Category: Students

Silent Film Festival Spotlights K Student’s Creativity

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Ryan Muschler '25 (from left), Audrey Schulz '25 and Josie Checkett '25 act in a scene from "A Deadly Affair."
Ryan Muschler ’25 (from left), Audrey Schulz ’25 and Josie Checkett ’25 act in a scene from “A Deadly Affair,” an award-winning film by Grace Cancro ’25. Watch the film.
The title screen for "A Deadly Affair"
Cancro’s film “A Deadly Affair” was screened at the Redford Theatre in Suburban Detroit during the International Youth Silent Film Festival.

Fade in. Night. New York City. A handsome man bearing a striking resemblance to Humphrey Bogart wears a fedora and trench coat. He wanders through a foggy Central Park, pondering the recent film successes of Kalamazoo College student Grace Cancro ’25. He realizes that she won her age group at the International Youth Silent Film Festival’s Detroit regional and received an honorable mention in the Kazoo 48 competition. He also recognizes her potential as a screenwriter, playwriter, producer and director, which could make hers a household name.

He smiles and says, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

OK, so that script was never written, and the line belongs to a movie made more than 80 years ago. But Cancro has had an interest in classic movies—starring actors like Bogart—her entire life and her recent competitive success, starting with a family influence, is undeniable.

“I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ respective houses and watched Turner Classic Movies for hours with my grandpa,” Cancro said. “I’ve also done theatre my whole life.”

With her love for the theatrical, the Redford Theatre—an art deco-decorated site in suburban Detroit that shows classic movies and plays, commonly featuring an organ that rises from the floor—is a significant place for her. Cancro notes that it’s where she saw Singin’ in the Rain for the first time. Plus, she and Audrey Schulz ’25 tried out there to be extras—by cheering during a boxing match—for a film that ultimately was shelved.

Now the Redford marks the spot where her own film, A Deadly Affair, was chosen as one of 20 finalists at the Detroit regional competition for the International Youth Silent Film Festival. It ultimately won the category for 19- to 22-year-old entrants, beating out filmmakers from most of the eastern half of the country. Cancro earned a cash prize, a plaque, a certificate, and a chance to compete June 9 in Portland, Oregon, at the festival’s next level.

“My mom and I are going to fly out to Portland together. There will be a parade and a dinner, and the contest is a really big thing for me,” Cancro said.

International Youth Silent Film Festival organizers provided entrants with three minutes of organ music across a variety of genres. Cancro—a theatre arts and English double major with a film and media studies concentration—chose film noir for her silent film. She then assembled some excited friends and shot A Deadly Affair near her residence, in downtown Kalamazoo near the walking mall, and in Bronson Park. Ian Burr ’24 served as the director of photography, also called a cinematographer. Schulz portrayed a wife betrayed by her on-screen husband, Ryan Muschler ’25. Schulz’s character meets up with her husband’s mistress, played by Josie Checkett ’25. Together, they decide to kill the husband.

After the screening, Cancro awaited word of her placement.

“They had the awards at the end and I was super nervous,” Cancro said. “I held my friends’ hands and I apologized if I squeezed so hard that I crushed a bone. Then, they called my name. It was the coolest experience, because six years after we tried out as extras, we were seeing Audrey’s name and mine while watching her face on the screen.”

Since the Detroit competition, she also has participated in the Kazoo 48, a film festival that challenges entrants to take an assigned genre, prop, character quirk, location and line of dialogue, and create a short film in just 48 hours. Her film-making team included Burr, Muschler, Schulz, James Hauke ’26, Aidan Baas ’23, Michael Robertson ’25, Abby Nelson ’24, Jakob Hubert ’25 and Mabel Bowdle ’25.

“Our genre was fantasy, so Michael Robertson’s character got super high and thought he was in a fantasy quest to build a stop sign,” Cancro said. “It was shot at Ian’s house, on the street and at Lowe’s. Michael went to Lowe’s to buy a shovel to put his stop sign in the ground. We had to go to Lowe’s with everyone in full fantasy gear. We wrote it on Friday night, shot it Saturday, edited it Saturday night and Sunday, and turned it in around 5:55 on Sunday when it was due at 6.”

The team was forced to enter the professional category because a couple of its members had earned money for film productions in the past, so in the end they couldn’t beat out film-production companies to win the contest. However, they were awarded with Best Use of Character for Hubert’s role as a character who gave advice in rhyme.

Cancro appreciates the opportunities she’s had at K that have developed her passion and skill at filmmaking. Her sophomore year, she participated in the New York Arts study away program, and she studied abroad in London her junior year. A playwriting class led by Assistant Professor of Theatre Quincy Thomas performed part of her self-written play—Sincerely, Scott—two years ago, leading her to create a 10-minute play festival for students, featuring the full play. Based partly on Cancro’s own life, the piece pondered what a man recovering from alcoholism might say in a letter to a daughter he’s never known before the two agree to meet. That festival will continue in its second year on June 1 with additional plays, comedy sketches and puppetry.

Now, armed with all these experiences, Cancro wants to return to New York, a place where she feels at home with many professional contacts, to film a mental-health themed Senior Integrated Project this summer. She plans to move there after graduation, hoping to mix in grad school while working in the film industry, perhaps with the nonprofit Women Make Movies (WMM), which distributes artistically significant films to audiences with a focus on uplifting the voices of the underrepresented.

Cancro has already worked with Women Make Movies in two internships with the first arranged through the New York Arts Program thanks in part to her software design experience in work study through K’s theater department. She then lived in a K graduate’s apartment last summer to work in a second internship with WMM. But whether it be through individual projects or a permanent job, Cancro recognizes the power of film, her talents and interests, and how they might combine to benefit society.

“Theater and film have the power to make people feel things and feel seen and that’s what it’s done for me,” Cancro said. “There’s merit in the adventure films that have CGI and explosions and all that. But I like to focus on the stuff that’s closer to the human experience, whether that be just my experience that I’m putting into a character on the screen or someone else’s experience. I want to put that into my art and have people watch it, think about it for long after, and feel it.”

Grace Cancro receives a plaque at the International Youth Silent Film Festival in Detroit
Cancro received a plaque for winning the Detroit regional of the International Youth Silent Film Festival in her age group.
Grace Cancro receives a plaque at the International Youth Silent Film Festival in Detroit
Checkett and Schulz congratulate Cancro as she receives a plaque from the International Youth Silent Film Festival.
Filmmaker Grace Cancro '25 works with Josie Checkett '25
Filmmaker Grace Cancro ’25 works with Audrey Schulz ’25 for Cancro’s award-winning film, “A Deadly Affair.”
Grace Cancro receives a plaque at the International Youth Silent Film Festival in Detroit
Cancro is announced as the winner in the category for 19- to 22-year-old filmmakers in the International Youth Silent Film Festival Detroit regional.

Writing Center Provides the Right Stuff for Writing Stuff

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Isabela Agosa ’17 knows where Kalamazoo College students can find the right stuff when they need to write stuff.

Agosa, once a student employee at K’s Writing Center, now is its director, supervising the current student employees, with poets, Fulbright scholars, editors and more among them. She admits that she struggled in her early years as a K student, but that makes her better at her job now as she once needed to find her academic footing.

“I’m really appreciative of the struggles I had here because they have allowed me to have a different mindset that I can provide to my students,” Agosa said. “I’m sort of like the gardener who helps the students run the center. My students are gentle, welcoming people who can open up a writing bud and allow it to blossom.”

Her own a-ha moment as a student came when she found poetry at K. In fact, she teaches a Poetic of Love senior seminar each winter term, and Poetry Magazine—the oldest monthly publication to verse in the English-speaking world—will print two of Agosa’s poems in its June 1 edition.

Four students and a faculty member huddle for a photo at Stetson Chapel
Isabela Agosa ’17 (middle), the director of K’s Writing Center, joined her students May 10 for a Community Reflection titled “Destigmatizing Help: Collaboration in the Writing Center.”
Two students at the Writing Center
Writing Consultants Anum Khan ’24 and Sofia Rowland ’24 discuss their work at the Writing Center.
Three student consultants sitting at a round table
Writing Consultants Unayza Anika ’26 (from left), Noah Chun ’26 and Daniel Flores ’24 discuss their work at Kalamazoo College’s Writing Center. Schedule an appointment online.
Two students smiling on a couch at the Writing Center
Ellie Pollard ’25 and Sophia Louise ’26 are two of the writing consultants students will meet at the Writing Center.

“When I came to K, I wanted to read fiction or maybe write for TV shows,” Agosa said. “And of course, I still have so much passion for that in my heart, but this is where I fell in love with poetry. I truly had never imagined in a million years that I would be a poet.”

Now, she would like to debunk some of the myths she hears about the Writing Center and empower more students to visit and improve their own writing.

Myth No. 1: Writing collaboration is a form of cheating

“We tend to have a deficiency mindset and think that support is only for people who are doing poorly, or we can be individualistic and think collaboration on writing is plagiarism or cheating,” Agosa said. “I think the Writing Center shows collaboration is an intellectual goal on campus. Why else would we all be together if we weren’t a community of scholars? Yes, we can write by ourselves, but we can do it so much faster when we have someone who can talk us through it.”

Myth No. 2: The Writing Center only helps students with classwork

“In the spring, this is our ‘job time’ when people are coming in with cover letters for jobs, grad school or internships,” Agosa said. “One of my pitches to students would be to remember that the Writing Center isn’t just for classwork. We get to explore all types of writing, so you can expect to have someone who’s invested in hearing about you and your work.”

Myth No. 3: I can get better information during my professor’s office hours

“Office hours are a useful dynamic, but they provide something different from the Writing Center,” Agosa said. “Professors can guide you on a certain path or help you understand the class material better, whereas our writing consultants help you understand yourself better as a writer.”

Myth No. 4: Writing Center employees will judge me and my writing

“Many people have baggage with writing because we feel that writing is a reflection of our soul,” Agosa said. “When they come to us with a fragment of their soul, they can feel guarded and nervous. But students can expect that they will be greeted by someone who cares because my staff loves their work. It’s a job and I hope that I model good ways to practice that job. They’re the types who like people and want to talk about writing. You can expect a lot of passion, a lot of enthusiasm and a judgment-free zone.”

Myth No. 5: I should wait to go to the Writing Center until I need help

“I think students feel that they’re not allowed to need help unless the house is on fire,” Agosa said. “Some people view it as a punishment or think it’s remedial. But you can come to the Writing Center just to talk to someone about your work. It’s good at breaking down tasks, especially for anyone who struggles with activation. I think the joy of talking with someone about your writing is universal and useful at any stage.

“I’m always telling prospective students that this is a place run by your peers who have gone through all the things you have. I would really love for them to see the Writing Center not just in a project- or product-driven environment. I want them to get involved in a supporting, nourishing community of scholarship.”

Find the writing help you need

If this isn’t enough to convince you of what the Writing Center accomplishes, you can also hear from Agosa and her team in this recent community reflection titled “Destigmatizing Help: Collaboration in the Writing Center.” Then, schedule an appointment online.

“The Writing Center is the place where I came to maturity and adulthood because our work is so much about learning, reflection and how to ask questions,” Agosa said. “I honestly learned more about syntax and grammar structure through poetry writing, but Writing Center work is about self-understanding and understanding the right questions to ask while communicating your needs. When students struggle with writer’s block, they might not even know what to name it. We look at roadblocks and ask, ‘what is it and how can we approach it?’ You will always feel connected to this place because we form such a strong community, where we learn how to dialogue with people. We make authentic person-to-person connections here because we can’t work on someone’s writing without them.”

Alum’s Musical ‘Be More Chill’ Opens Thursday at Festival Playhouse

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A Broadway musical written by a Kalamazoo College alumnus who is influencing the entertainment industry will run Thursday, May 16–Sunday, May 19, at K’s Festival Playhouse.

Be More Chill, which features music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz ’04, will spotlight Max Wright ’26 as Jeremy Heere. Jeremy is an average teenager until he discovers the Squip, a supercomputer that promises to bring him everything he desires including a date with Christine Canigula, played by Brooklyn Moore ’24, along with an invitation to the party of the year and a chance to enjoy life in his suburban New Jersey high school.

The musical concludes the academic year for the Playhouse’s 60th season, which has been themed “Systems as Old as Time.” It also has featured plays such as Playhouse Creatures and The Dutchman, which explore the harmful systems that hold back the oppressed while highlighting the ways that joy, laughter and solidarity can exist and thrive despite those systems.

Caleb Allen ’25 is serving Be More Chill as its dramaturg by assisting Director Quincy Thomas, a K assistant professor of theatre arts, in teaching the actors about the play’s characters and settings. Allen said the musical references some pop culture from the 1980s—including retro drinks such as Ecto Cooler, games such as Pac-Man and actors such as Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci—but it has themes that are relatable for all audiences.

“It’s very much a play about finding yourself in high school,” he said. “There’s obviously a lot of fun with it, but there’s also a deep, sad story that probably resonates with a lot of people. Even the characters who are portrayed as cool in the play definitely have their own issues and everyone deals with negative self-talk.”

Another K alumnus, Grinnell College Professor of Theatre and Design Justin Thomas ’01, will serve as a Be More Chill scenic designer.

Tracz is well known for being a writer and co-executive producer on the Disney+ series adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. He previously created the Netflix series Dash & Lily and served as its showrunner. He also worked on the Netflix version of A Series of Unfortunate Events as a writer and producer, and next will work as a co-showrunner for Season 2 of the live action version of One Piece on Netflix. His other theatre credits include The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, for which he was a Drama Desk award nominee for outstanding book.

Tracz “feels almost like a mythological figure to me,” Allen said. “Just being from the same school is exciting. I definitely have friends from outside of K, who are surprised to know that he went here, and he’s worked on a lot since then. It’s inspiring to see he came from roots like this to go into what he’s doing now.”

Be More Chill is presented through an arrangement with Concord Theatricals. Shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday–Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Nelda K. Balch Playhouse, 129 Thompson St. Tickets are available online or by calling the Festival Playhouse at 269.337.7333. K students, faculty and staff are admitted free with a College ID. Adult tickets are $25, seniors are $20 and children younger than 12 are $5. Thursday’s performance will include a sign language interpreter. Please note that the play contains language and situations that may be triggering, including adult themes and the use of haze, flashing images and strobe lights.

Be More Chill photo shows Max Wright as Jeremy Heere and Zachary Ufkes '24 as the mask-wearing supercomputer, the Squip.
Max Wright ’26 portrays Jeremy Heere and Zachary Ufkes ’24 is a supercomputer called the Squip in “Be More Chill,” running Thursday-Sunday at Kalamazoo College’s Festival Playhouse. Photos by Andy Krieger of Inspired Media.
Be More Chill actors
Tickets to “Be More Chill” are available online or by calling the Festival Playhouse at 269.337.7333. Photos by by Andy Krieger of Inspired Media.

Meet President’s Student Ambassador Blake Filkins ’26

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Kalamazoo College is spotlighting its President’s Student Ambassadors to let you know who they are and the roles they serve for K. As student leaders, ambassadors serve as an extension of the president’s hospitality at events and gatherings, welcoming alumni and guests of the College. About 18 students serve as ambassadors each academic year. The students selected show strong communication skills and demonstrate leadership through academic life, student life or community service.  

Meet Blake Filkins ’26, a psychology major and Spanish minor from Plainwell, Michigan, through a Q-and-A conducted with Social Media Ambassador Blagoja Naskovski ’24. Blake is a student government executive leader, resident assistant, and student assistant at the Office of Student Development. He also is engaged in several college committees such as community council, Advancement, the Black and Orange Awards committee and the Day of Gracious Living committee.  

What’s your favorite part of being a student at K? 

What I cherish most about being a student at K is the close-knit relationships that flourish here. Whether it’s the bonds with professors, staff or fellow students, K fosters a sense of personal connection. Here, you’re valued as an individual rather than just a number, and being recognized and appreciated is truly enriching throughout your college journey. My growth wouldn’t be the same without the unique experience offered by the K-Plan. 

Portrait of President's Student Ambassador Blake Filkins
Blake Filkins ’26 serves as a President’s Student Ambassador at Kalamazoo College.
President's Student Ambassador Blake Filkins with others who participate in student government
Filkins (front row, center) is a student government executive leader, resident assistant, and student assistant at the Office of Student Development.
Blake Filkins at Hodge House with other President's Student Ambassadors
Filkins (back right) says he highly encourages students interested in joining the President’s Student Ambassador Program to connect with him.
A group gathered at the Hicks Student Center
Blake Filkins (right at lectern) introduces President Jorge G. Gonzalez during an event at the Hicks Student Center.

Why did you decide to serve as a President’s Student Ambassador? 

I decided to become a President’s Student Ambassador out of gratitude for my enriching experience at K. My desire to share my journey and successes with alumni and prospective students led me to this role. The program comprises driven individuals with remarkable aspirations. The opportunity to collaborate with them and engage with alumni is such a wonderful opportunity. 

What’s your favorite part of being a President’s Student Ambassador? 

I love the opportunity to connect with the President’s staff, alumni and the broader college community. It’s incredibly fulfilling to exchange and hear the remarkable stories that stem from K. At every event, I encounter individuals with unique K experiences who deepen my appreciation for the College and reinforce my gratitude for being part of this community. 

What advice do you have for students who may want to join President’s Student Ambassadors some day? 

I highly encourage any student interested in joining the President’s Student Ambassador Program to reach out to PSAs, including myself, to learn about our experiences and the connections we’ve made. I also recommend attending college events to gain insight into interacting with alumni and prospective students. A single conversation can lead to a wonderful opportunity. 

Model United Nations Team Earns Honors at Conferences 

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The Model United Nations team from Kalamazoo College earned an Honorable Mention Delegation award at the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York in April, and several awards at the Midwest Model UN (MMUN) conference in St. Louis, Missouri, in February. 

The NMUN honor places the 15 K students who participated—half of whom were rookies—in the top 20% of the largest, most established intercollegiate Model UN conference in the world. 

“I was very proud of that, especially with a good half of our students coming into New York completely new to conferences,” said Mason Purdy ’24, president of Model UN at K. “We did as much teaching and training as we could, but they had to learn as they went.” 

The K team represented the Kingdom of Morocco at NMUN, with students assigned in pairs to various committees. For example, Purdy and Hannah Willit ’24, vice president of Model UN at K, served on the human rights council. Each council considers two topics. For Purdy and Willit, the topics were human rights and the use of private military and security companies as well as human rights of indigenous peoples. Before the conference, teams research existing laws and standards, their country’s history, and other areas that provide context for the topics. 

“For example, Morocco has been embroiled in a controversy for years about territory in the Western Sahara,” Purdy said. “One side says this was always Moroccan land and was taken for colonization; the other side says the people who live there don’t really want to be Moroccan; the first side says they are Moroccan, they just don’t realize it. The issue of indigenous sovereignty is a politically tricky one for Morocco, and sometimes you have to represent views at Model UN that maybe you wouldn’t love as an individual.” 

Students from K pictured in the UN General Assembly Hall during the Model UN Conference
The National Model United Nations team from Kalamazoo College attends the conference’s closing ceremony in the UN General Assembly Hall.
Three students in front of National Model United Nations Conference banners
The Model UN team from K received Honorable Mention Delegation at the national conference in New York in April.
Three students hold a sign that says Morocco at the Model United Nations Conference
Fifteen students from K participated in the National Model United Nations in New York in April.
Four students with a sign that says Morocco at the Model UN Conference
K’s Model UN team represented the Kingdom of Morocco at a national conference in New York in April.

Maddie Hanulcik ’26 served on the commission on the status of women, which considered the empowerment of rural women and girls along with healthcare accessibility for women. 

“It was largely an all-women committee, which made it a safe space for women to talk,” Hanulcik said. “We were all dedicated to the same ideas of furthering women’s rights. All of our committee papers passed. I had never been to a conference where every paper passed. It was cool to see us all working together and how everyone felt empowered to share and speak without fear.” 

At each Model UN conference, committees employ both formal (speeches) and informal (networking and developing de facto working groups) sessions to work toward a resolution addressing each topic. Over hours and days, a few resolutions will emerge that the dais (a moderating team of staff members) evaluates as acceptable, the committee will vote, and amendments will be made. The goal is that the committee will eventually adopt one resolution unanimously. 

“Generally, the aim on a Model UN committee is to try to get as much unanimity in agreement as you can on an issue, because in the real international community, that’s how you get change to actually happen,” Purdy said. “Model UN tries to replicate that, and in the process, it teaches conflict resolution, negotiating, compromise, and social and political skills.” 

A highlight of the New York conference for Hanulcik came when the resolution she had primarily worked on was one of just a couple chosen to be sent to the actual United Nations. 

“It felt incredible that so many people from so many places had come together, even though we had very different backgrounds, to find resolution on this issue and make such a powerful, moving paper that our dais submitted it to the actual United Nations,” Hanulcik said. “It was wonderful to feel like we have power in the future as the next generation.” 

For Hanulcik, a political science major with concentrations in community and global health and in women, gender and sexuality, Model UN offers the feel of real-world experience and develops public speaking abilities, teamwork and collaboration, friendships and optimism. 

“Even though it’s not the real world—it’s a model—it gives the sense of what you can do outside of school with the classes you’re taking and see how they can be applied,” Hanulcik said. “For example, in my women, gender and sexuality classes, we learn theories about how women can be fully liberated. Then I go to Model UN and see how those policies can be put in place to make a difference in women’s lives. There is such optimism, and that goes for the real UN as well. It’s easy to know that our world is a hard place to live in and can be terrible for so many people. But the UN has this optimism about it. We’re going to keep trying. We’re going to pass these resolutions. We’re going to encourage people to implement them. It’s a place to gather and try to make things a little bit better with the power of collaboration.” 

Prior to New York, a smaller group of K students attended the Midwest Model United Nations conference, where the team received several awards. There, the more experienced students represented Azerbaijan while the newer participants represented Lebanon. 

“During the St. Louis conference, there was a big plenary where everyone comes together in one room and votes up or down the resolutions that each committee has done,” Purdy said. “There’s debates and amendments, so on and so forth. Representing Azerbaijan, I went to our delegates representing Lebanon—our learners—with a resolution. I said, ‘We would really like your support for this; we would like you to sign on to it.’ They read through it, and they were like, ‘No. Lebanon cannot support this.’ And I was so glad that they didn’t just say yes to me because I was their friend and their teacher. I was like, ‘Yes, you guys are getting it.’ That might have made me more proud than some of the awards we won.” 

Those awards included Distinguished Delegation as Azerbaijan, placing the team in the top 10 of all countries represented. Team members also won three individual awards, with Nathan Bouvard winning an award for his position paper in General Assembly 2 as Azerbaijan, Martina Marín winning a position paper award in the World Health Organization as Azerbaijan, and Purdy winning the top honors of Outstanding Delegation as Azerbaijan in the UN Environmental Assembly. 

A double major in religion and political science with a Jewish studies concentration, Purdy is grateful that the Office of Student Activities and the Department of Political Science fund Model UN at K. 

“Model UN has made a world of difference to me, developing my skills, developing as a person, developing as a leader, being in charge of this club,” Purdy said. “I’m a first-generation student, I come from a very working-class background; If I’d had to pay to participate, I would have had to say no. I’m so glad the K Model UN program is free to students. And we get to do that because the school is very generous, and its donors are very generous. I’m very proud that our program is free because in some places, this is an elite activity. It’s cordoned off for people with wealth, with financial privilege, and I’m glad that’s not the case at this school. Here, Model UN is about your willingness, your talent, your commitment, and that makes a world of difference with our team. 

“I’m happy to say Model UN has made the recovery post-COVID, and we are larger and more competitive than I ever saw us. I’m very proud of this program and I hope that the people I hand it off to will bring it to new heights.” 

Model United Nations Conference at the UN General Assembly
Before going to New York, a smaller group of students attended the Midwest Model United Nations conference, where the team received several awards. The more experienced students represented Azerbaijan while newer ones represented Lebanon.
Two students attending the National Model United Nations Conference
K’s team that represented Azerbaijan in the Midwest competition placed in the top 10 of all countries represented.

Midwest Model United Nations Participants

  • Nathan Bouvard
  • Laura Goia
  • Martina Marin
  • Nailia Narynbek Kyzy
  • John O’Neill
  • Mason Purdy
  • Hannah Willit
  • Wendy Yan (Yan Yazhuo)

National Model UN Participants

  • Belen Cañizares Acuña
  • Nathan Bouvard
  • Maansi Deswal
  • Laura Goia
  • Kenia Gonzalez
  • Teresa Gonzalez Redondo
  • Paola Guzman Jimenez 
  • Maddie Hanulcik
  • Rob Kloosterman
  • Nailia Narynbek Kyzy
  • Andrea Ladera
  • Martina Marin
  • John O’Neill
  • Mason Purdy
  • Hannah Willit

K Honors 24 Students with Senior Leadership Awards

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A total of 24 students known for their invaluable contributions to the Kalamazoo College community were honored Friday, May 3, at the annual Senior Leadership Awards. 

The seniors represent talented athletes, outstanding academic performers, members of the President’s Student Ambassadors and student-organization standouts. Here are the honorees: 

  • Shannon Abbott, nominated by Hillary Berry, Library
  • Shahriar Ahmad Akhavan Tafti, nominated by Kathryn Sederberg, German; and Danette Ifert Johnson, Provost
  • Darsalam Amir, nominated by Angela Betts, Information Services
  • Lindsey Baker, nominated by Daniela Arias-Rotondo, Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Leihua Weng, Chinese
  • Elizabeth Ballinger, nominated by Liz Candido, Religious and Spiritual Life
  • Madison Barch, nominated by Laurel Palmer, Kalamazoo College Fund
  • Isabel Chiang, nominated by Hunter Magrum, Residential Life
  • Quinn Collins, nominated by Sara Stockwood, Environmental Stewardship; and Binney Girdler, Biology
  • Michael Hume, nominated by Diomedes Rabago, Spanish
  • Madelaine Hurley, nominated by Mark Murphy, Women’s Tennis
  • Ann Marie Johnston, nominated by Daniela Arias-Rotondo, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Ella Kelly, nominated by Rachel Love, Library Learning Centers; and Daniela Arias-Rotondo, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Blagoja Naskovski nominated by Andy Brown, College Communications; Laurel Palmer, Kalamazoo College Fund; and Danette Ifert Johnson, Provost
  • Alexandra Noel, nominated by Isabela Agosa, Writing Center; and Rick Barth, Assistant Provost
  • Jeremiah Ohren-Hoeft, nominated by Vince Redko, Men’s Lacrosse
  • Margaret Perry, nominated by Marin Heinritz, English
  • Ana Ramirez, nominated by Allie VanHeest, Center for Civic Engagement
  • Ali Randel, nominated by Jeffrey Haus, History and Religion; and Liz Candido, Religious and Spiritual Life
  • Cesar Soria nominated by Francisco Villegas, Anthropology and Sociology
  • Ella Szczublewski nominated by Regina Stevens-Truss and Blakely Tresca, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Gabriel Vidinas nominated by Mark Riley, Men’s Tennis
  • Emmeline Wendel nominated by Laurel Palmer, Kalamazoo College Fund
  • Jordyn Wilson, nominated by Regina Stevens-Truss and Blakely Tresca, Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Olivia Wolfe, nominated by Mark Murphy, Women’s Tennis
The 2024 Senior Leadership Awards recipients
A total of 24 Kalamazoo College seniors were honored Friday, May 3, with Senior Leadership Awards. They included Quinn Collins (front row from left), Ana Ramirez, Lindsey Baker, Ella Kelly, Shannon Abbott, Jordyn Wilson and Olivia Wolfe; Darsalam Amir (second row, from left), Ella Szczublewski, Madelaine Hurley and Margaret Perry; Alexandra Noel (third row, from left), Ali Randel, Emmeline Wendel, and Jeremiah Ohren-Hoeft; Michael Hume (fourth row, from left), Blagoja Naskovski, Madison Barch and Isabel Chiang; and Elizabeth Ballinger (top row, left) and Shahriar Ahmad Akhavan Tafti. Not pictured: Ann Marie Johnston, Cesar Soria and Gabriel Vidinas.

Meet President’s Student Ambassador Madison Barch ’24

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Kalamazoo College is spotlighting its President’s Student Ambassadors to let you know who they are and the roles they serve for K. As student leaders, ambassadors serve as an extension of the president’s hospitality at events and gatherings, welcoming alumni and guests of the College.  

About 18 students serve as ambassadors each academic year. The students selected show strong communication skills and demonstrate leadership through academic life, student life or community service. Meet Madison Barch ’24, a biochemistry major from Shelby Township, Michigan, through a Q-and-A conducted with Social Media Ambassador Blagoja Naskovski ’24. 

In what on- and off-campus activities do you participate? 

On campus, I am a four-year kicker and punter on the football team, a senior intern at Admission, a laboratory teaching assistant in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, I’m involved in a couple of Bible study groups, and of course, I’m a President’s Student Ambassador. 

What’s your favorite part of being a student at K? Of what moments are you the proudest? 

One of my favorite parts of being a student at K is all the relationships I have built with other students, faculty and especially my professors. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry truly feels like a family, and I love every minute of it! I am not one to take too much pride in myself, by one of the moments that my mom is most proud of was my two-point conversion catch at Trine this past fall. It was an amazing moment that I was fortunate to spend with my family, teammates and coaches. 

Portrait of Madison Barch
Madison Barch ’24 is a biochemistry major from Shelby Township, Michigan. She serves as a President’s Student Ambassador and has been a kicker and punter on K’s football team.
Madison Barch with family at athletics complex
Barch recognizes the support she receives from family when she discusses her football achievements.
Kicker Madison Barch celebrates catching a two-point conversion
Barch caught a two-point conversion on November 11, representing what are believed to be the first non-kicking points by a woman at any level. Photo by Laura Moat.
Madison Barch kicking
Barch completes a kick in a Kalamazoo College football game. Photo by Kimberley Moss.

Why did you accept the invitation to serve as a President’s Student Ambassador? 

I decided to serve as a President’s Student Ambassador for the opportunity to network with alumni, parents and friends of K. It felt like a great way to better serve K. I have made many connections and have met some really great people who have wonderful stories! 

What’s your favorite part of being a President’s Student Ambassador? 

My favorite part of being a PSA is the relationships I have been able to make with alumni, trustees, and even community members. 

What would you recommend for the incoming President’s Student Ambassadors in 2024–25? 

I recommend that new ambassadors get comfortable with sharing their K story because they will do it quite a bit! Along with that, don’t be afraid to connect. Ask others to network—almost every time they are completely open and willing to help out a fellow Hornet! 

College Singers Return to Northern Michigan

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Kalamazoo College Singers, under the direction of Associate Professor of Music Chris Ludwa, will present their spring concert tour this month with concerts in Grayling, Traverse City, Bellaire and Charlevoix, and a cabaret at Short’s Brewery.

The public performances are at:

As a part of the tour, the College Singers will also perform at the Shawono Center in Grayling, a secure treatment facility serving adjudicated male juveniles ages 12-21, thanks in part to a grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. This special performance will aim to bring an enriching arts experience to an underserved population while providing valuable experiential learning for the students. 

The program is titled “Be Like Water” and will present songs from a variety of sources and styles from the Renaissance, folk and popular music, each one centered on a theme of water. The concert is designed to uplift, inspire and transcend the current climate around politics, economics and war, offering a bit of hope.

Some pieces include piano, while others are a cappella, and audiences will also enjoy music by smaller ensembles and soloists. Singers come from as far away as Texas and as close as Traverse City, reflecting the College’s diverse population and vibrant study abroad emphasis.

No tickets are needed for the public performances, but a free-will offering will be taken to help defray the tour bus expense for the ensemble. More specific questions can be directed to Ludwa at cludwa@kzoo.edu.

Kalamazoo College Singers outside of Light Fine Arts
The Kalamazoo College Singers will begin their spring concert tour this month with concerts in Grayling, Traverse City, Bellaire and Charlevoix and a cabaret at Short’s Brewery.

K Honors Employees, Student Ambassadors at Founders Day Event

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Bruce Mills receives the Lux Esto Award of Excellence from Jorge Gonzalez
Professor of English Bruce Mills receives the Lux Esto Award of Excellence from Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez at the Founders Day community reflection.
Jessica Fowle receives Outstanding Advisor Award from Jorge Gonzalez at Founders Day
Director of Grants, Fellowship and Research Jessica Fowle ’00 receives Outstanding Advisor Award from Gonzalez at the Founders Day community reflection.
Alayna Lewis receives the First-Year Advocate Award from Jorge Gonzalez
Associate Director of the Center for International Programs Alayna Lewis receives the First-Year Advocate Award from Gonzalez at the Founders Day community reflection.

Professor of English Bruce Mills is this year’s recipient of the Lux Esto Award of Excellence as announced today during the College’s Founders Day celebration, marking K’s 191st year.

The award recognizes an employee who has served the institution for at least 26 years and has a record of stewardship and innovation. The recipient—chosen by a committee with student, faculty and staff representatives—is an employee who exemplifies the spirit of K through excellent leadership, selfless dedication and goodwill.

At K, Mills has taught classes on short fiction, identities, African-American literature, American literature from 1500–1790 and 1790–1865, and the life and legacy of James Baldwin. He also leads the digital humanities portion of the Humanities Integrated Locational Learning (HILL) project, a Mellon Foundation-funded effort combining classroom and in-person experiences in cities such as New Orleans, San Diego and St. Louis that seeks solutions to societal problems while promoting the critical role of the humanities in social justice work.

Mills has published creative nonfiction in The Georgia Review; New England Review; September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond; and Gravity Pulls You In: Parenting Children on the Autism Spectrum. He also co-edited the book Siblings and Autism: Stories Spanning Generations and Cultures. Further, his advocacy in relation to autism has led to presentations at numerous conferences. 

Four of the College Singers perform
Alexa Wonacott, Amelie Sack, Maxwell Goldner and Zachary Ufkes of the Lux Esto Singers perform “Stand in That River” by Moira Smiley.
Student reading from a lectern at Founders Day
President’s Student Ambassadors Gabriel Coleman (pictured) and Grey Gardner read the Kalamazoo College land acknowledgement.
Founders Day anniversary honors recipient
Kalamazoo College employees, such as Center for International Programs Executive Director Margaret Wiedenhoeft, who are celebrating milestone anniversaries were recognized at Founders Day.

Mills “has been dedicated to the campus community, with one nominator saying he has done wonders at making his classroom environment open, comprehensive and accessible to anyone, even in higher level classes,” Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez said in presenting the award. “He meets students where they are, making sure that course content is easy to understand and that concepts can be applied to people’s own lives and their own academic understandings. At the same time, he pushes students to think bigger and think differently while making classes engaging, appropriately challenging and fun.”

In accordance with Founders Day traditions, two other employees received additional community awards. Director of Grants, Fellowship and Research Jessica Fowle ’00 was given the Outstanding Advisor Award and Associate Director of the Center for International Programs (CIP) Alayna Lewis received the First-Year Advocate Award.

Fowle is a key individual when it comes to referring K students and faculty to Fulbright’s U.S. Student Program and Scholar Program immersion opportunities. She recently was selected to be part of the inaugural Fulbright Program Adviser (FPA) Mentors Cohort. As an FPA mentor, Fowle is one of 20 experts from around the country providing virtual training and information sessions, presentations at the Forum for Education Abroad, and personal advice to new Fulbright program advisers who are looking to structure applicant support and recruitment at their own institutions. She has been a part of K’s staff in various roles for more than 20 years including nearly five as director of grants, fellowships and research.  

“Advisors are academic mentors who work closely with our students, pay attention to their academic progress, and help them identify and fulfill their goals while working towards completing their degrees,” Gonzalez said. “As evidenced in the nominations received, she accomplishes all of this and more.”

Through the CIP, Lewis organizes international student orientation and its activities. She also helps students with F-1 and J-1 Visa regulations, and study abroad programs in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Spain. Her passion for study abroad came from a trip to Spain while she was in high school and her own undergraduate experience studying abroad in Mexico.

Gonzalez noted that nominators said Lewis makes herself available to meet individually with students and listens well to help solve a variety of challenges with compassion. Beyond academics, she helps students by assisting in critical matters such as taxes and legal documentation. Plus, during winter break, many international students stay on campus with Lewis organizing grocery trips, meals and events, making being away from home much easier.

Members of the President's Student Ambassadors stand to be recognized at Founders Day
Members of the 2023–24 President’s Student Ambassadors stand to be recognized at Founders Day
Members of the 2024-25 President's Student Ambassadors stand to be recognized at Founders Day
Members of the 2024-25 President’s Student Ambassadors stand to be recognized at Founders Day.
Crowd applauds at Founders Day event
Founders Day attendees applaud Lux Esto Award recipient Bruce Mills.

Gonzalez also recognized the students who served as President’s Student Ambassadors in the 2023–24 academic year and introduced those who will serve the College beginning this fall in 2024–25. As student leaders, President’s Student Ambassadors serve as an extension of the president’s hospitality at events and gatherings, welcoming alumni and guests of the College with a spirit of inclusion. About 15 students serve as ambassadors each academic year. The students selected show strong communication skills; demonstrate leadership through academic life, student life or community service; and maintain a minimum grade-point average.

The 2023-24 ambassadors have been:

  • Madison Barch ’24
  • Gabriel Coleman ’24
  • Blake Filkins ’26
  • Grey Gardner ’26
  • Emily Haigh ’24
  • James Hauke ’26
  • Madeline Hollander ’25
  • Gavin Houtkooper ‘25
  • Renai Huang ’24
  • Lukas Hultberg ’24
  • Jessica Kaplan ’26
  • Alex Nam ’25
  • Blagoja Naskovski ’24
  • Isabella Pellegrom ‘25
  • Tyrus Parnell, Jr. ’25
  • Maxwell Rhames ‘25
  • Emmeline Wendel ’24
  • Ava Williams ‘25

The 2024-25 ambassadors succeeding this year’s seniors will be:

  • Jaylen Bowles-Swain ’26
  • Christopher Cayton ’25
  • Kyle Cooper ’25
  • Maya Hester ’25
  • Katie Kraemer ’25
  • Joaquin Martinez ’25
  • Isabelle Mason ’27
  • Addison Peter ’25
  • Emiliano Alvarado Rescala ’27
  • Amelie Sack ’27
  • Dean Turpin ’25

Meet President’s Student Ambassador Gavin Houtkooper ’25

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Kalamazoo College is spotlighting its President’s Student Ambassadors to let you know who they are and the roles they serve for K. As student leaders, ambassadors serve as an extension of the president’s hospitality at events and gatherings, welcoming alumni and guests of the College with a spirit of inclusion. About 15 students serve as ambassadors each academic year. The students selected show strong communication skills and demonstrate leadership through academic life, student life or community service. Meet Gavin Houtkooper ’25 through a Q-and-A conducted with Social Media Ambassador Blagoja Naskovski ’24.

Gavin Houtkooper ’25, from Battle Creek, Michigan, majors in business with minors in Spanish and computer science. He is a member of the Kalamazoo College men’s soccer team, a treasurer of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society that recognizes excellence from a student’s first year.

What’s your favorite part of your K Experience?

My favorite part about being a student at K is the outstanding people that I get to be around daily, my fellow classmates and my world-class professors. I also love that the K-Plan allows me to take control of my education and take the classes in areas that I am interested in. Through the K-Plan, I have been able to continue playing the sport I love (soccer), I will be studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, this spring, and I have obtained internships through our fantastic alumni network. 

Why did you accept the invitation to serve as a President’s Student Ambassador?

“I decided to serve as a President’s Student Ambassador (PSA) because a teammate on the men’s soccer team was in the program and told me about the amazing experience he had. He met alumni, got an internship through the people he met and then turned that into his first job out of college. After hearing his story, applying to be a PSA was a priority for me.”

Portrait of President's Student Ambassador Gavin Houtkooper '25
Through the K-Plan, President’s Student Ambassador Gavin Houtkooper plays soccer, is studying abroad in Madrid, and has earned outstanding internships.
Gavin Houtkooper in goal
Houtkooper is a treasurer of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, an honor society that salutes first-year excellence.
Gavin Houtkooper playing in goal for the Kalamazoo College men's soccer team
A teammate from Kalamazoo College’s men’s soccer team told Gavin Houtkooper about being a President’s Student Ambassador, inspiring Houtkooper to seek the position.
President's Student Ambassador Gavin Houtkooper attending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Meetings
As a President’s Student Ambassador, Houtkooper enjoys meeting K alumni when they return to campus for events. He says K alumni have done some incredible work in the world, and in his experience, they are always looking to give back to current students.
President's Student Ambassador Gavin Houtkooper in goal for the Kalamazoo College men's soccer team
Houtkooper encourages new President’s Student Ambassadors to attend as many events as they can to talk with alumni because one conversation can create life-changing connections.

What is your favorite part of being a President’s Student Ambassador?

“My favorite part of being a PSA is meeting K alumni when they come back home to K for events. Our alumni have done some incredible work in the world, and in my experience, they are always looking to give back to current students. Through my conversations with alumni, I was able to navigate the internship search process and ultimately land one for this coming summer.”

What would you recommend for the incoming President’s Student Ambassadors in 2024–25?

“I would recommend that any new PSA attend as many events as possible. We never know who we will talk to at a given event. But in my experience, one conversation can create life-changing connections with an alum who may be able to help you navigate life after K.”