William J. Kowalski, retired assistant vice president for facilities engineering at WMU, died June 18 in Kalamazoo. He was 91. Memorial guestbook entries can be made at lifestorynet.com.

Nick Dewyer of Chelsea, Michigan, won the Larry Wiehe Solo Competition at the 2014 International Trombone Festival at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York

WMU will grant degrees to more than 1,300 students during two commencement ceremonies. They are set for Saturday, June 28, in Miller Auditorium.

Harvey Overton, a former professor of humanities, died April 16. He was 92. Overton retired from the University in 1982. No information on services is available.

Beginning with the fall 2014 semester, WMU will offer a Master of Science in aerospace engineering. The 30-credit-hour program will allow students to focus on one of three concentrations.

The University has announced this year's winners of its coveted Medallion Scholarships, the highest merit-based award WMU can bestow on an incoming freshman. The 2014 Medallion Scholars will begin their WMU studies this fall.

New state funding will boost number of trained professionals to work with autism and expand services for children and college students. The funding was announced June 20 on campus.

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

Teams of WMU business students and professionals are helping the city of Detroit devise lean systems that will improve the city's overall efficiency—and its bottom line.

The 21st annual Kalamazoo Blues Festival will be Thursday through Saturday, July 10-12, at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo. Admission varies by day.

The WMU chapter of the Society for Excellence in Human Resources has received national recognition from the Society for Human Resource Management for the sixth time in seven years.

The 34th annual Bronco Bash is set for 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, on the pedestrian mall in front of Sangren Hall. Applications are now being accepted for vendor booths and entertainment.

At its June 10 meeting, the WMU Board of Trustees approved the tenure of 26 faculty members. Tenure is granted effective with the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year.

James Bolger of Whitehall, Michigan, will replace Michelle Crumm, who recently resigned. Bolger will serve on the eight-member governing body through Dec. 31, 2020.

Twenty-one faculty members were promoted to the rank of full professor, 22 to associate professor, four to master faculty specialist and seven to faculty specialist II at WMU's June 10 Board of Trustees meeting.

The Kalamazoo Irish Fest is set for June 27-28, at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo. The festival runs from 4:30 p.m. to midnight Friday and from 10:30 a.m. to midnight Saturday.

"Peace During War," depicting the changed lives of two former gang rivals, was produced and directed by Dr. Jennifer Machiorlatti with help from 15 WMU students.

For the fifth year in a row, the southwest Michigan chapter of APICS—the Association for Operations Management—has honored WMU as Educational Partner of the Year at a May 20 ceremony.

A total of 43 outstanding teacher candidates were named as fellows, including 11 who will attend WMU to become master science teachers in high-need secondary schools.

The 10-week Mixer on the Mall concert series is featured Wednesdays June 18 to Aug. 20 on the Kalamazoo Mall. The series begins with the band We Know Jackson and concludes with Fly Paper.

Acting at its June 10 meeting, the WMU Board of Trustees approved a recommendation to increase tuition and required fees for 2014-15 by 3.2 percent.

In a June 10 vote, WMU's Board of Trustees authorized the University administration to implement a new three-year agreement between WMU and its 17-member Police Officers Association.

Meeting June 10, WMU's Board of Trustees approved an estimated general fund operating budget of just over $378 million for the 2014-15 fiscal year that will begin July 1.

University trustees approved a 3.2 percent tuition increase for all regional location courses and set a new tuition structure for undergraduate courses delivered 100 percent online.

Elizabeth Howerton and Sara Karsten will compete in the 2014 Air Race Classic, a cross-country flight competition that dates back to the days of Amelia Earhart.

WMU's Board of Trustees are set to meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, in 157-159 Bernhard Center. Included on the meeting agenda is a discussion of a water main easement for residence hall construction.

Robert Carroll and Andrew Barrowman each received 2014-15 scholarships from the Adcraft Club of Detroit's Adcraft Foundation. They were nominated by Dr. Karen Lancendorfer and Dr. JoAnn Atkin, respectively.

Pop rock, bluegrass, folk, jazz and more musical styles will be displayed at the annual Concerts in the Park. The season kicks off Saturday, June 8, and runs through Aug. 24.

Kalamazoo's Art on the Mall will feature original works of art and crafts. Sale hours are Friday from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 6-7.

WMU has been selected to receive a 2014 Climate Leadership Award, which recognizes the campus for its innovation and leadership in sustainability, from national nonprofit organization Second Nature.