students

A “Life Changing” Summer in Haiti

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Roxann Lawrence and Amy Jimenez with a young patient in Haiti
Roxann Lawrence (left) and Amy Jimenez (right) with a young patient in Haiti.

Kalamazoo College juniors Roxann Taneisha Lawrence and Amy Jimenez recently had what Roxann calls “a life changing experience,” courtesy of the College’s Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) and Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership (ACSJL). They spent much of their summer interning at Grace Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

“Through the CCPD, ACSJL, and Grace Hospital, Amy and I were able to have one of the most rewarding summers of our lives,” said Roxann. “We were delighted to see social justice working through an international perspective.”

Here is Roxann’s account of their summer internship.

Grace Children’s Hospital is a flagship ministry of International Child Care serving children diagnosed with such things as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malnutrition. With an unparalleled dedication to changing the circumstances of the poor through preventative and curative health care, GCH/ICC is greatly appreciated for their commitment to these children and their families throughout Port-au-Prince and neighboring cities.

We were given the opportunity to work in an organization with a myriad of integrated community projects and chose to work in different departments. Bearing in mind the communication barriers, we worked with the Community Inclusion/Rehabilitation Program, human resources and public relations.

Being involved in the Community Inclusion Program was a life changing experience. We saw children and their families displaced after the earthquake in January 2010 and living in tent cities. Many of them had mental and physical disabilities. After undergoing a two-day intensive training with some physical therapists from the United States and orienting ourselves about the program and the communities it serves, we looked forward to going out in the community.

Despite the level of poverty that stared us in the face when we entered the tent cities, smiling faces greeted us in Haitian Creole “Bonjou” (Good Morning) or “Bonswa” (Good Evening), often by children playing mab (marbles). We walked passed dozens of USAID gray-colored tents packed with families and toddlers pointing at us and repeating “Blan, blan, blan!” We later learned that “blan” was Haitian Creole for foreigner. On many occasions, we were jumping from rock to rock to avoid stepping in the sewage and garbage that littered the slumped tent cities.

We conducted a number of tests with the children to see how much they have improved since their last check-up and also visited each patient once per week. It was self-fulfilling and empowering to see children responding to treatment in a positive light. Usually treated as outsiders because of superstitious beliefs in Haitian folklore, the children and their families were set on fitting in.

The people living in the tent cities were resilient and creative, despite the dilapidated housing, land and air polluted environment that surrounded them daily. On some of our visits with the nurses to the mobile clinics, we witnessed creativity at its best. With the lack of monetary resources, ICC/GCH established mobile clinics in different tent cities to accommodate families that are unable to come to the hospital. Instead, the hospital goes to them. These mobile clinics are used mainly to vaccinate and weigh babies, and educate community members about birth control methods, nutrition and sanitation. Without a standard scale to weigh the babies, community members made crème-colored cloth bags and the babies were put in them and placed on a scale that hung to a tarpaulin.

Amy and I were given the opportunity to give tours to other teams. Usually, these were North American religious-based groups who have had some form of relationship with the organization. From time to time, there were one or two persons who were returning to Haiti, but majority of the team members were new. A typical tour would consist of taking them to different departments at GCH/ICC and explaining to them the services that they provide to the community.

From public relations, we moved on to human resources, where we spent most of our time doing administrative work, from filing and retrieving information and documents to managing and string files. Something that we are really proud of was the pre-orientation package that we were asked to prepare for North American groups who were coming into Haiti. After spending countless of hours reading, observing and interacting, we made a pre-orientation packet that will now be given to all groups who are coming to Haiti through ICC.

Without a doubt, this has been the best summer of my life. It was a challenging, but nonetheless great learning experience. Other than helping me to see social justice working through an international perspective, it reinforced the importance of community participatory service to community development and change. What I have experienced working with ICC/GCH will continue to have a positive impact on me as I passionately pursue a life dedicated to serving and working with marginalized groups. I’ve thought about what I have learned here at Kalamazoo College, and it was fascinating to translate theory into actual practice. At that time, I became even more grateful for my K experience. We would recommend every K student to apply for this internship. This was a summer well spent.

Both of us are extremely thankful to CCPD and the ACSJL for providing us with this great opportunity to learn and grow as social justice leaders of today and tomorrow.

Roxann Taneisha Lawrence ’14 majors in Anthropology and Sociology with a concentration in Public Policy and Urban Affairs. From Westmoreland, Jamaica, she is currently on study abroad in Strasbourg, France. Amy Jimenez ’14 also majors in Anthropology and Sociology, with a second major in Theatre Arts. Originally from Compton, California, she is currently on study abroad in Varanasi, India. During her sophomore year, Amy was a Civic Engagement Scholar through the College’s Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Institute for Service Learning working at El Sol, a bilingual elementary school in Kalamazoo.

K Connection Spans 30 Years in Internship

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Cassandra Fraser and Michael Paule-CarresCassandra Fraser, Class of 1984, is a chemistry professor at the University of Virginia. This summer she hosted Michael Paule-Carres, Class of 2014, in her laboratory, where he did research for his Senior Individualized Project. “It was kind of scary to contemplate that 30 year gap!” wrote Fraser, who had a good antidote for any mild “gap fear.” The formula included the excellence of the lab work Paule-Carres conducted. “He synthesized and characterized a luminescent polymer that will be used to make oxygen nanosensors for wound diagnostics, tumor hypoxia imaging, and other medical uses,” Fraser explained. And for extra measure, a few funny photos were added. “We took some research group pictures, including some of Mike (right) and me together, the Kalamazoo College chemists. We even attempted to make K’s with our bodies, not so successfully mind you, but maybe it’s the thought that counts.” Mike has returned to campus for the beginning of men’s varsity soccer practice.

 

One if by land, 70 if by LandSea

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Sarah Werner and her family from Clinton TownshipAbout 70 first-year students—including Sarah Werner and her family from Clinton Township, Mich., photographed here—arrived August 16 to begin their Kalamazoo College journey via LandSea, an optional 18-day wilderness backpacking, climbing, canoeing, glad-I-brought-my-bug spray experience in Adirondack State Park, a six-million-acre tract in northern New York. After checking out their gear, the campus, and each other, participants pile onto a bus and head east at 7PM for a nine-hour overnight trek. A team of student and staff leaders awaits their arrival in New York. Welcome, bon voyage, and good luck LandSea 2012 participants. We’ll see you back here on Sept. 3!

Two K Students Among Monroe-Brown Summer Interns

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K student Ashton Galloway in a prestigious internship
BASIC staff members Bruce Weston and Corey Nunnery view Ashton Galloway ’13 (seated) in action as an IT intern there.

Two Kalamazoo College undergraduates are among 39 local college and university students selected to work with Kalamazoo area businesses as part of the summer 2012 Monroe-Brown Internship cohort. Umang Varma ’15 is a marketing IT intern at LKF Marketing in downtown Kalamazoo, and Ashton Galloway ‘13 is an IT intern at BASIC in Portage.

Umang “has been the best thing ever,” says Heather Isch, vice president at LKF Marketing, a full-service advertising agency in downtown Kalamazoo. “He is such a fast learner and a quick thinker. We just love him.” Isch, who oversees day-to-day web project development for the firm, is delighted to have an undergraduate with Umang’s combination of technical skills and social savvy.

These sentiments were expressed repeatedly during a recent site visit by the CCPD. Umang’s coworkers seemed genuinely sad to know that he’d be leaving for Budapest on study abroad at the end of the summer.

During his time at LKF, Umang has contributed to the development of a number of time-sensitive web development projects. His love of debugging code earned him a role in developing the firm’s forthcoming mobile-ready customer management system as well as helping with a searchable photo gallery in a client’s WordPress site.

Ashton Galloway has “loved programming from a young age,” and at his internship with BASIC, a fast-growing Portage-based company offering integrated HR solutions to 9,000 employers nationwide, he is “getting a feel for how software development works in a small company—something you don’t get in a classroom.” Ashton has had the opportunity to do coding on a number of projects this summer, including several interrelated modules of a very large FMLA administration software platform rewrite.

Ashton’s colleagues at BASIC value the technical and soft skills he brings to their work. In addition to his experience with database development, IT Manager Bruce Weston and VP of Operations Kim Shook have appreciated Ashton’s critical thinking skills and ability to work as part of a team. Ashton has participated in project management meetings, rewritten outdated code, and taken initiative to do research on functional coding that has helped inform his work. “This summer has taught me that there’s way more planning going on in developing software than I understood before,” he says.

The Monroe-Brown Internship Program is a collaborative effort between the Monroe-Brown Foundation and Southwest Michigan First. Through a combination of applied career experience and college scholarships, the program provides local college and university students with career-building relationships with area companies, with the goal of retaining the best and brightest college graduates in southwest Michigan.

Employers independently select their interns, using their own hiring methods and criteria. Selected interns work for a minimum of 400 hours during the summer, receiving hourly wages, valuable networking opportunities, and up to $6,000 in scholarship funding.

“These are very competitive internships,” says Joan Hawxhurst, director of the College’s Center for Career and Professional Development. “This year 376 students applied for 43 positions, so local companies have their pick of the best and the brightest. We are thrilled to have two outstanding students representing the College so well this summer.”

K Professor and Students Publish Encouraging Science on the Search for a Useful Bio-Indicator

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Maintaining good human health depends in part on reliable markers. Think blood pressure in cardiovascular medicine or blood sugar and triglyceride levels in determining the effects of diet on metabolic disorders. Reliable markers are important for ecological health as well, which is why science seeks them. Associate Professor of Biology Ann Fraser and five Kalamazoo College undergraduates recently published peer-reviewed science (“Evaluating Multiple Arthropod Taxa as Indicators of Invertebrate Diversity in Old Fields,” The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 45, Nos. 1 – 2) that advances efforts to find a manageable indicator of the effect invasive species have on biodiversity.

Like most good science, the journey was both years long and collaborative—as well as a great example of the kind of professor-student partnerships that make science education at K great—a matter of “more in four years.” The idea for the project began with some preliminary data gathered during a lab exercise in Fraser’s Organism Diversity class. That field work took place at the College’s Lillian Anderson Arboretum, where the class sought to test whether the invasive plant species known as spotted knapweed was affecting ground-dwelling invertebrates (mainly insects). Joe Waller ’06 followed up on the preliminary class data with a more in-depth study for his Senior Individualized Project. He used pitfall traps to collect invertebrates in areas with varying densities of knapweed but was soon overwhelmed with huge numbers and types of insects to sort through. He shifted the focus of his SIP to determine whether a certain insect or other arthropod species, such as spiders, might be a proxy or reliable marker for general invertebrate diversity. He spent most of his summer sorting through and classifying thousands of specimens. In late summer a second round of pitfall sampling was conducted and the project’s torch was passed to other undergraduates.

The sorting, identification, and matching of this second sample with the first sample were conducted by Alyssa Bradshaw ’08, David Hyman ’08, Michael Johnson ’06, and Rob Morrison ’06. “We were able to identify several insect groups as promising indicators of larger invertebrate diversity in old field habitat,” said Fraser. “More work across a greater number of field sites is needed to confirm their usefulness as bio-indicators, but this is an encouraging first step in finding manageable ways to assess the impact of invasive plant species on invertebrate diversity.”

Fraser cited the pivotal role of Morrison in bringing the project to completion and publication, earning him first author on the paper. Such studies are time-consuming but well suited to undergraduate research projects. The K grads continue their science education in various ways. “Rob Morrison is conducting his Ph.D. in applied entomology at Michigan State,” said Fraser. “Joe Waller, I believe, is in a physician assistant program at Michigan or MSU. Alyssa Brayshaw has been working as a research assistant in wildlife biology and is applying to graduate programs in that subject; David Hyman is in medical school at Loyola University in Chicago, and Michael Johnson will begin his Ph.D. in paleontology at the University of Wisconsin this fall. It’s very satisfying to see this collaborative project come to fruition with a peer reviewed publication.”

Kalamazoo Students Intern in Ann Arbor

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Intern Kaitlyn Greiner works in a lab
Kaitlyn Greiner ’15

Several Hornets have settled in Wolverine territory this summer, taking advantage of the resources at a large research university by interning in offices and laboratories throughout Ann Arbor. The Kalamazoo College’s Center for Career and Professional Development caught up with four of them:

Psychology major Megan Martinez ’13 is working to understand links between social, psychological, and physical causes of pain. With the guidance of her supervisor, Ross Halpern, M.D., head of Ross Halpern and Associates Psychiatric Clinic, she is reviewing and analyzing patient files for data connecting childhood abuse, grief, and chronic pain. Martinez said she began her internship thinking that “pain was purely a physical phenomenon, one that should be addressed by doctors and medicine. [However] working in Dr. Halpern’s office has helped me realize that pain, particularly chronic pain, is often influenced by social and psychological factors.” Dr. Halpern has given Martinez plenty of opportunity to take responsibility and guide decision-making on their data project, empowering her to recognize her capacity to conduct independent research and analysis.

Kaitlyn Greiner ’15 is working with Upjohn Professor of Medicine and Oncology Stephen Weiss, M.D., at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute to identify mechanisms for invasion and growth of brain tumor cells. One of only a few undergraduates accepted into the Weiss research lab, Greiner said she is “learning valuable techniques and tests that I have no doubt I will need to use in my upper-level biology classes,” and is gaining “a great deal of access to both literature regarding my research and people who are very knowledgeable about what they are researching.” Greiner reports that her time in the Weiss lab has allowed her to practice what she learned in her first-year biology classes and “clarified my desire to do medical research.” Greiner has impressed Dr. Weiss with her curiosity and interest, and has already been invited back to the lab next summer.

Chemistry major Sara Adelman ’14 enjoys talking about K with her alumna supervisor, Nichole Hein ’01, M.D., who is “paying it forward” after her own great experiences with undergraduate summer internships. Dr. Hein is hosting her second K-intern this summer while working as a post-doc in the laboratory of John Fink, M.D., a professor in the Department of Neurology and director of the Neurogenetic Disorders Program in the UM Medical School. In her gene sequencing work this summer, Adelman, who impresses Fink and Hein with her “maturity, independence, and drive,” has found and is double-checking a mutation that might be connected to age-dependent neurologic degeneration. Using her K academics in the lab this summer has helped Adelman recognize that “what I’m learning really has relevance in the real world.”

Kathryn Chamberlain ’13 exudes enthusiasm as she describes her internship in the UM Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute where she investigates stimuli-induced dopamine release levels with her supervisor, Jennifer Cummings, Ph.D. “It is a learning experience, it is great skill building, and it is opening doors for future opportunities I may have in the field of neuroscience.” Between describing her new-found prowess at building and calibrating carbon fiber electrodes and showing off dozens of graphs of individual experiments using her tiny glass creations to collect data, Chamberlain said her summer work will become part of her Senior Individualized Project at K, and is a pivotal influence in her decision to seek a research career.

Story and photo by Joan Hawxhurst, director, Kalamazoo College Center for Career and Professional Development.

Hornet’s Olympics

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Chris Manning ’12 finished 88th out of 139 swimmers with a time of 1:04.73 in the 100m Breaststroke at the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb. on Monday, June 25. Manning moved up nine spots, but did not qualify for the the evening’s finals.

“Chris had an absolutely amazing season this year and to end his career with a top 100 finish at the Olympic Trials is really icing on the cake,” said Kathy Milliken, Kalamazoo College’s head swimming and diving coach.

“The amount of determination that he showed to get to the meet by training by himself for the last three months and the composure that he showed stepping up on the blocks with the best swimmers — pro and all college divisions — made me feel extremely honored to be his coach. He made all those associated with Kalamazoo College swimming very proud today and over the last four years.”

Dean’s List Spring 2012

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

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

A

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

B

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

C

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

D

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

E

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

F

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

G

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

H

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

I

Michael Ignagni
Sierra Imanse
Joshua Imperial
Craig Isser

J

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

K

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

L

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

M

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

N

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

O

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

P

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

Meredith Quinlan

R

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

S

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

T

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

U

Hayden Uihlein
Elizabeth Uribe
Kelly Usakoski

V

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

W

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

Y

Fei Yao

Z

Senior Awards 2012

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

Fine Arts Division

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

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

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

  • Angela M. Frakes

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

  • Erin C. Donevan

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

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

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

  • Eleanor E. Wong

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

  • Jacob C. Arnett
  • Kate Elise Fodor

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

  • David H. Pimentel
  • Marianne Renee Stine

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

  • Samuel T. Bertken

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

  • Kyle A. McCord

Foreign Languages Division

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

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

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

  • Rachel A. LoPatin

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

  • Nathan Colello Gilmour

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

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

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

  • Kathleen C. Golembiewski

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

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

Humanities Division

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

  • Allison Nicole LaRose

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

  • Kathleen C. Golembiewski

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

  • Allison Nicole LaRose

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

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

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

  • Sarah Christina Baumann

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

  • Ariel Marie Schnee

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

  • Nathan Colello Gilmour

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

  • William A. Schlaack

Natural Sciences & Mathematics Division

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

  • Lindsey Sara Gaston
  • Heather Rae Russon

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

  • Mirae Katherine Guenther
  • Zachary K. Janes

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

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

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

  • Kelsey Meredith Hassevoort

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

  • Caitlyn W. VanGelderen

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

  • Masroor Hossain

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

  • Aidan J. Klobuchar
  • David M. Robinson

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

  • Aidan J. Klobuchar

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

  • Margarite Matossian

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

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

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

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

Physical Education Division

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

  • Evan I. Levine

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

  • Erin Lynn Campbell

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

  • Kelsey Meredith Hassevoort

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

  • Alexander C. Dombos

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

  • Christopher J. Manning

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

  • Christine Lewis
  • Kevin B. Lodewyk

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

  • Katherine Grue
  • Kelsey Johnson

Social Sciences Division

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

  • Hannah Hindman Reischl
  • Dana Robinson

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

  • Matthew Thomas DuWaldt
  • Claire Victoria Madill

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

  • Calder Alexander Leaver Burgam
  • Cameron Carl Lang

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

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

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

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

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

  • Dion Bullock
  • LaShawn M. Etheridge

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

  • Zachary Ryan Holden

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

  • Calder Alexander Leaver Burgam
  • Emily K. Wolf

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

  • Alyssa M. Rickard
  • Theodore J. Sweetser

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

  • Keith R. Moreno

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

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

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

  • Chloe E. Page

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

  • Elise Wolf Williams

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

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

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

  • Kara Jane Milton

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

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

Non-Departmental Awards

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

  • Lashawn Etheridge
  • Anna Miller

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

  • Courtney Nartker

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

  • Matthew Thomas DuWaldt

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

  • Zena S. Blake-Mark

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

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

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

  • Britta A. Seifert

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

  • Alexandra N. Crockford
  • Obineche S. Nnebedum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heyl Scholars 2012

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2012 Heyl Scholars

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

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

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

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