Whether you're pursuing STEM, the arts or anything in between, there's an opportunity waiting for you.
Visit scholarships or KVCC Foundation for more information.
Free Hair Cuts at the School of Cosmetology and Barbering
During Community College Month, the Kalamazoo Valley Cosmetology and Barbering programs will be offering free limited hair care services to Kalamazoo Valley faculty, staff and students. Services will be conducted in TTC Rooms 8330 & 8340, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. You must sign up for an appointment, using the link here. The hair care services are only available to college employees and students who make an appointment through the link and are only free for a limited time.
Faculty Instructional Awards
Kalamazoo Valley Community College welcomes all students to participate in the 14th Annual Faculty Instructional Awards nomination process. The awards are designed to recognize instructors who actively encourage students' intellectual curiosity, engage them in the enterprise of learning and have a lifelong impact. The deadline to participate is May 17. Click here to nominate your instructor.
Looking for a Job, Internship, Apprenticeship and/or Volunteer Opportunity?
Student Employment Services assists students with job searching, resume writing and interview practicing. Visit Career Coach, Kalamazoo Valley's online job board, to see if there is something that interests you. If you are looking for something other than what is listed, we can help. Call 269.488.4040 or email careercenter@kvcc.edu to schedule an appointment.
Here are some of the jobs currently posted on Career Coach:
Business Pathways (Accounting/Business/Information Technology/Marketing/Administrative Assistant)
Computer Science Intern - Walther Farms
Office Assistant - Charter Township of Kalamazoo
Office Manager - Integrated Services of Kalamazoo
Shipping and Receiving - Burchett Quality Tool LTD
Office Administrator - LD DOCSA
Practice Support Assistant - Integrated Services of Kalamazoo
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement/Public Service
Fire Hose Technician - FireCatt
Culinary/Brewing (Sustainable Food Systems)
Kitchen Cook - Vineyard Assisted Living
Culinary Intern - Greenleaf Hospitality Group
Paid Internship - Bbq & Ice Cream/Food Truck - Fat Mikes
Multiple opportunities at Greenleaf Hospitality Group
Brewer - Upper Hand Brewery - Bell's Brewery
Sous Chef - The Kent Eatery & Spirits
Education
Full-time reading tutor positions - AmeriCorps
Several education related openings
Engineering & Skilled Trades
CNC Machinist - Smith Metal
Associate Machinist - Stryker
Maintenance Technician - Community Living Options
Apprentice Electrician - ControlNET
Metal Fabricator - Specialized Staffing Solutions
Welder - Specialized Staffing Solutions
Auto Body Technician - Lakeview Body Shop
General Studies
Atrium Attendant, Room Attendant and similar positions - Greenleaf Hospitality GroupPool Attendant / Lifeguard - Lockhart Management
Automotive Delivery Driver - Fisher Auto Parts
Health Careers
Dental Hygienist and Dental Assistant - several postings
Student Nurse Intern - Ascension Borgess
Clinical Assistant - Family Health Center (entry level)
Medication Technician - Vineyard Assisted Living
Medical Assistant - Family Health Center
Rehab Clinical Assistant - Bronson
Human Services/Social Sciences/Public Services
Enhanced Behavioral Supports Technician - Residential Opportunities, Inc.
Psychometrist/Neuropsychological Technician - Sandra Bowker and Associates
Independent Living Supports Coach - Nights and Weekends - MRC industries, Inc.
Behavior Specialist II - Integrated Services of Kalamazoo
Sustainable Horticulture
Several opportunities including paid Internship - BrightView Landscapes
Portage & Kalamazoo Gardener - Kalamazoo in Bloom, Inc.
Volunteer/Unpaid Internship Opportunities
Various remote volunteer and internship opportunities with The Borgen Project
Companionship Volunteer - Elara Caring
Volunteer - Family Health Center/Kalamazoo
May 2024 Art Exhibit - Student Celebration
Faculty and staff at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Center for New Media are gearing up to share and celebrate the hard work and creative achievements of students who have taken Studio Arts and Applied Media Arts and Media Technology classes. The 2024 Year-End Student Celebration Exhibit will open during Art Hop on Friday, May 3 at 5:30 p.m. and will showcase art and design works created by students from the Studio Arts, Animation and Game Art, Illustration, Graphic Design, Multimedia and Web Design and Development programs. The exhibit is open to any student who has taken an art class. It will remain on display through the end of the month.
Entries for the show are due Thursday, April 25 at 4 p.m. A physical and digital representation of student pieces must be submitted for the Arcus Gallery exhibit and the virtual social media presentation. Students must prepare, finalize and deliver their work on their own and in conjunction with all other guideline requirements. See the forms at www.kvcc.edu/artexhibits.
Girls on the Run Volunteers Needed
The annual Girls on the Run 5K is May 18 at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Two waves of runners will be on campus: morning (Opening Ceremony at 9 a.m.) and afternoon (Opening Ceremony at 1 p.m.). There are over 1,000 participants from 50 sites in the Greater Kalamazoo Area and close to 300 coaches and practice volunteers. Many more volunteers are needed. To volunteer, go to 5K Volunteer Registration or to the GOTRGK website. For more information, send an email to info@girlsontherunkazoo.org.
Book Buyback Scheduled for April 22 - 26
The Bookstore will hold Winter 2024 book buyback on April 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Used textbooks will be purchased from students for cash this week. Find out which books will be accepted and for what amount at bookstore.kvcc.edu. Questions? Call 269.488.4030.
English Department Essay Contest for 2023-2024
Students, turn your prose into profit and get published! Enter your essays in the Kalamazoo Valley Community College annual essay contest to be eligible to compete for cash awards and publication in the 2023-2024 edition of "Winning Essays," which will appear online, not in printed form. This publication becomes part of the Kalamazoo Valley library's permanent collection. Entries should be essays written in English 098, 099, 110, 111 and 160, and in any 200-level English literature class. Winners will be notified by mail during the summer of 2024 as soon as the judges have made their decisions.
Kalamazoo Valley Libraries: Library Returns, Summer Reading
Library Returns
In all the end-of-the-semester hustle, don't forget that it is time to return borrowed library materials.
- All borrowed material must be returned by the last day of the semester.
- A student account hold and replacement fees are assessed for unreturned material.
- To return books and media, please drop off materials at any book drop or library service desk. Laptops and hotspots should be returned to the circulation desk at either library location.
- A convenient 24/7 book drop is located outside the tower entrance at the Texas Township Campus.
Summer Reading
Summer is just around the corner, and it's a great time to kick back and relax with some pleasure reading.
- If you are taking classes at Valley this summer, Kalamazoo Valley Libraries have lots of good recreational reads to enjoy in your free time. If you're looking for book ideas, check out our online ValleyREADS page. You can always ask our friendly library staff for suggestions, too.
- If you are not enrolled in classes at Valley, check our Kalamazoo Community Library Resources page for a list of area public libraries who can put that ideal summer book in your hands.
Hours and Contact Information
Check out Softball and Baseball Home Games in April
Have you made it out to a baseball or softball game yet? There's still lots of home games left in April, and, the good news is, they are always free to attend here at the Texas Township Campus. Visit athletics.kvcc.edu for the full schedule and scores.
BASEBALL
- SATURDAY | APRIL 20 | 1 & 3:30 p.m. vs. Lansing Community College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 27 | 1 & 4 p.m. vs. Glen Oaks Community College
- TUESDAY | APRIL 30 | 2 p.m. vs. Jackson College
SOFTBALL
- FRIDAY | APRIL 19 | 3 & 5 p.m. vs. Lansing Community College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 20 | 1 & 3 p.m. vs. Jackson College
- SATURDAY | APRIL 27 | 1 & 3 p.m. vs. Glen Oaks Community College
Joey Liedel Named an NJCAA All-American
Congratulations to Kalamazoo Valley freshman Joey Liedel on recently being named an NJCAA All-American for Men's Basketball, Division II.
Liedel was the third and final NJCAA Division II Second Team All-American for Region 12 and earned the distinction following a heralded first year at the junior college level. He averaged 21.6 points per game, an average good for 21st nationally, while shooting 43.9% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point territory on the most made 3-pointers in NJCAA Division II (124).
The freshman guard also averaged 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game to help earn All-Region, All-MCCAA, First Team All-Western Conference and MCCAA Western Conference Freshman of the Year honors while leading the Cougars to the Great Lakes District B Championship Game and a MCAAA Western Conference Championship. Read more here: bit.ly/3Q0EsD8
  The Gilmore Film Series Headed to Museum April 30 - May 7
Watch piano-related films at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum at noon on April 30, May 2 and May 3, and at 2 p.m. on May 7 in the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Mary Jane Stryker Theater, as part of The Gilmore Piano Festival 2024. Get your free ticket at the museum's front desk on the day of the screening on a first come, first served basis. Visit kalamazoomuseum.org for film descriptions and more.
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