K Graduate Wins Poetry Contest

Genevieve Leet ’11 is the winner of the poetry category in the 3rd Annual Terrain.org Contests in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction. Her poem set was titled “[when I died they found a nest of snakes in my intestines, their backs]” and “Somewhere beyond the curve of the earth, there is a ceremonial bamboo boat.”

The poet Suzanne Frischkorn served as the contest judge and wrote about the poems’ “terrible beauty;” their complex layers of sound, language, and meaning; and the slow and sequential opening of the poems so deeply rewarding to the reader.

Leet wrote to her friends and mentors at K, “I am so proud and excited! Thank you to all of you who have supported my poetry journey with your kind words, by coming to readings, and by giving critiques.” The poems will be published in January at Terrain.org.

College Congratulates K-Connected “Geniuses”

Coincidence? Most certainly, but it is nevertheless fun to count the times a Kalamazoo College campus visit coincides with a subsequent “genius award,” a.k.a. the MacArthur Fellowship.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recently announced the MacArthur Fellowships for 2012. On that list were Junot Diaz and David Finkel. Both were featured authors in K’s Summer Common Reading (SCR) program—Diaz in 2007 for his novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Finkel in 2011 for his nonfiction work The Good Soldiers.

Past MacArthur Fellows with a K connection include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (SCR author—Purple Hibiscus—in 2004, MacArthur Fellow in 2008); Aleksandar Hemon (SCR author—Nowhere Man—in 2004, and named a MacArthur Fellow the following month); and architect Jeanne Gang, who received a MacArthur Fellowship not long after her firm designed the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership.

“Is it cause and effect?” quipped Amy Smith, associate professor of English and associate provost. “Show up at K, get a genius award,” she smiled, no doubt aware that the timeline works in reverse as well. Edward P. Jones won the MacArthur in 2005 and was the Kalamazoo College SCR author (The Known World) two years later; Colson Whitehead got a MacArthur in 2002 and came to K in 2010 when his novel Sag Harbor was the SCR selection.

What is certain is that the SCR selection committee is very good at assessing major writing talent. The committee includes or has included Marin Heinritz, assistant professor of journalism; Andy Mozina, professor of English; Zaide Pixley, dean of the first-year and advising; and Diane Seuss, writer in residence.

Kalamazoo College Professor Earns National Writing Award

Visiting Professor of English Rachel Swearingen, Ph.D., has received a 2012 Rona Jaffe Award, the prestigious writing award given annually by the Rona Jaffe Foundation to six women “who demonstrate excellence and promise in the early stages of their career.” It’s the only national award dedicated to women writers. She will pick up her $30,000 award at a New York City awards ceremony on Sept. 20. Congrats, Professor!

Kalamazoo is Among “Colleges That Change Lives”

Colleges That Change Lives book cover“If you were to build your own liberal arts college, you’d look closely at Kalamazoo College for ideas about how to do it. That’s because other colleges offer some of the same distinctive features you’ll find at Kalamazoo, but few integrate all of them so thoughtfully to create life-changing experiences.”

So begins the chapter on Kalamazoo College in the 2013-14 edition of “Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools that Will Change the Way You Think about College.”

Colleges That Change Lives (Penguin Books; ISBN: 9780143122302 On-Sale Date: August 28, 2012; 352 pages; $17.00) was first published in 1996 by Loren Pope, former education editor of the New York Times. Pope was also the founder of the College Placement Bureau, a college administrator, and the author of “Looking Beyond the Ivy League.”

Pope published updates to his book in 2000 and 2006. He died in 2008.

The fourth and most recent edition has been updated by Hilary Masell Oswald a journalist who writes about education, architecture and design, and public policy. Her work has appeared in Newsday, the Chicago Tribune, Edutopia, and other publications and websites.

She anticipates the questions that prospective students and their parents will have and provides the answers. Topics include:

• The look and feel of the campus

• Quality of dining hall food

• Percentage of students who study abroad

• Percentage of students who go to grad school

• Average SAT/ACT scores

• What professors have to say about their schools

“We are thrilled to be included once again in Colleges That Change Lives,” said Kalamazoo College Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Eric Staab. “Prospective students and their parents have more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States to choose from. This book helps them cut through the clutter and move beyond the ratings and rankings to find a college that is a good, affordable fit.”

Kalamazoo College has been included in each of the book’s four editions. Other colleges in the fourth edition include Allegheny (Pa.), Beloit (Wis.), Clark (Mass.), Hendrix (Ark.), Rhodes (Tenn.), Southwestern University (Texas), and University of Puget Sound (Wash.). Hope College and, for the first time, Hillsdale, are the only other Michigan schools included.

Oswald, as did Pope before her, visited K’s campus to conduct extensive interviews with students, faculty and staff.

She cites characteristics of the K-Plan —the College’s multilayered academic program—as a key to K’s success. These include a solid liberal arts curriculum, study abroad, experiential learning opportunities such as service-learning and leadership development, and a Senior Individualized Project.

“The K-Plan makes so much sense,” says Professor of Biology Binney Girdler in the book. “The first two years are the students’ foundation. The third year, they go far. The fourth year, they go deep. By the end of their time here, we’re willing to coauthor papers with them. That transformation—I’ll never get tired of it.”

According to Oswald, “What happens to students here is remarkable,” and K faculty members are a big reason why. “Over and over again,” she says, “students rave about their teachers, even as they complain about the amount of work. That’s a sign of good teaching.”

As proof a value for a Kalamazoo College education, Oswald cites Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) test results. CLA tests freshmen and seniors for their critical thinking, analytical reasoning, problem solving, and written communications skills.

“CLA examiners compare results across a variety of four-year colleges to answer the question: Are student really learning anything?” writes Oswald. “At Kalamazoo they are. CLA said the students performed well above expected.”

Dean of Students Sarah Westfall describes the K student body: “We have a student body of individuals. There’s very little herd mentality. They feel a call to activism and learning, but they’re also garden variety kids—some from small towns, working-class families, and a good number are first-generation college kids.”

Oswald concludes her chapter on Kalamazoo College with her own observation about its students by saying they are “enthusiast about their learning and thoughtful about their responsibilities to their community. A few conversations with current students will convince you that Kalamazoo’s component parts are remarkable, but if ever there were a place where the effect is greater than the sum of its parts, that place in Kalamazoo College.”

K is a proud partner of CTCL Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement and support of a student-centered college search process. Separate from the book, CTCL Inc. works to dispel publicly held myths about college choice by hosting information sessions nationwide and coordinating outreach efforts with high school counselors and college counseling agencies.

Founded in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1833, Kalamazoo College (www.kzoo.edu) is a nationally recognized liberal arts college and the creator of the K-Plan that emphasizes rigorous scholarship, learning by practice, leadership development, and both international and intercultural engagement. Its 1,400 students hail from 30 states and 24 countries. Kalamazoo College does more in four years, so students can do more in a lifetime.

Dean’s List Spring 2012

Congratulations to the following students, who achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or above in three courses during the Spring 2012 quarter.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W Y Z

A

Laura Abram
Grant Abrams
Mojtaba Akhavantafti
Nicole Allman
Dana Allswede
Emily Alworth
Rasseil Alzouhayli
Michael Amboyan
Sophia Amodeo
Brittany Amor
Giancarlo Anemone
Jasmine An
Jacob Arnett
Adrianna Aviles

B

Emily Bair
Olivia Baker
Kimberly Balk
Ernest Barna III
Caroline Barnett
Megan Bauer
Frederick Beal
Nicholas Beam
Zoe Beaudry
Matthew Beck
Kate Belew
Tyler Benmark
Kathryn Bergh
Kristen Bergh
Martin Bergstrom
Martin Blanc
Brita Bliss
Benjamin Blomme
Hannah Bogard
Saskia Boggs
Amanda Bolles
Shelbi Bolter
Kira Boneff
Nathalie Botezatu
Olivia Bouchard
Mathieu Bouvard
Alice Bowe
Grace Bowe
Caitlin Braun
Travis Braun
Taylor Brown
Leah Buckley
Lara Buhler
Dion Bullock
Aaron Bunker
Alex Burkholder
Megan Burns
Philip Bystrom

C

Stefano Cagnato
Christopher Cain
Xiaotang Cai Jr.
Justin Cameron
Nicholas Canu
Elizabeth Caputo
Edward Carey
Reid Carlson
Haley Cartwright
Lauren Case
Brandon Casto
Colin Cepuran
Myungjin Cha
Junru Chen
Emily Ciesielski
Darren Clark
Chris Clerville
Aya Cockram
Bridgett Colling
Douglas Colton
Ellen Conner
Natalie Coogan
Riley Cook
Chelsey Coulter
Leo Cox
Alexandra Crockford
Kamille Cross
Laura Crouch
Brock Crystal
Rebecca Cummins-Lanter
Athena Curtiss
Suzanne Curtiss

D

Rachel Dandar
Janelle Davis
Ryan Davis
Mark Denenfeld
Abigail DeOchoa
Jeric Derama
Claire De Witt
Claire Diekman
Calee Dieleman
Ryan D’Mello
Alexander Dombos
Erica Dominic
Erin Donevan
Kelsey Donk
Caitlin Donnelly
Samuel Doyle
Lauren Drew
Querubin Dubois
Benjamin Dueweke
Julia Duncan
Trenton Dykstra

E

Erin Eagan
Jordan Earnest
Jamie Eathorne
Joanna Eckrich
Nathan Eddy
Maya Edery
Taryn Edsall
Monika Egerer
Kristen Ellefson
Elinor Epperson
Peter Erdahl
Andrew Ertle
Daniel Esman
Samuel Evans-Golden
Rachel Evans
Elaine Ezekiel

F

Alan Faber III
Abram Farley
Faiza Fayyaz
Maureen Federo
Erica Fiekowsky
Stewart Finnegan
Adam Fisher
Ian Flanagan
Kate Fodor
Samantha Foran
Mark Fortelka
Angela Frakes
James Frye
Rina Fujiwara

G

Ellie Galas
Aileen Gallagher
William Gallagher
Jacob Gallimore
Maria Luisa Garnica Marroquin
Megan Garn
Lindsey Gaston
Jennifer Gateley
Katherine Gatz
Emily Geister-Danville
Jared Georgakopoulos
Cierra Gillard
Madelyn Gillentine
Nathan Gilmour
Dulce Godines
Kathleen Golembiewski
Ian Good
Alexandra Gothard
Anna Gough
Mary Goyings
Kimberly Grabowski
Joseph Granzotto
Hannah Gray
Kaitlyn Greiner
Alexander Griffin
Alexandra Groffsky
Hanna Groniger
Katherine Grue
Guilherme Guedes

H

Zari Haggenmiller
Lynza Halberstadt
Genevieve Hall
Ellen Hallgren
Dagan Hammar
Allison Hammerly
Michael Hammersley
Elizabeth Hanley
Jacob Hansen
Edwin Harris
Hannah Harrison
Taylor Hartley
Diana Hasler
Farhiya Hassan
Andrew Hassevoort
Andrew Haughey
Sara Haverkamp
Alexandra Hayward
Dylan Hayward
Bonita Hazel
Kenneth Heidel
Erick Helfmann
Mariah Hennen
Jordan Henning
Joanne Heppert
Michael Hicks
Frances Hoepfner
Ryan Hoffmann
Johnny Ho
Zachary Holden
Aaron Hollinger
Sarah Holman
Jenna Holmes
Jeffery Holton
Alexander Holtzman
Benjamin Hopwood
Rachel Horness
Allyson Howe
Jinyuan Huang
Elizabeth Hubbell
Jane Huffman
Kyle Huismann
Benjamin Hulbert
Jonathan Husar
Chaz Hyatt

I

Michael Ignagni
Sierra Imanse
Joshua Imperial
Craig Isser

J

Thomas Jackson
Zachary Janes
Lauren Jannette
Morgan Jennings
Amy Jimenez
Lara Job
Andrea Johnson
Bennet Johnson
Nicholas Johnson
Tibin John
Samantha Jolly

K

Margaret Kane
Elizabeth Karslake
Sukhvir Kaur
Allison Kennedy
Michelle Keohane
Alex Keselring
Faiz Khaja
Komal Khan
Elizabeth King
Elizabeth Kinney
Caleb Kline
Aidan Klobuchar
Hannah Knoll
Lindsey Koenig
Michael Korn
McKenna Kring
Olivia Kullmann
Lucas Penn Hardy Kushner

L

Michael Lamrock
Rory Landis
David Landskroener
Cameron Lang
Emaline Lapinski
Allison LaRose
Tessa Lathrop
Roxann Lawrence
Isabel Lee
Colin Leffert
Iris Lehmann
Rachel Leider
Jacob Lenning
Rebecca Lennington
Benjamin Leventer
Elizabeth Lewandowski
Christine Lewis
Clara Lewis
Samuel Linstrom
Bret Linvill
Conrad Liu
Qian Liu
Mara Livezey
V. Liyana Gunawardana
Kevin Lodewyk
Rachael LoPatin
Paul Lovaas
Emma Lozon
Christopher Lueck
Elena Lundy
Kelsey Lutz
Timothy Lynch

M

Dane Macdonell
Corinne MacInnes
Haley Madel
Whitney Magnuson
Morgan Mahdavi
Gaone Manatong
Lydia Manger
Christopher Manning
Scott Manski
Allison Manz
Megan Martinez
Mary Mathyer
Matthew Maximiuk
Madelaine McCann
Caitlin McCarthy
Alaina McConnell
Kyle McCord
Jennifer McCutchen
Tyler McFarland
Dylan McGonnell
John McGowan
Jessica McInchak
David McIntyre
Megan McLeod
Jay McMillan
Mesfin Mekonnen
Brianna Melgar
David Menoian
Adrienne Merrild
Brandon Merritt
Jason Merritt
Colin Mervak
Kylie Meyer
Salome Mgaloblishvili
Andrew Mickus
Anna Miller
Louis Miller
Patrick Miller
Kara Milton
Sashae Mitchell
Brenna Monaghan
Mayra Montero
Tessa Moore
Kelsey Moran
Emily Morgan
Lynn Mormino
Alexandra Morris
Brittany Morton
Hagop Mouradian
Dorothy Mugubu
Philip Mulder
Brianna Mulligan
Alexandra Munch
Ellen Muniga
Matthew Munoz
Amelia Murray
Michael Murray

N

Brendan Nagler
Alissa Neff
Taylor Netherton
Jenna Neumann
Gisella Newbery
Irynne Ngoko
Hang Nguyen
Hang Nguyen
Hoang Nguyen
Ly Nguyen
Thi Phuong Lan Nguyen
Alexander Noble
John Nocita
Jason Nosrati
Emily Nummer
Nicholas Nutile
Kelsey Nuttall
Kristen Nuyen

O

Franco Ojimba
Jasmine Okamoto
Agust Olafsson
Catherine Oldershaw
Rachel Olson
Anya Opshinsky
Rebekah Ostosh
Abigail Ozarow

P

Crestina Pacheco
Michael Page
Kari Paine
Fayang Pan
Grace Parikh Walter
Hunter Parsons
Veeral Patel
Amanda Patton
David Personke
Adam Peters
Lucas Petersen
Alicia Pettys
Thanh Thanh Phan
David Pimentel
Rachel Pitzer
Daniel Pohanka
Duncan Polot
Olivia Pope
Ayesha Popper
Jonathan Posner
Ian Powell
Jonathan Powers
Suzannah Prepsky
Beau Prey
Jacob Price
Matthew PudnosQ

Meredith Quinlan

R

Christopher Ralstrom
Katherine Rapin
Anna Rayas
Trace Redmond
Robert Relief
Mengyang Ren
Lindsey Reppuhn
Mara Richman
Maria Rich
Alyssa Rickard
Jenna Riehl
Alexander Rigney
Lucia Rivadeneira
Dana Robinson
Nathan Robinson
Margaret Rogers
Rebecca Rogstad
Camryn Romph
Samuel Rood
Megan Rosenberg
Kendrith Rowland III
Zachary Rowley

S

Clemence Saillant
Alejandra Sanchez
Kira Sandiford
Andrea Satchwell
Jennie Scheerer
Jacob Schell
William Schlaack
Cameron Schneberger
Ariel Schnee
Aaron Schoenfeldt
Colleen Schuldeis
Shoshana Schultz-Purves
Hailey Schurr
Sara Seidarabi
Allison Seiwert
Brooke Selik
Jennifer Servis
Chelsey Shannon
Sanjay Sharma
Hannah Shaughnessy-Mogill
Meredith Sherrill
Anastasia Shiemke
Adrian Shier
Daniel Silverman
Paula Silverman
Sajan Silwal
Dalton Simancek
Jyotika Singh
Madeline Sinkovich
Eren Sipahi
James Skinner
Christopher Skrocki
Kathleen Sly
Alex Smith
Alison Smith
Emily Smith
Hayley Smith
Rachel Smith
Maya Smolcic
Julia Smucker
Phoebe Solomon
Renjie Song
Sarah Spigelman
Lauren Sprowl
Rebecca Staudenmaier
Charlotte Steele
Kaitlyn Steffenhagen
Gina Steffey
Nikki Stern
Kenneth Stetson
James Stewart
Eeva Stout-Sharp
Hailey Stutz
Casey Sullivan
Brittany Sumyk
Shang Sun
Anna Swanson-Nystrom
Keeney Swearer

T

Tyler Tabenske
Emerson Talanda-Fisher
Kinza Tareen
Salwa Tareen
Christina Tarn
Faith Taylor
Lilian Taylor
Yvonne Thoits
Brett Thomas
Cassie Thompson
Laurel Thompson
Spencer Thompson
Sharel Tomlinson
Gregory Toprak

U

Hayden Uihlein
Elizabeth Uribe
Kelly Usakoski

V

Trevor Vader
Lor Vang
Christian VanHouten
Umang Varma
Ryan Veneri
Rachael Vettese
Jon Vigi
Daisy Villa
James Villar
Elizabeth Vincensi
Nicholas Vogel
Leigh Voulgaris
Austin Voydanoff

W

Mary Wald
Megan Walsh
Jessica Walters
Jiakan Wang
Weiwei Wang
Jeffery Washington Jr.
Max Wedding
Madeline Weisner
Clayton Weissenborn
Kaitlyn Welke
Jennifer Wendel
Alexander Werder
Scott Wharam
Joseph Widmer
Lauren Wierenga
Elise Williams
Lindsey Wilson
Taylor Wilson
Luke Winship
Anna Witte
Emily Witte
Bradford Woelke
Jonathan Wolbert
Samantha Wolfe
Abby Wood
Nicholas Wood
Lisa Woolcock Majlof
Erika Worley
Rachel Worrell
Brittany Worthington
Katherine Wright

Y

Fei Yao

Z

Senior Awards 2012

The following students received awards during the Senior Awards Ceremony, June 9, 2012

Fine Arts Division

THE LILIA CHEN AWARD IN ART, awarded to students in their junior or senior year who distinguish themselves through their work in ceramics, sculpture, or painting, and who exhibit strong progress in their understanding of art.

  • Joanne A. Heppert
  • Daedalian James Derks
  • Taylor Stamm

THE GEORGE EATON ERRINGTON PRIZE, awarded to an outstanding senior art major.

  • Angela M. Frakes

THE LILLIAN PRINGLE BALDAUF PRIZE IN MUSIC, awarded to an outstanding music student.

  • Erin C. Donevan

THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT AWARD, given by the Music Department of the College for outstanding contributions to the musical life of the campus.

  • Gina Marie Cosgrove Bravata
  • Rachel Meria Cohan
  • Gus L. Hay
  • Elizabeth Antoinette Hubbell
  • Michael P. Ignagni
  • Elizabeth Anne Kur
  • Madelaine Mae McCann
  • Jacob R. Price
  • Hailey R. Schurr
  • Alison Raeann Smith

THE FAN E. SHERWOOD MEMORIAL PRIZE, awarded for outstanding progress and ability on the violin, viola, cello or bass.

  • Eleanor E. Wong

THE MARGARET UPTON PRIZE IN MUSIC, awarded each year to a student designated by the Music Department faculty as having made significant achievement in music.

  • Jacob C. Arnett
  • Kate Elise Fodor

THE RUTH SCOTT CHENERY AWARD, given to a graduating senior who has excelled academically and in theatre and who plans to continue the study of theatre arts following graduation.

  • David H. Pimentel
  • Marianne Renee Stine

THE IRMGARD KOWATZKI THEATRE AWARD, awarded to the senior who has excelled both in academic areas and in theatrical productions during four years at the College.

  • Samuel T. Bertken

THE CHARLES TULLY DESIGN AWARD, given annually to a senior who has achieved excellence in some aspect of theatre design.

  • Kyle A. McCord

Foreign Languages Division

THE CHINESE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD recognizes seniors who have excelled in the study of the Chinese language and China-related subjects on campus and abroad in China.

  • Douglas Colton
  • Nicholas R. Gersch
  • John C. McGowan

THE PROVOST’S PRIZE IN CLASSICS, awarded to that student who writes the best essay on a classical subject.

  • Rachel A. LoPatin

THE JOE FUGATE SENIOR GERMAN AWARD, awarded to a senior for excellence in German.

  • Nathan Colello Gilmour

THE JAPANESE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, COLLEGE CHAPTER, is
awarded in recognition of the student’s achievement in their study of the Japanese language and for their overall academic excellence.

  • Laura Whitney Abram
  • Lauren Jean Case
  • Kellea S. Floyd
  • William Patrick Gallagher
  • Aaron E. Geller
  • Johnny T. Ho
  • Sarah C. Holman
  • Ian Powell

THE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE PRIZE IN FRENCH, awarded for excellence in French by an advanced student.

  • Kathleen C. Golembiewski

THE SENIOR SPANISH AWARD, given by the Department of Romance Languages for outstanding achievement in Spanish.

  • Jameson Kane Drouin
  • Joshua Anthony Imperial
  • Mayra A. Montero

Humanities Division

THE DAVID STRAUSS PRIZE IN AMERICAN STUDIES, awarded for the best paper written by a graduating senior in his or her junior or senior year in any field of American Studies.

  • Allison Nicole LaRose

THE ELWOOD H. AND ELIZABETH H. SCHNEIDER PRIZE, awarded for outstanding and creative work in English done by a student who is not an English major.

  • Kathleen C. Golembiewski

THE MARY CLIFFORD STETSON PRIZE, awarded for excellence in English essay writing by a senior.

  • Allison Nicole LaRose

THE DWIGHT AND LEOLA STOCKER PRIZE, awarded for excellence in English writing: prose or poetry.

  • Stewart J. Finnegan
  • Kimberly Grabowski
  • Rebecca Ellen Staudenmaier

THE JAMES BIRD BALCH PRIZE, for the senior having done the best work in American History.

  • Sarah Christina Baumann

THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT AWARD, given for outstanding work in the major.

  • Ariel Marie Schnee

THE HODGE PRIZE IN PHILOSOPHY, awarded to that member of the graduating class who has the highest standing in the field.

  • Nathan Colello Gilmour

THE MARION H. DUNSMORE MEMORIAL PRIZE IN RELIGION, awarded for excellence in any year’s work in religion.

  • William A. Schlaack

Natural Sciences & Mathematics Division

THE H. LEWIS BATTS PRIZE, awarded to the senior who has done the most to support the activities of the Biology Department and to further the spirit of collegiality among students and faculty in the Department.

  • Lindsey Sara Gaston
  • Heather Rae Russon

THE ROBERT BZDYL PRIZE IN MARINE BIOLOGY, awarded to one or more students with demonstrated interest and ability in marine biology or related fields.

  • Mirae Katherine Guenther
  • Zachary K. Janes

THE DIEBOLD SCHOLAR AWARD, given to one or more seniors in recognition of excellence in the oral or poster presentation of the SIP at the Diebold Symposium.

  • Kelsey Meredith Hassevoort
  • Nathan C. Robinson
  • Alison Raeann Smith

THE WILLIAM E. PRAEGER PRIZE, established by the faculty in the Biology Department and awarded to the most outstanding senior major in Biology, based on academic achievement in the discipline.

  • Kelsey Meredith Hassevoort

THE ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, sponsored by the American Chemical Division of Analytical Chemistry and the Journal of Analytical Chemistry, to an undergraduate student who displays an aptitude for a career in analytical chemistry

  • Caitlyn W. VanGelderen

THE ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARD IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, sponsored by the American Chemical Division of Inorganic Chemistry, to an undergraduate senior student planning on pursuing graduate studies in chemistry.

  • Masroor Hossain

THE KURT KAUFMAN FELLOW, given annually to a senior with the best Senior Individualized Project in the Chemistry Department.

  • Aidan J. Klobuchar
  • David M. Robinson

THE LEMUEL F. SMITH AWARD given to the major in chemistry pursuing the American Chemical Society approved curriculum and having at the end of the junior year the highest average standing in courses taken in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

  • Aidan J. Klobuchar

THE OUTSTANDING CHEMISTRY STUDENT FROM KALAMAZOO COLLEGE, sponsored by the Kalamazoo Section of the American Chemical Society and is given to the graduating student who has demonstrated leadership in the chemistry department and plans to pursue graduate studies in chemistry.

  • Margarite Matossian

THE CLARKE BENEDICT WILLIAMS PRIZE, awarded to that member of the graduating class who has the best record in mathematics and the allied sciences.

  • Daniel J. Esman
  • Aidan J. Klobuchar
  • Jacob R. Price

THE JOHN WESLEY HORNBECK PRIZE, awarded to a senior with the highest achievement for the year’s work in advanced physics toward a major.

  • Alexander C. Dombos
  • Lynn Mormino
  • Jacob R. Price

Physical Education Division

THE GEORGE ACKER AWARD awarded annually to a male athlete who in his participation gave all, never quit, with good spirit supported others unselfishly, and whose example was inspirational.

  • Evan I. Levine

THE SENIOR ATHLETIC AWARD, given by the Department of Physical Education to the outstanding senior female athlete.

  • Erin Lynn Campbell

THE MARY LONG BURCH AWARD, for a senior woman who has manifested interest in sports activities and excelled in scholarship.

  • Kelsey Meredith Hassevoort

THE KALAMAZOO COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AWARD, for a graduating senior who has most successfully combined high scholarship with athletic prowess.

  • Alexander C. Dombos

THE C. W. “OPIE” DAVIS AWARD, awarded to the outstanding senior male athlete

  • Christopher J. Manning

THE KNOECHEL FAMILY AWARD, awarded to a senior member of the swim teams in recognition of demonstrated excellence in both intercollegiate swimming and academic performance.

  • Christine Lewis
  • Kevin B. Lodewyk

THE CATHERINE A. SMITH PRIZE IN WOMEN’’’’S ATHLETICS, awarded to a woman athlete who in her participation gave all, never quit, with good spirit supported others unselfishly, and whose example was inspirational.

  • Katherine Grue
  • Kelsey Johnson

Social Sciences Division

THE RAYMOND L. HIGHTOWER AWARD, given to a graduating senior for excellence in and commitment to the disciplines of sociology and anthropology and leadership in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology

  • Hannah Hindman Reischl
  • Dana Robinson

THE BARTLETT LAW AWARD, awarded to an outstanding student of Economics or Political Science active in extracurricular activities who plans to pursue a career in law.

  • Matthew Thomas DuWaldt
  • Claire Victoria Madill

THE A. M. FINK MEMORIAL PRIZE IN BUSINESS, awarded to an outstanding Economics and Business major, active in extracurricular activities, who plans to pursue graduate work or an immediate career in business.

  • Calder Alexander Leaver Burgam
  • Cameron Carl Lang

THE WILLIAM G. HOWARD MEMORIAL PRIZE, awarded to a senior who has done the best work in a major in economics..

  • Matthew Thomas DuWaldt
  • Johnny T. Ho
  • Claire Victoria Madill

THE EUGENE P. STERMER AWARD IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, awarded to a senior in Economics and Business for excellence in academic work

  • Patrick A. Miller
  • Rachel Christine Pitzer
  • Joseph J. Prepolec

THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL RELATIONS PRIZE, awarded for leadership in the major, reflecting commitment to inter-disciplinary thinking and social justice.

  • Dion Bullock
  • LaShawn M. Etheridge

THE E. BRUCE BAXTER MEMORIAL AWARD, awarded to a senior showing outstanding development in the field of political science.

  • Zachary Ryan Holden

THE WILLIAM G. HOWARD MEMORIAL PRIZE, awarded for excellence in a year’s work in political science.

  • Calder Alexander Leaver Burgam
  • Emily K. Wolf

THE EUGENE P. STERMER AWARD IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, awarded to a student in public policy and/or international affairs for excellence in academic work in the senior year.

  • Alyssa M. Rickard
  • Theodore J. Sweetser

THE MARSHALL HALLOCK BRENNER PRIZE, awarded to an outstanding student for excellence in the field of psychology.

  • Keith R. Moreno

THE XARIFA GREENQUIST MEMORIAL PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT AWARD, given in recognition of distinctive service to students and faculty in Psychology by a student assistant.

  • Emily Renee Geister-Danville
  • Katharine Ellen Grills
  • Alexander P. Griffin

THE RICHARD D. KLEIN SENIOR AWARD IN PSYCHOLOGY, given for outstanding work in the Senior Individualized Project.

  • Chloe E. Page

THE RICHARD D. KLEIN SENIOR AWARD IN PSYCHOLOGY, given for outstanding contributions to the community.

  • Elise Wolf Williams

THE DONALD W. VAN LIERE PRIZE, given for excellence in psychology research.

  • Katharine Ellen Grills
  • Tristan A. Morioka
  • Courtney Lynne Narker

THE DONALD W. VAN LIERE PRIZE, given for excellence in psychology coursework.

  • Kara Jane Milton

THE LUCINDA HINSDALE STONE PRIZE, awarded to a student whose scholarship, research or creative work in women’s studies, in the form of a SIP or other academic work, is most impressive.

  • Angela M. Frakes
  • Sarah C. Holman
  • Allison Nicole LaRose

Non-Departmental Awards

THE GORDON BEAUMONT MEMORIAL AWARD, awarded to the deserving student who displays qualities of selflessness, humanitarian concern, and willingness to help others, as exemplified in the life of Gordon Beaumont.

  • Lashawn Etheridge
  • Anna Miller

THE HENRY AND INEZ BROWN PRIZE, awarded in recognition of outstanding participation in the College community.

  • Courtney Nartker

THE ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA MAY BRUNSON GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP, given to a senior working toward a graduate or professional degree.

  • Matthew Thomas DuWaldt

THE VIRGINIA HINKELMAN MEMORIAL AWARD is awarded to a deserving student who displays a deep concern for the well-being of children, as demonstrated through career goals in the field of child welfare.

  • Zena S. Blake-Mark

THE ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA MARIA LEONARD SENIOR BOOK AWARD, given to the Alpha Lambda Delta member graduating with the highest GPA.

  • Alexander C. Dombos
  • Kelsey Meredith Hassevoort
  • Zachary Ryan Holden
  • Claire Victoria Madill
  • Kara Jane Milton

THE CATHERINE A. SMITH PRIZE IN HUMAN RIGHTS, awarded to a senior who has been active on campus in promoting human rights, furthering progressive social and cultural change, and combating violence, repression, and bigotry.

  • Britta A. Seifert

THE BABETTE TRADER CAMPUS CITIZENSHIP AND LEADERSHIP AWARD, awarded to that member of the graduating class, who has most successfully combined campus citizenship and leadership with scholarship.

  • Alexandra N. Crockford
  • Obineche S. Nnebedum

THE MAYNARD OWEN WILLIAMS MEMORIAL AWARD, for the best student entry in the form of an essay, poetry, paintings, sketches, photographs, or films derived from Study Abroad.

  • Saskia Boggs
  • Kathleen W. Sly
  • Emily K. Wolf

The Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for Service-Learning awards LAPLANTE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS to recognize and reward students who have shown outstanding dedication to civic engagement. The LaPlante Scholars design and lead community programs that promote a more just, equitable and sustainable world.

  • Paul A. Garza
  • Alexander P. Griffin
  • Jay W. McMillan
  • Anna Marie Miller
  • Ellen Curtin Murphy
  • Obineche Nnebedum
  • Catherine Anne Wadsworth Oldershaw
  • Ian Powell
  • Dana Robinson
  • Anna F. Witte

The VIBBERT SCHOLARS honor and exemplify the spirit and leadership of Stephanie Vibbert, activist, scholar, artist, poet and feminist, by creating programs that promote equality and social justice.

  • Angela M. Frakes
  • Meredith Loomis Quinlan
  • Taylor Stamm

THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP RECOGNITION AWARD, is awarded to students who have provided key elements of leadership in their organizations, athletic teams, academic departments, employment, and the wider Kalamazoo community. Students were nominated by faculty and staff members in January. Seniors eligible for this award also had to meet a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average requirement and be in good academic and social standing at the College.

  • Jacob Christopher Arnett
  • Zena S. Blake-Mark
  • Dion Bullock
  • Leonidas M. Caldwell
  • Rachel Meria Cohan
  • Mark J. Denenfeld
  • Benjamin Gawel Ensroth
  • LaShawn M. Etheridge
  • Katherine A. Grue
  • Kelsey Meredith Hassevoort
  • Joanne A. Heppert
  • Jennifer Michelle Fiandaca McCutcheon
  • Tanjanequa F. McMeans
  • Anna Marie Miller
  • Ellen Curtin Murphy
  • Obineche S. Nnebedum
  • David H. Pimentel
  • Daniel Pohanka
  • Jacob R. Price
  • Meredith Loomis Quinlan
  • Hannah Hindman Reischl
  • Heather Rae Russon
  • Melba N. Sales-Griffin
  • William A. Schlaack
  • Paula Alana Silverman
  • Dalton S. Simancek
  • Kathleen W. Sly
  • Caitlyn W. VanGelderen
  • Molly Christine Waytes
  • Max A. Wedding
  • Sandrine Zilikana

Farewells and Inaugurations

Student Commission annual awards recipients
Photo credit: Elaine Ezekiel ’13

By Elaine Ezekiel ’13

Student Commission presented its annual awards during the Week Ten (June 1) Community Reflection in Stetson Chapel. The annual event recognizes outstanding Kalamazoo College staff, students, and faculty, and passes the torch to the elected members of next year’s Student Commission.

Mike Ignagi ’12Tommy Jackson ’15Colin Smith ’15 and Brad Stech ’15 from K’s improvisational jazz class opened the ceremony. Lucas Kushner ’14 read a short history of the Student Commission Awards. Kari Paine ’14 presented the William Crockett Award for outstanding contribution to the community by an administrator or staff member to Mail Center Coordinator Carol CowperMara Richman ’15 presented the Francis Diebold Award, which acknowledges a faculty member who shows interest and participation in student life, to Associate Provost and Associate Professor of English Amy SmithDouglas Colton ’12 presented the Amy Trenkle Award, which goes to the student who exemplifies involvement and leadership on campus, to Ian Powell ’12.

President Eileen B. Wilson-Oyelaran celebrated the leadership of 2011-12 Student Commission President Meredith Quinlan ‘12.

“I, for one, am looking for an opportunity to vote for you as governor, and better still as president of the United States,” said Wilson-Oyelaran, “because you are the type of leader that our country needs.”

Quinlan offered a farewell address in which she imagined returning to campus as an alumna.

“No matter what,” she said, “the people at K will always keep it what it is.”

She then administered the oath of office to 2012-13 Student Commission Executive Committee members.

Incoming president Bianca Rasho ’13 outlined her strategy of “teamwork, efficiency, and transparency” for next year’s administration. Candido asked the audience to “go in peace,” for a final time this school year.

Photographed (l-r) are outgoing and incoming StuComm board members: back row—Doug Colton ’12, Ian Flanagan ’13, Tendai Mudyiwa ’14, Darrin Camilleri ’14, Daniel Pohanka ’14, Milo Madole ’12; middle row—Hagop Mouradian ’14, Cameron Goodall ’15, Lucas Kushner ’14, Jacob Morden ’13, Ellen Murphy ’12, Alex Werder ’15, Sam Keene ’13, Darwin Rodriguez ’13; front row—Mara Richman ’15, Kari Paine’14, Katherine Stevenson ’15, Meredith Quinlan ’12, Bianca Rasho ’13, Asia Morales ’15, Martin Bergstrom ’13, and Shadae Sutherland ’14.

Open to the public, Community Reflections offer a unique forum for discussion, worship, performance, and community expression in Stetson Chapel. The next Community Reflection will be held during Week One (Sept 14) of Fall Quarter at 10:50 AM.)

Heyl Scholars 2012

2012 Heyl Scholars

The 2012 Heyl Scholars were honored with a dinner on the Kalamazoo College campus.

The F.W. and Elsie L. Heyl Scholarship awards full-tuition scholarships to graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools or the Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center (KAMSC) for the study of nursing at Western Michigan University or science and math at Kalamazoo College. Benefits also include room and board and a book allowance. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years.

Since 1972, the Heyl Scholarship Fund has awarded more than 400 scholarships worth some $30 million.

The Heyl Scholars of 2012 are (l-r): front row—Kelsey Lankford, Kalamazoo Central High School; Yu-Chyn Chiang, Kalamazoo Central High School; Aya Abe, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School; second row—Riley Lundquist, Portage Northern High School/KAMSC;Sarah Manski, Vicksburg High School/KAMSC; Kyle Sunden, Gull Lake High School/KAMSC; back row—Paige Maguire, Kalamazoo Central High School/KAMSC;Robert Hudson, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School; and Reid Blanchett, Vicksburg High School/KAMSC. Chiang, Abe, Lundquist, Manski, Sunden, Maguire, Hudson, and Blanchett will attend Kalamazoo College. Lankford will attend the WMU School of Nursing. Photo by Anthony Dugal Photography.

Great Leaders

They are great teammates, adept at leading and following. They speak articulately and they listen justly. They are athletic captains, student organization officers and participants. They may see what others see but often dream what few others do. They are the kind of people who believe that a significant piece of what it means to be human is developing and using that part of our soul which exists in relationship to others. Kalamazoo College recognized 31 seniors with the 2012 Senior Leadership Recognition Award this month.

31 seniors receive the 2012 Senior Leadership Recognition Award

Pictured are (l-r): front row—Tanjanequa McMeans, Ellen Murphy, Caitlyn Van Gelderen, Rachel Cohan, Meredith Quinlan, Paula Silverman; second row—Melba Sales-Griffin, Katy Grue, LaShawn Etheridge, Sandrene Zilikana; third row—Ben Ensroth, Heather Russon, Molly Waytes, Jennifer McCutchen, Katy Sly, Joanne Heppert, Obineche Nnebedum; fourth row—Jacob Arnett, Dalton Simancek, William Schlaack, Hannah Reischl, Anna Miller; back row—Max Wedding, David Pimentel, Daniel Pohanka, Dion Bullock, Jacob Price, and Mark Denenfeld. Not pictured are Zena Blake-Mark, Leonidas Caldwell, and Kelsey Hassevoort.

Student Receives Young Women of Achievement Award from Kalamazoo YWCA

Breanna Dailey ’12 is among 26 recipients of a Young Women of Achievement award from the Kalamazoo YWCA. The awards are given to high school and college-aged women in the greater Kalamazoo area who have achieved high academic success while staying involved in extracurricular activities and contributing to the community.

Breanna is a double major in psychology and French who is also active in the Kalamazoo College band and serves on both the Senior Graduation and Student Activities committees. She is also active in AMIGOS, a bilingual mentoring program operated by the College’s Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for Service Learning that pairs K students with students at Kalamazoo Central High School.