students

Community Breakfast Celebrates Student-Community Connections

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At the College’s annual Community Breakfast on October 1, Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez highlighted the dynamic relationship between the College and the city of Kalamazoo, focusing on the contributions of K students and the shared successes fostered through local partnerships. The event brought together leaders from nearly 40 organizations, including state and local officials, business professionals and nonprofits, all committed to strengthening these vital community connections.

Gonzalez recapped some of the College’s 2024 achievements and emphasized that Kalamazoo College continues to attract outstanding students from across the United States and around the globe, as well as from the local area.

This fall, the College welcomed 314 first-year students and 24 transfer students from 16 states and 10 countries. Diverse in academic interests and passions, he noted that 31 percent of the first-year class is comprised of domestic students of color, 30 percent are Pell Grant eligible, and 25 percent are first generation college students. Among the College’s 1,335 total students, K counts 90 Kalamazoo Promise Scholars and 28 Heyl scholars; last June the College graduated its largest Promise cohort since joining the list of participating Michigan higher education institutions.

Gonzalez highlighted the many ways that K students become an integral part of the Kalamazoo community, working in local businesses, volunteering in schools and participating in community projects. He cited Professor Amy MacMillan’s Principles of Marketing class, which is working this fall with Greenleaf Hospitality Group to build student awareness and interest in their businesses as a potential employer after graduation. He also cited the nonprofit organization Building Blocks of Kalamazoo, which promotes vibrant neighborhoods through resident-led group projects. Originally founded by Professor Emeritus Kim Cummings, Building Blocks is now led by Kalamazoo College alumna Katie McPherson ’08, who as executive director, continues to foster this partnership through summer internships, volunteer opportunities and collaborations with faculty.

Another highlight of K students’ civic engagement is its partnerships with the City of Kalamazoo. City Planner Christina Anderson ’98 is leading the strategic planning process for Imagine Kalamazoo 2035, kicking off with a community read of the book Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design, an activity supported by the City’s outreach and engagement intern, K senior Emerson Wesselhoff.

“The relationships formed through these community projects are transformational,” Gonzalez said, “not only for our students, but for the entire community.”

He also noted that K is proud to stand alongside Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College “as part of Kalamazoo’s vision to be an education city.”

After Gonzalez’s remarks, senior Alex Nam, a double major in international studies and German, spoke about his experiences at K. The flexible curriculum allowed Nam to explore across disciplines, from political science to fundamentals of acting. During study abroad in Germany, he taught English at a local business school through an internship. His involvement in the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement and the Center for International Programs led him to tutor students at Kalamazoo Central High School through the Refugee Outreach Collective. He also taught German lessons at Woodward elementary school with the German department and most recently, he interned at Read and Write Kalamazoo. He told the audience that while he was born in Louisiana, and has lived in Los Angeles, Houston, and Connecticut, after four years at K, he now considers Kalamazoo his home.

President Jorge G. Gonzalez speaks at the Community Breakfast.
Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez speaks at the Community Breakfast. on Tuesday, October 1.
Alex Nam at the President's Community Breakfast
Alex Nam ’25 spoke at the Community Breakfast on Tuesday, October 1, about his experiences within K’s flexible curriculum.

Of his experiences at K, he said, “I saw first-hand how important it was for higher-ed institutions to be closely connected to the communities that sustain them. From tutoring refugee students, to gaining substantial behind-the-scenes pedagogical experience at a non-profit, the robustness of my teaching resume is a testament to the access that K College ensures for its students and the weight placed upon community engagement and civic help…Although four years at K College may fly by —and as a senior I can testify to this—my teaching experiences have made me feel more connected to this community—my community—than I have anywhere else in my life.”

Driving Success: K, Toyota Support First-Gen Students

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This story was written by Kalamazoo College Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations Maria Newhouse.

Kalamazoo College is taking a major step toward providing equal access for talented, first-generation students from South Texas through a new $250,000 endowed fund created in collaboration with Toyota Motor North America. The College has established the Toyota Success Fund to provide critical financial support to these students, helping remove barriers to pursuing higher education. This fund represents an important collaboration between K and Toyota North America, united in their commitment to opening doors for underrepresented students with significant potential.

Over the past few years, the College has seen a substantial increase in applications and enrollment from students in South Texas, particularly from the IDEA schools in the region, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. However, national and local data has shown that retention rates for first-generation students—who made up 30% of the incoming class at the College in 2023—are lower than that of their peers, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and support systems.

“At Kalamazoo College, we are committed to providing a transformative liberal arts experience that prepares our students to understand, thrive in, and lead our complex world,” said President Jorge G. Gonzalez. “This endowment—and others like it—will ensure that our doors remain open to students from all walks of life, regardless of socioeconomic background.”

The Toyota Success Fund stems from a pilot program begun in 2019. Since inception, the program has supported three cohorts of Toyota Scholars from South Texas. Toyota’s North American headquarters are located in Plano, Texas. The pilot program provided important insights from students about unexpected hurdles to their success.

“The pandemic, which occurred during the pilot program, really highlighted some previously unseen needs,” said Bob Batsell, a Kalamazoo College psychology professor from South Texas who mentored many of the Toyota Scholars. “Unfortunately, the College wasn’t prepared initially. No one was. Watching the pilot program evolve to truly listen and support students was vital to relieving at least some of their financial burdens so they could focus on being students.”

Toyota Scholars have had the opportunity to meet with their mentors and program staff during their time at K and provide insights and feedback. Based on this feedback, the newly established Toyota Success Fund will offer health insurance and book stipends to qualifying, first-generation students from Texas beginning in fall 2025—forms of aid not covered by other financial assistance yet identified as crucial for student success.

“This program has really benefited me,” shared Tracy Galeana, a member of the Class of 2025. “Without it, I don’t even think I’d be in college.” Galeana, an art history major, recently accepted an internship at an art museum in Brownsville, Texas—an internship that her Toyota Scholars scholarship will help fund.

Classmate Caleb Allen, a history major, echoed Galeana’s experience.  “I don’t think I would have been able to afford this school without it,” said Allen, who is also heavily involved in the College’s theatre department. Allen plans to write an original script to present at a theatre festival this fall before staging a reading as part of his Senior Integrated Project (SIP) in 2025.

“The Toyota Scholars program definitely helped eliminate economic stress,” said Luis Ayala ’24, an avid race fan and recent graduate, who joined a local Porsche racing league in Texas this summer. He was recently hired as an ophthalmic technician at a retina clinic in Austin where he will be training to become a retinal angiographer. Of his time at K as a Toyota Scholar he said, “I am grateful for everything the program offered. I really was able to have a smooth college experience thanks to this scholarship program.”

The endowment is part of Kalamazoo College’s broader efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds, which is also a priority for Toyota North America. “The Toyota Success Fund at Kalamazoo College aligns perfectly with our core values,” said D’Juan Randolph, manager, Multicultural Business Alliance and Strategy, TMNA. “We know that an investment in students today is an investment in the diverse leaders and problem-solvers of tomorrow, and we are excited to see what these students accomplish.”

The current scholarship is just the beginning. Leveraging funds raised during the College’s ongoing $190 million comprehensive fundraising effort, the Brighter Light Campaign, Kalamazoo College will continue building on the pilot program’s success to expand support for first-generation students. “The Toyota Success Fund lays a powerful foundation, but our vision extends much further,” Gonzalez said. “We will continue to build an increasingly robust support system so that a Kalamazoo College education is accessible to any qualified student who desires this transformative experience, regardless of financial means.”

Toyota Scholars Year End Dinner 2023
Kalamazoo College’s Toyota Scholars celebrated a year-end dinner in 2023 with Bob Batsell, a Kalamazoo College psychology professor from South Texas who mentored many of the scholars.
Toyota Scholars visit the Stryker corporation
Kalamazoo College’s Toyota Scholars toured the Stryker Corporation in 2023.
Angela Hernandez at Commencement
Angela Hernandez ’23 (left) participates in Commencement ceremonies in 2023.

Grant Seeds Petroleum Byproduct Research at K

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A new grant awarded to a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry will provide seed money for new research and support Kalamazoo College students performing lab work over the next two years.

Roger F. and Harriet G. Varney Assistant Professor of Chemistry Daniela Arias-Rotondo, affectionately known to her students as Dr. DAR, has earned an American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund award. The honor bestows $50,000 to her work while backing her lab’s upcoming research regarding petroleum byproducts.

Arias-Rotondo’s lab traditionally develops molecules that absorb energy from light while transforming that energy into electricity. The grant will allow her and her students to take molecules they have designed to act as catalysts and unlock chemical transformations through a process called photoredox catalysis. In this case, those transformations involve petroleum byproducts and how they might be used.

“When you extract petroleum, you get crude oil, and crude oil gets refined to make things like diesel fuel and the gasoline that you put in your car,” Arias-Rotondo said. “The petroleum byproducts that come with it are compounds that we cannot use in our cars or to generate electricity. But if we can turn those molecules into plastics, pesticides or medicines, for example, we would add value to the byproducts. It’s a highly desirable research avenue because we can potentially turn this waste into something we can use.”

Roger F. and Harriet G. Varney Assistant Professor of Chemistry Daniela Arias-Rotondo, pictured with her lab students this summer, has earned an American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund award. The honor bestows $50,000 to her work while backing her lab’s upcoming research regarding petroleum byproducts for the next two years.

The grant requires that at least 40% of the funds be used to support students. Some students currently working in Arias-Rotondo’s lab note how grateful they are, not only to work alongside her, but to be paid for their efforts thanks to similar grants. Will Tocco ’26, for example, said that being able to do summer lab work prepares him for classes and labs during the academic year and can set him apart on grad school applications when institutions look for research experience.

“The grants that Dr. DAR has received in the past have made it possible to be here this summer,” Tocco said. “They paid for me to attend the national American Chemical Society Conference this last spring and present a poster there. They have sponsored my research and all of the expenses that go along with that. They’re the reason why I’m able to be do this work.”

Unayza Anika ’26 added that the lab work reflects the kind of experience students can expect at K.

“It’s obviously rigorous, and it’s teaching me so much more than what I would have learned in classrooms,” Anika said. “It also involves a lot more personal attention that I can get from a faculty member who has a Ph.D. I’ve personally grown a lot.”

“What I really appreciate about this grant is how much of a focus there is on supporting students,” Arias-Rotondo said. “It’s going to help us give students the chance to be in the lab and not have to decide between that and affording something else. The grant helps them do exciting research, and they will learn a lot that’s not just about chemistry. It will also teach them how to conduct themselves in a lab, how to manage their time and how to think like scientists. That’s going to be super important for the future.”

Trout Unlimited Communication Director to Speak at Convocation

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Nicholas Gann ’12 will deliver the keynote at Kalamazoo College’s 2024 Convocation on Thursday, September 12, at 3 p.m. on the Quad.

Throughout jobs as wide-ranging as substitute teacher in Detroit, laborer at a maraschino cherry manufacturing facility, political researcher, roofer, public relations, and tourism manager, and in environments as different as the forests of northern Michigan, the big sky of Montana, the hustle and bustle of Chicago, and the wild west of Wyoming, Gann has recognized how his liberal arts education at K prepared him by developing an open mind, critical thinking skills, and a deep curiosity.

Gann graduated from K with a B.A. in political science and has worked in Montana with Project Vote Smart, a non-partisan candidate research nonprofit; in Chicago with ASGK Public Strategies (later Kivvit, now Avoq), including work on projects for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Fortune 500 companies; and as strategic partnerships manager for the Wyoming Office of Tourism, where he  organized more than a dozen state and federal agencies to develop a shared responsible recreation campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic, and served as part of the larger agency efforts led by the executive director to help Wyoming weather the economic and tourism effects better than many other states.

Since 2022, Gann has worked as a communications director for Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit dedicated to conservation of freshwater streams, rivers and associated habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species and people. The organization’s mission is “to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon.”

Convocation marks the start of the academic year and formally welcomes the matriculating class of 2028 into the Kalamazoo College community. President Jorge G. Gonzalez, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students J. Malcolm Smith, Provost Danette Ifert Johnson, Director of Admission Shannon Milan, Chaplain Elizabeth Candido, the Convocation speaker, faculty, staff and President’s Student Ambassadors will welcome students and their families. All students, families, faculty and staff are invited to attend in person or via livestream.

Trout Unlimited Communication Director Nichols Gann
Nicholas Gann hikes in the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, near Centennial, Wyoming, October 15, 2021. Gann ’12 will deliver the keynote at Convocation on Thursday, September 12, at 3 p.m. on the Quad. Photo by David Lienemann.

Orientation Begins September 11 with Move-In Day

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As much as we love summer, the coming of fall brings an anticipation of new beginnings at Kalamazoo College starting with orientation. Events begin with move-in day on Wednesday, September 11, and run throughout the week with the following highlights as you arrive on your first day. 

Move in 

Resident Assistants and First-Year Experience (FYE) mentors will welcome new students at each residence hall from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Arriving students should collect their orientation folder from the FYE mentors, then see the Residential Life staff to get their student ID and room key before getting settled. Students must finish their health verifications before checking in. Students with incomplete requirements will be guided to the Health Center at the Hicks Student Center. Tip: The morning traditionally is busy, so families are encouraged to arrive later to ensure faster processes.  

Find information 

Stop by the atrium at the Hicks Student Center from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. for schedules, maps, directions, dining recommendations and answers to your questions. The Kalamazoo College Bookstore, in the lower level of Hicks, will be open during that time and offer 20 percent off K imprinted items. If you have questions about connecting to K’s network, Information Services staff will be available in the Harmon, Hoben and Trowbridge main lounges to answer questions from 1–4 p.m. 

Female student arranges her residence hall room during move-in day of orientation
Orientation will begin Wednesday, September 11, with move-in day.

Build community 

First-year students are required to attend three sessions Wednesday evening. First, make your way to Dalton Theatre at Light Fine Arts with your orientation folder by 7 p.m. for the Hornet Student Welcome. The College’s president, dean of students, provost, first-year class dean, college chaplain, FYE mentors and the Office of Student Activities will welcome you to campus. 

Next, meet your seminar group and FYE mentors at 8 p.m. outside Light Fine Arts for introductions. Learn more about the orientation schedule for the rest of the week and get answers to your questions. 

Then, meet with resident assistants and your fellow residents at 9 p.m. to talk about community expectations, living in residence halls, and college policies, and get to know your new neighbors. Trowbridge residents will meet in Stetson Chapel, Hoben residents in the Hoben lounge and Harmon residents in their building’s main lounge. After, take some time to get your room set up, relax and get ready for a full day on Thursday. 

But wait … there’s more! 

Athletic practices for fall sports—including football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, golf, and men’s and women’s cross country—have already begun and will continue through orientation week. Feel free to attend at various locations. A program for first-generation students and their families will also be held on Wednesday. Check your K email for an invitation and information. 

We’ll keep you busy the rest of the week with social opportunities, advising appointments, shared first-year experiences and discussions, and information on a variety of important topics to help you start your first year at K. Expect to learn a lot and have fun. For more information on the orientation schedule and move-in day, visit the First-Year Experience website. 

Fulbright Selects Four Recent Grads for U.S. Student Program

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Four members of Kalamazoo College’s class of 2024 have been selected for prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants for the 2024-25 academic year. 

Julia Holt, of Owatonna, Minnesota; Teresa Lucas, of Mattawan, Michigan; Ally Noel, of Midland, Michigan; and Danielle Treyger, of West Bloomfield, Michigan; are among the students, artists and young professionals who will represent the U.S. in about 140 countries for one academic year. Chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential, these students and recent alumni will participate in the English Teaching Assistant (ETA) program, which places grantees in primary and secondary schools or universities overseas to supplement local English language instruction and to provide a native speaker presence in the classrooms. 

Since its inception in 1946, Fulbright has provided more than 400,000 participants with opportunities to exchange ideas and contribute to solutions to shared international concerns. The program is funded by an annual appropriation from Congress to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and managed through the U.S. Department of State. 

For the last five consecutive years, K has been named a Top Producing Institution for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Here’s what K’s representatives plan to do abroad.

Julia Holt

Holt was a studio art major and Chinese minor who studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea, in her time at K. Beginning in August, she will teach English in Taiwan for her Fulbright award.

“Since I had such a great experience studying abroad as an undergraduate, I wanted to travel again and continue making new cross-cultural conversation,” Holt said. “I also wanted to apply the Chinese language skills I learned at K. I am so excited to be an ETA in Taiwan because I hope to utilize not only my Mandarin, but also my artistic and creative skills while teaching. I’m curious to learn how art and language work together as I assist in the classroom. In the future, I can see myself building on my Fulbright with my aspiring career goal of working in exhibit or scenic design, nurturing visual storytelling and intercultural education.”

Portrait of Fulbright recipient Julia Holt
Julia Holt ’24

Teresa Lucas

Lucas, who was a German and psychology double major at K, will spend 10 months in Waltrop, Germany. She had spent six months on study abroad in Erlangen, Germany, where she completed an Integrative Cultural Research Project (ICRP) at a middle school where she fell in love with teaching.

“With the long-term goal of working in education, I hope to gain further knowledge on teaching strategies in international language classrooms,” Lucas said. “I also look forward to continuing to improve my German language skills and exploring the parts of the country I have not yet seen.”

Portrait of Fulbright recipient Teresa Lucas
Teresa Lucas ’24

Ally Noel

Noel was a double major in anthropology/sociology and English at K. She will travel to Savannakhet, Laos, for 11 months to fulfill her Fulbright service at Savannakhet High School.

Noel decided not to study abroad as an undergrad, opting instead to work as a substitute teacher through Kalamazoo Public Schools and as a youth development coach in an afterschool program through Communities in Schools. Fulbright, however, represents an opportunity to learn abroad about global education systems, which are constantly growing, changing and adapting.

“In order to be the teacher that I strive to be one day—one who is receptive, sensitive and present inside and outside the classroom—I knew pursuing an immersive international experience as an ETA was necessary,” Noel said. “My goals while abroad are to expand my understanding of inclusive and equitable pedagogical approaches in an international context while participating and engaging in meaningful cultural exchange.”

Portrait of Fulbright recipient Ally Noel
Ally Noel ’24

Danielle Treyger

Treyger was a business and Spanish double major at K. She studied abroad in Cáceres, Spain, where she tutored children of all ages in English. She also volunteered at a local elementary school and at a nonprofit organization where she taught refugees to speak English. For about 10 months, Treyger will return to Spain through Fulbright to build relationships with students and teachers in a multilingual setting and make a difference in the community. 

“I developed a passion for teaching and working in a multilingual setting in Spain,” Treyger said. “After that, I just knew that my future was there. I felt like it was the most practical next step for me, as I would like to pursue a career that involves teaching, languages, traveling and immersing myself in different cultures. I feel very grateful and lucky to have received this prestigious opportunity.”

Portrait of Fulbright recipient Danielle Treyger
Danielle Treyger ’24

Kalamazoo College Unveils Spring 2024 Dean’s List

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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 Spring 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 Spring 2024 Dean’s List upon receipt of their final grades.

Dean’s List recognition is posted on students’ transcripts. Kudos to the entire group for Spring 2024.

Image of students walking near Trowbridge Hall for Spring 2024 Dean's List
Congratulations to the students who qualified for the Spring 2024 Dean’s List at Kalamazoo College.

Spring 2024

A

Callie Abair
Shannon Abbott
Solange Aboni
Yaz Abu-Zaid
Aliyah Adams
Beren Akpinar
Maya Alkema
Adnan Alousi
Mahmoud Alsafadi
Altanshagai Altankhuu
Fanny Alvarado
Luke Alvarado
Emiliano Alvarado Rescala
Zahra Amini
Paige Anderson
Eleanor Andrews
Unayza Anika
Michael Ankley
Connor Anspach
Madison Anspach
Ava Apolo
Eva Applebaum
Maya Arau
Kaelyn Arlington
Lora Armstrong
Emily Auchter
Luis Ayala Pena
James Azim

B

Olivia Bagwell
Guenevere Baierle
Annalise Bailey
Lindsey Baker
Chloe Baker
Bryce Balabuch
Poppy Balkema
Carter Bandemer
Zoie Banger
Evan Barker
Ethan Barnes
Brianna Barnes
Lena Barrett
Gabriella Barry
Joseph Basil
Nathan Bauer
Saniyah Bedell
Annabel Bee
Samantha Bekolay
Curtis Bell
Conner Bell
Camila Benavides
Carolyn Bennett
Cassandra Bennett
Aubrey Benson
Jane Bentley
Thomas Bentley
Anthony Berkimer
Alexandrea Bernal
Eleanor Bernas
Collin Bertch
Jonah Beurkens
Maryam Rafiah Beverly
Willow Bigham
Thalia Bills
Josephine Bischoff
Ella Black
Katherine Black
Henry Black
Douglas Blackwood
Lizbeth Blas-Rangel
Mairin Boshoven
Eleni Bougioukou
Nathan Bouvard
Adelaide Bowen
Jaylen Bowles-Swain
Holly Bowling
Ella Boyea
Yvette Boyse-Peacor
Jay Breck
Chloe Briggs
Jacquelyn Brines
Avery Brockington
Eamon Bronson
Chloe Bryant
Anna Budnick
Christopher Bullard
John Bungart
Victoria Burnham
Ian Burr
Benjamin Buyck

C

Amaia Cadenas
Isaiah Calderon
Bailey Callaway
Eleanor Campion
Grace Cancro
Raymond Cargill
Chloe Carlson
Eveaunce Castle
Luis Castro-Limon
Clare Wren Catallo-Werner
Emma Caulkins
Christopher Cayton
Abigail Caza
Daniel Celedon
Alexandra Chafetz
Josetta Checkett
Trustin Christopher
Noah Chun
Eva Clancy
Thomas Clark
Alisha Clark
Maya Clarren
Lilly Cleland
Kai Clingenpeel
Mai Elise Code
Gabriel Coleman
Samuel Coleman
Logan Coller
Quinn Collins
Rowan Cook
Jordan Cook
Kyle Cooper
Nicklaus Coseo
Courtney Cotter
Cate Cotter
Holden Coulter
Gavin Crawley
Mia Crites
Lilian Crowder Smith
Gwendolyn Crowder Smith
Emma Curcuru

D

James Dailey
Emily Dalecki
Jessica Dant
Jacob Davis
Jasmine Davis
Asha Dawson
Tali Deaner
Tara Dean-Hall
Lillian Deer
Enrique Delzer
Ethan DeNeen
Lina Denney
Maansi Deswal
Devi DeYoung
Alexander Di Dio
Liam Diaz
Melissa Diaz Cabrera
Olivia DiGiulio
Michaela Dillbeck
Taylor Dinda-Albright
Alyssa Dorner
Rorie Dougherty
Jordan Doyle
Charles Doyle
Jack Duggins
Isaac Duncan

E

Matthew Edwards
Sally Eggleston
Jairo Eguia
Abigail Eilertson
Rebecca Elias
Evelyn Ellerbrock
Elise Elliot
Sara English
Dilynn Everitt
Sam Ewald
Caleb Ewald

F

Claire Farhi
Madalyn Farrey
Andreas Fathalla
Blake Filkins
Bridget Finco
Sara Finks
Morgan Fischer
Julia Fitzgerald
Mabel Fitzpatrick
Sofia Fleming
Jordan Flink
Ella Flourry
Stephen Flynn
Robyn Foley
Ross Fooy
Kirsten Formell
Parker Foster
Andre Fouque
Daniel Foura
Hillary Fox
Kinga Fraczkiewicz
Caroline Francis
Landrie Fridsma

G

Tracy Galeana
Lucy Gallagher
Aliza Garcia
Katie Garcia
Maria Garcia
Brynna Garden
Grey Gardner
Ingrid Gardner
Roberta Gatti
Lyrica Gee
William Geiger
Grace Getachew
Maira Ghaffar
Farah Ghazal
Griffin Gheen
Abigail Gilmore
Vrinda Girdhar
Laura Goia
Gabriela Gomez
Lukas Graff
Cecilia Gray
Donovan Greene
Natalie Greene
Kaitlyn Grice
Molly Gross
Cassandra Grotelueschen
Madyson Groth
Fiona Guikema-Bode
Kendra Guitar
Oliver Gutierrez

H

Marissa Haas
Celina Haase
Aiden Habboub
Blu Haney
Alison Hankins
Geneva Hannibal
Luke Hanson
Madeline Hanulcik
Eleanor Harris
Sophie Hartl
James Hauke
Isabelle Hawkes
Willow Hayner
Jacob Hazlewood
Zachary Heikka
Davis Henderson
Connor Henney
Megan Herbst
Litzy Hernandez
Sophia Herold
Gerardo Herrera-Sanchez
Ella Heystek
Sierra Hieshetter
Ashlen Hill
Hadley Hilner
Bijou Hoehle
Jacob Hoffman
Ruby Hogan
Garrick Hohm
Annika Hokanson
Madeline Hollander
Ronin Honda
Tyler Horky
Joseph Horsfield
Molly Horton
Charles Horvath
Sharon Huang
Jakob Hubert
Ethan Huebsch
Alek Hultberg
Michael Hume
Megan Hybels
Kennedy Hynde

I

Emiliano Ibarra
Carson Ihrke
Carolyn Ingram
Daniel Isacksen

J

Gloria Jackson
Colton Jacobs
Teddy Jacobson
Rex Jasper
Ryleigh Jaworski
Morgan Jenkins
Deepa Jha
Amelia Johnson
Halley Johnson
Anne Catherine Johnson
Cloe Johnson
Johe Newton Johnson
Zane Jones

K

Jessica Kaplan
Judah Karesh
Thomas Kartes
Maria Kasperek
Isabelle Kastel
Seth Keana
Lillian Kehoe
Ella Kelly
Emilia Kelly
Blake Kelsey
Alyson Kemery
Roze Kerr
Harriet Khamisi
Arman Khan
Anum Khan
Hyunwoo Kim
Vivian Kim
Joshua Kim
Dong Eun Kim
Si Yun Kimball
Anwen King
Rylie Kipfmueller
Caleb Kipnis
Kendyl Kirshman
Claire Kischer
Noah Kleiner
Steven Kloosterman
Maxine Koos
Cole Koryto
Katya Koublitsky
Emma Kovacevic
Julia Kozal
Katherine Kraemer
Christian Kraft
Jason Krawczyk
Jack Kreckman
Molly Kreibich
Nikolas Krupka
Mara Krupka
Annabelle Krygier
Clayton Kryszak
Kieya Kubert-Davis
Celia Kuch
Laryn Kuchta

L

Margaret LaFramboise
Nicholas LaFramboise
Daikan Lale
Rylee Lambert
Olivia Laser
Braeden Lavis
Madeleine Lawson
Grace Leahey
Huin Lee
Alejandra Lemus
Sydney Lenzini
Nico Lipton
Sydney Lis
Alex Lloyd
Kelsey Logsdon
Ava Loncharte
Alondra Lopez
Adele Loubieres
Grace Lounds
Madeline Lovins
Teresa Lucas
Lee Lum
Jacob Lynett

M

Ellie MacE
Lauren MacKersie
Samantha Major
Natalie Maki
Andrew Mallon
Lesly Mares-Castro
Ana Marín Vintimilla
Ariadne Markou
Isabel Martin
Molly Martinez
Joaquin Martinez
Stephanie Martinez
Natalie Martinez
Isabelle Mason
Hollis Masterson
Virginia Matta
Lillian Mattern
Matthew Matuza
Zachary Maurice
Benjamin Maurice
Cedric May
Claire McCall
Megan McGarry
Jacob McKinney
Kira McManus
Abbigail McMillian
Amy McNutt
Sophia Merchant
Maximus Mercurio
Rachel Meston
Estelle Metz
Allison Meyers
Jack Miller
Brittany Miller
Ella Miller
Bayley Millerov
Ameera Mirza
Elana Mitchell
Caleb Mitchell-Ward
Brenden Moat
Lina Moghrabi
Brooklyn Mohr
Rachel Molho
Jacques Monchamp
Dylan Montross
Mackenzie Moore
Mariah Moore
Caleb Moore
Stephanie Moranko
Martin Morison
Emma Morrison
Myotis Morton
Maren Mosher
Madeline Moss
Lorelei Moxon
Elliot Mrak
Mary Ellen Muenzenmaier
Elizabeth Muenzenmaier
Claire Mullins
Angeles Munoz Horta
Ryan Muschler
Ella Myers
Claire Myrand

N

Elias Nagel-Bennett
Alex Nam
Nailia Narynbek Kyzy
Blagoja Naskovski
Matthew Nelson
Chloe Nelund
Elizabeth Nestle
Robert Newland
Emma Newlove
Nguyen Nguyen
Kevin Nguyen
Yen Giang Nguyen
Theodore Niemann
Dustin Noble
Joanna Nonato
Malin Nordmoe

O

Ileana Oeschger
Gabriel Olivier
Sasha Olsen
Tyler Omness
Reece Omodio
Kevin Oneill
B Osborne
Aryka Ostroski

P

Chelsea Paddock
Maren Palmer
Brennan Pannucci
Astrid Parker
Hannah Parsons
Mia Pascuzzi
Juniper Pasternak
Eric Paternoster
Zachary Payment
Audrey Pegouske
Mia Pellegrini
Alex Pepin
Taina Perez
Marcos Perez
Adriana Perez Herrero
Margaret Perry
Addison Peter
Noah Peters
Paige Peterson
Anna Phyo
Sydney Pickell
Mia Pierce
Isabella Pimentel
Madison Pisano
William Plesscher
Alex Plesscher
Megan Ploucha
Elaine Pollard
Evan Pollens-Voigt
Payton Pomeroy
Madelyn Portenga
Grayson Pratt
Elena Pulliam
Bea Putman
Noah Pyle

Q

Suha Qashou
Alex Quesada
Matthew Quirk

R

Leah Ramirez
Lafern Ramon
Jazmin Ramos
Sadye Rasmussen
Spencer Rasmussen
Liam Regan
Isabel Reyes
Keegan Reynolds
Micahaia Reynolds
Lissette Reynoso
Sheldon Riley
Emory Roberts
Michael Robertson
Lois Robinson
Narelle Robles
Jocelyn Rodriguez
Jackie Rodriguez
Olivia Roncone
Brigid Roth
Claire Rousseau
Eli Routt
Sofia Rowland
Alexander Rueff
Luisa Ruiz
Angel Ruiz
Nathaniel Rulich

S

Amelie Sack
Zenaida Sackett
Oliver Sajan
Richard Sakurai-Kearns
Greta Salamun
Robert Samples
Abigail Samson
Ryan Sanborn
Leslie Santos
Owen Schihl
Olivia Schleede
Sophia Schlotterer
Vivian Schmidt
Annika Schnell
Eden Schnurstein
Harper Schrader
Hannah Schurman
Ava Schwachter
Calia Scivally
Amalia Scorsone
Vivian Segovia-Perez
Alison Settles
Brendon Shaffer
Max Shawhan
Joseph Shumunov
Clara Siefke
Mo Silcott
Xavier Silva
Kiersten Sjogren
Colby Skinner
Meganne Skoug
Dawson Skupin
Ping Smith
Owen Smith
Jillian Smith
Maja Smith
Grace Snyder
Anoushka Soares
Allison Sokacz
Ella Spooner
Sophia Sprick
Florian Stackow
Marlee Standke
David Stechow
Joseph Stein
Taylor Stephens
Eleanor Stevenson
Molly Stevison
Meredith Steward
Jacquelyn Stoddard
Elena Stolberg
Liliana Stout
Helen Stoy
Zachary Strauss
Donovan Streeter
Kristian Strljic
Eller Studinger
Abbygale Stump
Keegan Sweeney
Brandon Sysol

T

Chau Ta
Madison Talarico
Jeremy Tarn
Claire Taylor
Jovanay Taylor
Olivia Tessin
William Thomas
Minh Thu Le
Jayden Thurmond-Oliver
Sandra Tienda-Lopez
Emily Tiihonen
Rojina Timsina
William Tocco
Lily Toohey
Simon Topf
Derik Torres
Phoebe Tozer
Samuel Tremaglio
Frances Trimble
Maria Tripodis
Joshua Troxler
May Tun
Dean Turpin

U

Zachary Ufkes
Hannah Ulanoski
Gabrielle Unger-Branson
Tristan Uphoff

V

Tony Vaisanen
Anthony Valade
Samantha Vande Pol
Lucy Vandemark
Mitchel VanGalder
Cate VanSchaik
Francesca Ventura
Madison Vrba

W

Kaytin Waddell
Joseph Wade
Ava Wagle
Ipsa Wagle
Megan Walczak
Andre Walker
Ivy Walker
Audrey Walker
Lucinda Wallis
Natalie Ward
Annslee Ware
Ryan Warezak
McKenna Wasmer
Jadon Weber
Riley Weber
Emmeline Wendel
Emerson Wesselhoff
Charles Wester
Benjamin Whitsett
Jay Wholihan
Alicia Wilgoren
Carson Williams
Hannah Willit
Jackson Willits
Zoe Wilson
Laurel Wolfe
Alexa Wonacott
Reagan Woods
Maximilian Wright
Emma Wrobleski

Y

Devin Yankee
Hailey Yoder

Z

Sofia Zeller
Ariana Zito
Rebecca Zoetewey
Margaret Zorn
Lee Zwart

Phi Beta Kappa Welcomes New K Inductees

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2024 Phi Beta Kappa inductees
Phi Beta Kappa inductees

Kalamazoo College’s Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa welcomed 38 new members on June 12, 2024, recognizing their exceptional scholastic achievements across a wide range of disciplines.

Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, boasting 17 U.S. Presidents, 42 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and more than 150 Nobel Laureates among their ranks. The society’s mission is “to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, to recognize academic excellence, and to foster freedom of thought and expression.” The Delta of Michigan chapter was founded in 1958.

Acceptance into Phi Beta Kappa is considered one of the highest academic honors a student can receive. The society is known for its rigorous selection process that evaluates students’ achievements across the arts, natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. 

As these talented seniors embark on the next chapter of their educational and professional journeys, their Phi Beta Kappa membership will serve as a symbol of their exceptional accomplishments and dedication to the pursuit of knowledge. 

Please join us in congratulating the following students: 

  • Kelley Akerley of Hancock, New Hampshire; biochemistry and German majors
  • Shahriar Akhavan Tafti of Tehran, Iran; computer science major, minors in psychology and German, neuroscience concentration
  • Liz Ballinger of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan; psychology and French majors, studio art minor
  • Jenna Beach of Vicksburg, Michigan; biochemistry major, psychology minor
  • Jonah Beurkens of Byron Center, Michigan; physics and computer science/math majors
  • Katherine Black of Grass Lake, Michigan; biology major, Spanish minor, neuroscience concentration
  • Madeleine Coffman of Portage, Michigan; biochemistry major, psychology minor
  • Ryan Drew of Niles, Michigan; Women, Gender and Sexuality major, psychology minor
  • Andreas Fathalla of Troy, Michigan; business major, Chinese minor
  • Morgan Fischer of St. Michael, Minnesota; psychology and Spanish majors
  • Nikhil Gandikota of Cary, North Carolina; economics major
  • Aliza Garcia of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Spanish, German and computer science majors
  • Sophie Haas of Traverse City, Michigan; biology major, psychology minor, community and global health and neuroscience concentrations
  • Emma Hahn of Farmington, Michigan; economics major
  • Emily Haigh of Kalamazoo, Michigan; biology and computer science majors, mathematics minor
  • Lukas Hultberg of Kalamazoo, Michigan; economics and mathematics majors
  • Madeline Hurley of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; biochemistry major
  • Ella Kelly of Grand Rapids, Michigan; chemistry and French majors, mathematics minor
  • Mahum Khan of Kalamazoo, Michigan; biology major, community and global health concentration
  • Rhys Koellmann of Midland, Michigan; biochemistry major, anthropology and sociology minor, and biological physics concentration
  • Teresa Lucas of Mattawan, Michigan; German and psychology majors
  • Lina Moghrabi of Kalamazoo, Michigan; philosophy and psychology majors
  • Anna Murphy of Royal Oak, Michigan; biology major, psychology minor
  • Blagoja Naskovski of Skopje, North Macedonia; quantitative economics major
  • Matthew Nelson of Kalamazoo, Michigan; mathematics and physics majors
  • Elizabeth Nestle of St. Joseph, Michigan; psychology major, Chinese minor
  • Sydney Pickell of Thompsonville, Michigan; business major, psychology minor
  • Megan Ploucha of Commerce Township, Michigan; biochemistry and Spanish majors
  • Roman Ramos of San Diego, California; biochemistry major
  • Hannah Schurman of Rochester Hills, Michigan; biology major, studio art minor
  • Steven Shelton of South Lyon, Michigan; chemistry major
  • Xavier Silva of Portage, Michigan; mathematics and computer science majors
  • Allison Sokacz of Macomb, Michigan; biology major, Spanish minor
  • Camran Stack of Ithaca, Michigan; political science and German majors
  • Danielle Treyger of West Bloomfield, Michigan; business and Spanish majors
  • Maria Tripodis of Cleveland, Ohio; studio art major, art and psychology minors
  • Ifeoma Uwaje of Saginaw, Michigan; biochemistry major
  • Jordyn Wilson of Kalamazoo, Michigan; biochemistry major
2024 Phi Beta Kappa inductees
2024 Phi Beta Kappa inductees
Inductions in the Olmsted Room
2024 Phi Beta Kappa inductees
Inductions in the Olmsted Room
Inductions in the Olmsted Room

Japanese Program Celebrates Student Success

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Spring 2024 advanced intermediate Japanese class
All of the students from the spring 2024 advanced intermediate Japanese language class at Kalamazoo College received certificates noting their functional abilities in Japanese from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Pictured are Zoe Klowden ’25 (front row, from left) Olivia Wolfe ’24, Joshua Kim ’25 and Shannon Abbott ’24. In the back row (from left) are Associate Professor Noriko Sugimori, Assistant Professor Brian White, Noah Chukwuma ’25, Victor Guerra Lopez ’24, Tristan Uphoff ’25 and Richard Sakurai-Kearns ’24.
Three students and two professors attend the Japanese Speech Contest in Ann Arbor
Christopher Van Alstine ’24 participated in the Michigan Japanese Speech Contest in Ann Arbor in February. Pictured from left are Shannon Abbott ’24, Assistant Professor of Japanese Brian White, Van Alstine, Associate Professor of Japanese Noriko Sugimori and Zoe Klowden ’25.

The Department of East Asian Studies is celebrating two significant achievements by its students in the 2023–24 academic year. 

First, the entire advanced intermediate Japanese language class, led by Kalamazoo College Associate Professor of Japanese Noriko Sugimori, was certified at the Functional Level—with the Global Seal of Biliteracy in English and Japanese—by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. 

The certification for Tyler Houle ’25, Zoe Klowden ’25, Olivia Wolfe ’24, Joshua Kim ’25, Shannon Abbott ’24, Noah Chukwuma ’25, Victor Guerra Lopez ’24, Tristan Uphoff ’25 and Richard Sakurai-Kearns ’24 provides a confirmation of their ability to speak, write, read and listen in real-world situations in a spontaneous and non-rehearsed context. 

Houle, who plays football at K, achieved his certification before becoming the first student from K to participate in the Nagasaki, Japan, study abroad program this spring. Houle is eager to share his pioneering experiences as the Japanese department student advisor this fall. 

Also, Christopher Van Alstine ’24 participated in the Michigan Japanese Speech Contest in Ann Arbor in February, where he presented an essay detailing the heartwarming friendship he developed with the owner of a ramen restaurant where he worked as a part-timer during his study abroad in Kyoto. 

The prestigious contest, organized by Detroit’s Consulate General of Japan, features higher-education students from around the state who present their own work in front of three judges and an audience. 

“I am happy that our students were able to enjoy the fruits of their labor and can now display their Japanese qualifications to future employers,” Sugimori said. 

Congratulations to all the students for their impressive achievements. 

Football player Tyler Houle ’25 in a Kalamazoo College uniform
Tyler Houle ’25 was among the advanced intermediate students who received certification for his abilities with the Japanese language. Later, he became the first student from K to participate in the Nagasaki, Japan, study abroad program.