Nominations are being accepted through April 5 for awards that will be presented during the Lavender Graduation ceremony, set for April 25, celebrating WMU's lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and ally students.

A screening of the documentary "The Startup Kids," a meet-and-greet with local entrepreneurs and a video chat question-and-answer session with the film's directors begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in 2000 Schneider Hall.

A Flavors of Latin America dinner is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in residence hall dining rooms across campus. Cash, Dining Dollars and meal plans are accepted.

Dr. Leila Bradfield, former assistant professor of sociology, died Tuesday, March 19, at age 86. She joined the WMU faculty in 1983 and retired in 1991 after eight years of service to the University.

The School of Music will hit its 100th anniversary this year as the first university in Michigan to be named an All-Steinway Music School, joining other esteemed schools including the Yale School of Music.

Sixth graders from Kalamazoo Public Schools, who make up the Class of 2019, will continue touring and participating in activities on campus throughout the month of April.

Clyde Gillette, former assistant manager for custodial services, died Tuesday, March 5, at the age of 81. He retired in May 1994 after 15 years of service to the University.

The second "Talent Unveiled" event, featuring the creative work of adjunct faculty, is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the University Center for the Humanities, 2500 Knauss Hall.

Jean Valentine, winner of a National Book Award for "Door in the Mountain: New and Collected Poems 1965-2003," will read at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in the Little Theatre. The reading is free and open to the public.

Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid plans to open a state-of-the art 40,000-square-foot facility at WMU's Business Technology and Research Park by early 2014, and expects to have a Kalamazoo employee base of up to 100.

A 5K run and walk and 1K fun run will take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, to raise funds for WMU honors students studying abroad or in locations around the United States.

A Nonprofit Celebration to be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 15, at the Fetzer Center. Reservations for the event are requested by Monday, April 8, to jasmine.e.maben@wmich.edu or (269) 387-8930.

WMU's Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall, closing out the 2012-13 season of the Bullock Performance Institute concert series.

At its Feb. 27 meeting, the WMU Board of Trustees approved the retirements of 11 faculty and 14 staff and also signed off on three faculty resignations as well as two faculty leaves.

Four participants in day programming and services offered by the Center for Disability Services will display their art through the end of April in the second floor art gallery of the College of Health and Human Services.

Jane Nichols, a retired finance clerk for the WMU Bookstore, died Tuesday, Jan. 8, at age 89. She joined the University in 1968 and retired in 1988 after 20 years of service.

Graduate students and faculty members, who have previously received a Faculty Research and Creative Activities Award will showcase their scholarly work on Friday, April 5, in the East Ballroom of the Bernhard Center.

Brooke Gladstone, host of the National Public Radio magazine "On the Media," will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, as part of the Kalamazoo Public Library's Reading Together initiative.

Windellin S. Ashbrook, a former assistant baker at Burnham Dining Services, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, at age 77. She retired in November 2000 after 10 years of service to the University.

Journalists Nada Alwadi from Bahrain and Delphine Hagland from France will speak Tuesday, March 26, thanks to film students Cassandra Stagner and Wil Granaderos.

Welcome home returning soldiers from the 1433rd Company of the 507th Engineering Battalion of the Michigan Army National Guard at a ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at University Arena.

Award-winning musical "American Idiot" is coming to Miller Auditorium for one performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. Tickets available online, at (269) 387-2300, or at the box office.

Dr. James W. "Bill" Armstrong, associate professor emeritus of education and professional development, died Feb. 23 at age 85. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 22, in Portage, Mich.

Animal Planet's Peter Gros is coming to Miller Auditorium at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 24, for one show featuring storytelling, multimedia and working with wild animals.

Numerous summer camps, including writing, sports and college preparatory camps, are being offered on the campus of WMU for young people. Registration is under way for many of the camps.

Dr. Ruth M. Davis, professor emerita of health, physical education and recreation, died Dec. 16, 2012, at age 89. She retired in 1986 after 24 years of service to the University.

The session, "Higher Education for Veterans," will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, in Battle Creek, Mich., at the Fort Custer Education Center Pentagon Building, Room A181C.

Voting during a special conference-call meeting March 20, the WMU Board of Trustees approved a new three-year contract with the Professional Instructors Organization, a union representing part-time faculty members.

Two WMU professors have been named American Council on Education fellows for the 2013-14 academic year. Fellows are nominated by their presidents and chancellors and selected following a rigorous application process.

The WMU Board of Trustees has scheduled a special conference call meeting for 2:30 p.m. today to consider approval of a new employee contract.