MBA students recently competed in the final round of the WMU MBA Case Competition, where an elite final four teams presented their innovative strategies to a panel of executives.

Flags on all campuses of WMU will be lowered Friday, May 8, in honor of Navy SEAL Brett Allen Marihugh, of Livonia., who died following a training accident Sunday, April 26.

Tyler Lemke and his team earned the Whirlpool Award for his company, AutoMowticCo. A second WMU team, represented by Kevin Wolf, was named a finalist in the competition

The highest honor the University can bestow on an undergraduate—designation as a Presidential Scholar—was awarded this spring to 46 students in the 6,067-member senior class.

At its April 22 meeting, the WMU Board of Trustees approved the retirements of six employees. Trustees also signed off on six faculty resignations as well a change in department affiliation for one faculty member.

An online, random lottery to determine which 7,000 WMU students will get a free game ticket to the Sept 4. matchup in Waldo Stadium. The registration deadline for the lottery is Monday, Aug. 3.

The Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies and Special Education and Literacy Studies departments are hosting "Teacher Appreciation Celebration: Learning Together" from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, in 1920 Sangren Hall.

The University Staff Compensation Project is moving quickly to completion with new job title guidelines developed and the final assignment of University positions to the new pay structure nearly complete.

Grants to WMU nearly hit the $2.4 million mark in March, pushing the year-to-date total to almost $25 million. Grants for research closed in on $1 million, followed by grants for instruction at almost $800,000.

Four commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 2, in Miller Auditorium for select groups of students. The ceremonies are set for 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Larry E. Syndergaard, WMU professor emeritus of English, died April 15 in Kalamazoo. He was 78. A memorial service and celebration of his life is planned for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 31, in the Fetzer Center.

Organizations of all sizes and industries will receive much needed operational help thanks to the workshops, offered by WMU's Center for Integrated Supply Management and the APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter.

Illumipong, an innovative beer pong table, took top honors at the recent Pitch Competition as well as won the $300 People's Choice Award. The pitch was delivered by Tyler Schramm.

Acting during their April 22 meeting, WMU trustees approved a proposed purchase agreement that will result in the addition of another hangar facility to the College of Aviation campus at Battle Creek's W.K. Kellogg Airport.

Following a tried-and-true method of promoting ecological health, managers of WMU's Asylum Lake Preserve have scheduled a prairie burn for April 25 or 26, weather permitting.

Acting at its April 22 meeting, the WMU Board of Trustees approved a 3.3 percent increase in room and board rates for the 2015-16 academic year to provide continued support for educational campus living facilities.

A team of sales students from WMU has captured third place out of 67 teams competing in the National Collegiate Sales Competition, while one student finished second overall.

WMU junior David Bere of Kalamazoo was named a 2015 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact for being a promising student leader who has demonstrated an investment in his community.

The Confucius Institute at WMU is accepting registrations for spring Chinese culture courses that begin the week of May 18. The six-week, low-cost courses are open to the public.

Area residents and community leaders will learn about the opportunity gap in America and what local communities can do to close it during a presentation April 30 by Dr. Richard V. Reeves of the Brookings Institution.

WMU officials celebrated research excellence at the University and the recent successes of numerous faculty and staff members during an Excellence in Discovery luncheon this winter.

Amanda Barkman and John Schneidenbach each will receive $20,000 over four years to pursue a degree in community and regional planning, geography, or tourism and travel.

The free videos on autism assessment and intervention techniques, developed by Dr. Wayne Fuqua, are available online, with additional videos under development.

Applications are due Friday, May 1, for classes that will begin in September. The unique hybrid program features online learning, limited face-to-face sessions and evening classes.

The Burris Family Flight Science Scholarship will provide $25,000 per year for a term of four years for a West Michigan Aviation Academy student to pursue a flight science degree at WMU.

Princilla Ursery, who is majoring in clinical mental health counseling and is enrolled in the Specialty Program in Alcohol and Drug Abuse program, was chosen for  a coveted addictions counselor fellowship.

University Chorale and new music ensemble Birds on a Wire are featured performers on the newly released album "Contemplating Weather," a collection of works by renowned composer Paul Lansky.

After going through an extensive assessment and examination process by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Sindecuse Health Center has had its accreditation renewed by the organization.

Dr. Jonathan Bush, English, was one of 47 emerging college and university leaders named an American Council on Education Fellow for the 2015-16 academic year.

An airport property acquisition is also on the agenda for a formal meeting of the WMU Board of Trustees when it gathers at the WMU College of Aviation Wednesday, April 22.