KV FocusPlus

Nov. 1, 2022

Greetings,

Keeping the lines of communication open is a key to organizational success. Actively engaging one another in meaningful conversations has been an important part of our work together over the past several years. I continue to enjoy your input and feedback on our combined efforts to make Kalamazoo Valley Community College a great place for all to learn, grow and thrive. 

I invite you to make a reservation for lunch and conversation with me and your college colleagues, by choosing from one of the two dates listed in the article below.

We are entering a very busy time of the academic year, working toward to the completion of the current semester, commencement and the end of the calendar year. Political rhetoric, family responsibilities and the change of seasons can be overwhelming. Therefore, I encourage you to do everything possible to stay focused on our mission and the work at hand. Let's keep communicating, collaborating and working together!

Sincerely,

L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President

Lunch with the President
President Washington invites faculty and staff to join him for a casual lunch gathering in the private dining room of the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health building at noon on Nov. 17 or Dec. 7.  Choose only one date, please. Space is limited to 15 attendees and registration is required to attend. We anticipate that additional dates will be available later in this academic year. Click here to make your reservation.

Order your College-Branded Office Apparel Now
The college's online pop-up shop for ordering college-branded office apparel is now available. Male and female dress shirts, cardigans and sweaters are available. You chose the item and the color. Orders can be placed between Nov. 1-14 with an estimated delivery of Dec. 19.  All sales are final. There are no returns, exchanges or refunds. If stock becomes unavailable, you will be contacted. The college does not have samples available. Employees must use their own personal credit card for purchases and have the items shipped to their home. The site can be accessed here or through the employee portal, under  "Marketing." For more casual attire such as T-shirts and sweatshirts, visit the college Bookstore or shop online at bookstore.kvcc.edu.
 
If you have questions, please contact Robyn Hughes at x4687 or rhughes@kvcc.edu.

Expanded Pool Hours Announced
Beginning today, the pool on the Texas Township Campus will be open during the following days and times: 

For more information, call x4177.

Visiting Writers Series Continues on Nov. 3 with Nancy Eimers

Kalamazoo Valley's "About Writing" Visiting Writers series is coordinated by English instructor Julie Stotz-Ghosh, Ph.D., and offers students the opportunity to talk with professional writers and listen to their work. The visits take place in the Student Commons Theater, Room 4240, at the Texas Township Campus. All events are free, open to the public and include a 10 a.m. craft talk and a 2:15 p.m. reading by the author.

On Thursday, Nov. 3, author Nancy Eimers will discuss her new chapbook, "Human Figures."

She is the author of four previous poetry collections, "Oz," "A Grammar to Waking," "No Moon" and "Destroying Angel." Her poems have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, and she has been the recipient of a Nation Discovery Award, a Whiting Writers Award and two National Education Association Fellowships. She lives in Kalamazoo.

For more details about the Visiting Writers series, click here. 

Lady Cougars Volleyball Team Headed to Regionals Nov. 3
Congratulations to the Kalamazoo Valley Community College volleyball team for qualifying for Regionals. The players ended their season on Oct. 27 with a 9-3 record in the Western Conference. This record placed them second in the conference behind Lake Michigan College that finished 10-2.
 
This second-place finish earned the Lady Cougars a spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 12 Tournament to be held Nov. 3 - 5, hosted by St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan. "We're very proud of the accomplishments of our Cougar volleyball team this past season," said Athletic Director Russ Panico. "Root them on now in Regionals. Go Cougars!"
 
The Lady Cougars will compete in the first round against Alpena Community College on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. Find more tournament information here. You can follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @kvccvb.

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Volleyball Player Spotlight

Player Spotlight is an occasional feature highlighting outstanding student-athletes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The honorees have been nominated by their coaches. 


Sarah Stauffer
Position: Outside Hitter
Hometown: Sturgis, Michigan
Major: Dental Hygiene
Why outstanding: As a freshman, Stauffer has earned a starting spot on our 2022 roster as an outside hitter from Centreville High School. She has become an integral part of the Cougar offense and is very close to accumulating 200+ kills this season.

Rainie Atherton
Position: Defensive Specialist
Hometown: White Pigeon, Michigan
Major: Elementary Education
Why outstanding: Atherton is a freshman defensive specialist from White Pigeon High School. She shows tremendous hustle and aggressiveness on defense, as well as serving. This season she has racked up 200+ kills and 16 service aces.

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November Activities
The first Friday monthly euchre meet up is this Friday, Nov. 4 in Room 4370 at TTC from 12 -1 p.m.. Please let Julia Fedeson at jfedeson@kvcc.edu know if you plan on joining!

Evening euchre meetup is Tuesday, Nov. 14  from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in Room 4370 at  TTC 4370 with an appetizer potluck. Connect with Bethann Talsma at btalsma@kvcc.edu for more information for evening euchre.

 

Walk and Meditate: We will walk outdoors for 30 minutes and end with a 10 minutes silent meditation Monday Nov. 21 at Noon (Meet at flag entrance) AWH on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at Noon (Meet in the first floor lobby) . Wear comfortable shoes and dress. If raining, we will walk indoors. Please let Cathy Colella at ccolella@kvcc.edu if you plan on attending.

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Call for Proposals for Winter 2023
Has your department embraced new practices or procedures that others could benefit from knowing? Do you have a skill, talent or activity that others might enjoy? Do you have something to share with the college community? Everyone at the college is invited to submit a proposal for the Winter 2023 Summit. Presentations can be 30 or 50 minutes - your choice! The in-person event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 5 and will include the annual Board of Trustees Breakfast and recognition of employee years of service. 

Proposals should support one of the following college values:

• Caring and Respect
• Integrity
• Excellence and Quality
• Humor and Well-Being
• Teamwork and Stewardship

Submit your proposal here by Nov. 11.

LGBTQ Advocacy Training
Staff and students are invited to learn to be better advocates and allies to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people during a Safe on Campus Training session set for Friday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Texas Township Campus.

Participants will receive information on practical strategies for addressing homophobia, learn ways to support students who are "coming out" and gain an understanding of respectful language use. Participants may choose to become members of the Ally program by signing a pledge of support for LGBTQ people.

Ally members are given a placard to display in their campus living or work place. This indicates the space is safe for LGBTQ persons to discuss their concerns. Membership is optional. The Safe on Campus (Ally) Training includes the viewing of a one-hour video. This video is a PowerPoint presentation with audio and close captioning that can be viewed on YouTube. For registration and details, contact Director of Diversity and Inclusion Trice Batson at 269.488.4119 or tbatson@kvcc.edu.

Diversity and Bias in the Search Committee Process Workshops
Participants in these important sessions will explore the various types of implicit and unconscious bias, what they look/sound like during a search committee process and how to mitigate their potential for negative impact. Also, learn what it means to serve on a search committee, including the "dos and dont's" while serving on the committee. These sessions are a prerequisite for those who would like to serve on a hiring committee. The next session will be held on Nov. 18 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The training will occur at Anna Whitten Hall. Please contact Trice Batson or Scott Hall to register.


November is Native American Heritage Month
Acknowledgment of Native American Heritage began in 1986 with the week of November 23-30, known as "American Indian Week." Eventually, starting in 1995 and beyond, the entire month of November served as the recognition period of historical, cultural, societal, and educational contributions of the first inhabitants of the United States.

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Join Us for Taps on Tuesdays!
This is your invitation to join us on Tuesday, Nov. 15 for a special "alumni edition" of Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Taps on Tuesday event. Taps on Tuesday at the college's 418 Restaurant in the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health building on the Bronson Healthy Living Campus in downtown Kalamazoo, features tasty student crafted beer and food pairings for just $10.  Additional beverage and food options will also available. The event, hosted by the Kalamazoo Valley's Alumni+ group, is designed to help you reconnect with friends and learn more about all the great things happening at the college. If you completed even one class, you are a part of the Kalamazoo Valley Alumni+ family!  Everyone is welcome - we are all friends of Kalamazoo Valley Community College. No advanced registration required.

Taps on Tuesday runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and Dec. 6 and 13. Join us!

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Kalamazoo Valley Adds Medical Cannabis Courses to its Cannabis Education Program
Expanding on its popular workforce cannabis training program, Kalamazoo Valley Community College recently announced that it will offer an online medical cannabis education course.
 
Through a unique partnership with Medical Cannabis Mentor, a leader in online medical cannabis education, Kalamazoo Valley will offer Cannabis Therapeutics 2022, an in-depth, foundational self-paced course for healthcare providers, dispensary personnel and patients. Kalamazoo Valley is Medical Cannabis Mentor's first community college partner. More

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Flu Shot Clinic Scheduled for Employees
Flu season is coming! Kalamazoo Valley Community College is hosting another flu shot clinic for all employees. The clinic will be held at our Texas Township Campus. In order to reserve your spot, you will need to click on this link and complete the required information. Space is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible. Once you sign up and pick your appointment time, it is important to keep that time to ensure that everyone signed up is able to receive their flu vaccine. If employees have the college or other medical coverage, bring a copy of your insurance card for billing purposes. If you have questions, contact Becky Craft, employee benefit manager.

Friday, Nov. 18
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Texas Township Campus, Room 5740

Austin Rounds Exhibit to Remain on Display at the Center for New Media
Austin Rounds' art exhibit will remain on display at the Center for New Media throughout the month of November. Rounds is a 20-year-old artist who has used his art as an outlet and a way to express himself when the world around him may feel off kilter, beautiful and even challenging. Being autistic has not always been easy, but it is a part of who he is and it adds to his creativity.

He recently finished working as the sole illustrator for author Jerrod S. Smelker's book of scary short stories, "WICKED HARVEST: Michigan Monsters & Macabre - 2," which was published in August by Wicked Harvest Books.

There is also a small exhibit of Rounds' work on display at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum until Nov. 13.
 

Free CNC Training through Mi-LEAP
Free Computer Numerical Control training is being offered by the Michigan Learning and Education Advancement Program. Classes are held at the Northside Association for Community Development and include a completion incentive and assistance for barrier removal. The next session, available to those who are under or unemployed or live in the Northside, Eastside or Edison neighborhoods or are Kalamazoo-Promise eligible, runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. M-F, Nov. 28 to Dec. 16.

Click here for more information.

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Student Profile: Matthew Maka
A desire to keep his sister's car repair costs to a minimum sparked Matthew Maka's interest in studying to become an automotive technician. "I didn't want her to pay an arm and a leg after she crashed her car," he said. "My dad and I helped fix her car and got her back on the road." 

Maka, an Allegan High School graduate, ruled out an expensive automotive program at a college in Ohio before committing to Kalamazoo Valley. Receiving the Marshall Beachler Professional Trades Scholarship solidified his decision. "I'm very grateful for the support of this scholarship," he said. "It helps me pay for all of my classes and books. It has really helped me out tremendously this semester. It gives me peace of mind that I have support." He works full time at a Toyota dealership during the summer and part time while he's taking classes.

Maka is in his second year at Kalamazoo Valley. He plans to return for a third year to complete the automotive drivability systems and automotive undercar systems associate degrees. Maka has always enjoyed school. He maintained a 4.0 GPA during his sophomore to senior years of high school. He's also earning high marks while taking 17 credit hours this semester at Kalamazoo Valley.

He credits his instructors with keeping him interested and motivated. "All of my auto instructors have been amazing," he said. "They're all different, but all are amazing." Maka loves working on cars and is confident that there will always be a demand for skilled auto technicians. "It's definitely a great investment," he said of his training. "You can definitely learn a lot and save yourself a lot of time and money. Everyone drives a car so techs are always going to be needed."

To apply for the Marshall Beachler Professional Trades Scholarship, Maka was required to submit an essay about his goals for the next five years. "I want to be a master technician for Toyota and to be able to fix anything on any kind of car," he said.

Because of all of the hands-on instruction he's receiving in the auto lab at Kalamazoo Valley, Maka is certain that his goals are within reach. "I'm certain that when I'm ready, my instructors can help me find a job by the end of the day," he said.

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The Apollo Story Takes Flight in Planetarium Show in November
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is offering a planetarium show about the Apollo program that placed 12 men on the moon from 1969 to 1972. "CAPCOM GO! will be offered at 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in November. Learn about the goals and mission of the program in a presentation that is suitable for all ages. Each show is $3, with free general admission to the museum. Purchase tickets online at kalamazoomuseum.org.


The "HeLa" play cast at rehearsal.

Tickets Available Now to Two 'HeLa' Play Encore Screenings
On the heels of the successful debut of "HeLa," a play about Henrietta Lacks at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, two encore shows have been scheduled. A film version will be offered for free at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 and Jan. 15 at the museum. Seating is limited. Tickets are now available online here. Choose "Mary Jane Stryker Theater" in the dropdown menu. The play chronicles the accomplishments and local family connections of Lacks, whose cells, taken without her consent in 1951, are still leading to major breakthroughs today. Be sure to see the mini exhibit about Lacks, on display at the museum through Feb. 27, 2023.


Museum Offers Crafts and Santa Visit After Holiday Parade
Enjoy free craft activities at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum before and after the Nov. 19 Holiday Parade in downtown Kalamazoo. And for a limited time after the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting the museum. Find them in front of the special display of a spare outfit that Santa wore during his days at the Gilmore department store in downtown Kalamazoo. While here, check out the museum's other exhibits. Crafts will be available starting at 10 a.m. Mark your calendar for more hands-on holiday fun from the KVM at the Tree Lighting in downtown's Bronson Park on Friday, Nov. 25, from 5 - 7 p.m.

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Kalamazoo Valley Adds Medical Cannabis Courses to Its Cannabis Education Program

College Hosts Open House, Celebrates Latest Donation to Wind Turbine Technician Academy

SWMI Cooking Classes: Master Your Culinary Talents with Courses for All Ages

2022 Community Arts Awards recipients announced by Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo

KVM Featured on Eight West

24 Hours in Kalamazoo

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