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Kalamazoo College Unveils Fall 2025 Dean’s List

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Congratulations to the following Kalamazoo College students who achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or better for a full-time course load of at least three units, without failing or withdrawing from any course, during the Fall 2025 academic term.

Students who elect to take a letter-graded course on a credit/no credit basis (CR/NC) are not eligible for Dean’s List consideration during that term. Nor are students who receive an F, NC or W grade for that particular term. Students with incomplete (I) or in-progress (IP) grades will be considered for the Dean’s List upon receipt of their final grades.

Dean’s List recognition is posted on students’ transcripts. Kudos to the entire group for Fall 2025.

Stetson Chapel in fall
Congratulations to the students who qualified for the Fall 2025 Dean’s List at Kalamazoo College.

Fall 2025

A

Callie Abair
Drew Abbott
Tessa Abrutyn
McKenna Acevedo
Emerson Agnello
Tahmina Ahadi
Umair Ahmed
Isaac Ahn
Isabella Alimenti
Maya Alkema
Zoe Allen
Riley Allen
Randa Alnaas
Mahmoud Alsafadi
Altanshagai Altankhuu
Methmi Amaratunga
Zahra Amini
Haresh Anand
Jayanthi Anila
Eva Applebaum
Nadine Arabi
Camden Arndt
Louis Asmus
Emily Auchter
Ala Awad

B

Olivia Bagwell
Shiqi Bai
Gabrielle Baldori
Johanna Balingit
Carter Bandemer
Zoie Banger
Grace Barber
Luke Barnum
Joseph Basil
Alyse Baughman
Carson Beattie
Summer Beavers
Annice Bellows
Alexandrea Bernal
Braiden Berro
Maximus Betten
Gurnav Jeet Singh Bhatia
Julian Bilbao
Derek Blackwell
Annaliese Bol
Sotirios Bougioukos
Juliette Bournay
Yvette Boyse-Peacor
Allison Bozyk
Indigo Braun
Teige Bredin
Georgia Brennaman
Chloe Briggs
Chloe Brown
Audrey Bruner
Chloe Bryant
Ava Buccafurri
Christopher Bullard
Kali Bunce
Leah Bunnell
Tab Burcroff
Maxwell Burg
Mag Burkander
Victoria Burnham
Luke Burzynski
Sara Bush
Ava Butera

C

Amaia Cadenas
Arlanderia Cardenas Estelle
Raymond Cargill
Emmett Carlson
Liam Casey-McFall
Tatum Casper
Stephanie Castillo
Joe Caton
Abigail Caza
Haziel Cerroblanco
Bo Chambers
Savannah Chapie
Lucas Charboneau
Derrick Chen
Parker Ciurla
Eva Clancy
Thomas Clark
Kory Clark
Keegan Clarke
Lilly Cleland
Brendan Clinard
Caleb Coates
Logan Coller
Colby Connor
Isabela Cordeiro
Zeina Coreas
Jayden Costa
Cameron Couch
Holden Coulter
Sebastian Courtright
Henry Cox
Agustin Creamer
Connor Creech
Mia Crites
Cameron Crosby
Kieran Crossley
August Crothers
Gwendolyn Crowder Smith
Skye Crowell
Courtney Cutler

D

Ava Dalton
Ryan Dant
Ethan Daugherty
Hillary Davis
Griffin Davis
Maya Davis
Ian Davis
Lillian Deer
Noel DeFeyter
Sophia Deguzman
Maya Delaney
Jair Delgado
Michael Deluca
Enrique Delzer
Abram Derksen
Luke Desjardins
Maansi Deswal
Noah Devries
Christopher Dewitt
Michaela Dillbeck
Reed Dixon
Ava Domzalski
Shane Dong
Jordan Doyle
Jack Duggins
Gwyneth Dunaway

E

Benjamin Ebner
Sally Eggleston
Elise Elliot
Owen Ellis
Kai Ellison-Batt
Zachary Emmer
Francis Ernzen
Bradley Eziuka

F

Niklas Fagerman
Fletcher Fahling
James Faletti
Blake Filkins
Mathias Florian
David Fooy
Jessica Forbis
Drew Fortino
Landrie Fridsma
Luke Fried
Sophia Fuller

G

Yamilet Garcia
Angel Garcia
Isaac Garza
Lyrica Gee
William Geiger
Jenna Ghazal
Abigail Gilmore
Vrinda Girdhar
Nathan Gleason
Levi Godin
Laura Goia
Brizza Gonzalez
Charles Gordon
Harper Gorman
Charles Graves
Natalie Greene
Wyatt Greis
Alexis Gross
Sofia Gross
Cole Grupenhoff
Sarah Guerrero Gorostieta
Fiona Guikema-Bode
Kendra Guitar
Oliver Gutierrez

H

Jack Hackwell
Isabelle Hahn
Avery Hall
Ethan Hall
Ella Hanley
Colten Hansen
Kaylee Hanson
Madeline Hanulcik
Bridie Hart
Cameron Hathaway
Dymytri Hayda
Abram Haynes
Jacob Hazlewood
Grace Helmboldt
Regan Helmick
Gerardo Herrera-Sanchez
Layla Hickman
Ashlen Hill
JT Hill
Alyssa Hinkley
June Hobson
Raychel Hodges
Ruby Hogan
Maren Holcomb
Lauren Holcomb
Ronin Honda
Evanne Horrigan
Audrey Horton
Emma Hosier
Scarlett Hosner
Ethan Huebsch
Alek Hultberg
Ethan Hurford
Rachel Hursey
Abigail Hutchison

I

Nora Iapichino
Britt Inman
Weslee Innes
Rispher Irungu
Jackson Isaacs
Jasmine Ivy

J

Gloria Jackson
Rayne Jacobs
Jackson Janderwski
Nolan Jannenga
Rachel Jensen
Jaden Johnson
Caroline Johnson
Isabella Johnson
Hayden Johnston
Eiden Jonaitis
Jaheim Jones
Elizabeth Jones
Gary Jones
Ayako Jurgle

K

Violet Kaplan-Neumann
Isabelle Kastel
Zarey Katherine
John Kaul
Jackson Keefer
Parker Keim
Davis Kelly
Dong Eun Kim
Anwen King
Samuel King
Kendyl Kirshman
Kathryn Klahorst
Elizabetta Klein
Gretje Kooistra-Collar
Halle Korendyke
Carrie Kozlowski
Daryn Krause
Jack Kreckman
Mara Krupka
Shay Kruse
Rohan Kumar

L

Aubrey Laffoon
Annabelle Largent
Olivia Laser
Minh Thu Le
Son Le Dinh Truong
Brayden Ledin
Delaney Lee
Maya Lee
Alexander Ligman
Samuel Linan
Maxwell Lloyd
Marcus Lloyd
Logan Lockhart
Noah Loizos
John Lonsway
Jacob Lovy
Dewen Luo-Li
Mairead Lynch
Addison Lyons
Isabella Lyskawa

M

Madison Magda
Simran Magnan
Kyler Maiorana
Vex Maldonado
Ariadne Markou
Alexandria Mason
Virginia Matta
Matthew Matuza
Benjamin Maurice
Allison Mayer
Vincent McCollum
Jay McDaniel
Fallon McFarland
Kira McManus
Alyssa McNally
Ryenn McRell
Raven Medina
Maximus Mercurio
Jacey Merkle
Carson Merritt
Kieran Metzler
Gavin Meyers
Bernice Mike
Isaac Miles
Madelyn Miller
Marin Miroslavich
Zelda Molitor
Alondra Danahe Montoya Martinez
Mary Ellen Muenzenmaier
Claire Mullins
Allison Murdoch
Jack Murphy
Grace Murphy

N

Genevieve Nagel
Zander Nash
Sebastian Nelson
Lily Nestich
Issac Nget
Yen Giang Nguyen
Theodore Niemann
Will Norwood
Alex Nutt
Calvin Nyeholt

O

Jair Obando
Reece Omodio
B Osborne

P

Chelsea Paddock
Eron Palmer
Renzo Palomino Caceres
Aidan Paquin
Gyuri Park
Sam Pattison
Logan Pearson
Gavin Pejakovich
Alex Pepin
Benjamin Perry
Maya Peters
Katarina Peters
Tess Peters
Anna Phyo
Timothy Pinches
Broderick Plumstead
Mario Pomorski
Bailey Poort
Tadeusz Potocki
Quinten Powers

Q

Brody Quinn

R

London Rabb
Lachlan Rae
Addison Raffenaud
Akaash Raghunath
Jackson Rancilio-Swords
Cory Rapp
Spencer Rasmussen
Eibhlin Reed
Julia Reisor
Sam Reynolds
Lissette Reynoso
Claire Rhames
Rachel Ribaudo
Emmanuel Richardson
Jaycee Rider
Donovan Rinehart
Ella Ringel
Connor Ritchie
Ethan Romey
Amelia Rooks
Brigid Roth
Lucas Ruiz
Eleanor Ryan
Olive Ryder

S

Amelie Sack
Jeremy Salomon
Xavier Sarnaik
Maxwell Saxton
Amelia Saxton
Cecilia Schihl
Tobin Schiller
Molly Schneidewind
Kearsten Schultz
Ava Schwachter
Sophia Schwartz
Aurora Scott
Neve Sena
Geo Servin
William Seymour
Julienne Shaina
Katherene Shank
DJ Sheibar
Eric Sheppard
Halen Sherwood
Saba Sikharulidze
Dawson Skupin
Ana Slouber
Morgan Smith
Jillian Smith
Nelsonkondani Sompa
Haleigh Souder
Sophia Sprick
Katelyn Steinbrecher
Jaegon Stevens
Molly Stevison
Gavin Stewart
Jacquelyn Stoddard
Liliana Stout
Laurel Stowers
Calvin Strader
Zara Strauss
Nolan Surach
Jocelyn Suranyi
Luella Swanson
Zachary Sykes

T

Aiden Taormina
Charlotte Tatara
Arielle Tenner
Kaljona Thaumanavar
William Thomas
Lucia Thomas-Colwell
Lauren Thompson
Christopher Thunder
Lily Toohey
Jey Trebley
Joseph Treder

V

Alexander Valliere
Gavin Van Kampen
Lauren Vanderstelt
Tyler Vanderzanden
Benjamin Vansumeren
Hayley Vanwagoner
Francesca Ventura
Savannah Vincent
Romina Viramontes-Vargas
Lauren Vos
Madison Vrba
Elijah Vue

W

Connor Walters
Seth Wanner
Natalie Ward
Macy Ward
Ryan Warezak
Owen Warren
Nina Warrow
Astrid Westbury
August Westphal
Jillian Whitton
Elisabeth Wilks
Jaden Williams
Ruth Wilson
Siona Wilson
Zoe Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
Sierra Winter
Zaryn Woods
Darius Wright
Michael Wright
Sophia Wrzesinski

Y

Hailey Yoder

Z

Aaron Zekman
Nora Zemlick
Kenzi Zimmerman-Frost
Ashley Zollman

Study Abroad Journey Opens Doors to International Relations 

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When Harper Schrader ’26 arrived last year in Jordan for her study abroad experience, she had never spoken a word of Arabic. Three months later, she returned to Kalamazoo College not only fluent enough to navigate daily life in the Middle Eastern nation, but also with ideas for a career path that would take her back across the globe. 

Today, she interns remotely for the Jordanian embassy in Washington, D.C., combining her passions for journalism and international relations. 

“I definitely couldn’t have imagined this experience had I not attended K,” Schrader said. “Being able to study abroad and graduate on time—while also getting to do my (Senior Integrated Project) abroad and the internship—is cool.” 

Schrader, a Kalamazoo native who came to the College through the Kalamazoo Promise, was drawn to K specifically because of its study abroad opportunities. Unlike some institutions where studying overseas can delay graduation or limit academic options, K’s flexible curriculum allowed her to pursue international experiences without sacrificing other opportunities. 

Choosing the Road Less Traveled 

When it came time to select a study abroad destination, Schrader deliberately avoided the well-trodden paths to Europe that many students take. She considered Senegal and Korea before narrowing her focus to the Middle East, ultimately choosing Jordan, which is also known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 

“I wanted to go somewhere that a lot of people weren’t going,” she said. “I was more interested in the Middle East, so that’s how I narrowed it down.” 

A conversation with a Jordanian international student during her sophomore year helped seal the decision. That student provided invaluable insights into the program and what daily life in Jordan would be like, easing Schrader’s concerns about diving into an entirely new culture and language. 

The program, run through CET Academic Programs—one of K’s partner organizations with centers in China, Brazil and Jordan—required students to take a language pledge upon arrival, committing to speak only Arabic. For Schrader, who had no prior experience with the language, this was daunting. 

“I was a little nervous, but it actually helped having the language pledge, because I was in an environment where that was all I was hearing,” she said. “I started picking up words without realizing it.” 

The program began with two intensive weeks of Arabic instruction before students launched into elective courses. Schrader and her cohort attended classes at a center within walking distance of their apartments, where they were paired with “jirans”—an Arabic term that loosely translates to “neighbors”—who were Jordanian university students that helped with assignments and led cultural excursions around the city. 

Adjusting to a New Reality 

Jordan is home to numerous ancient attractions including two of Schrader’s favorites: Petra, which is an ancient city famous for its rock-cut architecture and water engineering near the modern town of Wadi Musa; and the Citadel, an archaeological site and historic landmark on the highest hill in downtown Amman, offering panoramic city views while showcasing layers of history from the Bronze Age through the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad period. 

For Schrader, exploring these historical treasures became a highlight of her stay, although the experience still had its adjustments and challenges. She began wearing a hijab the day she arrived in Jordan, a personal decision that felt natural in her new environment. 

An unexpected challenge emerged as she navigated the range of perspectives represented among the American students in the program. Many were preparing for government service careers and approached learning Arabic purely in terms of future policy or security work. This experience deepened her commitment to approaching international relations and journalism with cultural sensitivity and respect, values that would shape her academic and professional pursuits. 

Pursuing Journalism in Amman 

Schrader hadn’t thought seriously about journalism until she took an introductory course with Professor of English Marin Heinritz ’99 during her first spring semester. Yet watching journalists like Clarissa Ward and Anthony Bourdain on CNN had already planted seeds of interest, and the class caused those seeds to grow. 

In Jordan, she enrolled in a media course focused on the Middle East, where discussions covered cultural considerations in reporting and the role of social media during the Arab Spring. The class visited the Jordan Times newspaper, where students met with the editor-in-chief to discuss reporting in the region. 

“There are a lot of differences between the U.S. and Jordan when it comes to the customs of interacting with people,” Schrader said. “For example, it wouldn’t be common to have a male person interviewing a woman there, or a woman interviewing a male.” 

She also noted that topics such as royal families and religion are often approached more cautiously if at all out of respect for cultural sensitivities. 

“Someone wouldn’t write something negative about the small Christian population, for example, because it would be seen as disrespectful,” she said. 

Schrader had initially planned to intern with the Jordan Times during her study abroad semester, but scheduling conflicts prevented it. Undeterred, she returned to Jordan this past summer and spent three months working with the English-language newspaper, focusing primarily on digital content and video editing. 

Harper Schrader rides a camel outside Petra while on study abroad in Jordan
Harper Schrader ’26 visited several historical sites in Jordan including Petra, which is an ancient city famous for its rock-cut architecture and water engineering.
Harper Schrader on study abroad in Jordan near the ancient city of Petra
Schrader obtained an internship with the Jordanian embassy in Washington, D.C., shortly after returning from study abroad.
Wadi Rum in Jordan
Wadi Rum, meaning Valley of the Moon or Valley of High Places, is Jordan’s famous desert valley known for red sands, rock formations and ancient inscriptions.

From Study Abroad Student to Intern 

When Schrader returned from Jordan in September, she brought with her not just memories and language skills but a professional opportunity that perfectly merged her interests. A roommate from her study abroad program had worked for the Jordanian embassy, and when Schrader reached out about internship possibilities, the timing proved fortuitous. 

“I applied, not really thinking I would get it just because I don’t have any experience in international relations, but I did get it,” she said. 

Now, working remotely with the embassy’s Information Bureau in Washington, D.C., Schrader monitors press releases, think tank events and social media posts by politicians, compiling them into reports while helping to draft media statements. 

“It’s really fun for me to combine an international relations interest with journalism,” she said. “It’s like the perfect intersection.” 

The position, which she plans to continue until around June, has its limits as only Jordanian citizens can be hired for full-time positions. Yet it has already opened doors and created valuable connections. She has worked with officials close to the ambassador and met other students passionate about Jordan and the Middle East. 

Confronting Media Narratives 

Through her work monitoring international media coverage, Schrader has developed strong opinions about how the Middle East is represented in Western journalism. Although she believes Jordan itself is portrayed fairly, she’s critical of the coverage of other countries in the region. 

“I think especially places like Iraq or Palestine are dehumanized,” she said. In fact, she’s found herself relying less on mainstream outlets such as the New York Times and the Washington Post, instead turning to social media to follow journalists on the ground, particularly in Gaza. 

Jordan hosts refugees from Iraq, Palestine, Syria and Yemen, bringing international recognition. The country maintains a delicate balance—about 60% of Jordan’s population is estimated to be of Palestinian origin, which can create tension when the king maintains relationships with the United States and other Western powers. 

“In Jordan, of course, it can feel frustrating for people if seeing the king, for example, be friends with the United States when a majority of the population there is Palestinian,” Schrader said. “But when you put it into the perspective of Jordan having little natural resources, their biggest strength is that they’re a peaceful country.” 

This understanding of geopolitical complexities is precisely what Schrader hopes to bring to her future career. She’s currently applying to master’s programs to pursue a thesis examining how different regions and wars are represented in media, with a particular focus on how media can manufacture consent for conflicts and military actions. 

Looking Forward 

Schrader’s journey from Kalamazoo to Jordan and back again has been shaped by supportive mentors, including Professor of English Babli Sinha, who serves as her SIP advisor despite Schrader never having taken her classes. 

“She’s inspired me the most,” Schrader said. “She doesn’t make me limit myself when it comes to journalism. She encouraged me with journalism and to follow what I’m passionate about.” 

For her SIP, Schrader wrote a narrative journalism piece about her two visits to the West Bank and Jerusalem during her time in Jordan, including a stay with a family in Bethlehem. “It’s been rewarding to write what I’m passionate about,” she said. 

On campus, she helps run both the student newspaper, The Index, and the literary magazine, The Cauldron. She’s also been involved with Students for Justice in Palestine since her first year and helped revive the Muslim Student Association after returning from study abroad. 

When asked what she’d want Americans to know about Jordan, Schrader’s answer cuts to the heart of why cross-cultural exchange matters. 

“I think that it can be easy to let what we’ve been told about the Middle East come to mind when we’re first thinking about these countries, but it’s really important to go there and to talk to the people,” she said. “You’ll realize that the people your age—and people in general —are more like us than we think. I think that’s the biggest thing.” 

For Schrader, study abroad wasn’t just an academic experience or a chance to see the world. It was a transformative experience that helped her discover her calling. From struggling through her first Arabic conversations to working for a foreign embassy, she’s living proof that stepping outside one’s comfort zone can lead to extraordinary opportunities. 

“It helped me meet other people interested in the same things I’m interested in and opened my eyes up to what I can do outside of what I’m studying at K, which is cool,” she said. 

K Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Kalamazoo Promise

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Editors Note: Carson Williams ’25, a former Kalamazoo Promise scholar, wrote this story for College Marketing and Communication.

On November 10, 2005, then-Superintendent Janice Brown stood in front of a school board meeting and made an announcement that would change the lives of students in Kalamazoo, Michigan: The Kalamazoo Promise. The initiative promised that Kalamazoo Public Schools students who attended KPS for at least grades 9–12 would receive a graduated scholarship covering up to 100% of tuition and mandatory fees at 43 eligible Michigan community colleges and universities, funded by a group of anonymous donors. These donors had gathered previously and recognized “the hurdle that college tuition poses in determining the futures of young people.” They then posed the question: what could students accomplish without worrying about the potential financial burden that often comes when seeking higher education? The Kalamazoo Promise Foundation was their answer. Kalamazoo became the first city in the United States to offer full scholarships. 

As monumental as this announcement was, one of the gaps was that the Kalamazoo Promise could not be used at the private liberal arts institution in the city it was born in: Kalamazoo College. But 10 years after the initial unveiling of the Promise, K and other private schools that were part of the Michigan Colleges Alliance (MCA) declared that they would be joining with the Kalamazoo Promise Foundation, with eligibility beginning in fall of 2015. The Promise would cover funds equal to the average tuition and fees of the undergraduate programs at the University of Michigan, and the MCA institution would cover the rest. Since 2015, 230 Promise scholars have enrolled at Kalamazoo College, 40 of whom were first-generation college students. Currently, there are 85 Promise scholars at K.  

Since partnering with the Kalamazoo Promise, K has worked extensively to ensure that Promise scholars feel welcome on campus and have access to all resources possible. Wraegan Williams is the Promise liaison at K who fulfills this role. “I work closely with colleagues across campus and at the Promise office to proactively address student needs and connect them with academic and wraparound supports to help them thrive both during their time on campus and in their professional pathways as graduates,” Williams said.  

“We are working hard to move from partnership to true collaboration with KPS and the Kalamazoo Promise Foundation,” said Shannon Milan, K’s director of Admission.  “That means creating intentional opportunities for connection, access, and belonging. Our goal has been simple but powerful: to help KPS students see themselves at Kalamazoo College. A place that believes in them, values them, and is ready to walk alongside them as they take their next steps.”  

K has focused on more intentional forms of outreach, including their new annual “Why We Promise” visit day, which salutes the high potential of KPS students and helps them envision their future through K. This day, as well as K’s other forms of outreach to KPS students, have concentrated on a few key messages: possibilities in a place that believes and values students; inspiring students toward curiosity, courage, and community; displaying gratitude to KPS scholars, families, educators, and the Promise team for all of their work to create better opportunities; and highlighting that K is the right choice for students who want to ask big questions and make a difference, because K will challenge, support and celebrate them through each step. 

K promotes the mantra that KPS students who are unsure about leaving their hometown for college “can go far by staying here.”  

“We want KPS students to understand that staying in Kalamazoo doesn’t mean limiting their horizons,” Milan said. “It means launching from a strong foundation. At Kalamazoo College, they can take full advantage of the Promise while still accessing the kind of global, transformative experiences that define a world-class education.”  

Building on that message, K emphasizes what it means by “going far.” One of these ways is through K’s study abroad program, which is also covered by the Promise. Fifty-five percent of K’s Promise scholars have participated in study abroad or study away. Students can also join K’s alumni network that reaches beyond Kalamazoo.  

“Being part of this network means students can remain deeply rooted in Kalamazoo while gaining lifelong global connections.” Milan said.  

Finally, K provides students with opportunities for internships, research and experiential learning that will help them grow outside of K.  

When asked about success stories of the Promise at K, Williams said that all of the successes she has witnessed began with the same belief: “Without the Promise, K wouldn’t have been a possibility.” Through the scholarship, Promise scholars can fully engage in the K-Plan—which unites academics, study abroad programs, independent study, career development, and civic engagement within a flexible and exciting curriculum.  

“The impact is clear: 81% of Promise scholars at K have completed a bachelor’s degree, with many continuing on to graduate school, professional programs, competitive internships, and strong employment outcomes, some right here in Kalamazoo, contributing to the same community that invested in their success,” Williams said.  

“At the heart of the Kalamazoo Promise is hope, and we see that hope come to life every day at K,” Milan said. “The Promise isn’t just about access to college. It’s about believing in the potential of every student in our community. We’re honored to be part of that story!” 

Living the Kalamazoo Promise at K

As a former Promise scholar and K alumna, I am beyond grateful for having the opportunity to learn at an institution like K free of financial burden. I talked to other K students, both alumni and current, who have utilized the Promise scholarship. 

Adam Dorstewitz-Verne ’22 

Adam earned his degree in computer science and economics, with a minor in mathematics. He currently works for baseball tech company Sydex Sports, which supports MLB, MiLB and NCAA baseball and softball teams that use their software for video coaching.  

What does the Promise mean to you personally? The Promise is what gave me the ability to choose the school I wanted to go to without fear of debt. I had the freedom to apply to Michigan-based schools only on how I felt about their program/what they had to offer me, instead of what the financial aid package might look like. The Promise meant college never felt financially unattainable.  

How has the Promise helped you pursue your dreams or goals at K? The Promise helped me get to K, and then after that, the knowledge that I was covered while at K meant finances weren’t in the back of my head as I was studying or pushing for a grade for fear of losing a scholarship. It freed me to just be a student, which is tenuous enough without fearing a grade-based financial aid package. The Promise gave me the flexibility to apply for the scholarship that gave me my first job after college, because I knew that I had the ultimate backup in the Promise and that I could reach for the stars and if I fell, I’d still be covered.

Ella Boyea ’26 

Boyea is a senior at Kalamazoo College with a major in business and a minor in anthropology and sociology. She recently completed her Senior Integrated Project, which included an internship with a bank in Lansing, Michigan, which she obtained through a K alum. At this internship, she helped with financials, marketing and the process of achieving and setting future goals. Boyea plans on heading into marketing after graduation. 

What does the Promise mean to you personally? To me, the Kalamazoo Promise represents an opportunity that shaped the direction of my future. It symbolizes the power of living in a community that cares, and it opened doors I may not have been able to walk through if I didn’t receive this financial stability. Growing up knowing that my education mattered to the people around me created a sense of belonging and motivation. It eased the financial burden of college, allowing me to focus on my academic interests and envision possibilities for myself that I could have only dreamed of before. The Kalamazoo Promise means freedom for people to be able to push themselves to shape who they will one day become.  

Since 2015, 230 Promise scholars have enrolled at Kalamazoo College, 40 of whom were first-generation college students. Currently, there are 85 Promise scholars at K.  

Kalamazoo Promise Scholar Adam Dorstewitz-Verne pitching for the Hornets
Adam Dorstewitz ’22: “I had the freedom to apply to Michigan-based schools only on how I felt about their program/what they had to offer me, instead of what the financial aid package might look like.”
Kalamazoo Promise Scholar Ella Boyea in a Hornets basketball uniform
Ella Boyea ’26: “To me, the Kalamazoo Promise represents an opportunity that shaped the direction of my future.”
Kalamazoo Promise scholar Ala Awad
Ala Awad ’26: “The Promise has allowed me to fully commit to my classes and explore career paths connected to business and healthcare without worrying about tuition.”
Tom Clark holding a tennis racquet
Tom Clark ’27: “Individuals who have been impacted by the Promise belong to a sense of community. There is a shared gratitude for the opportunity that has been given.”
Megan Hybels
Megan Hybels ’26: “Since I had the Promise, I felt better about choosing a major/program [that] I was passionate about, even if it’s less lucrative than other fields.”

How has the Promise helped you pursue your dreams or goals at K? The Kalamazoo Promise has given me the opportunity to attend an amazing school that works to build community, connections, and character. I have learned so much from the wide variety of classes I have taken here, [as] well as from my study abroad program to Madrid, Spain, my junior year which expanded my personality and social life tremendously. I am also appreciative of the clubs I am a part of and the Women’s Basketball team I am on here at K, which I would not have been able to do without the Promise giving me the chance to attend this school in the first place. 

Ala Awad ’26 

Awad is a senior at K completing a business major. He is currently working at his family’s restaurant, Nidal’s Shawarma King, and his future goal after graduation is to head into medical sales. Awad enjoys building relationships and helping people and feels that medical sales is the perfect place for him to grow professionally while staying connected to healthcare.  

What does the Promise mean to you personally? The Promise means support. It took a huge financial weight off my shoulders and gave me the chance to focus on my education and my future. It’s made college feel so possible and has motivated me to work even harder. 

How has the Promise helped you pursue your dreams or goals at K? The Promise has allowed me to fully commit to my classes and explore career paths connected to business and healthcare without worrying about tuition. It’s given me the freedom to build on my skills, take on leadership roles and stay on track toward my goal of going into medical sales after graduation.  

Megan Hybels ’25 

Megan earned her degree in religion with a history minor. She is currently enrolled in a Master of Arts program at Western Michigan University in their comparative religious studies department and is working as a grad assistant for WMU. She plans on working for an interfaith nonprofit in the future.  

What does the Promise mean to you personally? I think a lot of people choose to not go into the humanities because they are afraid they won’t get a job that pays well enough to pay off student loans. Since I had the Promise, I felt better about choosing a major/program [that] I was passionate about, even if it’s less lucrative than other fields.  

How has the Promise helped you pursue your dreams or goals at K? If I hadn’t had the Promise and felt more free to take a wide variety of different classes, I never would have taken a religious studies class and found out that it’s something I’m interested in.  

Tom Clark ’27 

Tom is a junior at K working on a business major with a psychology minor. He plans on pursuing a master’s degree in exercise science. Along with his studies, Tom is on the men’s tennis team.  

What does the Promise mean to you personally? For me personally, the Promise means a lot of different things. Not only does it mean an opportunity to further my education, but it also means family. I was privileged to intern at [The Kalamazoo Promise] and get an inside look at all of the people behind the scenes who are changing countless lives. I already was very appreciative of the gift of the Promise but am even more grateful having seen how much work is actually being done in order to make such a scholarship work.  

I also view the Promise as a sense of community. Whether it be in college, in a professional setting, individuals who have been impacted by the Promise belong to a sense of community. There is a shared gratitude for the opportunity that has been given. It is an easy point of connection to make with someone regardless of age, school, or occupation. Among most people that I have talked to, there is also a sense of willingness to give back. The Promise doesn’t take monetary donations, but giving time and volunteering is a way that people can repay the Promise for what it has done. I have already helped out at a couple of different events where I try to show the younger generation that there is an amazing opportunity for them that can be used in a variety of ways, whether that be a four-year degree, associate’s degree, or a trade school certification. The opportunities that the Promise provides are not given to everyone, so it is your responsibility to make the most of it.  

How has the Promise helped you pursue your dreams or goals at K? It has allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream of being a college athlete. Without the Promise, I wouldn’t have been able to play a sport in college because of the cost of schooling, particularly at K. The Promise has allowed me to further my academic and athletic career, while forming countless relationships with people who I wouldn’t have otherwise met, and changed the trajectory of my life. 

Honors Day Convocation Salutes Student Success

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Hundreds of Kalamazoo College students were recognized Friday, November 7, during the annual Honors Day Convocation for excellence in academics and leadership. Students were recognized in six divisions: Fine Arts; Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures; Humanities; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Social Sciences; and Physical Education. Recipients of prestigious scholarships were recognized, as were members of national honor societies and students who received special Kalamazoo College awards. Student athletes and teams who won Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association awards also were honored. Many of the awards presented are based on outstanding performance during the previous academic year. The students receiving Honors Day awards or recognition are listed below. 

FINE ARTS DIVISION

Brian Gougeon ’81 Prize in Art

  • John Brewer
  • Sara Bush

The Margaret Upton Prize in Music

  • Maya Davis

Charles Cooper Award in Fine Arts

  • Lena Barret
  • James Hauke

Fan E. Sherwood Memorial Prize

  • Bernice Mike

Theatre Arts First-Year Student Award

  • Maya Davis
  • Sebastian Nelson

DIVISION OF MODERN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

LeGrand Copley Prize in French

  • Jessica Forbis

Hardy Fuchs Award

  • Sara Bush
  • Maren Palmer

Margo Light Award

  • Johe Newton Johnson

Department of Spanish Language and Literatures Prize

  • Sarah Guerrero Gorostieta
  • Jay Hernandez

Clara H. Buckley Prize for Excellence in Latin

  • Eleanor Campion
  • Sally Eggleston

Classics Department Prize in Greek

  • Aubrey Benson

Provost’s Prize in Classics

  • Sally Eggleston

HUMANITIES DIVISION

O.M. Allen Prize in English

  • Sarah Guerrero Gorostieta

John B. Wickstrom Prize in History

  • Brit Inman
  • Aliah Mohmand

Department of Philosophy Prize

  • Jessica Forbis
  • Cecilia Gray
  • Arden Schultz

L.J. and Eva (“Gibbie”) Hemmes Memorial Prize in Philosophy

  • Tavi Butki
  • Jessica Forbis

NATURAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS DIVISION

Winifred Peake Jones Prize in Biology

  • Josephine Belsky
  • Chloe Brown
  • Avery Davis

Department of Chemistry Prize

  • Linda Chukwu
  • Carter Haley
  • May Pasillas

First-Year Chemistry Award

  • Teige Bredin
  • Caroline Johnson
  • Katherine Saurez

Lemuel F. Smith Award

  • William Tocco

Computer Science Prize

  • Lena Barrett
  • Alexander Russell

First-Year Mathematics Award

  • Ayako Jurgle

Thomas O. Walton Prize in Mathematics

  • Ingrid Gardner
  • Lauren MacKersie
  • Juniper Pasternak
  • Benjamin Whitsett

Cooper Prize in Physics

  • Nathan Gleason
  • Charles Gordon
  • Caroline Johnson
  • Katelyn Steinbrecher
  • Katherine Suarez

SOCIAL SCIENCES DIVISION

Departmental Prize in Anthropology and Sociology

  • Leila Bank
  • Veda Shukla

William G. Howard Prize in Political Science

  • Bo Chambers

William G. Howard Memorial Prize in Economics and Business

  • Jordan Doyle

C. Wallace Lawrence Prize in Business

  • Jack Duggins
  • Matthew Matuza

C. Wallace Lawrence Prize in Economics

  • Renzo Palomino Caceres
  • Maya Clarren

Irene and S. Kyle Morris Prize

  • Callie Abair
  • Jackson Keefer

Department of Psychology First-Year Student Prize

  • Kay Hanson

PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIVISION

Division of Physical Education Prize

  • Cameron Crosby
  • Addison Lyons

Lauren Rosenthal ’13 Memorial Prize

  • Eleanor Bernas

Maggie Wardle ’02 Prize

  • Maggie Westra

COLLEGE AWARDS

Henry ’36 and Inez Brown Prize

  • Jaylen Bowles-Swain
  • John Bungart
  • Abbie Caza
  • Ella Spooner

Davis United World College Scholar

  • Soyeon Jin

HEYL SCHOLARS: Class of 2029

  • Methmi Amaratunga
  • Stephanie Castillo
  • Eiden Jonaitis
  • Dewen Luo-Li
  • Gwendolyn MacEwen
  • Kaljona Thaumanavar

POSSE SCHOLARS: Class of 2029

  • Elyzet Alfaro
  • Sarah Baker
  • Marley Bell
  • Zeina Coreas
  • Lavar Ganther
  • Marcus Lloyd
  • Vex Maldonado
  • Sophia Mes
  • Zaira Ramirez
  • Coltrane Randolph
  • Jordan Rivas

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS: Class of 2029

  • Drew Abbott

SLAVA-CICA AND SPASA VOYNOVICH SCHOLARS

  • Olivia Schleede

ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA: Class of 2029

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society that recognizes excellence in academic achievement during the first college year. To be eligible for membership, students must rank in the top 20% of their class and earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 during the first year. The students below are members of the Class of 2029 who have met or exceeded those benchmarks and have been invited to join the Kalamazoo College Chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta.

  • Leila Bank
  • Grace Barber
  • Josephine Belsky
  • Derek Blackwell
  • Teige Bredin
  • John Brewer
  • Ellie Britt
  • Chloe Brown
  • Ava Buccafurri
  • Sara Bush
  • Haziel Cerroblanco
  • Bo Chambers
  • Brendan Clinard
  • Toby Comensoli
  • Cameron Crosby
  • Avery Davis
  • Maya Davis
  • Francis Ernzen
  • Max Feliks
  • Mathias Florian
  • Jessica Forbis
  • Nathan Gleason
  • Brizza Gonzalez
  • Cole Grupenhoff
  • Sarah Guerrero Gorostieta
  • Carter Haley
  • Britt Inman
  • Weslee Innes
  • Caroline Johnson
  • Ayako Jurgle
  • Jackson Keefer
  • Ava King
  • Shay Kruse
  • Katelyn Long
  • Mairead Lynch
  • Jay McDaniel
  • Jacey Merkle
  • Aliah Mohmand
  • Meena Moritz
  • Sebastian Nelson
  • Renzo Palomino Caceres
  • Mario Pomorski
  • Brody Quinn
  • Cory Rapp
  • Julia Reisor
  • Wyatt Ruppenthal
  • McKenna Ryan-Elbert
  • Simon Sawyer
  • Halen Sherwood
  • Veda Shukla
  • Katelyn Steinbrecher
  • Calvin Strader
  • Katherine Suarez
  • Nora Zemlick

FINE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

  • Annice Bellows
  • Mag Burkander
  • Emmett Carlson
  • Elliot Corpuz
  • Sophia Deguzman
  • Ale Demea
  • Desmond Distel
  • Molly Duffy
  • Kellen Fisher
  • Ana Lucia Galarreta
  • Ryan Goodrich
  • Lana Gouin-Hart
  • Sofia Gross
  • Sarah Hagan
  • Abram Haynes
  • Scarlett Hosner
  • Aelitta Kazarov
  • Genevieve Nagel
  • Alessi Neder
  • Sam Pattison
  • Benjamin Perry
  • Ellison Redwine
  • Alice Seigner
  • Saba Sikharulidze
  • Ana Slouber
  • Laurel Stowers
  • Zara Strauss
  • Chloe Stuckey
  • Nolan Surach
  • Mathias Takacs
  • Arielle Tenner
  • Lauren Thompson
  • Jey Trebley

MIAA AWARDS

These teams earned the 2024–25 MIAA Team GPA Award for achieving a 3.300 or better grade point average for the entire academic year.

  • Baseball
  • Men’s Basketball
  • Men’s Golf
  • Men’s Lacrosse
  • Men’s Soccer
  • Men’s Swimming & Diving
  • Men’s Tennis
  • Women’s Basketball
  • Women’s Cross Country
  • Women’s Golf
  • Women’s Lacrosse
  • Women’s Soccer
  • Softball
  • Women’s Swimming & Diving
  • Women’s Tennis
  • Volleyball
Teige Bredin performs at a piano
Teige Bredin ’28 performs Intermezzo in “A Major, Opus 118, No. 2” by Johannes Brahms at Honors Day Convocation.
Honors Day Convocation
Four students at Stetson Chapel
Four students at Honors Convocation
Students at Honors Convocation
Students at Honors Convocation
Four students at Honors Day Convocation
Students at Honors Day Convocation
Students participate in Honors Day Convocation
Students participate in Honors Day Convocation at Stetson Chapel on Friday, November 7.
Sarah Guerrero Gorostieta '28 accepts the Department of Spanish Language and Literatures Prize from Professor of English Amelia Katanski '92 at Honors Day Convocation
Sarah Guerrero Gorostieta ’28 accepts the Department of Spanish Language and Literatures Prize from Professor of English Amelia Katanski ’92 at Honors Day Convocation.
Parents, families, faculty, staff and students gather for Honors Day Convocation at Stetson Chapel
Parents, families, faculty, staff and students gather for Honors Day Convocation at Stetson Chapel.
Honors Day Convocation
Students were recognized in six divisions at Honors Day Convocation: Fine Arts; Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures; Humanities; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Social Sciences; and Physical Education.
Students gathered at Stetson Chapel
Students participate in Honors Day Convocation at Stetson Chapel.
Parents, families, faculty, staff and students gather at Stetson Chapel
Parents, families, faculty, staff and students gather for Honors Day Convocation at Stetson Chapel.
Honors Day Convocation
Hundreds of Kalamazoo College students were recognized Friday, November 7, during the annual Honors Day Convocation for excellence in academics and leadership.

MIAA ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL: Student Athletes 2024–25

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association each year honors students at MIAA-member colleges who achieve in the classroom and in athletic competition. Students need to be a letterwinner in a varsity sport and maintain at least a 3.5 grade-point average for the year.

A

  • Callie Abair
  • Fuzail Ahmed
  • Isaac Ahn
  • Maya Alkema
  • Adnan Alousi
  • Mahmoud Alsafadi
  • Emiliano Alvarado Rescala
  • Paige Anderson
  • Eleanor Andrews
  • Jeremy Ardshahi
  • Peyton Arendsen

B

  • Poppy Balkema
  • Carter Bandemer
  • Grace Barber
  • Joseph Basil
  • Conner Bell
  • Eleanor Bernas
  • Derek Blackwell
  • Douglas Blackwood
  • Eleni Bougioukou
  • Jaylen Bowles-Swain
  • Ella Boyea
  • Teige Bredin
  • Ellie Britt
  • Lukas Broadsword
  • Anna Buck
  • Tavi Butki
  • Zachary Butters

C

  • Raymond Cargill
  • Samantha Carpentier
  • Isabella Caza
  • Abigail Caza
  • Trustin Christopher
  • Nathaniel Clark
  • Thomas Clark
  • Logan Coller
  • Jordan Cook
  • Josee Cooke
  • Cate Cotter
  • Derek Courtney
  • Sebastian Courtright
  • Lucy Cripe
  • Mia Crites
  • Cameron Crosby
  • Chase Cummins

D

  • James Dailey
  • Erik Danielson
  • Ethan Daugherty
  • Jacob Davis
  • Carson Deines
  • Ethan DeNeen
  • Alexander Di Dio
  • Taylor Dinda-Albright
  • Jordan Doyle
  • Jack Duggins

E

  • Alden Ehrhardt
  • Rebecca Elias
  • Elise Elliot
  • Chad Ewing
  • Bradley Eziuka

F

  • Sara Finks
  • Alex Fleming
  • Jordan Flink
  • David Fooy
  • Jessica Forbis
  • Landrie Fridsma

G

  • Dillon Gacki
  • William Geiger
  • Mallory Gentry
  • Logan Gillis
  • Makala Goddard
  • Lukas Graff
  • Charles Graves
  • Lillian Grelak
  • Kaitlyn Grice
  • Cole Grupenhoff

H

  • Sydney Hagaman
  • Alison Hankins
  • Colten Hansen
  • Madeline Hanulcik
  • Sophie Hartl
  • Pauline Hawkes
  • Zachary Heikka
  • Gerardo Herrera-Sanchez
  • Maya Hester
  • Alyssa Hinkley
  • Garrick Hohm
  • Timothy Hollern
  • Ronin Honda
  • Jaelyn Horn
  • Tyler Houle
  • Gavin Houtkooper
  • Ethan Huebsch
  • Alek Hultberg
  • Kennedy Hynde

I

  • Carson Ihrke
  • Macy Ivins

J

  • Nolan Jannenga
  • Halley Johnson

K

  • Seth Keana
  • Jackson Keefer
  • Alyson Kemery
  • Samuel King
  • Ava King
  • Alexander Kish
  • Kathryn Klahorst
  • Mart Klenke
  • Toni Koshmider
  • Julia Kozal
  • Daryn Krause
  • Jack Kreckman

L

  • Jordon Larco
  • Braeden Lavis
  • Annmarie Lawrence
  • Maya Lee
  • Aidan Liedeke
  • Alexander Ligman
  • Addison Lyons

M

  • Kyler Maiorana
  • Natalie Maki
  • Larson Makie
  • Alexandria Mason
  • Matthew Matuza
  • Zachary Maurice
  • Benjamin Maurice
  • Grace McGlynn
  • MacKale McGuire
  • Jacey Merkle
  • Rachel Meston
  • Gabriel Meyers
  • Brittany Miller
  • Marin Miroslavich
  • Jackson Mitchell
  • Mary Ellen Muenzenmaier
  • Elizabeth Muenzenmaier
  • Andrew Munger

N

  • Mackenzie Newhall
  • Robert Newland
  • Emma Newlove
  • Maeve Nolan
  • Allison Nutt

O

  • Gabriel Olivier
  • Nicholas Olmeda
  • Tyler Omness

P

  • Brennan Pannucci
  • Alex Pepin
  • Patrick Perez
  • William Plesscher
  • Evan Pollens-Voigt
  • Mario Pomorski
  • Juliana Pullen

Q

  • Brody Quinn

R

  • Elizabeth Rachiele
  • Spencer Rasmussen
  • Liam Regan
  • Keegan Reynolds
  • Jaycee Rider
  • Cody Rigley
  • Sheldon Riley
  • Donovan Rinehart
  • Amelia Rooks
  • Luke Rop
  • Charlotte Ruiter
  • Wyatt Ruppenthal

S

  • Zenaida Sackett
  • Simon Sawyer
  • Cecilia Schihl
  • Leo Schinker
  • Annika Schnell
  • Sophia Schwartz
  • Eric Sheppard
  • Colby Skinner
  • Dawson Skupin
  • Jillian Smith
  • Jonah Spates
  • Ella Spooner
  • Adam Stapleton
  • David Stechow
  • Jacquelyn Stoddard
  • Grace Sweet

T

  • Levi Thomas
  • William Thomas
  • Vincent Tran

V

  • Anthony Valade
  • Gavin Van Kampen
  • Lucy Vandemark
  • Hannah Vander Lugt
  • Lauren Vanderstelt
  • Tyler Vanderzanden
  • Cameron VanGalder
  • Mitchel VanGalder

W

  • Annslee Ware
  • Riley Weber
  • Jordan Wesaw
  • Ava Williams
  • Gretchen Wilson
  • Alexander Winter
  • Darius Wright

Y

  • Hailey Yoder

Grammy-Award Winners to Perform at K

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A Grammy-award winning musician and storyteller will team up with a Grammy-award winning string quartet for a concert coming soon to Kalamazoo College with support from the Department of Music. 

Robert Mirabal—an elder of the native American Taos Pueblo community—and ETHEL will share a united performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 13, at Stetson Chapel. The collaborators, through years of friendship, have developed a blend of joy, compassion and virtuosity in their previous programs including Music of the Sun, The River and Song for Taos. 

Together, they offer a ceremony of original music, movement and wisdom through a new program titled The Red Willow, commissioned by the Taos Chamber Music Society. The pinnacle of the program is the central work, The Red Willow Suite. 

ETHEL and Mirabal have performed across the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia together, and are sure to be appreciated by local audiences. Advance tickets are available online through the Connecting Chords Festival website. General admission is $22; seniors, veterans and active military are $18; ages 25 and under are $5; and a family of two adults and children are $40. Tickets also will be available at the door for $25, $20, $5 and $40 for these same groups. 

For more information on the performance, contact Connecting Chords at 269.382.2910 or director@mfsm.us. 

Grammy Award Winners Robert Mirabal and Ethel
Robert Mirabal and Ethel will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 13, at Stetson Chapel.

Shakespearean Comedy Enters the Disco Era at Festival Playhouse

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Jack Dewey ’27 will have a handful of flamboyant costumes to wear, including a bright blue velvet suit, when he plays a not-so-typical King Ferdinand of Navarre in the Shakespearean Love’s Labour’s Lost, coming to the Festival Playhouse.

Running November 6–November 9, the show takes the Bard’s witty comedy about love and vows and spins it into a vibrant 1970s spectacle filled with music, dancing and retro flair.

“We’ve got flashing lights, dance numbers, sequined costumes—everything is colorful, loud and alive,” Dewey said. “It’s less like seeing Shakespeare and more like watching Mamma Mia.”

Originally written in the 1590s, Love’s Labour’s Lost follows four noblemen who swear off women and worldly pleasures to focus on their academic studies—until a visiting princess and her ladies arrive, undoing their oaths. In this production, Dewey and his fellow lords are reimagined as having the swagger and energy of college fraternity brothers, complete with banter, bravado and bad decisions.

“I’ve never played someone who’s just an absolute jerk before,” Dewey laughed. “In most of my roles, I’ve been the hopeless romantic or the sad guy. This time I get to be a switchblade-comb-wielding, smooth-talking, terrible flirt, and it’s so refreshing.”

Four cast members of Shakespearean comedy Love's Labour's Lost Rehearse at Festival Playhouse
The cast of the Shakespearean comedy “Love’s Labour’s Lost” includes Hannah Ulanoski ’26 as Marcade (from left), Jack Dewey ’26 as King Ferdinand of Navarre, Morgan Smith ’29 as the Princess of France and Max Wright ’26 as Boyet.

The decision to set the play in the 1970s, Dewey said, came from the creative team’s desire to capture an era defined by liberation and self-expression.

“All of our costumes are incredibly sequined and shiny,” he said. “The ’70s were about freedom and individuality, and that fits perfectly with the play’s humor and feminist themes.”

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dewey said he hadn’t heard of Kalamazoo College until he began receiving recruitment emails. One campus visit changed his future, helped in part by having family living in southwest Michigan. 

“I stepped foot on campus and thought, ‘This is what I want my college experience to look like,’” he said.

Since becoming a student at K, Dewey has performed in Eurydice and Little Shop of Horrors. Even with that experience, Love’s Labour’s Lost is his most physically demanding role.

“We’re running, sliding and lunging, all while speaking in Shakespearean English,” he said. “It’s wild, but this cast makes it so much fun.”

That cast includes several first-year students, including Morgan Smith as the princess of France; Jey Trebley as Berowne; Sam Pattison as Dumaine; Dewen Luo-Li as Rosaline; Laurel Stowers as Maria; and Abram Haynes as Longaville. Dewey said their energy has transformed rehearsals into what he calls the best kind of organized chaos.

“Half the cast are first-years, and they’re so loud, outgoing and funny,” he said. “It’s incredible to see the youngest people leading the charge.”

He also credits acting leaders such as Bernice Mike ’26 as Katherine, Owen Ellis ’27 as Costard and Max Wright ’26 as Boyet for the experience they bring to the cast. Despite the challenges of Shakespeare’s language, Dewey said the company’s modern take makes the story accessible and hilarious.

“I don’t always know what every word means, but I know what my character is trying to say,” he said. “That’s what makes it fun, translating Shakespeare’s intentions into something audiences can feel.”

For anyone hesitant about seeing Shakespeare, Dewey insists this production will change their mind.

“If anyone wants to dip their toes into Shakespeare, this is the play to see,” he said. “It’s an hour of chaos, comedy and color.”

Love’s Labour’s Lost will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 6–Saturday, November 8, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 9. Tickets are available through the Festival Playhouse box office website and by phone at 269.337.7333. For more information on the production, contact Theatre Company Manager Kirsten Sluyter at Kirsten.Sluyter@kzoo.edu.

Ford Made Cars But Religion Drove Him

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Henry Ford built cars, but author and scholar Kati Curts will highlight in an upcoming Kalamazoo College event how religion often drove him. 

Curts, an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of the South, will deliver the 2025 Armstrong Lecture, titled How Ford Transformed Religion in America, at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, November 4, in the Olmsted Room in Mandelle Hall. This event, presented by the Department of Religion, is free and open to the public. 

In her book Assembling Religion: The Ford Motor Company and the Transformation of Religion in America, Curts explores Ford’s life as a devout Episcopalian, reader of New Thought philosophies, and fervent believer in efficiency as a moral duty with his business functioning as a kind of ministry. Her public talk will provide a religious history of Ford and the Ford Motor Company, repositioning them within critical studies of religion and examining how Ford helped transform American religious life in the 20th century. 

The Armstrong Lecture series at K is made possible by the Homer J. Armstrong Endowment in Religion, established in 1969 through generous donations honoring Armstrong, an eminent pastor and longtime trustee of the College. 

For more information, contact Academic Office Coordinator Sarah Bryans in the Department of Religion at Sarah.Bryans@kzoo.edu. 

Portrait of Kati Curts
Kati Curts, an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of the South, will deliver the 2025 Armstrong Lecture at Kalamazoo College.

Freedom Reads Founder to Visit Kalamazoo

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Kalamazoo College will help explore how art and paper can help us imagine freedom as the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership partners with the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA), Western Michigan University (WMU), and Kalamazoo Valley Community College to welcome Reginald Dwayne Betts for a series of community events in November. 

Betts—an author, MacArthur Fellow, Yale Law School graduate and the founder of Freedom Reads—has transformed access to literature in prisons across the country. Since its founding in 2020, Freedom Reads has opened more than 500 Freedom Libraries in 13 states with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The facilities offer spaces for conversation and reflection that connect incarcerated people with the power of books and imagination. 

Betts’ Kalamazoo visit will coincide with the KIA exhibition Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper, which explores the expressive potential of Japanese handmade paper through the work of nine contemporary artists. Betts’ solo theatre piece, Felon: An American Washi Tale, similarly draws on the creative and liberatory possibilities of paper, incorporating a set designed from “prison paper” made from the clothing of incarcerated men. 

Public events will include the following: 

  • 7–8:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 12: Betts will discuss his latest poetry collection, Doggerel, at WMU’s Multicultural Center in the Adrian Trimpe Building, 1003 Ring Road South. A book signing will follow. 
  • 7 p.m. Thursday, November 13: Betts will deliver a public lecture at the KIA, discussing Felon: An American Washi Tale, and performing an excerpt from the show. 
  • 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 19: The KIA’s Meader Fine Arts Library will host a discussion of Felon. Please note that Betts will not attend this event. 

All programs are free and open to the public; some additional events are offered specifically for college students, including a student meet-and-greet at the Arcus Center before the Friday night discussion of Doggerel and a college tour of Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paperon Thursday, November 13. Learn more and register at kiarts.org/betts. 

Portrait of Freedom Reads Founder Reginald Dwayne Betts
Freedom Reads Founder Reginald Dwayne Betts