May 2013 WMU News

Students from WMU's School of Music took home six coveted awards in DownBeat magazine's annual student music competition, third most of any college or university worldwide.

Musicians from Kalamazoo and the surrounding area, many with ties to WMU, will perform for free at 4 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 18 in Bronson Park downtown. The rain location is First Baptist Church.

The Association of Operations Management has honored WMU as its Educational Partner of the Year. In addition, integrated supply management major Rian Caldwell was named the APICS student of the year.

The celebratory gathering is planned for 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, June 7, and is open to all. Reservations are required and can be made at mywmu.com/bigelowhoekje.

Demetria Jones worked in the in the School of Social Work's field education office from 2012 until her graduation in April. She is among 66 student employees nominated for the honor.

Five candidates for the position of dean of the College of Fine Arts will visit campus May 29 through June 6. Each will give a public presentation in 2020 Fetzer Center.

Except for essential and emergency services, University offices will be closed and all classes canceled Monday, May 27, in honor of U.S. Memorial Day. Classes and regular hours will resume Tuesday, May 28.

WMU is offering a series of presentations and a workshop for graduate students, faculty and staff on creating and using digital research. The series begins Thursday, May 30.

Zheng "Rachel" Wei, graduate student in paper and imaging science and engineering, and Dr. Margaret Joyce, professor of paper and chemical engineering, both earned awards at a recent industry conference.

New freshman and transfer students will be on campus this summer for orientation. Registration is already full for many freshman orientation sessions, which begin Monday, June 3, and run through Tuesday, July 2. 

WMU's precision flight team, the Sky Broncos, took fifth place in this year's National Intercollegiate Flying Association's championship competition, held May 6-11 at Ohio State University.

A suspect was taken into custody two and a half hours after a pair of assaults was reported this morning on WMU's West Campus, and stolen property was recovered.

The book selected for WMU's second Universitywide common read is "Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong" by the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Raymond Bonner.

The College of Aviation is staging a golf outing Saturday, June 15, in Battle Creek, Mich., to raise funds for its student organizations. Registrations are being accepted until June 1; sponsors and donations are needed.

Dr. Carla M. Koretsky, professor of geosciences and associate dean of WMU's Lee Honors College, has been named dean of the Lee Honors College, effective July 1.

"The Living Room" with host Allison Downey, associate professor of teaching, learning and educational studies, has won an Excellence in Broadcasting award from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

Gov. Rick Snyder has appointed Dr. Michael Nassaney to fill a vacancy on the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission, which preserves and promotes the legacy of the Underground Railroad's Freedom Trail in Michigan.

Local people who dress the part of parodies, spoofs and characters will parade along the streets of downtown Kalamazoo at the annual Do Dah Parade Saturday, June 8.

U2 tribute band U2 Zoo and rock band Candlebox will be featured alongside traditional Greek fare at the 37th annual Kalamazoo Greek Festival Thursday through Saturday, June 6-8, at Arcadia Creek Festival Place.

Original works of arts and fine crafts will be sold along the downtown Kalamazoo Mall from Michigan Avenue to Lovell Street Friday and Saturday, June 7-8.

Five WMU staff members received awards from the Administrative Professional Association and the Professional Support Staff Organization during separate events this spring.

A family-friendly Bowling Extravaganza will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at Eastland Lanes to raise funds for Kalamazoo's annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride celebration.

Willard "Bill" Rose will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, May 31, in the Dean's Conference Room of Schneider Hall. His talk will focus on the business paradigm shift for nature centers.

The birds, plants and history of Kalamazoo's Asylum Lake Preserve will be showcased at a public event from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the preserve's Parkview Avenue entrance.

Jack J. Frey, assistant professor emeritus of music, died May 8 at age 91. A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. Monday, May 13, in the First United Methodist Church in downtown Kalamazoo.

Applicants to WMU's master of business administration program now have the option of submitting Graduate Record Exam or Graduate Management Admission Test scores.

Candidates for the position of associate provost for the Haenicke Institute for Global Education will give public presentations Monday through Thursday, May 13-16, in 2020 Fetzer Center.

WMU was named the public sector category winner by the Detroit Free Press in this year's Michigan Green Leader competition. Winners in all categories will be honored at a June 10 event.

In its first year, PITCH: A WMU Business Pitch Competition attracted 32 teams. Sales and business marketing major Nate Norman took first place with his Fish Ninja Labs idea.

Lane and street closures will re-route traffic from WMU's Waldo Stadium through downtown Kalamazoo Thursday, May 23, for the Girls on the Run 5K run and walk.