Celebrate Commencement on April 30

Kalamazoo Valley Community College will celebrate its 79th commencement at 4 p.m. April 30 in Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University. Close to 500 students are eligible to participate in the ceremony. The ceremony will be broadcast live through Public Media Network on channel 191 with Charter Communications and channel 99 with AT&T U-Verse.

President of Kalamazoo Valley Community College Dr. Marilyn Schlack will give the welcoming address, followed by Board of Trustees Chairperson Jeff Patton. Graphic arts instructor Aubrey Rodgers, and student Krystalyn Mahl also will speak. Mahl is earning an associate of arts degree in communications and will transfer to Western Michigan University in the fall. She plans to major in public relations and minor in journalism.

A 2013 graduate of Comstock High School, Mahl has served in numerous leadership roles for Phi Theta Kappa, the college’s honor society – including acting as chapter president and vice president of public relations as well as sitting on the regional board of the organization and competing for a place on the honor society’s international board – placing third.

While managing a full class load, Mahl also worked on campus in both the Student Success Center and currently in the Office for Enrollment Management. She talks to high schools students about Kalamazoo Valley and gives campus tours.

“I almost made a multi-thousand-dollar mistake by going to a four-year university completely unsure about what I was going to do,” Mahl said. “I came to Valley, changed my major four times, but found my passion thanks to PTK and the support of people at the college. I want to make sure others know about the opportunities Valley provides.”

The college has four locations, a main campus in Texas Township, the nearby Groves Campus, Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo and the Bronson Healthy Living Campus.

The college offers certificate programs in more than 20 areas of study and associate degrees in 25 others. These include business, health care, human and public service, and technical occupations. Kalamazoo Valley also provides student-placement services and works closely with other institutions to ensure the transfer of students' credits. A fully accredited institution, Kalamazoo Valley offers day and evening, online and weekend classes.