KCC closed Monday for Memorial Day

A view of the flags flying over KCC's North Avenue campus.

A view of the flags flying over KCC’s North Avenue campus.

All Kellogg Community College campus locations will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

However, community members and college students will host a Memorial Day ceremony on KCC’s North Avenue campus in Battle Creek beginning at 11 a.m. that day.

The hour-long ceremony, to be held near the flag pole in the center of campus, will be open to the public and feature a variety of speakers, musical performances and presentations.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs for the event; in the event of inclement weather, the event will be held inside the Binda Theatre. A reception with light refreshments will follow the ceremony in KCC’s Student Center.

All campus locations will return to their regular summer schedules on Tuesday.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online atwww.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

KCC to expand Eastern Academic Center near Albion

The Easter

KCC has plans to expand its Eastern Academic Center near Albion, with construction beginning as early as this summer.

Kellogg Community College intends to build a 4,608-square-foot addition at its Eastern Academic Center near Albion, KCC President Dennis Bona announced today.

Because of growing enrollment in college courses in eastern Calhoun County and an ongoing partnership with Marshall Public Schools, KCC has determined that the EAC needs to grow physically in order to accommodate increased use. Marshall operates an alternative high school as well as the Opportunity School, an early-college program for high school students, at the EAC on weekdays.

“It is abundantly clear that there is a strong desire for higher education on the eastern side of Calhoun County and, as a partner and leader in advancing education in our communities, we are determined to meet the needs of all of our students,” Bona said.

The EAC currently serves about 250 students per semester, in addition to approximately 100 high school students from the Albion and Marshall areas who attend as part of the Marshall Alternative High School. Of those 100 high school students, 29 were dual-enrolled in college courses as of earlier this year.

“With this expansion of the EAC, we can offer more day and evening classes to our adult college students and increase the options for students who are dual-enrolled in KCC courses,” Bona said.

Funding for the estimated $1 million project will come from local grants, including a substantial gift from the Marshall-based Cronin Foundation, and KCC’s voter-approved capital millage. Pending approval from the KCC Board of Trustees, construction may begin this summer and the new wing may open in January 2014. The addition will include three classrooms, a seminar room and office space on the north side of the current facility.

The project also will enable KCC to offer classes at the EAC which, for the past year, have been offered in rented space in the former Crowell Elementary School in Albion. Returning those classes to a central location at the EAC will add convenience for students, Bona said.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online atwww.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

Grahl Center summer courses offer something for everyone

KCC's Grahl Center is located in Coldwater.

KCC’s Grahl Center is located in Coldwater.

COLDWATER – Kellogg Community College is offering a variety of courses at the Grahl Center during the 2013 summer semester, which began this week.

While some classes began May 20, others don’t start until later in the summer for the convenience of students, whether they are working professionals, retirees or university enrollees completing extra course work.

“Even in the summer, our classes offer something for everyone,” said Roberta Gagnon, director of the Grahl Center.

The summer course schedule at the Grahl Center includes an array of classes, from basic math and composition to an introduction to psychology and computer software.

“We have a wellness class in which people can walk or jog twice a week on their lunch hours and we have a United States history class for people who want to learn about the social and political heritage of our country,” Gagnon said.

For more information about classes offered at the Grahl Center, call 517-278-3300 or email Gagnon at gagnonr@kellogg.edu.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online atwww.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

KCC softball signs Pennfield’s Holli Longstreth

Pictured above are KCC's head women's softball coach Russ Bortell (second from the left) and Holli Longstreth (second from the right).

Pictured above are KCC’s head women’s softball coach Russ Bortell (second from the left) and Holli Longstreth (second from the right).

Pennfield High School’s Holli Longstreth has signed a national letter of intent to play softball at Kellogg Community College and will begin playing for the Bruins next season.

Longstreth, a pitcher, boasts a high school batting average of .347 and an ERA of 3.34. Honors received over the course of her high school career include special mentions for All-City and District awards and a Special Coaches Award.

Longstreth has also participated in the BC Sluggers summer league at Bailey Park in Battle Creek, where she pitched every game and had a win-loss pitching record of 10-2, a batting average of .581 and an ERA of 1.78.

Playing for the West Michigan Gators travel team, Longstreth hit .481 and had a team-high on-base percentage of .533.

Russ Bortell, head softball coach at KCC, said the team is pleased to bring local talent to the college.

“We are very excited to have Holli commit to KCC,” Bortell said. “Holli has the potential to be a two-way player for us.”

For more information about the softball program at Kellogg Community College, visit www.kellogg.edu/athletics/softball/index.html or contact Coach Bortell at 269-965-3931 ext. 2529 or bortellr@kellogg.edu.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online atwww.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

KCC women’s soccer signs Lakeview’s Ashley Andrews

Pictured, from left to right, are KCC's head women's soccer coach Barth Beasley, Ashley Andrews, Steve Andrews (father) and KCC's assistant women's soccer coach Charles Pratt.

Pictured, from left to right, are KCC’s head women’s soccer coach Barth Beasley, Ashley Andrews, Steve Andrews (father) and KCC’s assistant women’s soccer coach Charles Pratt.

Lakeview High School’s Ashley Andrews has signed a national letter of intent to play for Kellogg Community College’s women’s soccer team and will begin playing for the Bruins during the Fall 2013 season.

Andrews is a veteran of club soccer and has played for Lakeview’s varsity team for four years, making captain her senior year.

Barth Beasley, head coach of the women’s soccer team at KCC, said he and Andrews had a conversation about her goals on and off the field last summer then reconnected in the winter to discuss her becoming a student-athlete at KCC.

“Once we met it was very clear that she had the drive to achieve her goals on and off the field,” Beasley said. “I am looking forward to her leadership and development as a student-athlete at KCC.”

For more information about the women’s soccer program at KCC, contact Coach Beasley at 269-565-7950 or soccercoach@kellogg.edu or visit www.kellogg.edu/athletics/soccer/index.html.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online atwww.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

KCC to hold Summer Soccer Camp for kids June 17-20

Nearly 50 area youths participated in KCC's latest round of soccer camps for kids.

Nearly 50 area youths participated in KCC’s latest round of soccer camps for kids.

Kellogg Community College women’s soccer players and coaching staff will lead a Summer Soccer Camp for kids ages 5 through 12 from Monday, June 17, through Thursday, June 20, at the soccer field on KCC’s North Avenue campus.

The camp includes a 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. half-day option, which costs $30 for the week, and a 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. full-day option, which costs $50 for the week. Early drop off is available beginning at 9 a.m., and full-day campers must bring a sack lunch.

Camp participants will be grouped according to their ages and skill levels and split accordingly into beginner, intermediate and advanced groups. The coaches will dedicate morning sessions to working on dribbling, trapping, passing and kicking techniques, with the afternoons reserved for various drills and scrimmages designed to allow players to improve on skills in game situations.

At the end of the camp, each participant will receive a certificate of completion along with signed evaluations by all of the coaches.

Barth Beasley, head women’s soccer coach at KCC, said the last soccer camp for kids held over Spring Break at KCC drew nearly 50 participants.

“The kids came to learn and have fun,” Beasley said. “They were eager to learn new things and take on new challenges.”

To register for the camp, email KCCSummerSoccerCamp@yahoo.com for a registration form or call Coach Beasley at 269-565-7950. Checks should be made payable to KCC Women’s Soccer and should be mailed to Kellogg Community College, 450 North Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49017.

For more information about the women’s soccer program at KCC, contact Coach Beasley at 269-565-7950 or soccercoach@kellogg.edu or visit www.kellogg.edu/athletics/soccer/index.html.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at www.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

KCC honors outstanding students at Awards Banquet

The 2013 Awards Banquet was held at the Holiday Inn in Battle Creek on May 2.

The 2013 Awards Banquet was held at the Holiday Inn in Battle Creek on May 2.

Kellogg Community College recognized 37 graduating students who exhibited outstanding achievement in their fields of study with 41 awards during the college’s annual Awards Banquet earlier this month.

The banquet, held May 2 at the Holiday Inn Battle Creek, honored recipients selected by the faculty and administrators from the department that corresponds with each award. Awards are also given to the overall outstanding full- and part-time graduates in each of the two academic divisions.

To qualify for the award, students must major or exhibit interest in the award area; earn a 3.5 or higher GPA in the award area; evidence significant creative growth; and exhibit a high degree of participation in and/or contributions to the department activities in one or more capacities.

This year’s award winners, listed by division, include:

STUDENT SERVICES DIVISION AWARDS

  • Anna Bennison, of Battle Creek, All-Michigan Academic Team 2013
  • Makenzie Farmer, of Tekonsha, All-Michigan Academic Team 2013
  • Mackenzie Kendall, of Bellevue, Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete 2013
  • Chad Mayle, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete 2013
  • Catharine Clark, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Student Employee 2013
  • Anthony Travis, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Student Employee 2013

INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION AWARDS

Arts and Sciences Division: Arts and Communication Department

  • Chelsea Staines, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Achievement in Art 2013
  • Alayna Miller, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Achievement in Communication 2013
  • Tiffany Thatcher, of Union City, Outstanding Achievement in Creative Writing 2013
  • Stephen Richmond, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Achievement in English 2013
  • Rebekah Daly, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Achievement in Foreign Language 2013
  • Jesse Cowles, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Achievement in Theatre 2013

Arts and Sciences Division: Elizabeth and Guido Binda Excellence in Visual and Performing Arts Award

  • Craig Noaeill, of Battle Creek, Excellence in Art Binda Award 2013
  • Hannah Frentz, of Battle Creek, Excellence in Communication Binda Award 2013
  • Christopher Peters, of Battle Creek, Excellence in Music Binda Award 2013
  • Chance Loman, of Battle Creek, Excellence in Theatre Binda Award 2013

Arts and Sciences Division: Early Childhood and Teacher Education Department

  • Angela Burd, of Paw Paw, Outstanding Early Childhood Education Program Graduate 2013
  • Michelle Weaver, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Education Major Graduate 2013

Arts and Sciences Division: Math and Science Department

  • Patrick Bennett, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Achievement in Biology 2013
  • Tara Hanson, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry 2013
  • Jeffrey Holtman, of Delton, Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics 2013
  • Andrew Messecar, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Achievement in Physics 2013

Arts and Sciences Division: Social Science Department

  • Lula Glasgow, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Human Services Program Graduate 2013
  • Austin Lehman, of East Leroy, Outstanding Social Science Graduate 2013
  • Albert Hum, of Battle Creek, Service Learning Commitment 2013

Career and Occupational Education Division

  • Sarah Garnaat, of Bellevue, Outstanding Associate Degree Nursing Graduate 2013
  • Walter Whitfield, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Business Management Graduate 2013
  • Cindy Pearison, of Athens, Outstanding Computer Engineering Technology Graduate 2013
  • Steven Smith, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Criminal Justice Graduate 2013
  • Keri Slane, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Dental Hygiene Graduate 2013
  • Jermane Pinson, of Battle Creek, Outstanding EMS Student 2013
  • Lindsey Christoff, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Magnetic Resonance Imaging Graduate 2013
  • Elizabeth Waker, of Litchfield, Outstanding Medical Laboratory Technology Graduate 2013
  • Amy Morales, of Kalamazoo, Outstanding Office Information Technology Graduate 2013
  • Caitlin Benham, of Kalamazoo, Outstanding Paralegal Graduate 2013
  • Karley Smith, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Physical Therapist Assistant Graduate 2013
  • Courtney Himes, of Kalamazoo, Outstanding Radiography Graduate 2013

OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION GRADUATES

Outstanding Instructional Division Graduates: Arts and Sciences

  • Makenzie Farmer, of Tekonsha, Outstanding Graduate – Part-Time Student 2013
  • Albert Hum, of Battle Creek, Outstanding Graduate – Full-Time Student 2013

Outstanding Instructional Division Graduates: Career and Occupational Education

  • Courtney Himes, of Kalamazoo, Outstanding Graduate – Part-Time Student 2013
  • Caitlin Benham, of Kalamazoo, Outstanding Graduate – Full-Time Student 2013

For more information about the Awards Banquet, visit www.kellogg.edu/studentlife/banquet.html.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online atwww.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

3 KCC softball players receive postseason MCCAA honors

Three Kellogg Community College softball players have been recognized with postseason honors by the Michigan Community College Athletic Association.

Catcher/infielder Genevieve Baushke (Decatur/Decatur High School), outfielder Mackenzie Kendall (Bellevue/Pennfield High School) and infielder Michaela Marble (Williamston/Williamston High School), all sophomores, each received All-Western Conference Honorable Mentions.

The Bruins finished seventh in their conference this season with an 8-20 MCCAA record, which Russ Bortell, head coach of the team, said includes wins against Grand Rapids Community College and Lansing Community College, the second and third place teams in the conference, respectively.

“Although we didn’t finish in conference where we had hoped and didn’t have the record we wanted, we did some good things on and off the field this spring and feel we developed the base we need to build off for future success,” Bortell said. “Our sophomores understood what we needed to do to take another step in building a winning program and committed to that.”

For more information about the softball program at Kellogg Community College, visit www.kellogg.edu/athletics/softball/index.html or contact Coach Bortell at 269-965-3931 ext. 2529 or bortellr@kellogg.edu.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at www.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

KCC’s Air Rescue Firefighter Trainer to train firefighters in Flint

Firefighters train using KCC's ARFF Trainer. Photo by Connie Dawe.

Firefighters train using KCC’s ARFF Trainer. Photo by Connie Dawe.

Kellogg Community College’s Air Rescue Firefighter (ARFF) Trainer, an aircraft fire simulator used to train fire departments across the United States to respond to aircraft fires, will be at Bishop International Airport in Flint training firefighters this Thursday and Friday, May 16 and 17.

Observers at the airport should note that the training exercises can produce 20- to 30-foot high-intensity flames and emergency response vehicles will be on scene at the airport. These measures are part of the ARFF training exercises.

Questions about the training may be directed to Chief Christopher Miller, director of public safety at the airport, at cmiller@bishopairport.org.

The ARFF trainer is a Federal Aviation Administration-approved mobile aircraft firefighting trainer designed to be used by fire departments to meet their annual “hot drill” certification requirements by simulating realistic aircraft fire scenarios. The trainer can simulate fires caused by flammable liquid spills, engines, interior cabins, wheel brakes and auxiliary power units.

The ARFF training benefits participating departments by providing:

  • Increased skills performance through team practice with the departments’ own equipment.
  • The elimination of travel costs – which can be up to $90,000 for a large department, depending on how far the department has to travel – for the team by using a mobile trainer at the airport site.
  • The elimination or decrease of overtime pay because personnel can train during duty hours.
  • The ability to invite mutual aid responders to train with the department.
  • A total of eight hours of training, including both classroom and hands-on training.
  • The possibility of customized training based on the airport, the city or the county’s needs.

The ARFF trainer weighs 80,000 pounds, looks like a Beechcraft 1900 passenger aircraft, is built around a 50-foot-long trailer towed by a 2003 Peterbilt semi-tractor, has a 1,300-square-foot spill pan area, has four aircraft engines and can burn 800 gallons of propane during an eight-hour training session.

Despite the heat and intensity of the ARFF trainer, the aircraft is safe because the instructors have complete control of the flames during all training exercises.

For more information about the ARFF program, visit www.kellogg.edu/arff.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at www.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.

8 KCC baseball players receive postseason MCCAA honors

KCC's 2013 baseball team.

KCC’s 2013 baseball team.

Eight Kellogg Community College baseball players and the team’s head coach have been recognized with postseason honors by the Michigan Community College Athletic Association.

The honors include an MCCAA Player of the Year designation for sophomore pitcher Chad Mayle (Midland/Herbert Henry Dow High School) and the fifth MCCAA Coach of the Year designation for head coach Eric Laskovy in seven years.

Mayle and sophomore outfielder Kody Carson (Battle Creek/Harper Creek High School) each were named to the All-Region XII Team, All-MCCAA 1st Team and Region XII All-Tournament Team.

Other KCC awards include:

  • Sophomore infielder Trent Pell (Eaton Rapids/Eaton Rapids High School), All-MCCAA 1st Team
  • Sophomore outfielder Derek Yoder (Nappanee, Ind./ Northwood High School), All-MCCAA 2nd Team
  • Sophomore catcher Drew Carlile (Fort Collins, Colo./Poudre High School), All-MCCAA 3rd Team
  • Sophomore infielder/outfielder Larsen Cronkright (Midland/Bullock Creek High School), All-MCCAA 3rd Team
  • Sophomore pitcher/infielder Travis Moore (Hastings/Lakeview High School), All-MCCAA Honorable Mention
  • Freshman pitcher/utility player Keith Phillips (Holland/Hamilton High School), All-MCCAA Honorable Mention, MCCAA All-Freshman Team

The Bruins won their fourth conference championship in the past six years and finished third in the region this season.

Mayle, Pell and Carlile are among six members of the team who have committed to play for Division I schools for the 2013-14 season so far, with Mayle heading to Western Michigan University, Pell heading to Oakland University and Carlile set to play for Bradley University. Laskovy said five or six more players will be deciding their plans in the next few weeks.

“I’m extremely proud of the effort these guys gave us in the classroom, on the field and in the community,” Laskovy said. “Their accomplishments are a testament to their character and work ethic. All of our sophomores are transferring to four-year schools while 11 or 12 are moving on as student-athletes. They will represent KCC very well at the next level.”

For more information about the baseball program at Kellogg Community College, visit www.kellogg.edu/athletics/baseball/index.html or contact Coach Laskovy at 269-965-3931 ext. 2536 or laskovye@kellogg.edu.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at www.kellogg.edu/daily/category/press-releases.