Initial design concepts for the East Hall renovation include the preservation and restoration of signature architectural features such as the cupola, pillared portico and interior central staircase.

The Taste of Kalamazoo runs Thursday through Saturday, July 25-27, at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place and features food from 30 area restaurants and live entertainment.

Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellowship program is designed to provide Michigan's high-need urban and rural schools with teachers who offer cutting-edge preparation and real-world expertise in math and science.

Used residence hall furniture to be sold to the public, while supplies last, Thursday through Saturday, July 18-20, in Bigelow Hall. The sale will feature bunk beds, dressers and desks.

Meeting in formal session at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 18, WMU's Board of Trustees will take up two action items and receive three briefings on major campus initiatives.

Lectures take place at 7 p.m. on successive Wednesdays through Aug. 7. The four-part series will explore America's rich colonial past, its fur trade, military campaigns and the historic French fort in Niles.

The Kalamazoo Film Society will present "The Sapphires" Friday through Sunday, July 19-21, at WMU's Little Theatre. The film is rated PG-13; admission is $5.

Music begins at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo for the second annual R&B/Funk Music Festival.

Three new or returning members of the WMU Alumni Association Board of Directors were elected to serve one-year terms as officers. The appointments are effective July 1.

Beginning with the 2013 fall semester, WMU will offer the Master of Arts in Leadership for Organizational Learning and Performance at its Metro Detroit and Southwest regional sites.

The Seita Scholars program is collecting new items for welcome packs for these students and is in need of essential living and personal health care products. The goal is to have enough items for 50 baskets by Friday, Aug. 9.

Recent graduate Amanda Shuman, of Montrose, Mich., was awarded a prestigious Math for America-D.C. Fellowship. The award includes a full scholarship for master's studies and a living stipend.

Except for essential and emergency services, WMU offices will be closed Thursday, July 4, in observance of U.S. Independence Day. Summer classes will not meet July 4.

The WMU chapter of the Society for Excellence in Human Resources has received its fifth national award in six years from the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Va.

After leading for part of the final day, WMU's solar car, Sunseeker, fell to fifth place after batteries overheated in triple-digit temperatures in Austin, Texas. The race ran June 24-29.

Freshman Mingyuan Yang has taken first place in the International Double Reed Society Young Artist Competition. Yang was one of three finalists chosen by an international panel of judges.

StoryCorps' Military Voices Initiative is in Kalamazoo through Thursday, July 18. All recording slots for the July 16-18 visit are now full. WMU appreciates the high level of interest in this project.

The WMU solar race car, Sunseeker, has finished second in scrutineering at the Formula Sun Grand Prix. The race continues through Saturday, June 29, in Austin, Texas.

Growing up in Woodhaven, MI, Dan Homolek is “not quite sure” how his interest in aviation began. “If you ask my parents, they’ll tell you I loved airplanes from the age of 2.” Searching through the cloudy memories, Dan remembers knowing by 7th grade he wanted to fly as a career. Not that the career was always his first choice.

Mary J. Bullock, retired library assistant in the Education Library, died Saturday, June 22, at age 76. A visitation will be held Sunday, June 30, with a memorial service set for Monday, July 1.

Two WMU alumni, Jeffrey Callard and James Earle Canfield, were honored by the American Academy of Physician Assistants at its annual conference, held May 25-29.

Longtime international education professional Dr. Wolfgang F. Schlör has been named the new associate provost for the Haenicke Institute for Global Education. The appointment is effective Oct. 1.

Sue S. Coates, retired chair of the former Department of Home Economics and Department of Consumer Resources and Technology, died Friday, June 14, at age 86. Online condolences may be left at parkerfuneralservice.com.

The 20th annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival, held Thursday through Saturday, July 11-13, will feature three days of music at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo.

Democratic reform efforts in Myanmar inspired Zaw Thein to earn a master's degree in political science at WMU. He hopes to return to his homeland to participate in the democratic movement.

WMU's Visual Identity Program guidelines hvae been updated. The guidelines are designed to help ensure that units across campus are representing the University in a polished and professional way.

Three new academic programs were approved this spring by the WMU Board of Trustees. The board also approved name changes to several existing academic programs.

An upcoming weekend of activities scheduled for area cyclists features the eighth annual competitive cycling day, set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at WMU's BTR Park.

The Saturday, June 29, commencement will be held at Miller Auditorium, with ceremonies at 9 a.m. and noon. Degrees to be granted include 862 at the bachelor's level, 460 at the master's level and 21 at the doctoral level.

Hedy Habra, WMU Spanish instructor, will sign copies of "Tea In Heliopolis" from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Michigan News Agency, 308 W. Michigan Ave. in Kalamazoo.