Scholarship Recipient Paula Fritchman

Kalamazoo Valley history major Paula Fritchman credits her grandfather with instilling in her a deep craving for knowledge. "I've been obsessed with World War II since I was seven years old," the 41-year-old mother of three said. "My grandfather was in World War II and he told me a lot of stories and read to us every night."

Life can be chaotic for Fritchman. In addition to running her busy household and taking college courses, she works full-time as the general manager of a Portage ice cream shop. "I'm usually up until 1 a.m. studying and I get up at 6," she said. "But this is what I chose to do. My schoolwork is my 'me' time."

This is Fritchman's second time enrolling in college and her final semester at Kalamazoo Valley. When she enrolled after high school graduation, she was studying dance and then changed to political science. "I realized that it wasn't for me so I took a step back," she said. "I wish someone would have told me that it's ok to take a break. I was the very first person in my family to step into a college classroom."

Today, she has a clear vision of her goals. She will transfer to Western Michigan University in Spring 2024 after graduating from Valley. She plans to pursue her Master's degree and hopes to one day become a college professor or work in a museum. Women's history in the 15th century is of particular interest to her.

Fritchman is a member of the college's honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. She received the Raymond E. Battilana Scholarship for the Fall 2023 semester. The scholarship was funded by and named for Raymond E. Battilana, a trustee of the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation from 1990 to 1999.

"I'm very appreciative," she said. "It can be really hard and no one really sees when people are struggling. I'm really touched that they would seek out someone who's treading water and throw them a life raft."

Now that she's on the path to achieving her academic goals, she's encouraging her dad and her children to do the same. "Education is of the utmost importance to me and I find it important to show my children that regardless of age, you can and must fulfill your dreams, even when obstacles may seem never-ending. I am truly grateful to be a recipient of this scholarship."