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Kalamazoo College Unveils Fall 2024 Dean’s List

Posted on December 13, 2024December 13, 2024

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 2024 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 the Dean’s List upon receipt of their final grades. Dean’s List recognition is posted on students’ transcripts. Kudos to the entire group for Fall 2024.

Fall 2024

A

Callie Abair
Yaz Abu-Zaid
Jade Acosta
Aliyah Adams
Tahmina Ahadi
Fuzail Ahmed
Isaac Ahn
Isabella Alimenti
Maya Alkema
Zoe Allen
Randa Alnaas
Adnan Alousi
Mahmoud Alsafadi
Emiliano Alvarado Rescala
Zahra Amini
Eleanor Andrews
Connor Anspach
Maya Arau
Emerson Arensman
Emily Auchter
James Azim

B

Gabrielle Baldori
Poppy Balkema
Carter Bandemer
Leila Bank
Grace Barber
Shyane Barnes-Taylor
Luke Barnum
Lena Barrett
Gabriella Barry
Joseph Basil
Ava Bechler
Emma Becker
Saniyah Bedell
Annabel Bee
Conner Bell
Josephine Belsky
Camila Benavides
Aubrey Benson
Thomas Bentley
Alexandrea Bernal
Eleanor Bernas
Henry Black
Derek Blackwell
Miles Borgsdorf
Daphne Bos
Mairin Boshoven
Sotirios Bougioukos
Eleni Bougioukou
Mabel Bowdle
Adelaide Bowen
Jaylen Bowles-Swain
Ella Boyea
Teige Bredin
John Brewer
Chloe Briggs
Ellie Britt
Lukas Broadsword
Cole Bronoel-Cuthrell
Eamon Bronson
Blair Brouwers
Chloe Brown
Ava Buccafurri
Jaden Buist
Kali Bunce
Sara Bush

C

Bailey Callaway
Eleanor Campion
Raymond Cargill
Samantha Carpentier
Luis Castro-Limon
Isabella Caza
Daniel Celedon
Haziel Cerroblanco
Bo Chambers
Josetta Checkett
Trustin Christopher
Parker Ciurla
Alisha Clark
Nathaniel Clark
Maya Clarren
Brendan Clinard
Mai Elise Code
Logan Coller
Toby Comensoli
Jordan Cook
Clay Cook
Josee Cooke
Nicklaus Coseo
Courtney Cotter
Cate Cotter
Cameron Couch
Holden Coulter
Sebastian Courtright
Connor Creech
Kamya Crenshaw
Mia Crites
Cameron Crosby
Isabella Cross
Lilian Crowder Smith
Skye Crowell
Chase Cummins

D

Emily Dalecki
Erik Danielson
Ethan Daugherty
Jasmine Davis
Jacob Davis
Griffin Davis
Maya Davis
Avery Davis
Asha Dawson
Zachary Dean
Tara Dean-Hall
Noel DeFeyter
Lille Dekker
Enrique Delzer
Maansi Deswal
Laura DeVilbiss
Jack Dewey
Alexander Di Dio
Olivia DiGiulio
Michaela Dillbeck
Reed Dixon
Shane Dong
Alexia Dowell
Charles Doyle
Jack Duggins

E

Alden Ehrhardt
Abigail Eilertson
Evelyn Ellerbrock
Elise Elliot
Owen Ellis
Francis Ernzen
Lily Evans
Ryan Everham
Dilynn Everitt
Chad Ewing
Bradley Eziuka

F

Claire Farhi
Madalyn Farrey
Max Feliks
Margaret Ferris
Blake Filkins
Bridget Finco
Sara Finks
Mabel Fitzpatrick
Alex Fleming
Sofia Fleming
Jordan Flink
Mathias Florian
Robyn Foley
Ross Fooy
David Fooy
Jessica Forbis
Drew Fortino
Emma Frederiksen
Caden Frost

G

Dillon Gacki
Lucy Gallagher
Maria Garcia
Valeria Garcia
Ingrid Gardner
Isaac Garza
Roberta Gatti
William Geiger
Mallory Gentry
Arlo Getachew
Maira Ghaffar
Logan Gillis
Nathan Gleason
Makala Goddard
Brizza Gonzalez
Charles Gordon
Charles Graves
Cecilia Gray
Natalie Greene
Kaitlyn Grice
Westin Grinwis
Cassandra Grotelueschen
Cole Grupenhoff
Sarah Guerrero Gorostieta
Oliver Gutierrez

H

Aiden Habboub
Sydney Hagaman
Isabelle Hahn
Carter Haley
Avery Hall
Colin Halloran
Blu Haney
Alison Hankins
McKinley Hanninen
Colten Hansen
Luke Hanson
Kaylee Hanson
Doyle Harrison
Pauline Hawkes
Beatrice Hawkins
Willow Hayner
Thelma Hazen
Jacob Hazlewood
Zachary Heikka
Elizabeth Henderson
Litzy Hernandez
Jay Hernandez
Felix Hernandez Santiago
Gerardo Herrera-Sanchez
Ashlen Hill
Alyssa Hinkley
Jacob Hoffman
Garrick Hohm
Timothy Hollern
Jaelyn Horn
Evanne Horrigan
Molly Horton
Tyler Houle
Gavin Houtkooper
Jakob Hubert
Kennedy Hynde

I

Zarifa Ibrahimzada
Jalen Iereneo
Carson Ihrke
Carolyn Ingram
Britt Inman
Weslee Innes
Harper Isaacs
Daniel Isacksen
Macy Ivins

J

Teddy Jacobson
Rex Jasper
Ryleigh Jaworski
Johe Newton Johnson
Halley Johnson
Jaden Johnson
Caroline Johnson
Zane Jones
Ayako Jurgle

K

Kiana Kanegawa
Thomas Kartes
Isabelle Kastel
Seth Keana
Jackson Keefer
Alyson Kemery
Mphumelelo Khaba
Hibah Khan
Joshua Kim
Dong Eun Kim
Ava King
Samuel King
Kendyl Kirshman
Mart Klenke
Toni Koshmider
Katya Koublitsky
Jaden Kowalski
Julia Kozal
Daryn Krause
Jason Krawczyk
Jack Kreckman
Shay Kruse
Annabelle Krygier

L

Andrew La Penna
Kathleen La Prad
Nicholas LaFramboise
Daikan Lale
Rylee Lambert
Edward Langton
Braeden Lavis
Elijah Layne
Son Le Dinh Truong
Delaney Lee
Seonha Lee
Maya Lee
Joseph Leonard
Ellie Lepley
Sage Lewis
Aidan Liedeke
Alexander Ligman
Alex Lloyd
Ava Loncharte
Katelyn Long
Beatriz Lopez
Alondra Lopez
Maya Lopez
Grace Lounds
Madeline Lovins
Mairead Lynch
Isabella Lyskawa

M

Ellie MacE
Lauren MacKersie
Kyler Maiorana
Natalie Maki
Larson Makie
Andrew Mallon
Ariadne Markou
Natalie Martinez
Kate Martinez
Cassidy Martini-Zeller
Isabelle Mason
Alexandria Mason
Matthew Matuza
Benjamin Maurice
Zachary Maurice
Cedric May
Allison Mayer
Jay McDaniel
Mollie McDonald
Fallon McFarland
Grace McGlynn
Jacey Merkle
Rachel Meston
Estelle Metz
Gabriel Meyers
Bernice Mike
Brittany Miller
Marin Miroslavich
Ameera Mirza
Elana Mitchell
Aliah Mohmand
Jacques Monchamp
Raven Montagna
Alondra Danahe Montoya Martinez
Elizabeth Morgan
Meena Moritz
Maren Mosher
Mary Ellen Muenzenmaier
Elizabeth Muenzenmaier
Alex Mungai
Andrew Munger
Ella Myers
Sydney Myszenski

N

Nailia Narynbek Kyzy
Sabrina Nelson
Chloe Nelund
Mackenzie Newhall
Robert Newland
Emma Newlove
Kevin Nguyen
Yen Giang Nguyen
Theodore Niemann
Maeve Nolan
Malin Nordmoe

O

Mary Oduor
Nora Oleary
Gabriel Olivier
Nicholas Olmeda
Emma Olson
Tyler Omness
Reece Omodio
Kevin Oneill
Muna Onwochei
B Osborne
Andrew Oss
Aryka Ostroski
Nathan Overmier

P

Maren Palmer
Eron Palmer
Renzo Palomino Caceres
Brennan Pannucci
Rachael Pashturro
Juniper Pasternak
Morgan Paye
Zachary Payment
Alberto Paz-Rodriguez
Logan Pearson
Marcus Pedde
Phillip Pedicone
Audrey Pegouske
Isabella Pellegrom
Alex Pepin
Noah Peters
Maya Peters
Katarina Peters
Tobias Peters
Maggie Petersen
Paige Peterson
Anna Phyo
Timothy Pinches
William Plesscher
Evan Pollens-Voigt
Mario Pomorski
Madelyn Portenga
Tadeusz Potocki
Madison Potts
Grayson Pratt
Juliana Pullen
Noah Pyle

Q

Alex Quesada
Brody Quinn

R

Elizabeth Rachiele
Tieran Rafferty
Akaash Raghunath
Nicole Rapp
Hunter Rayens
Sara Reathaford
Laura Reinaux Silva Oliveira
Julia Reisor
Micahaia Reynolds
Jaycee Rider
Sheldon Riley
Narelle Robles
Jackie Rodriguez
Ash Rodriguez
Nevaeh Rodriguez-Vergel
Amelia Rooks
Luke Rop
Eli Routt
Miriam Ruiz Kahle
Nathaniel Rulich
Wyatt Ruppenthal
Amir Rustamov
McKenna Ryan-Elbert

S

Amelie Sack
Abigail Samson
Ryan Sanborn
Sofia Santos
Leslie Santos
Isabella Santos-Pye
Simon Sawyer
Maxwell Saxton
Cecilia Schihl
Leo Schinker
Olivia Schleede
Vivian Schmidt
Annika Schnell
Eden Schnurstein
Arden Schultz
Audrey Schulz
Ava Schwachter
Aurora Scott
Alison Settles
Brendon Shaffer
Katherene Shank
Halen Sherwood
Veda Shukla
Clara Siefke
Mo Silcott
Zachary Simmons
Julia Sitz
Kiersten Sjogren
Colby Skinner
Dawson Skupin
Kendall Slamka
Jamie Smith
Maja Smith
Ping Smith
Owen Smith
Anoushka Soares
Jonah Spates
Sophia Sprick
Florian Stackow
Adam Stapleton
Katelyn Steinbrecher
Eleanor Stevenson
Joseph Stevenson
Meredith Steward
Pavel Stojanovski
Elena Stolberg
Calvin Strader
Zachary Strauss
Katherine Suarez
Maeve Sullivan
Hannah Summerfield
Jocelyn Suranyi
Grace Sweet
Brady Swift

T

Ella Talaski
Charlotte Tatara
Jovanay Taylor
William Thomas
Levi Thomas
Sandra Tienda-Lopez
Elizabeth Tiesworth
Emily Tiihonen
Alexander Tolman
Lily Toohey
Phoebe Tozer
Vincent Tran
Samuel Tremaglio
Sutton Tutas

U

Christopher Ulrich
Lilibeth Uribe

V

Tony Vaisanen
Anthony Valade
Eli Van Drie
David Van Hooser
Gavin Van Kampen
Lucy Vandemark
Lauren Vanderstelt
Cameron VanGalder
Mitchel VanGalder
Ella VarnHagen
Morgan Vasquez
Gianna Vicario
Savannah Vincent

W

Audrey Walker
Ivy Walker
Annslee Ware
Ryan Warezak
Nina Warrow
Haley Watson
Jordan Wesaw
Kiersten West
Charles Wester
Maggie Westra
Jack Wheeler
Benjamin Whitsett
Jay Wholihan
Alicia Wilgoren
Elisabeth Wilks
Ruth Wilson
Sierra Winter
Ryan Witt
Darius Wright
Emma Wrobleski

Y

Devin Yankee

Z

Sofia Zeller
Nora Zemlick
Katalina Zhao
Maggie Zhu
Brock Zimmerman
Kenzi Zimmerman-Frost
Lee Zwart

Student Filmmakers Praise Instructor, Showcase

Posted on November 18, 2024December 5, 2024

After a pandemic pause, a favorite Homecoming tradition returned in October, showcasing the creative talents of Kalamazoo College film and media studies students. A film festival featuring the introductory and advanced students in classes led by Visiting Instructor Danny Kim, allowed alumni to peek behind the curtain and see how students hone artistic skills through documentary filmmaking. After the screening, alumni asked questions of the filmmakers to learn more about the projects and applauded the students’ talents.

The projects required students to take B-roll footage to supplement the main footage, conduct about four interviews and use a filming technique called framing that shows the interviewee looking somewhere other than at the camera. Three of the student producers recently shared what they learned from their experiences.

Homecoming film festival with instructor and filmmakers — Visiting Instructor Danny Kim (from left), and students Ethan Galler, Davis Henderson, Alex Quesada, Megan McGarry, Emma Frederiksen and Jane Bentley, all from the class of 2025, attend the Homecoming Film Festival.

‘Saturday Night Live’ if it Had No Budget

Davis Henderson ’25 put K’s TV-production class in the spotlight with “ARTX-200,” a film named for the course taught by media producer and studio instructor Jaakan Page-Wood.

“To quote Jaakan, it’s very much like Saturday Night Live if Saturday Night Live was filmed on a Thursday afternoon by amateurs with no money, and was at 4:15,” Henderson said. “It was a great time, and I wanted to give it more attention. It’s definitely helped me find a space at K where I’m able to make stuff.”

“ARTX-200” presents Henderson’s peers as they explain how the course provided a creative outlet they had yet to find elsewhere on campus. Henderson, a theatre major who plans to pursue voice acting, developed an interest in filmmaking as a child when he and his brother began making skit videos with his mom’s photography equipment along with editing tools such as iMovie.

“ARTX-200” by Davis Henderson ’25

“Documentary filmmaking is interesting to me because it’s challenging,” Henderson said. “When something unexpected happens, you can’t restart. There’s no script and you pick it up as it goes. I can open up a history book and get bored. But being able to open a documentary, and see and hear what people are talking about, provides demonstrations that allow your imagination to take over. This is probably the most influential and crucial class I’ve taken here at K. I was able to create something tangible that will go in my portfolio and use it to get a job.”

An Art Form That’s Interesting and Exciting

Jane Bentley ’25 took a much more serious issue of importance to her and created “Students for Justice in Palestine,” a film about the student organization of the same name.

The film opens with Suha Qashou ’24—then president of K’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)—leading a vigil outside the Light Fine Arts building, surrounded by signs and supporters. She discusses her desire to commemorate the lives lost in Gaza in an honorable way.

The subject matter provided Bentley with some challenges.

“Between rallies and meetings, I set up a lot of my shots so a lot of people wouldn’t be identifiable for two reasons,” Bentley said. “First, I wasn’t confident that I was going to get a release form for every single person who might be there. And also, when you’re making something about the pro-Palestinian movement, especially in the immediate aftermath of October 7, you have to consider that leaving someone recognizable could put them in a vulnerable position.”

“Students for Justice in Palestine” by Jane Bentley ’25

Regardless, Kim’s class provided Bentley a chance to be expressive in an inclusive fashion that was supportive of all the student members of SJP.

“If you have something in your life that you think is worth talking about, the best way to get people interested in it is to package it in a form that’s interesting and exciting,” Bentley said. “I think a documentary can be the best way you to do that.”

A Day to Live Graciously

Unlike Bentley or Henderson, Ethan Galler ’25 had the problem of being uncertain when circumstances would allow him to film the bulk of his footage given his subject matter, K’s Day of Gracious Living.

“This is DOGL” captures student voices and some thoughts from Vice President for Student Development Malcolm Smith the day before DOGL 2023. They discussed the importance of the traditional day off toward the end of the spring term as well as the history of it being a secret date selected by student government representatives and revealed in advance only to a few administrators.

Thankfully, Galler scheduled the interviews in advance through some sleuthing and logical conclusions.

“This is DOGL” by Ethan Galler ’25

“It was getting close to the end of the term, and either DOGL was the day it was or there would’ve been conflicts with other student events,” he said. “We picked the day before for interviews and hoped for the best.”

Despite cloudy and cool conditions for DOGL, Galler collected footage of a good number of students having fun at the beach in South Haven and supplemented it with footage from K’s archives of previous DOGL activities.

The end product and his enjoyment of the creative process led him to echo Henderson and Bentley’s praise for their instructor and the advantages of taking the class.

“It’s always good to have a little variety in the classes you take, especially if you’re a K student,” Galler said. “Everybody can be a fan of film in their own way, and making a documentary, you get to see behind the curtain with a production. It’s a fun experience.”

All the student videos from the film festival are available on YouTube. Click the links below to watch the others.

Featured Filmmakers

The other student filmmakers featured in the film festival and their projects included the following. Links are included where available:

Ian Burr ’24: “Football,” spotlighting K football players and what their sport means to them.
Sam Douma ’26: “Via Ferrata,” in which a voracious duo aims to harness their raw musical energy despite being young and distracted.
Emma Frederiksen ’25: “Growing with Disability,” showcasing three K students who describe their experiences navigating adulthood and transitioning into college while living with a disability.
Alek Hultberg ’26: “Tom Evans,” showing students and friends of Music Professor Tom Evans honoring him as he prepares to retire.
Caleb Kipnis ’26: “How to Run Hillel,” presenting insights into the Jewish student organization Hillel and its board members’ roles in planning and executing an event.
Megan McGarry ’25: “Clay and Community,” with ceramics students collaborating to make art pieces in response to a problematic mural.
Alex Quesada ’25: “Train Swag,” featuring cities, states and people that can seem far apart, but with a train, the world becomes smaller and connected communities get bigger.
Amalia Scorsone ’24: “A SuperKut of Us,” with friends discussing the importance of their time at K as they approach graduation.
Luke Torres ’25: “Squishmallows,” in which Jenna Paterob ’23 reveals her obsession with Squishmallows toys.
Tariq Williams ’23: “Sustainability at Kalamazoo College,” showing K’s efforts in sustainability and the impact of recycling on campus.

“Football” by Ian Burr ’24

“Train Swag” by Alex Quesada ’25.

“A SuperKut of Us” by Amalia Scorsone ’24

Internship Prepares Young Entrepreneur for Specialist Role

Posted on November 18, 2024November 18, 2024

Kelvis Quaynor ’25 has long thought he would like to be an entrepreneur, and an internship with Startup Zoo helped prepare him to pursue his goals.

Quaynor completed a Community Building Internship (CBI) through the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) during summer 2024, and Startup Zoo subsequently hired him as community engagement specialist for his last year at Kalamazoo College.

“Engaging in this work has given me a good idea of the things I will need to put in place to be a better entrepreneur, when that time does come,” Quaynor said. “That’s one way this internship has helped position me to accomplish my goals.”

Working at Startup Zoo, a hub for the Kalamazoo entrepreneurship community, has also helped Quaynor build his confidence, network and learn about the business world—applying and reinforcing lessons from the classroom.

“One takeaway is definitely the fact that people in the business world are more open than I thought,” Quaynor said. “A lot of opportunities are out there for you, and if you jump on it, you might be able to capitalize. Another thing is that I’m capable of occupying certain spaces, which is something I’ve struggled with. I think COVID played a role, a lot of things played a role, being Black probably played a role as well. I got to see that I’m capable of doing things and occupying spaces in certain places.”

Much of Quaynor’s internship work with Startup Zoo involved contacting and connecting with entrepreneurs, investors and other members of the business community. That was challenging and surprising to Quaynor.

Young entrepreneur Kelvis Quaynor — An internship with Startup Zoo helped entrepreneur Kelvis Quaynor ’25 secure a community engagement specialist role with the nonprofit.

“Reaching out to people I didn’t know was hard, because it’s one thing when you’re in front of someone and you can say, ‘I like your shirt’ or something, but when you’ve never met someone, it’s hard to establish a genuine connection,” Quaynor said. “It surprised me how open people in the venture community were, though. I was reaching out to executives, some of the biggest venture funds in the state, and they would accept a connection on LinkedIn, and sometimes they would even reach out to me if they were going to be in Kalamazoo and say they would love to connect and see how we can help each other. A lot of people in the venture and entrepreneurial support organization space are good people trying to help. I didn’t know how that existed in the business world.”

Quaynor was also analyzing what other entrepreneurial support organizations were doing, researching business funds, and helping plan for the Southwest Michigan Entrepreneur Summit in September. An economics major from Seattle, Washington, Quaynor appreciated learning more about the resources that exist for businesses in Kalamazoo. Early on, he learned a lot from Carl Brown, executive director of Startup Zoo. As the internship progressed, he grew more independent.

“It was hard in the beginning,” Quaynor said. “Carl would give me direction, but sometimes it would be things I had never done before. I hate to be a pest, so for me, if you told me what to do, it’s hard for me to then ask you how to do it. I feel like I should have the tools to be able to figure it out. He was super open, though, and every time I did have to ask, he was fine with that, and he would point me in the right direction.”

The CCE’s reflection dinners for K students working on CBIs helped Quaynor stay in touch with friends completing CBIs, make new friends and put into words what he was learning and experiencing at Startup Zoo. His reflections throughout the summer as well as his final project for the CCE prepared him for his Senior Integrated Project on the internship.

“This internship is definitely going to help inform my decision on what I want to do post-Kalamazoo, because I’m not sure what’s next,” Quaynor said. “I’m just trying to finish my senior year the best way I can, academically and socially and all the good things. Recently, actually, I was thinking about potentially going to graduate school, which is something I never thought I’d do. I feel like there’s still a lot to learn.”

NSF Grant Benefits K’s Tresca, Lab Students

Posted on November 13, 2024November 13, 2024

A National Science Foundation (NSF) grant will help a Kalamazoo College faculty member and his students develop a lab partnership with some of their counterparts at the University of Toronto while performing research with peptoid nanomaterials.

Blakely Tresca, assistant professor of chemistry, has been awarded nearly $250,000 under the NSF’s Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS). The LEAPS-MPS grant emphasizes helping pre-tenure faculty at institutions that don’t traditionally receive significant amounts of NSF-MPS funding, including predominantly undergraduate institutions, as well as achieving excellence through diversity.

Tresca and his students will create peptoid nanomaterials, which are synthetic molecules that show promise in detecting harmful substances in water or people, for example, or in creating coatings that can impart new properties onto other materials. Their work will dovetail with research at University of Toronto in the lab of Assistant Professor of Chemistry Helen Tran.

“I’ve been working with Dr. Tran on putting an alkyne functional group into peptoids, and then studying how the peptoids can self-assemble into materials,” Tresca said. “And once they self-assemble, we want to know how alkynes react in these materials.”

Tresca explained that his lab’s processes require several repetitive tasks including shaking and rinsing samples five or six times each with 10 to 18 individual steps requiring a total of 18 to 20 hours of work when done by hand. The grant covers the cost of a robot that makes the process faster, easier and safer.

“Dr. Tran’s lab has expertise in doing automated synthesis,” Tresca said. “They have a robot that’s the same as the one we have here now. They also have expertise in characterizing the materials, using instruments like an atomic force microscope or AFM. I’m excited because, if things turn out the way we plan, we will be able to work on some really cool applications to design new ways of sensing, either analytes or toxins.”

The grant also covers funding for Tresca’s students to work in the lab, travel to conferences and visit the University of Toronto over the next two years. He estimates that two K students will assist in his lab during the academic year and five will work during the summer.

Tresca’s grant is one of two NSF awards given to faculty members in K’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the past year. The other has allowed Roger F. and Harriet G. Varney Assistant Professor of Chemistry Daniela Arias-Rotondo to redesign the lab portion of inorganic chemistry (CHEM 330 at K). It also has helped her and her lab students make compounds that can absorb solar energy and turn it into electricity using manganese, a low-cost, low-toxicity alternative to the materials currently used in solar energy conversion, which tend to be rare, expensive and difficult to mine.

NSF Grant Recipient Blake Tresca in his lab with a student — Assistant Professor of Chemistry Blakely Tresca, a recent NSF grant recipient, works with students in his lab

NSF Grant Recipient Blake Tresca with students — Tresca poses with his lab students in summer 2024.

Computer Science Team Impresses at Programming Contest

Posted on November 12, 2024November 12, 2024

Three Kalamazoo College computer science students traveled to Grand Valley State University last weekend to compete in the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), the longest-running higher education programming competition in the world.

More than 50,000 students from more than 100 countries competed in several regional competitions, solving a number of programming problems over the course of five hours. The contest fosters creativity, teamwork and innovation in building new software programs, and tests the students’ ability to work efficiently in challenging conditions.

Chau Ta ’25, Benjamin Whitsett ’27 and Cole Koryto ’25 finished sixth out of 18 teams in the East Division’s Central North America Region, which included students from Ohio, Michigan, Eastern Ontario, Western Pennsylvania and Indiana. K’s representatives, in a team aptly named Bit by Bit, finished higher than five of eight teams from the University of Michigan and one of three teams from Michigan State University among others. Overall, Bit by Bit finished 48^th out of 182 teams in the East Division.

With school standings determined by the average scores of all their representing teams, K placed 12^th in the East Division. That was good enough for second among five teams from Michigan and first among three teams from Great Lakes Colleges Association institutions.

“I believe this is an outstanding achievement and something we can celebrate,” Dow Assistant Professor of Computer Science Sandino Vargas–Pérez said. “Our students are bright, dedicated and enthusiastic about learning. They enjoy these contests where they can express what they’ve learned here at the College. I asked them, ‘Team, what is your goal for the event?’ They responded, ‘We want to be above the 50th percentile and maybe beat one of the teams from Harvard.’ Not only were they in the top 20%, but they also defeated one of the four teams that Harvard sent and defeated the University of Michigan in average points. They were so delighted with their results.”

Programming Competition 2 — Chau Ta ’25, Cole Koryto ’25 and Benjamin Whitsett ’27 impressed Dow Assistant Professor of Computer Science Sandino Vargas–Pérez at the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) regional.

Programming Competition 1 — Whitsett (from left), Ta and Koryto compete in the ICPC.

Honors Day Celebrates Student Achievements

Posted on November 8, 2024November 8, 2024

Hundreds of Kalamazoo College students were recognized Friday, November 8, during the annual Honors Day Convocation for excellence in academics and leadership. Students were recognized in six divisions: Fine Arts; Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures; 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. Many of the awards presented are based on outstanding performance during the previous academic year. The students receiving Honors Day awards or recognition are listed below.

FINE ARTS DIVISION

Brian Gougeon Prize in Art

Maya Arau
Asha Dawson
Willow Hayner
Maren Palmer
Lee Zwart

The Margaret Upton Prize in Music

Sophia Herold

Charles Cooper Award in Fine Arts

Sally Eggleston

Fan E. Sherwood Memorial Prize

Evelyn Calderon

Theatre Arts First-Year Student Award

Evelyn Ellerbrock
Stephanie Moranko
Phoebe Tozer

DIVISION OF MODERN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

LeGrand Copley Prize in French

Isabelle Mason
Estelle Metz

Hardy Fuchs Award

Paige Peterson
Mo Silcott

Margo Light Award

Kai Clingenpeel

Department of Spanish Language and Literatures Prize

Camila Benavides
Jason Krawczyk
Abigail Samson

Clara H. Buckley Prize for Excellence in Latin

Eleanor Campion
Florian Stackow

Provost’s Prize in Classics

Max Wright

Classics Department Prize in Greek

Sally Eggleston

HUMANITIES DIVISION

O. M. Allen Prize in English

Asha Dawson

John B. Wickstrom Prize in History

Ryleigh Jaworski
Maja Smith

Department of Philosophy Prize

Liam Diaz
Madeleine Lawson

L.J. and Eva (“Gibbie”) Hemmes Memorial Prize in Philosophy

Johe Newton Johnson
Nicholas Laframboise

NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS DIVISION

Winifred Peake Jones Prize in Biology

Julia Kozal
Jack Kreckman
Cedric May
Ava Schwachter

Department of Chemistry Prize

Natalie Greene
Marcus Pedde
Ava Schwachter

First-Year Chemistry Award

Abigail Eilertson
Sara Cate Finks
Emma Wrobleski

Lemuel F. Smith Award

Anna Buck

Computer Science Prize

Mahmoud Alsafadi
Daniel Celedon
William Geiger
Dong Eun Kim
Nailia Narynbek Kyzy
Aye Chan Myat Phyo
Maggie Zhu

First-Year Mathematics Award

Isaac Duncan IV
Benjamin Whitsett

Thomas O. Walton Prize in Mathematics

Matthew Quirk

Cooper Prize in Physics

Dong Eun Kim
Ellie Mace
Benjamin Whitsett

SOCIAL SCIENCES DIVISION

Departmental Prize in Anthropology and Sociology

Rylee Lambert
Marcos Perez
Micahaia Reynolds
Jay Wholihan

William G. Howard Prize in Political Science

Aubrey Benson
Isabelle Mason

William G. Howard Memorial Prize in Economics and Business

Cole Koryto

C. Wallace Lawrence Prize in Business

Maya Alkema
Dilynn Everitt
Robert Newland

C. Wallace Lawrence Prize in Economics

Sophie Hartl

Irene and S. Kyle Morris Prize

Callie Abair
Maya Clarren

Department of Psychology First-Year Student Prize

Isabelle Kastel

PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIVISION

Division of Physical Education Prize Raymond Cargill

Ruby Hogan

Lauren Rosenthal ’13 Memorial Prize

Annmarie Lawrence

Maggie Wardle ’02 Prize

Jordan Wesaw

COLLEGE AWARDS

Gordon Beaumont Memorial Award

Michel Romero
Jacinda Servantes

Henry ’36 and Inez Brown Prize

Lucy Cripe
Tyler Omness
Eden Schnurstein

Virginia Hinkelman Memorial Award

Clarke Austin
Elijah Mobley

Davis United World College Scholar

Renzo Palomino Caceres
Alondra (Danahe) Montoya Martinez

HEYL SCHOLARS

Class of 2028

David Fooy
Charles Gordon
Lloyd Maxwell
Nathan Gleason
Isabelle Hahn
Katherine Suarez

POSSE SCHOLARS

Class of 2028

Marley Bell
Brizza Gonzalez
Maya Pasillas
Linda Chukwu
Christian Gonzalez
Vivian Ramos
Yamilet Garcia
Miranda Moreno

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS

Class of 2028

Clara (Bo) Chambers

SLAVA-CICA AND SPASA VOYNOVICH SCHOLARS

Alex Nam

ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA

Class of 2028

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.

The Kalamazoo College chapter was installed on March 5, 1942.

Maya Arau
Emily Auchter
Joseph Basil
Aubrey Benson
Alexandrea Bernal
Jack Boshoven
Jay Breck
Daniel Celedon
Maya Clarren
Logan Coller
Cate Cotter
Holden Coulter
Jasmine Davis
Asha Dawson
Enrique Delzer
Isaac Duncan
Abigail Eilertson
Evelyn Ellerbrock
Sara Cate Finks
Landrie Fridsma
Ingrid Gardner
William Geiger
Maira Ghaffar
Cecilia Gray
Natalie Greene
Jacob Hazlewood
Zachary Heikka
Ashlen Hill
Dong Eun Kim
Julia Kozal
Jason Krawczyk
Jack Kreckman
Annabelle Krygier
Rylee Lambert
Alex Lloyd
Grace Lounds
Ellie Mace
Lauren MacKersie
Isabelle Mason
Cedric May
Maren Mosher
Ella Myers
Nailia Narynbek Kyzy
Yen Giang Nguyen
Kevin Oneill
B Osborn
Astrid Parker
Juniper Pasternak
Audrey Pegouske
Paige Peterson
Madelyn Portenga
Olivia Schleede
Ava Schwacther
Clara Siefke
Florian Stackow
Phoebe Tozer
Tony Vaisanen
Anthony Valade
Lucy Vandemark
Benjamin Whitsett
Jay Wholihan
Alicia Wilgoren
Emma Wrobleski
Lee Zwart

FINE ARTS

Performing Arts: Music

Isabella Alimenti
Alexa Barrera-Zavala
Miles Borgsdorf
Teige Bredin
John Brewer
Chloe Brown
Sara Joy Bush
Ava Butera
Samantha Capentier
Cameron Couch
Cooper H. Dahl
Maya Davis
Gabriel Flandes
Victoria Gutierrez
Kaylee Hanson
Elizabeth Henderson
Cosette Hurtubise
Zarifa Ibrahimzada
Weslee Innes
Caroline Johnson
Carrie Kozlowski
Shay Kruse
Annabelle Largent
Maya Lee
Maya Lopez
Alexandria Mason
Bernice Mike
Meena Mortiz
Andrew Oss
Tobias Peters
Maggie Petersen
Tadeusz Potocki
Karina Rodriguez
Miriam Ruiz Kahle
Mckenna Ryan-Elbert
Halen Sherwood
Calvin Strader
Jocelyn Suranyi
Ella Talaski
Carissa West
Sierra Winter
Nora Zemlic

MIAA AWARDS

These teams earned the 2023–24 MIAA Team GPA Award for achieving a 3.300 or better grade point average for the entire academic year:

Men’s Golf
Men’s Lacrosse
Men’s Swimming and Diving
Men’s Tennis
Women’s Basketball
Women’s Cross Country
Women’s Golf
Women’s Lacrosse
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Softball
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Women’s Tennis
Women’s Volleyball

MIAA ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL

Student Athletes 2023–24

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association each year honors students at MIAA member colleges who achieve in the classroom and in athletic competition. Students need to be a letter winner in a varsity sport and maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average for the entire school year.

Kalamazoo College Singers with director — The College Singers perform at the annual Honors Day Convocation

Honors Day students — Honorees receive awards at Honors Day

Honors Day attendees — Faculty congratulated students at Honors Day

Honors Day stduents — Students stand to be recognized at Honors Day

Students stand to be recognized at Honors Day

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Callie Abair
Fuzail Ahmed
Maya Alkema
Adnan Alousi
Mahmoud Alsafadi
Emiliano Alvarado-Rescala
Paige Anderson
Eleanor Andrews
Kaelyn Arlington

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Annalise Bailey
Poppy Balkema
Madison Barch
Emma Becker
Shelby Bennett
Eleanor Bernas
Douglas Blackwood
Luke Bormann
Mairin Boshoven
Eleni Bougioukou
Jaylen Bowles-Swain
Holly Bowling
Ella Boyea
Lukas Broadsword
Jonathan Brunette
Anna Buck
Jaden Buist
John Bungart
Ian Burr

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Raymond Cargill
Isabella Caza
Trustin Christopher
Thomas Clark
Madeleine Coffman
Samuel Coleman
Logan Coller
Cate Cotter
Lucy Cripe
Mia Crites
Chase Cummins
Emma Curcuru

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Erik Danielson
Jessica Dant
Carson Deines
Ethan DeNeen
Olivia Depauli
Alexander Di Dio
Jordan Doyle
Alexander Dubin

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Rebecca Elias
Elise Elliot
Sara English
Caleb Ewald
Chad Ewing

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Sara Cate Finks
Jordan Flink
Parker Foster
Andre Fouque
Landrie Fridsma

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Aliza Garcia
Brynna Garden
William Geiger
Lukas Graff
Lillian Grelak
Kaitlyn Grice
Natalie Gross
Madyson Groth

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Sydney Hagaman
Alison Hankins
Madeline Hanulcik
Sophie Hartl
Pauline Hawkes
Jacob Hazlewood
Zachary Heikka
Gerardo Herrera-Sanchez
Garrick Hohm
Ronin Honda
Joseph Horsfield
Tyler Houle
Gavin Houtkooper
Ethan Huebsch
Samuel Hughes
Alek Hultberg
Lukas Hultberg
Michael Hume
Madelaine Hurley
Kennedy Hynde

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Carson Ihrke

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Halley Johnson

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Timothy Karubus
Isabelle Kastel
Seth Keana
Blake Kelsey
Hunter Kiesling
Kendyl Kirshman
Alexander Kish
Kathryn Klahorst
Mart Klenke
Daniel Koselka
Julia Kozal
Jack Kreckman
Clayton Kryszak

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Braeden Lavis
Annmarie Lawrence
Jacob Lynett

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Natalie Maki
Matthew Matuza
Benjamin Maurice
Zachary Maurice
Grace McGlynn
Amy McNutt
Rachel Meston
Gabriel Meyers
Brittany Miller
Jack Miller
Bayley Millerov
Elana Mitchell
Jackson Mitchell
Brenden Moat
Mackenzie Moore
Elizabeth Muenzenmaier
Mary Ellen Muenzenmaier
Andrew Munger
Anna Murphy

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Robert Newland
Emma Newlove
Dustin Noble
Hayleigh Nower

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Jeremiah Ohren-Hoeft
Gabriel Olivier
Tyler Omness
Reece Omodio

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Mia Pascuzzi
Eric Paternoster
Alex Pepin
Sydney Pickell
William Plesscher
Grayson Pratt

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Elizabeth Rachiele
Tieran Rafferty
Savera Rajendra-Nicolucci
Julia Rambo
Sara Reathaford
Liam Regan
Keegan Reynolds
Sheldon Riley
Emory Roberts
Luke Rop
Elizabeth Rottenberk
Eli Routt
Alexander Rueff

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Zenaida Sackett
Robert Samples
Vivian Schmidt
Annika Schnell
Amalia Scorsone
Tillie Sheldon
Steven Shelton
Cassidy Short
Colby Skinner
Dawson Skupin
Erin Somsel
Jonah Spates
Ella Spooner
Adam Stapleton
David Stechow
Taylor Stephens
Molly Stevison
Emma Stickley

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Levi Thomas
William Thomas
Jakob Torzewski
Dean Turpin

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Anthony Valade
Samantha Vande Pol
Lucy Vandemark
Hannah Vander Lugt
Cameron VanGalder
Mitchel VanGalder
Madison Vrba

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Joseph Wade
Ivy Walker
Annslee Ware
Ryan Warezak
Riley Weber
Jack Wheeler
Ava Williams

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Hailey Yoder

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Jacob Zeller
Rebecca Zoetewey

K Honors First-Generation Students

Posted on November 8, 2024December 3, 2024

Kalamazoo College is proud to celebrate the successes of its first-generation college students, faculty and staff today on National First-Generation Day. November 8 was identified as the date because it honors the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which expanded college opportunities for low-income and first-generation populations.

Championed by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Center for First-Generation Student Success, the day brings awareness to the strengths of first-generation students. At Kalamazoo College, we seek to affirm those strengths and the assets they bring to us by supporting, elevating and increasing their visibility on campus.

Here are a few stories of our students. We asked them about their involvement and activities, why they chose K and their advice for other first-generation students.

Anahi Barajas ’26

Involvements and activities: During my time at K, I actively engage in some student organizations, as treasurer for Latinx Student Organization (LSO), actively attending Women of Color Association (WOCA) and ¡Qué Chévere! Aside from student organizations, I am a career ambassador at the Center for Career and Professional Development, and I work at Media Services as a front desk assistant. I also participate in the Career Launch Internship Prep Program (CLIPP) to increase the probability of getting a summer internship.

Why I chose K: Visiting Kalamazoo College on top of hearing about the experiences from my high school’s alumni who came to K. Their experiences, with the beauty of the campus, alongside the financial aid package reassured me that moves from Texas would be worth it.

My advice to other first-generation students: Coming from Texas all the way to Kalamazoo has been a hard transition. But I would suggest being involved in different clubs and putting yourself out there so you can make friends, especially during orientation events. That’s when I met my best friend. I think you should put yourself out there and try new things. During winter try to keep yourself active and busy so that seasonal depression doesn’t affect you. There are so many resources out there, take advantage of them

Vanessa Barranco ’25

Involvements and activities: I am currently one of the co-presidents of ¡Qué Chévere!, a student organization dedicated to representing and celebrating diverse identities within Latino cultures. Additionally, as this year’s funding board coordinator, I assist in budget management and purchasing for all student organizations, working to ensure funds are allocated equitably across student organizations.

Why I chose K: As a senior in high school, I was nominated for the Posse Scholarship, and after multiple interview rounds, I was chosen along with nine other students to attend Kalamazoo College. Along with that, I was drawn to K’s open curriculum as well as the small class sizes that would allow me to receive more personalized attention from professors and be more involved with campus life.

My advice to other first-generation students: My advice to students is to go to school events and different clubs. It’s so important to find your people and your community, especially when you are away from home. Also, make sure to take advantage of the resources K has to offer!

First-generation student Vanessa Barranco — Vanessa Barranco ’25

Camila Benavides ’27

Involvements and activities: During my time here at K, I have been actively involved in several organizations that allow me to give back and connect with the campus community. I am a member of the Latinx Student Organization (LSO), where I help foster a supportive and inclusive space for Latinx students, creating a strong sense of community among peers who share similar backgrounds and values. Additionally, I am part of the Alpha Omega chapter of the Spanish Honor Society, which has deepened my appreciation for Hispanic culture and language, providing opportunities to connect with others passionate about our heritage. I am also involved in Kalamazoo Language Intercultural Partners (KLIP), where I volunteer at Lincoln International Studies School to help newcomers learn English, supporting them as they build confidence in their language skills and adapt to a new environment. Lastly, I am a member of the Kalamazoo Dance Team (KDT), which allows me to express myself creatively and connect with others through a shared love of dance. Each of these experiences has enriched my time at K in unique and meaningful ways.

Why I chose K: I chose Kalamazoo College for its commitment to diversity, social justice and a personalized education. The college’s unique K-Plan, with its emphasis on flexibility and hands-on learning, provides the perfect environment for me to explore my interests while remaining rooted in my values. I was also drawn to Kalamazoo’s small campus, which creates a close-knit, supportive community and allows for more personalized connections with faculty and peers. This focus on individualized academic paths and meaningful relationships made K the ideal place for my educational journey.

My advice to other first-generation students: My advice for other first-generation students is to seek support early on and build connections with faculty, advisors and peers. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and make full use of the resources available, like tutoring or career counseling. Remember that you belong here and there’s a community ready to support you every step of the way. Be proud of who you are and where you come from; your unique background is a strength and it brings valuable perspectives to the campus. Embrace each challenge as an opportunity for growth and know that your resilience and determination will help you succeed.

First Generation Student Camila Benavides — Camila Benavides ’27

Abigail Gutierrez ’25

Involvement and activities: As an active member on campus, I regularly attend ACAPOC (an all People-of-Color a capella group on campus), Asian Pacific Islander Student Association (APISA) and Philipino American Student Association (PASA) meetings and participate in various campus events.

Why I chose K: I chose Kalamazoo College for its intimate community and the exceptional support I received during the admission process. This early experience reinforced my belief in the power of campus resources and the potential for meaningful connections.

My advice to other first-generation students: My advice to incoming students is to seize opportunities and take initiative. By proactively seeking out experiences, I recently landed an internship that allowed me to develop a new skill under the guidance of a supportive mentor. One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was moving out of state for college. This bold decision has fostered my independence and courage. I’m grateful for the personal growth it has enabled and the positive impact it will have on my family. I’m excited to apply the skills and connections I’ve gained at K to uplift my community.

First-Generation student Abi Gutierrez — Abigail Gutierrez ’25

Grace Leahey ’25

Involvement and activities: I am involved with Student Development as a First-Year Experience mentor and I’m the co-president of both the Hacky Sack Club and Kalamazoo College’s student chapter of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). I work for the chemistry and biochemistry department as a lab teaching assistant and grader. Additionally, I’ll be volunteering with Sisters in Science starting this winter.

Why I chose K: I chose Kalamazoo College because I really wanted to have the opportunity to foster connections with my professors and peers in a way I knew wouldn’t be available at a larger university. The interpersonal connections I have created during my time at K will continue to help me succeed in my future educational and career endeavors.

My advice to other first-generation students: I would advise any first-gen students to always ask questions. There are so many resources just waiting to be tapped into. Sometimes, it’s scary to ask for help, but K has taught me that there will always be someone in your corner. You do not have to do it alone and asking for help 100% does not invalidate your successes.

First-Generation Student Grace Leahy — Grace Leahey ’25

Micahaia Reynolds ’27

Involvements and activities: During my time here at K, I have participated in many organizations and volunteer opportunities on and off campus. I am vice president of Kalamazoo Bible Club, a member of the Black Student Organization (BSO) and the K College Cheer team, and have participated in the Women of Color Association (WOCA) and Sister Circle. I have performed in Afro Desi Sol (AFDS), an event that comes once a year to celebrate the collaboration and showcasing of different cultures and heritages, and spoken on a first-generation panel as part of our orientation week. I have also volunteered at El Concilio and Kalamazoo Central High School, working with elementary students as well as high school students who are new to the United States and learning English. I work with Community Advocates for Parents and Students (CAPS) and travel to a nearby community center to tutor students and help guide them toward achieving the Kalamazoo Promise. I am also a First-Year Experience mentor, where I assist first-year students through orientation and their first term at K as they begin navigating the college experience. Finally, I am currently on the Dean’s List, and have been selected to receive the departmental prize from the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the Honors Day Convocation on November 8.

Why I chose K: I chose to attend Kalamazoo College for several reasons. One reason is that its reputation preceded itself in the recommendations I received. Another is its endless opportunities to get involved with nearby communities and build personal connections with the professors. Since coming to K, I have discovered so many more opportunities that I didn’t even know about before enrolling, such as the ability to network with people from many different fields regularly, the number of possibilities available for studying abroad and away, and the opportunity to explore different classes and career paths.

My advice to other first-generation students: To other first-gen students, I would say to never believe they’re alone because there’s always someone willing to help and support them. I would also tell them to not try to carry the world on their shoulders, that the people who helped get us to this point are so proud of us already, and there’s nothing we can do to disappoint them. Our presence is an inspiration to others whether we are always aware of it or not. Congratulations, you did it!

Michael Robertson II ’25

Involvement and activities: During my time at K, I have been involved with the Department of Theatre Arts since my sophomore year. I have been a member of Young Men of Color (YMC) for all four years and I am currently the vice president and treasurer. I am also a First-Year Experience mentor and a former collegiate football player for the Hornets.

Why I chose K: I chose K because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I also appreciate how small the campus is. It is extremely easy for me to find the resources that I need on campus. I am also fortunate enough to build relationships with my fellow students and professors due to how small the courses are. The school also has a great appreciation for art, which is a beautiful thing to see. It is also important to recognize how the school emphasizes academic success and how they promote their alumni networking, which has been extremely beneficial for me.

My advice to other first-generation students: My advice for first-generation students is to keep an open mind and always try new things. Do not be afraid to ask for help; there are so many great people and resources that are willing to assist you. I also encourage them to hang out with people different from you, because you can always learn from everyone. Be yourself, and embrace being different.

First-generation student Michael Robertson — Michael Robertson II ’25

Leslie Santos ’25

Involvements and activities: My on-campus activities throughout my time at K have included 3 years as a resident assistant in the campus halls, two years as a career ambassador for the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), and one year working for the Office of Student Activities. I have also been on the e-boards for the Alpha Lambda Delta and Biochemistry Clubs. Lastly, when possible, I volunteer with the Food Recovery Network Club to take unused food from our campus cafeteria to give to community pantries.

Why I chose K: I was initially drawn to Kalamazoo College because of the Posse L.A. Scholarship which brought it to my attention and offered a financial and peer mentorship-based support system. I also largely chose to attend Kalamazoo College because of the small class sizes that allow for more one-on-one time with professors and a sense of close campus community. Lastly, there seems to be strong support for students in STEM such as the Math and Physics Center, learning support, and teaching assistant and student-instruction sessions.

My advice to other first-generation students: My main advice for first-generation students is to find mentors in a variety of areas (teachers, employers, upperclassmen and peers in your own grade). It’s important to get multiple perspectives for guidance and to help in the process of developing your character by modeling characteristics and habits from those you admire and surround yourself with. Also, it’s worth it to take the time to find (and use) the resources available to you based on your identities and needs.

Horse Sense Guides K’s Equestrian Team

Posted on October 17, 2024October 17, 2024

Five Students at Cedar Lodge Stables — Kalamazoo College’s Equestrian Team consists of (from left) Libby McFarlen ’26, Sydney Myszenski ’25, Ella Varnhagen ’25, Shannon Dopp ’28 and Emily Spelson ’28. They are co-hosting a two-day equestrian meet starting Saturday, October 19, with Grand Valley State University at Cedar Lodge Stables near Lawrence, Michigan.

You might be chomping at the bit to attend a football or soccer game during Homecoming weekend, but hold your horses. Find out first about some student-athletes in another sport, who are just as proud as their peers to be representing Kalamazoo College.

K’s Equestrian Team is co-hosting a two-day meet beginning this Saturday, October 19, alongside Grand Valley State University at their home barn, Cedar Lodge Stables. The facility is near Lawrence, Michigan, about a half-hour drive west of Kalamazoo. Although sometimes dark horses when facing riders from bigger schools, the College’s representatives participate in meets through the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA), a nonprofit organization supporting individuals and teams at a variety of equine sports experience levels.

Libby McFarlen ’26—a Kalamazoo native and Loy Norrix High School graduate—is one of K’s equestrian competitors. She got the bug to start horseback riding when she was 8 years old. Although her grandma wanted to buy her a pony for her birthday, grandma chose instead to provide her granddaughter with riding lessons after comparing the costs between the two options.

Find K’s Equestrian Team
on Social Media

Kalamazoo College has several student organizations that focus on athletic endeavors including Equestrian Team. Find more on the Equestrian Team on these social media platforms:

Equestrian Team: Libby McFarlen with Ethan the horse — McFarlen has been riding horses since she was about 8 years old when her grandma purchased riding lessons for her.

Emily Spelson ’28 of the Equestrian Team holds a Kalamazoo College flag in front of a horse named Elliot — Spelson holds a Kalamazoo College flag in front of a horse named Elliot at Cedar Lodge Stables.

Equestrian Team: Shannon Dopp ’28 holds a Kalamazoo College flag in front of — Dopp, pictured with a horse named Dozer, is among five students who will compete in equestrian events this weekend.

“I was only supposed to ride for a couple of lessons, but I absolutely fell in love with it,” McFarlen said. “I’ve been involved in riding hunter-jumper, so I joined the team at K because I wanted to continue to ride in college. I wanted to put all the effort I could into this sport because I’ve been in love with it for about 10 years now.”

McFarlen and her teammates—including Sydney Myszenski ’25, Shannon Dopp ’28, Emily Spelson ’28, and Ella Varnhagen ’25—participate in either showjumping—an event that includes the horses leaping over obstacles and fences—or flat riding, which includes walking and cantering. Divisions are split based on each rider’s experience level, usually with five or six students from around Michigan in each. The host barn provides horses, and riders are randomly paired with them through a method such as drawing numbered popsicle sticks, which can be an intimidating experience.

“If you’re not at your home barn, chances are you’ve never ridden the horse you get paired with,” McFarlen said. “The captain has a brochure with a list of the horses, their name, breed and height. Some of them will have distinctive characteristics, too. Some horses will need a riding crop and some don’t. Others might not like handsy riders who pull. The horses have as much personality as people do.”

Sydney Myszenski stands with a Kalamazoo College flag next to Dozer — Myszenski ’25 stands with a Kalamazoo College flag next to a horse named Dozer.

Ella Varnhagen stands with a horse named Percy — Ella Varnhagen ’25, pictured with a horse named Percy, will represent K with her equestrian teammates in a meet this weekend at Cedar Lodge Stables.

For such reasons, McFarlen recommends students have a little background in horseback riding before joining the Equestrian Team. K offers an equestrian physical education class for beginning riders, although a cost is involved. McFarlen recognizes that costs also can be an obstacle for students wanting to participate with the Equestrian Team, with a $45 IHSA registration required yearly and competitions away from Kalamazoo typically involving the cost of an overnight stay.

However, K’s instructors will often lend team members the clothes they need to participate in shows—including boots, helmets, breeches, gloves and a navy blue or black jacket—and the team hopes they will have some fundraising efforts in the near future that will help more students join.

“We’ve started going out on Saturday morning trail rides, so it’s nice to have a chill time, too, without worry for whether your leg is positioned right or your hands are perfect like you would while competing,” McFarlen said. “It allows us to go around and talk together as a team. The solid group we have is what makes the club special to me and we would love to grow. Even though there are more standard sports, I think we’re just as cool because we’re unique. We’re valid student-athletes, too, and we do this because we love our sport.”

Two First-Year Equestrian Student-Athletes — Dopp and Spelson enjoy time together at Cedar Lodge Stables.

Two Equestrian Team Seniors — Myszenski and Vernhagen are the two seniors on K’s Equestrian Team.

K Joins Network Focused on First-Generation Student Success

Posted on October 15, 2024November 11, 2024

The FirstGen Forward Network—an organization that partners with colleges and universities, philanthropists, businesses and the public sector to catalyze first-generation student success in higher education—has selected Kalamazoo College to be among its newest members this year.

K joins 80 new members and more than 400 other institutions nationwide in their commitment to first-generation student success by boosting student experiences, enhancing academic and co-curricular outcomes, and building more inclusive institutional environments.

The recognition stems from a host of services the College offers first-generation students, which include:

The Career Launch Internship Prep Program (CLIPP), which guides students from their first-year through their senior year and empowers them to take control of their career paths.
Dinners and group discussions that help build networking opportunities while bolstering success in higher education.
A welcome event during Orientation that allows new students to hear from continuing first-generation students who speak about their K experiences.
A chance to participate in events related to National First-Generation Day, marking the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The legislation expanded college opportunities for first-generation populations.

First-Generation Student Success Panel at Orientation — A panel of first-generation students welcomed more first-generation students to Kalamazoo College during Orientation in September 2024.

Additionally, a portion of a historic $30 million gift received by the College in 2023 will be used to coordinate campus efforts and focus on a student success model that includes a full-time staff member dedicated to providing support for first-generation students. Currently, 22% of K’s student body identify as first-generation college students, with recent incoming classes ranging from 25–30% first-generation. Understanding how K can best adapt to meet the needs of first-generation students as the population continues to grow at the College and nationally, while providing an environment where they can thrive and achieve their educational goals, has been an on-going strategic goal for the College.

“A Kalamazoo College education provides our graduates with many benefits, skills and experiences that help them lead successful and meaningful lives,” Associate Vice President for Student Development Brian Dietz said. “Ensuring that each one of our students prospers from the full array of these benefits is critical to the work we do as a College, and understanding the unique experiences of our first-generation college students enhances this work. Being a member of the FirstGen Forward Network gives us access to evidence-based practices and resources, and enables us to better identify, understand, and most importantly, remedy the challenges which hinder first-gen students from realizing all they want to achieve at K and beyond.”

Fall 2024

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‘Saturday Night Live’ if it Had No Budget

An Art Form That’s Interesting and Exciting

A Day to Live Graciously

Featured Filmmakers

FINE ARTS DIVISION

DIVISION OF MODERN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

HUMANITIES DIVISION

NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS DIVISION

SOCIAL SCIENCES DIVISION

PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIVISION

COLLEGE AWARDS

HEYL SCHOLARS

POSSE SCHOLARS

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS

ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA

FINE ARTS

MIAA AWARDS

MIAA ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL

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Anahi Barajas ’26

Vanessa Barranco ’25

Camila Benavides ’27

Abigail Gutierrez ’25

Grace Leahey ’25

Micahaia Reynolds ’27

Michael Robertson II ’25

Leslie Santos ’25

Find K’s Equestrian Teamon Social Media

Find K’s Equestrian Team
on Social Media