Brighter Opportunities to Study Abroad 

Personal connection runs throughout diverse experiences at Kalamazoo College for Tyler Houle ’25.  

A four-year member of the football team, Tyler has gained athletic experience, teamwork and camaraderie with players across academic departments. Coaches support, encourage and connect players with K alumni for career coaching and networking. 

Majoring in studio art with a focus on graphic design and digital art, Tyler appreciates faculty who provide opportunities to use graphic design programs and offer helpful feedback. 

As he pursues a Japanese minor, Tyler was the first K student to participate in a spring study abroad program in Nagasaki. There, he practiced the language; learned about cultural practices, including Japanese business, calligraphy and tea ceremonies; and created a mini manga (Japanese comics or graphic novels).

“It was awesome,” Tyler said. “I learned so much and made a lot of Japanese friends I hope to stay in touch with and see again.” 

K has opened doors for Tyler to continue his love of football while exploring his academic interests, with an eye to a future dream job with the Pokémon Company. Scholarships funded by generous donors, in turn, opened the doors to K. 

“Scholarships made the whole K experience possible for me,” Tyler said, which has allowed him to discover the world. “Study abroad took me to Japan, and it was my dream location. It was a dream come true.”