August 2025

Alisha Siebers
Associate Vice President for College Advancement
Executive Director of the KVCC Foundation
asiebers@kvcc.edu
269.488.4821

Support Student Dreams at the 2025 Opportunities for Education Scholarship Fundraising Event
Join us at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 for an evening of community, cuisine and celebration at the 20th Opportunities for Education (OFE) Scholarship Fundraising Event at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Food Innovation Center, located at 224 E. Crosstown Parkway in downtown Kalamazoo.

This annual gathering promises an unforgettable night under a big tent where friendship, food and philanthropy come together to support students.

Some of the region's most popular restaurants will be featured, along with student and faculty chefs from the college's culinary and brewing programs. Guests will enjoy a walk-around tasting where they can sample signature dishes plus beer, wine and other beverages. Tours among the vegetables, flowers and herbs growing in the Food Innovation Center's greenhouse will also be available.

Proceeds from the OFE event directly benefit the Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Foundation scholarship fund, helping determined and resilient students achieve their educational goals and bring fresh energy to our region. 

For ticket purchases and more information, visit www.kvcc.edu/foundation.

Youth Transformative Leadership Summit Leaves Participants Inspired

With a $500 mini-grant contribution from the KVCC Foundation, the Youth Transformative Leadership Summit held at our Texas Township Campus was a success! The Transformative Youth Leadership Summit is an impactful educational experience that empowers Kalamazoo Public Schools and Paramount Charter Academy middle-schoolers to be leaders by participating in interactive workshops engaging with college staff and community professionals. The event ended with a lesson for young men on tying a necktie. 

"The students bring their enthusiasm and boundless energy to the summit," said Louis Thomas, the college's assistant dean of Student Development Services. "You can feel it as soon as they get off the bus at 9 a.m. Somehow by the end of the day, they are even more energized and eager to share who they met and what they learned at their community college!"

Training Tomorrow's Heroes: The Real-World Impact of Kalamazoo Valley's EMS Program

Christian Wang, a 2023 graduate of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, credits the college's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program with helping him pursue his goal of becoming a medical responder, a goal rooted in his desire to help others.

"When deciding what career I wanted to pursue, one thing was certain, I wanted to help people," Wang said. "This career felt like a perfect fit for me, and my time at Kalamazoo Valley was instrumental in preparing me for the work I now do every day."

Wang said the program's realistic training scenarios and expert instructors helped him transition seamlessly from the classroom to his current role as a paramedic at Life EMS.

"I chose Kalamazoo Valley not only because it was local and affordable, but because the EMS program is outstanding," Wang said. "I built strong relationships and learned a lot. When I graduated and began working in the field, I felt ready for any kind of emergency and that made my transition into the workforce much smoother."

Read more here.

Alumni Spotlight: Ariadne J. Markou

Kalamazoo Valley alumna Ariadne J. Markou changed the trajectory of her education journey when she made the decision to attend Kalamazoo Valley.

"Before I joined the honors program at Valley, I was not even sure if higher education was the path for me. Valley's flexibility allowed me to engage with school in a way that worked around my life where I did not have to sacrifice anything for my education," Markou said.

The Kalamazoo native graduated from Valley with an associate of arts degree with honors. She was also a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. She is grateful for all the program has done to benefit her educational experience.

"I cannot stress enough how much the honors program gave me my life back and drove me to find a purpose that I was passionate about," Markou said. "In the program, I was surrounded by a diverse cohort who brought so much insight and understanding to each class that we shared."

Markou said her professors impacted her in more ways than one.

"The professors have done something completely remarkable in making a classroom feel like a home. Every opinion was valued and heard, and there was absolutely no room for judgment," she said. "Being in the honors program at Valley was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has completely altered my life course for the better."

Read more here.

Third Annual STEAM Ahead Brings Science and Play to Bronson Park
Join us Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. - noon at the Children's Nature Playscape across from downtown Kalamazoo's Bronson Park for our third annual STEAM Ahead event. At this event, children ages 2 - 10 can learn about maps, pollinators, plants, paint with bubbles, erosion and water flow!

STEAM Ahead is an engaging hands-on program that invites young children to dive into science, technology, engineering, art and math through playful activities in the natural setting of the Children's Nature Playscape. Young children are encouraged to wonder, ask questions and learn through doing. Adult caregivers join in the fun too, supporting their child's curiosity and connection to nature. Come play, create and explore the STEAM way, where every stone, leaf and log are part of the adventure!

Free Boys Basketball Clinics Planned Aug. 9
Join us from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Aug. 9 for a FREE camp offering an opportunity to grow your loved one's skills on the court, and most importantly, have some fun. This is open to boys in 5th to 8th grade.