Kalamazoo College’s efforts to get science majors experience in student research, one of the most important factors in providing them an exceptional start in their post-college careers, just got a big boost.
A $247,500 grant from the Sherman Fairchild Foundation will boost the availability of summer student research experiences for K biology, chemistry and physics majors.
The Sherman Fairchild Foundation will provide $247,500 to fund stipends of $4,000 apiece for students in biology, chemistry and physics to conduct research in summer. The three-year grant will also provide up to $1,500 apiece for students to attend scientific conferences to present their findings and to offset the cost of supplies, said Associate Professor of Physics Arthur Cole, who will serve as director of the project.
The student research beneficiaries, 15 each summer, will include both rising seniors working on their Senior Individualized Projects (SIPs) and younger students, allowing them to get early exposure to life in the lab before deciding whether to pursue science as a career, Cole said. He worked with Assistant Professor of Biology Santiago Salinas, Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dwight Williams and Anne Dueweke, director of grants, fellowships and research, to conceptualize and develop the grant proposal.
“It gives students an earlier chance to seek out research experiences,” Cole said. “A lot of times you think you want to go into the sciences and you don’t know what research is like until you get to try it.”
He said the grant also will make it possible for those who support themselves while attending the College to concentrate on student research, rather than having to seek summer jobs, and could open doors for members of groups who are underrepresented in the sciences.
Salinas said summer research as an undergraduate played a major role in his own decision to become a scientist and professor.
“It’s more than what’s in the textbook,” he said. “They start to see the bigger picture. And they get to try things. It’s how they learn. And it’s fun.”
For those who do decide to pursue scientific careers, Williams said, the opportunity to get early research experience can give them a “leg up” on getting further grants and research opportunities.
“It’s a great way for us to get more students involved in research, particularly with an emphasis on first- and second-year students, instead of waiting until they’re seniors working on their SIPs” he said.
Though most of the research that the grant funds will involve students working with professors on the College’s campus, it will also provide support for up to three K students a year to participate in research at other institutions, Cole said.
Congratulations to the following Kalamazoo College students who achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 or better for a full-time course load of at least three units without failing or withdrawing from any course during the Fall 2017 academic term. Students who elect to take a letter-graded course on a credit/no credit basis (CR/NC) are not eligible for Dean’s List consideration during that term. Nor are students who receive an F, NC or W grade for that particular term. Students with incomplete (I) or in-progress (IP) grades will be considered for Dean’s List upon receipt of the final grades. Dean’s List recognition is posted on students’ transcripts. Kudos to the entire group of 380 students on the Dean’s List, and good luck in the Winter 2018 term.
Azra Ahmad
Michelle Alba
Mel Alicea
Allegra Allgeier
Tyler Allyn-White
Alexandrea E. Ambs
Georgie Andrews
Hunter Angileri
Lauren Arquette
Lukia Artemakis
Avani Ashtekar
Josh Atwell
Juan Avila
B
Jo Babcock
Julia Bachmann
Andrew Backer
Nicki Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Marios Bantis
Angel Banuelos
Garrett Barkume
Hannah Bartoshesky
Lilly Baumann
Tommy Beaubien
Logan Beck
Sage Benner
Brigette Berke
Owen Bersot
Dominic Bertollini
Kevin Bhimani
Abhi Bhullar
Riya Bhuyan
Sean E. Bogue
Elliott Boinais
Cavan Bonner
Lydia Bontrager
Autumn Buhl
Bri Burnell
Erin Butler
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Alex Cadigan
Xiu Cai
Hannah Campbell
Kalyn Campbell
Paloma Campillo
Micaela Campos
Christopher Cao
Cate Carlberg
Shannon Carley
Justin Carlson
Dorothy Carpenter
Charles J. Carson
Marissa Castellana
Kit Charlton
Deana Chavarria
Sherry Chen
Nutsa Chinchilakashvili
Iffat Chowdhury
Justin Christopher-Moody
Yoensuk Chung
Zach Colburn
Nyima Coleman
MaryClare Colombo
Carmen Compton
Anthony Convertino
Noah Coplan
Valentina Cordero
Chase Coselman
Austin Cramer
John Crane
Karli Crouch
Alex Cruz
Ethan Cuka
D
Mansi Dahal
Sela Damer-Daigle
Addie Dancer
Minh Dang
Shayaan Dar
Amelia Davis
Gwen Davis
Riley Davis
Tiff de la Cruz
Adam Decker
Mattie Del Toro
Ricardo DelOlmo-Parrado
Bobby Dennerll
Katia Dermott
Christy Diaz
Abby Dickstein
Anthony Diep
Lexi Dietz
Julia Dobry
Chloe Drost
Alexa Dulmage
Zach DuMont
Lotte L. Dunnell
Carley Dziewicki
E
Jenna Ellis
Emily Eringaard
McKinzie Ervin
Lia Evangelista
F
Shawn Fair
Tristan Ferguson
Hazel Fillmore-Brady
Anders Finholt
Matthew Flotemersch
Delaney Q. Fordell
Talea Fournier
Ian Freshwater
Alex Fultz
G
Alicia Gaitan
Anna Gambetta
Amanda Gardner
Camden Gardner
Charlotte Gavin
Kobe Gementiza
Cory Gensterblum
Sarah George
Audrey Gerard
Carina Ghafari
Jake Gilhaus
Hannah Ginsberg
Anthony Giovanni
Rachel Girard
Sophia Goebel
Abhay Goel
Amir Golshan Tafti
Gil Gonzalez
Adam Gothard
Jessie Gougeon
Adeline Grame
Ryan Graves
Jordan Gray
Andre Grayson
Anthony Grayson
Stanton Greenstone
Garrett Guglielmetti
Katie Guo
H
Bekah Halley
Emily Hamel
Caryn Hannapel
Kelly Hansen
Martin Hansknecht
Haley Harris
Kelly Haugland
Kaylee Henderson
Maeve Hening
Mei Mei Hensler
Aby Hernandez
Adelaide Hilarides
Hunter Himelhoch
Kento Hirakawa
Alexandra Hobrecht
Sam Hoehle
Mathew Holmes-Hackerd
Aly Homminga
Audrey Honig
Josephine Hosner
Annabelle Houghton
Matt Howrey
Cody Howrigon
Kaspar Hudak
Ellie Hughes
Destiny Hutcherson
Li Li Huynh
I
J
Sam Jacobsen
Aliyah Jamaluddin
Danielle Janowicz
Patrick Jarvis
Mathu Jennings
Hanna Jeung
Jade Jiang
Ben Johanski
Leona Johns
Lisa Johnston
Madeline Jump
K
Isaac Kaczor
Liza Kahn
Claire Kalina
Sharat Kamath
Amani Karim
Maria Katrantzi
Greg Kearns
Joe Keller
Tyler Kesterson
Min Soo Kim
Savannah Kinchen
Nick Klepser
Hannah Kline
Ryan Knight
Julia Koreman
Hannah Kowalski
Emily Kozal
Ethan Krasman
Matthew Krinock
Charlie Krone
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Megan Lacombe
Neelam Lal
Zoe Larson
Stefan Leclerc
Sabrina Leddy
David Lieber
Alison Lilla
Lucy Liu
Rosella LoChirco
Trevor Loduem-Jackson
Nick Ludka
Emily Lulkin
M
Andrea MacMichael
Rachel Madar
Sam Maddox
Madisyn Mahoney
Natalie Markech
Kathryn Martin
CJ Martonchik
Rose Maylen
Eliza McCall
Kevin McCarty
Genevieve McDaniel
Abby McDonough
Courtney McGinnis
Maygan McGuire
Isabel McLaughlin
Tytus Metzler
Nate Micallef
Namfon Miller
Dylan Milton
Beth Mitchell
Mina Mkrtchian
Jennifer Montemayor Bautista
Elayna Moreau
Daniel Mota-Villegas
Ryan Mulder
Libby Munoz
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Ravi Nair
Yukiko Nakano
Kyle Neuner
Kelly Nickelson
Niko Nickson
Ian Nostrant
O
Joab Odero
Evan O’Donnell
Abigail O’Keefe
Michael Orwin
Jake Osen
P
Yansong Pan
Karina Pantoja
James C. Paprocki
Kayla Park
Sung Soo Park
Angela Pastor
Cayla Patterson
Caleb Patton
Meera Patwardhan
Helen Pelak
Jessica Penny
Ranya Perez
Allie Periman
Matthew Peters
Uyen Pham
Nhi Phan
Priya Pokorzynski
Karen Portillo
Arianna Prater
Zach Prystash
Q
Daniel Qin
Natalie Quist
R
Erin Radermacher
Hannah Rainaldi
Andrea Ramirez
Shoji Ramos
Sam Ratliff
Zack Ray
Farzad Razi
Tori Regan
Dylan Regling
Mili Renuart
Josh Reuter
Julia Riddle
Sage Ringsmuth
Laken Rivet
Scott Roberts
Lilia Robins
Danna Robles-Garcia
Brynn Rohde
Anna Roodbergen
Avery Rothrock
Maelle Rouquet
Orly Rubinfeld
Angela Ruiz
Tim Rutledge
Jacob Ryan
Keigan Ryckman
Matthew W. Ryder
S
Loveleen Saini
Rumsha Sajid
Tanush Samson
Danielle Sarafian
Nehe Scarborough
Maggie Schaefer
Kim Schmidt
Emma Schneider
Justin Schodowski
Hannah Scholten
Trenton Schrader
JD Seablom
Zoe Sergeant
Kaitlyn Shafer
Sharif Shaker
Yasi Shaker
Yu Shang
Reagan Shapton
Lily Shearer
Chase Shelbourne
Elena Shen
Gabrielle Shimko
Hannah Shiner
Arun Shrestha
Josie Sibley
Nate Silverman
Danielle Simon
Manveer Singh
Simran Singh
Jordan Skidmore
Asia Smith
Michael Smith
Adam Snider
Youngtae Song
Casey Spagnuolo
Sophie Spencer
Simona Stalev
Kalista Stanger
Katelyn Steele
Nick Stein
Grace Stier
Claudia Stroupe
Shelby Suseland
Quentin Sweeney
Nina Szalkiewicz
T
Jack Tagget
William Tait
Maia Taylor
Subi Thakali
Emma Theiss
Natalie Thompson
Noah Thornton
Emma Toomey
Margaret Totten
Caitlin Tremewan
Uyen Trinh
Elyse Tuennerman
Matt Turton
U
V
Mick Valatkas
Marcela Valdivieso
Clara Valenti
Cynthia Valentin
Madison Vallan
Adriana Vance
Zach VanFaussien
Meghan VanHoutte
Hope Vanzo-Sparks
Travis Veenhuis
Chris Vennard
Carter Vespi
Aiden Voss
Liam VosWilliams
W
Gabby Walton Schwartz
Claire Ward
Madeline Ward
Rachel Wasserman
Leah Wathen
Eleri Watkins
Mike Watson
Maija Weaver
Zhi Nee Wee
Ehren White
Sarah Whitfield
Jessica Wile
Clay Wilms
Meg Wilson
Ryan Witczak
Emily Wittman
Hannah Wolfe
Raen Wolmark
Julia Woods
J’Quan Woodson
The Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College production of the Tony award-winning musical “Fun Home” will be presented at the Region III Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) in Indianapolis in January, preceded by an encore performance at the College’s Dalton Theatre.
The Festival Playhouse cast of “Fun Home” will have a special fundraising performance of the play Jan. 8 at Dalton Theatre to support its trip to the Region III Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) in Indianapolis.
In November, K staged the college premiere of the musical, based on a graphic novel by Alison Bechdel and co-written for the stage by Jennifer Tesori and Lisa Kron ’83. The Broadway production won the Tony Award for Best Musical of 2015; Kron and Tesori shared a Tony for Best Original Score; and Kron won for Best Book of a Musical.
A panel of college and university theater professors from around the Midwest chose the Kalamazoo College production of “Fun Home” as one of seven from a list of 21 in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin that it considered for invitations to the festival. Ed Menta, the Kalamazoo College James A. B. Stone professor of theatre arts, called it a great – and rare – honor.
“This is only the fourth time in my 32 years at K that we’ve been invited to perform at this festival,” said Menta, adding that three of those plays were written by two alums: Kron and Joe Tracz ’04, whose “Allison Shields” was invited in 2011 and “Phenomenon of Decline” in 2006. Kron herself acted in a prior invitee, “El Grande de Coca Cola,” in 1984.
“We’re honored, thrilled and proud, especially on behalf of our students,” said Menta.
Adding to the honor, he said, KCACTF chose “Fun Home” to be the closing presentation of the festival, with performances at 1:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at the University of Indianapolis’ Ransburg Auditorium.
Though the play – a compelling portrait of a lesbian woman’s relationship with her gay, closeted father – was challenging to stage, “All of our students rose to the occasion,” said Menta, adding that he hopes the exposure the musical receives at the festival will encourage other colleges to produce it.
College troupes that perform at the festival must cover their travel expenses, and to defray the cost, the 45-member cast and crew of “Fun Home” will present a fundraising performance at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at Dalton Theatre, with tickets available to the public at a suggested donation of $15 each.
Kalamazoo College welcomes the students visiting this weekend for the Michigan Music Teachers Association Performance Competition for solo and chamber instrumentalists. Performances will be at Recital Hall, Dalton Theater and the band room at the Light Fine Arts Building.
Students are competing this weekend in the Michigan Music Teachers Association Performance Competition.
For those visiting students still in high school, take a look around campus and explore what it offers through our virtual tour. If you can see yourself attending K, check out the music scholarships and theater scholarships we have for music majors and non-majors alike.
If we’ve piqued your interest, learn how to connect with Admission. The Admission Office often is the first point of contact for prospective students and their families as it shares the College’s distinctive programs and opportunities in the liberal arts and sciences, which are developed through the K-Plan. The K-Plan is a nationally recognized open curriculum offering rigorous academics, a hands-on education of experiential learning, international and intercultural experiences such as study abroad programs, and independent scholarship through senior individualized projects.
Welcome, families, to Kalamazoo College’s family weekend!
Welcome, families, to Family Weekend at Kalamazoo College! Below you will find a list of activities along with links to the campus map in our virtual tour, providing the locations of each facility. Questions about Family Weekend may be directed to Dana Jansma, Associate Dean of Students in the Student Development Office at 269-337-7209 or dana.jansma@kzoo.edu.
Kalamazoo College observes Honors Day in the fall quarter of each year, recognizing at convocation those students who have earned honors for the year and those who have won special prizes during the previous academic year.
A Parent’s Guide to Finances for Continuing Students
Becca Murphy, Director of Financial Aid, and Patrick Farmer, Student Accounts Coordinator, will provide important financial aid deadlines and review commonly asked billing questions related to studying abroad. This is also an opportunity for families to get answers to their general financial and billing questions.
Why it Matters: The Importance of Critical Civic Engagement
This student panel, facilitated by Moises Hernandez, K’17, Post Baccalaureate Fellow, and Alison Geist, Director, the Center for Civic Engagement, provides a glimpse into current students’ experiences working through local community partnerships to “build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.” About two-thirds of K students participate in faculty-led community based research and coursework, and in student-led initiatives the CCE facilitates. Come and learn more about this vital component of the “K-Plan.”
What do parents of first and second-year students need to know about study abroad? Presented by Margaret Wiedenhoeft, Executive Director of International Programs.
Coffee, beverages, and light snacks available to purchase.
10 a.m. to noon, Lilian Anderson Arboretum, 1.8 miles west of the intersection of M-43 (West Main Street) and U.S. 131 in Oshtemo Township.
Lilian Anderson Arboretum Guided Nature Hike: Humanity’s Relationship with Nature
What do the forest and humans have in common? How has our presence influenced the natural world around us? Explore these questions on a guided hike through Kalamazoo College’s lush and scenic Lilian Anderson Arboretum. Join students from the “Roots in the Earth” First-Year Seminar for an intimate look into the Arboretum’s diverse plant life, animal population, and engaging history. Meet in the main Arboretum parking lot (overflow parking will be available at the Oshtemo Township Park (7275 West Main). Wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle.
Career Development at K: Partnerships and Practice
Learn about the College’s commitment to integrating career exploration and development throughout a student’s four years at K, including how parents and others can get involved, from Center for Career and Professional Development Director Joan Hawxhurst.
Preview Performance of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante
One of the master’s most inspired and divinely beautiful creations, the Sinfonia Concertante is a duet for the violin and viola with accompaniment. This work will feature the Kalamazoo Philharmonia’s Nov. 12 performance.
How I Built My K-Plan: A Conversation with Departmental Student Advisors
Hear from some of our outstanding department student advisers about life at K. They will answer such questions as, “How did you choose your majors and plan for study abroad and your senior project? What are the most interesting classes you have taken? Why is it important to explore across the liberal arts? How do your co-curricular activities connect to your academic interests?”
The Kalamazoo College student dance organization Frelon presents its fall show, which includes multiple campus student organizations. Enjoy an evening of student performances ranging from ballet to hip hop dance, skits, poems and music.
Kalamazoo College Family Weekend served as the backdrop for the College’s annual Honors Day convocation. More than 250 students were recognized Friday, Oct. 27, for excellence in academics and leadership in six divisions: Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences and Physical Education. Recipients of prestigious scholarships were recognized, as were members of national honor societies and students who received special Kalamazoo College awards. Student athletes and teams who won Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association awards also were honored. The students receiving Honors Day awards or recognition are listed below.
The Honors Day Convocation, conducted Oct. 27 at Stetson Chapel, celebrated the achievements of more than 250 Kalamazoo College students.
FINE ARTS DIVISION
The Brian Gougeon Prize in Art Hannah Rainaldi
The Margaret Upton Prize in Music Joshua Gibson Jenna Sherman
Cooper Award Kate Kreiss
Sherwood Prize Cody Colvin
Theatre Arts First-Year Student Award Sophia Hill Alysia Homminga
FOREIGN LANGUAGES DIVISION
LeGrand Copley Prize in French Valentina Cordero Ravi Nair
Hardy Fuchs Award Matthew Flotemersch
Margo Light Award Annarosa Whitman
Romance Languages Department Prize in Spanish Joshua Gibson Kevin McCarty
Clara H. Buckley Prize for Excellence in Latin Mara Hazen
Provost’s Prize in Classics Clayton Meldrum
HUMANITIES DIVISION
O.M. Allen Prize in English Paige Coffing
John B. Wickstrom Prize in History Riya Bhuyan
Department of Philosophy Prize Lee Carter Emiline Chipman
L.J. and Eva (“Gibbie”) Hemmes Memorial Prize in Philosophy Rosella LoChirco
NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS DIVISION
Winifred Peake Jones Prize in Biology Brigette Berke Amelia Davis Dominic Gonzalez
Department of Chemistry Prize Kevin McCarty
First-Year Chemistry Award Kristen Amyx-Sherer Alyssa Heitkamp
First-Year Mathematics Award Michael Orwin William Tait
Thomas O. Walton Prize in Mathematics Allegra Allgeier
Cooper Prize in Physics Benjamin Behrens Valentina Harding Alexis Periman Justin Seablom Ethan Tucker
SOCIAL SCIENCES DIVISION
Departmental Prize in Anthropology and Sociology Paige Chung Shadaijah Grandberry-Payton Aliyah Jamaluddin Elizabeth Munoz Emiliana Renuart
C. Wallace Lawrence Prize in Economics Andrew Parsons Evelyn Wagner
C. Wallace Lawrence Prize in Business Jessica Penny Scott Roberts Garrett Swanson
Irene and S. Kyle Morris Prize Zachary Ray
William G. Howard Memorial Prize Sarah Gerendasy
Department of Psychology First-Year Student Prize Shannon Carley
PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIVISION
Division of Physical Education Prize Laura Hanselman Daniel Henry
Maggie Wardle Prize Elizabeth Munoz
COLLEGE AWARDS
Gordon Beaumont Memorial Award Cydney Martell Rumsha Sajid Cindy Xiao
Henry and Inez Brown Prize Alexandrea Ambs Emily Good David Vanderkloot
Virginia Hinkelman Memorial Award Sarafina Milianti Sep’tisha Riley
Heyl Scholars – Class of 2020 Andrew Backer Matthew Giguere Josephine Hosner Danielle Janowicz Samuel Meyer Hannah Pittman Stephanie Rauhoff Subi Thakali Dustin Tibbetts
Posse Scholars – Class of 2020 Alejandro Aguirre Alexandro Cruz Kahira Embry Moses Gonzalez Denise Jackson Trevor Loduem-Jackson Daniel Mota-Villegas Angela Pastor Enrique Robles Gabrielle Walton Schwartz
National Merit Scholar – Class of 2020 Ehren White
Alpha Lambda Delta – Class of 2019 Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society that recognizes excellence in academic achievement during the first college year. To be eligible for membership, students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and be in the top 20 percent of their class during the first year.
Logan Beck Benjamin Behrens Brigette Berke Riya Bhuyan Shannon Carley Iffat Chowdhury Valentina Cordero Austin Cramer Adelaine Dancer Matthew Flotemersch Amanda Gardner Joshua Gibson Dominic Gonzalez Martin Hansknecht Sophia Hill Kento Hirakawa Alysia Homminga Maria Katrantzi Zoe Larson Samuel Maddox Kathryn Martin Kevin McCarty Tamara Morrison Elizabeth Munoz Cayla Patterson Alexis Periman Victorialyn Regan Danna Robles-Garcia Orly Rubinfeld Danielle Sarafian Jenna Sherman Simran Singh Grant Stille Sarah Whitfield
ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Performing Arts: Music Madeleine Armstrong Zachary Colburn Adam Decker Jennalise Ellis Stanton Greenstone Audrey Honig Isabel McLaughlin Katherine Miller-Purrenhage Natalie Minzey Julia Riddle Margaret Roethler
MICHIGAN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (MIAA) AWARDS
The following Hornet teams earned the 2015-2016 MIAA Team GPA Award. Team members achieved a 3.3 or better grade point average for the entire academic year.
The MIAA each year honors students at member colleges who achieve distinction in the classroom and in athletic competition. Students need to be a letter winners in a varsity sport and maintain at minimum 3.5 grade point average for the entire school year.
Cheyenne Allyn-White Alexandrea Ambs Georgie Andrews Ryan Andrusz Hunter Angileri Alberto Ayala Sonal Bahl Chase Baysdell Matthew Benedettini Jacob Bonifacio Kennedy Boulton Riley Boyd Andrew Bremer Allie Brodsky Molly Brueger Ian Bunker Matthew Burczyk Alexander Cadigan Charles Carson Madeleine Chilcote Jack Clark Elizabeth Clevenger Anthony Convertino Austin Cramer Anna Dairaghi Christina Dandar Elan Dantus Roger Darling Sabrina Dass Steven Davis Eric De Witt Dana DeVito Mikayla Doepker Guillermo Dominguez-Garcia Nathan Donovan Erin DuRoss Tristyn Edsall Emma Eisenbeis Michael Faust Anders Finholt John Fowler Christopher Francis Maria Franco Brett Garwood Cory Gensterblum Joseph Giacalone Jacob Gilhaus Anthony Giovanni Rachel Girard Beau Godkin Emily Good Monica Gorgas Mya Gough Andre Grayson Garrett Guthrie Alyssa Heitkamp Daniel Henry Kaiya Herman-Hilker Kyle Hernandez Mathew Holmes-Hackerd Allia Howard Nicole Huff Briana Huisken Claire Jensen Katherine Johnson Marylou Johnson Claire Kalina Maria Katrantzi Greg Kearns Samuel Kepes Benjamin Kileen Dahwi Kim William Kirchen Ian Kobernick Emily Kozal Matthew Krinock Stefan Leclerc Rosella LoChirco Nicholas Ludka Cydney Martell Eliza McCall Katherine McKibbon Branden Metzler Joshua Miller Suzanne Miller Madison Moote Zachary Morales Elizabeth Munoz Dylan Padget James Paprocki Cayla Patterson John Patton Bradley Popiel Nicole Prentice Zachary Prystash Erin Radermacher Zachary Ray Phillip Ritchie Scott Roberts Justin Roop Matthew Ryder Paige Sambor Aaron Schwark Jacob Scott Justin Seablom Anorah Seita Sharif Shaker Chase Shelbourne Alec Sherrill Gabrielle Shimko Grace Smith Adam Snider Kathleen Sorensen Sydney Spring Vethania Stavropoulos Grant Stille Shelby Suseland Matthew Suter Jacob Sypniewski Jack Tagget William Tait Emma Tardiff Benjamin Toledo Alyana Tomlinson Zachary Tornow Matt Turton Eva Ugelow Madison Vallan Kaela Van Til Joshua Vance David Vanderkloot Zachary VanFaussien Mitchell VanKoevering Travis Veenhuis John Vinson Sidney Wall Jacob Wasko John Wehr Alex White Madeline Woods Brent Yelton Julie Zabik Matthew Zhiss
If you visit ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, be sure to check out three entries from artists with Kalamazoo College connections. Help Desk Administrator Russell Cooper ’89, Web Services Director Carolyn Zinn ’82 and Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Firth MacMillan all are participating.
Russell Cooper is competing in ArtPrize for the sixth time. His art shows a black-and-white image of his daughter holding an oval frame at a playground. That frame is reflecting a color image of Violette on a swing.
Cooper is competing for a sixth time at ArtPrize, the event touted by organizers as the world’s most-attended public art event. His two-dimensional work again features his daughter, Violette, although the end result reflects inspirations from photographers and artists who create optical illusions, and the Persian Poet Rumi, who said: “There is a life-force within your soul, seek that life. There is a gem in the mountain of your body, seek that mine. O traveler, if you are in search of that, don’t look outside, look inside yourself and seek that.”
Cooper’s art shows a black-and-white image of his daughter holding an oval frame at a playground. That frame is reflecting a color image of Violette on a swing. The final product is on display at PaLatte Coffee and Art, 150 Fulton St. E.
Zinn is entering ArtPrize for the first time. Her quilt – which is an image of her daughter, Kirsten, that uses 480 hexagons and 60 commercial fabric prints – was designed through a technique called English paper piecing. She said the technique involves wrapping paper shapes in fabric and then stitching the fabric by hand with a thread and needle. The paper is removed before the quilt layers are stacked and topstitched.
Carolyn Zinn’s quilt is an image of her daughter, Kirsten, that uses 480 hexagons and 60 commercial fabric prints.
Zinn added she has been sewing her entire life, although she became fascinated with geometry and the color of traditional Amish quilts when she was a teenager. She made a quilt for the first time when she was a student at K and living in DeWaters Hall. In recent years, Zinn has become involved in art quilting, focusing on original design and nontraditional materials and methods.
“I believe fiber art is an underrepresented medium in the art world,” she said. “By entering my work in this open competition, I hope to raise awareness of the medium and inspire others who work with fiber to continue challenging the boundaries of art, craft and design.”
Zinn’s quilt is on display at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl St. NW.
MacMillan has been teaching ceramics and sculpture since coming to K from The University of Colorado-Boulder in 2016.
MacMillan became familiar with ArtPrize while living in New York City through art critic Jerry Saltz. When she returned to Michigan, where she attended high school and college, she took her K sculpture class to ArtPrize, and decided that she should enter this year. Her work is being displayed at the U.S. Post Office at 120 Monroe Center St. NW.
MacMillan’s father, a photography enthusiast, was among the first to inspire her to become an artist. “He helped me learn to frame the world outside through the viewfinder,” MacMillan said.
Firth MacMillan’s sculptures, including the pieces presented at ArtPrize, are often three-dimensional representations derived from her photographs.
In fact, her sculptures – including the pieces presented at ArtPrize – are often three-dimensional representations derived from her photographs.
“In my work I reinterpret experiences of pointed yet everyday moments from life like the play of shadows from sunlight filtering through a canopy of trees,” MacMillan said on the ArtPrize Web page showing her work. “I take these ephemeral moments and translate them into three-dimensional form.”
First-round voting continues at ArtPrize through Sept. 30. Anyone attending ArtPrize can vote in the first round for their favorite artist or artwork to win a share of a half-million dollars in cash and prizes. Public attendees vote through their computers after they register onsite or through the mobile app while visiting the ArtPrize district. Mobile app users need to tap the “thumbs up” icon after entering an artist’s five-digit code. Computer voters tap the “thumbs up” icon at each artist’s profile. The five-digit codes are 64719, 64662 and 66515 for Cooper, Zinn and MacMillan respectively.
ArtPrize runs through Oct. 8. Learn more about the event.
Kimberly Yang ’19 has received a Boren Scholarship and will study at Capital Normal University in Beijing.
“Pleasant surprise” and “final exams” rarely are uttered in the same breath even at Kalamazoo College. Yet Kimberly Yang ’19, of Grand Rapids, Mich., received welcome news around finals time this past spring.
Yang first was placed on a waiting list in mid-April after applying for a Boren Scholarship, a prestigious grant that allows students to study abroad in geographic areas, languages and fields deemed critical to U.S. national security. Then, a congratulatory email came at the end of May, sparking her plans to spend a term in Beijing this fall before returning to the U.S. in March. She has received a scholarship and will study at Capital Normal University.
Yang, an economics and political science major and Chinese minor, departs for China in less than a week. She said the trip will provide her with international experiences representing the U.S. while living abroad in a capital city.
Boren Scholarship winners commit to U.S. federal service for at least a year after they graduate. Yang said she hopes to serve in a role in environmental relations.
“With the United States pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, China ironically is the leading proponent in the effort to reverse climate change,” she said, noting how China’s urban development affects the environment. “I want to pursue a career with the environment in China, especially with the demolition and fast-paced construction the country has been witnessing.”
Yang was born in Texas, but spent most of her high school years in Shanghai. She ultimately chose K for college because its small size seemed less intimidating as she was reacclimating to the United States. Last year, Yang served as the vice president of the Asian Pacific Islander Student Association at K. She also has served the campus as a student representative to Teach for America, a professional corps of leaders who commit to teaching in low-income schools and work to increase their students’ opportunities.
Yang joins Ihechi Ezuruonye ’19, of Southfield, Mich., and Molly Brueger ’19, of Arlington, Va., as the Boren winners from K in 2017-18. Ezuruonye and Brueger will study in Japan. Boren Awards are worth up to $20,000 depending on the student’s financial need and how long the student stays overseas. The grants are funded by the federal government through the National Security Education Program.
Boren Awards are named after former U.S. Sen. David L. Boren, the principal author of the legislation that created the National Security Education Program. Boren Scholars (undergrads) and Fellows (graduate students) study in countries throughout Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East.
Kalamazoo College student Peter Rossi ’18 is among the first students to take advantage of a new internship program that teaches students about the mortgage industry.
Rossi, a computer science major and music minor from Kalamazoo, is one of nine college juniors and seniors learning career skills this summer through AmeriFirst, a mortgage banker in Kalamazoo. The students, who were chosen from more than 50 applicants, work in marketing, information technology, appraisals, human resources and legal/compliance. The program began in May and continues through August.
Peter Rossi, a computer science major and music minor from Kalamazoo, is one of nine college juniors and seniors learning career skills this summer through AmeriFirst, a mortgage banker in Kalamazoo.
“The work environment at AmeriFirst is extremely unique because my work is directly applicable to the company,” Rossi said. “They’re willing to value my opinions even at the highest level, which pushes me to work hard.”
Rossi’s job in information technology includes communicating with various departments around AmeriFirst to help the company build an intranet platform that suits employees’ needs. He also has duties involving business process modeling, which is a method of mapping processes to help make an organization’s workflow more effective and efficient.
Rossi said there are three divisions within IT at AmeriFirst including:
a technical-support division;
a network administration division, ensuring that servers are protected and company information is properly encrypted; and
Rossi’s division, which offers a mix of continuous improvement and project management.
“There are a lot of departments that have interns, but the IT department has a way of making every day interesting and fun,” Rossi said. “We really go out of our way to interact and have a good time.”
A weekly lunch-and-learn program encourages community and builds cohesiveness among the interns across departments. During these 60-minute sessions, members of senior management provide industry and life-skills education along with overviews of their respective areas of expertise. A recent highlight included a session with Chief Executive Officer Mark Jones, who shared his passion and business philosophy with the students, who appreciated his time.
“AmeriFirst is going out of its way to see that young talent stays here, which I think is amazing,” said Rossi, a Loy Norrix High School graduate, Heyl Scholar and a member of K’s swimming and diving team. He added he hopes he can take the experiences he has gained so far and continue to be successful moving forward.
Before launching the internship program, AmeriFirst Staff Recruiter Kelly McConnell and coworker Nicole Waterbury connected with local college career departments, including K’s Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), and reached out to other corporations running successful internship programs. Although Rossi first heard of the internship opportunity through a friend’s dad, he said CCPD was integral in helping him prepare his résumé and learn how to network.
Rossi said he would encourage other students thinking about the AmeriFirst program in the future to “absolutely apply. If you can get in, they really take care of you. It’s a diverse workforce, and a majority of employees are women at the home office, even among the senior leadership team. For me that creates an amazing community atmosphere that also has a young, energetic vibe.”
For more information on internships at AmeriFirst, contact McConnell at 269-324-4240, ext. 12020, or recruiter@amerifirst.com.
