Nick Arnold took first and second place in the “Student Created Ad” category for his works “Amazon” and “Eastern Europe” respectively. John Sajtar was awarded third place in the “Best Use of Photo and Graphics” category for his work titled “KCC’s International Travel Class Visits England.” Andy McDiarmid took third place in the “News Photo” category for his photo titled “Winterfest.”  Honorable Mentions were awarded to Mike Patzkowsky in the “Photo Essay” category for his work titled “Captured on Campus,” Nick Swartz in the “Column/Personal Opinion” category for his work titled “If the World Were Ebay,” and Carlton Boehmer and Andy Fitzpatrick in the “In-Depth News Series” category for their work titled “Board of Trustees Tension.”

Twenty two eager daughters and sons began their day at Kellogg Community College with a continental breakfast, a welcome, and a game.  After the welcome, the students participated in a scavenger hunt that took them around the Kellogg Community College campus while they learned about different areas of the college and collected prizes.  At lunch, the daughters and sons were greeted by Kellogg Community College President, Dr. G. Edward Haring, who gave everyone advice about the national day’s theme, “Making Choices for a Better World,” and answered questions from the students. 

After lunch, the daughters and sons had the opportunity to participate their choice of a hands-on interactive activity. Choices included “Thinking Green,” how the college is committed to preserving the environment, “Saving a Life,” how the college Emergency Medical Services program teaches life saving skills, “Career Pathways,” how to be a successful college student and start the career choice process and “Non-Traditional Careers,” which included information about careers in manufacturing and robotics for the daughters and allied health programs for the sons.

The scholarship is part of a new grant to Hope College from the NSF to provide scholarship aid to Kellogg Community College and other community college students who are interested in continuing their education in the sciences at Hope. The scholarships will support students who transfer to Hope to major in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, the geological and environmental sciences, mathematics or physics after completing work at a community college. The $564,360 grant was awarded through the NSF’s “Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics” (S-STEM) program. It is one of approximately 90 new S-STEM awards made nationwide this year.

The program will provide scholarships of up to $10,000 per year to eight transferring students each year for three years, with the scholarships renewable for a second year for each student who meets eligibility requirements. The goal is to have the first set of students arrive on campus in the fall of 2008, with additional groups supported through the program beginning in 2009 and 2010.

The scholarship aid, however, is only part of the program. Andrews will also be given the opportunity to participate in collaborative research full-time with a Hope faculty member during the summer before beginning classes at the college. In 2007, some 180 students participated in summer research in the sciences at Hope. The college will also provide program support during the school year to help Andrews make the transition to Hope as a transfer student, including a special orientation, career counseling, peer mentoring and other activities.

Sophomore Heather Frey received First Team All-MCCAA Western division, First Team All-State, and First Team All-Region.  She also received Academic All-Conference (3.0 grade point average with 36 credit hours or more) and Academic All-State (at least 3.2 gpa with at least 36 credit hours). Freshman Peter Kazmierczak received First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region. Kazmierczak also was Academic All-Conference and Academic All-State.

The library’s series will explore the theme of “Between Two Worlds: Stories of Estrangement and Homecoming.” The library is one of over 330 libraries nationwide receiving grants to host the series developed by Nextbook and the American Library Association (ALA). Local partners for the series are Lakeview High School, Miller College and Temple Beth El.

 “We are delighted to have been chosen to host this unique series that will allow our college community a chance to discuss themes in Jewish literature with fellow community members and with the help of a well-qualified scholar,” said Martha Stilwell, director of Library Services and the series project director.

According to KCC art instructor and Davidson Gallery director, Pete Williams, the display features over 140 individual artworks juried from over 250 total individual entries.  Students from Calhoun, Branch, and Barry Counties all have work on display in this exhibit.   Williams commented, “We had a tremendous response to our competition this year and the students are very excited to show their friends and families what they have produced.  They should feel very proud.” 

The juror for this year’s show was retired KCC art instructor Martin Hubbard.  Hubbard received his Master’s of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University and is an accomplished painter, printmaker, and photographer.  He is currently the chairperson of the Art Center of Battle Creek’s exhibitions committee.  Hubbard selected “Best of Awards” as well as honorable mentions in a wide range of 2-D and 3-D media categories.

An awards reception for the participating artists will be held Sunday, April 27 from 1-3 pm.  During the reception, light refreshments will be served, and starting at 1:30pm, awards will be announced in the Davidson Visual and Performing Arts Center auditorium.  In addition, hundreds of dollars worth of door prizes and special recognition awards will be distributed and KCC English instructor Elizabeth Kerlikowske will present literary awards for the student Mosaic publication.  Thanks to a generous donation by Sherman and Kimiko Petersen, the $1,000 in main art awards will come from a Kellogg Community endowment fund they recently set up through the Kellogg Community College Foudnation. The fund is to be distributed on an annual basis.  The Petersens are both KCC alums and Kimiko is a professional artist who specializes in watercolor and collage works.   After the exhibition closes on May 6, the Kimiko Peterson Art Award winners in each category will be further honored by having their works on display during the KCC summer session.  

Kellogg Community College students from the Kellogg Singers, Concentus Vocal Ensemble, Branch County Community Chorus, Women of KCC, KCC Choral Union, KCC Concert Band, and the KCC Jazz Band will perform a wide variety of musical selections including “Danny Boy,” “I Got Rhythm,” and “Glory to God.” Paula Puckett, Chair of the Arts and Communication Department stated, “It will be hard to outdo last year's end-of-the-year performance that was in honor of the college's 50th anniversary, but each choir and band performance this year has been incredible.”  Kellogg Community College Choir Director, Gerald Blanchard, concurred, “The talent of the students is impressive, but for many it will be their last performance at KCC as they prepare to transfer to complete their last two years of undergraduate work. 

Scholarships are given to music students who compete through an audition and are considered based on their performance and unmet need. Students can use the funds for individual voice, instrument or piano lessons, choir or band ensemble tuition, as well as other school-related expenses. 

Registration with a major credit card can be completed by calling (269) 965-4134 or visit www.kellogg.edu/lifelong for more information on other registration opens and class offerings.

Control Time and Get Organized
From 9-11 am
Participants will explore how to gain useful minutes and even hours each day by creating a space that is organized.  Delma Smith, professional organizer and owner of Organizing For You will share the key secrets to managing pace for managing time.
Course fee of $39.

Using the Law of Attraction
From 9 am to 12 pm
Terri Bought, life coach, will be sharing how to use the law of attraction to deliberately attract wanted items including people, situations, jobs and much more.
Course fee of $39 per person.

Make Up and Skin Care Tips
From 9 to 11:30 am
Participants will learn about skin care techniques based on their skin, the changing needs of skin, and how to use subtle make-up techniques to enhance features and celebrate natural features.
Course fee of $39 per person.

Debt Free Living
From 9 am to 12 pm
Participants will learn a powerful, proven linear math/variable path method that can help them be debt free much faster than they thought. This workshop is not just for people who are having problems with debt, but it is also for people who can make their minimum payments, but don’t want to do that forever.
Course fee is $39 and includes handouts.

Estate Planning and Trusts
From 9 am to 12 pm
KCC’s Paralegal Program Coordinator Susan McCabe, JD, will be sharing the types of estate planning moves that will ensure that wishes are heeded and that costs and inconveniences of probate and estate taxes are avoided.
Course fee is $25.

eBay Buying and Selling
From 9 am to 12 pm
Cheryl Kahler, a skilled eBay hobbyist and eBay University trained education specialist will be sharing how to successfully price and present items online, how to collect payment, picture taking and uploading, shipping methods, and what to do if the transaction doesn’t work out.
Course fee is $49.

The three credit hour course, titled BUAD 212 Personal Finance, will cover all aspects of personal finance including balancing a checking account, saving for retirement, buying a home or car, and planning for major purchases. Students will learn how to invest and will conduct a personal risk assessment for investing, as well as how to buy insurance products including life, home and health insurance. “This class is a direct response to student requests,” said Gene McKay, business/economics instructor at Kellogg Community College.  “The students are highly interested in how to properly choose investments for savings and for plans like 401ks. They are also interested in understanding how to buy a home and what choices they have in regards to loan types and lengths, as well as understanding how to negotiate costs.”

The “Guest Artist Master Class” for vocalists on Wednesday, April 23 will be held in the Davidson Visual and Performing Arts Center Auditorium at Kellogg Community College, located at 450 North Avenue in Battle Creek.  The class will be presented by Coloratura Soprano Shudong Luo Braamse.  Dr. Braamse will coach a variety of KCC’s voice students on musical interpretation and discuss the music business and the audition process.

The “Wednesdays at 1 pm” student recital will be held at First Congregational Church located at 145 Capital Avenue NE in Battle Creek.  This recital will have a unique program featuring the broad musical talents and backgrounds of the KCC students. 

Coloratura Soprano Shudong Luo Braamse, a native of China, is an experienced performer and voice teacher. Dr. Braamse holds masters and DMA degrees in voice performance from Michigan State University.  She premiered several soprano pieces by Dr. Gary Nash at the William Grant Still Concert and has performed Mozart's Concert Arias with the MSU Philharmonic Orchestra. Dr. Braamse has performed throughout Italy, Spain, North America and China. She recently gave a recital at the Victoria Concert Hall in Singapore in February 2008.  She will be touring in China to perform and give masters classes in May 2008.  In addition to solo recitals and chamber recitals, she has performed as Lucy in The Telephone, Sally in Thomas and Sally, and Josephine in HMS Pinafore.

Dr. Braamse has attended summer voice programs or master classes in Europe and North America conducted by Richard Miller, Daniel Ferro, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Frederica von Stade, Warren Jones, Elly Ameling, Sherrill Milnes, and Sylvia McNair.  The book she translated, “Complete Preparation: A Guide to Auditioning for Opera,” written by Joan Dornemann, will be published in April 2008 in Beijing China. Dr. Braamse is an associate professor of music at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.

Dr. Braamse will be accompanied on piano by KCC adjunct music faculty Dr. Mark Wells. These two artists will present a concert of varied works ranging from standard classical repertoire to Chinese folk songs.

Dr. Braamse will also present a vocal master class on Wednesday, April 23, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Davidson Visual and Performing Arts Building Auditorium, located on KCC’s main campus.  She will coach a variety of KCC’s voice students on musical interpretation and discuss the music business and the audition process.

Battle Creek, Mich., April 7 — Kellogg Community College will be hosting the Secretary of State Mobile Branch Office from 10 am to 4 pm on April 16 at Kellogg Community College located at 450 North Avenue in Battle Creek. The office will be open for the use of students, KCC employees, and the general public.

The office will be in the student parking lot adjacent to Lane-Thomas Technology Building.  The visit is part of the college’s “Stressbusters” activities to help students deal with final exams.  The mobile office also offers a convenient option to register to vote for the 2008 presidential election.

“The first step in making your voice heard is registering to vote,” Land said.
“I encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity by visiting the mobile office while it’s on their campus.  It’s a convenient way to register or to conduct other business with the Secretary of State.”

The facility is a full-service Secretary of State branch office and is accessible to people with disabilities.  It is hauled statewide on a 24-foot trailer that has logged more than 125,000 miles since it first hit the road 10 years ago.

Battle Creek, Mich., April 7 — Kellogg Community College Nursing Instructor and KCC Student Nursing Association (SNA) Faculty Advisor, Kathy Cope, RN, MSN, received the 2008 Michigan Nursing Students Association (MNSA) Faculty Advisor Award during the annual Michigan Nursing Student Convention in Frankenmuth, Michigan on February 8, 2008. 

The MNSA Faculty Advisor Award is presented annually to a Student Nursing Association faculty advisor who has shown distinguished support and service to nursing students. In order to be considered, the faculty advisor has to be nominated by a student representative.  Cope was nominated by KCC SNA President-Elect, Becky Brush.  The judging was based on an essay written by Brush about how Cope provides motivation and generates enthusiasm for SNA and MSNA involvement, exhibits and teaches the importance of professional organizations and involvement after graduation, encourages students to continue their education and professional involvement after graduation, and how Brush has benefited from knowing Cope.

“I feel very honored to have received this award,” said Cope.  “I have the privilege of working with a dynamic group of students and I see them as the future leaders within the nursing profession. My goal is to offer them the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential.”

Battle Creek, Mich., April 7 — Kellogg Community College students, Becky Brush and William Biven, were named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Michigan Academic Team on Tuesday, March 25 in Lansing, Michigan during the annual Michigan Community College Association awards luncheon.

Students are selected based on academic achievement, community service involvement and leadership accomplishment. Phi Theta Kappa’s All-State recognition programs are conducted in 32 states. All-state team members have the opportunity to be named to the All-USA Team, and may receive cash awards from USA Today.

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, MS, is the largest honor society in American higher education with 1,250 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. More than two million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 100,000 students inducted annually.