The 17th annual Juneteenth Celebration, set for Sunday, June 19, also will feature the staging of a multi-faceted production and dramatic reading.

Live bands and dancers will be featured at this year's Irish Fest on Friday and Saturday, June 17-18, at Old Dog Tavern, 402 E. Kalamazoo Ave., in downtown Kalamazoo.

The Activate: Midwest New Play Festival is set for Thursday through Saturday, June 16-18, in WMU's Gilmore Theatre Complex. All events are free and no reservations are necessary.

Dr. Jessaca Spybrook, associate professor of educational leadership, research and technology, is completing a fellowship with the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness.

The 2016 Kalamazoo Pride event is set for Friday and Saturday, June 10-11, in the Arcadia Creek Festival Site in downtown Kalamazoo.

Clare Regan, a vocal performance and music education student in WMU's School of Music, will perform the role of Princess Margaret in Opera Grand Rapids' production of "The Student Prince."

The event, an evening of music making that requires no auditions and no rehearsals, will feature the Mozart Requiem Thursday, June 9, and the Fauré Requiem Wednesday, July 27.

Warfield was a faculty member in the College of Education for 41 years, retiring in 2013 as associate professor emeritus of educational leadership, research and technology.

Medallion Scholarships are the highest merit-based award WMU can bestow on an incoming freshman. They constitute one of the largest merit-based awards in American higher education.

Hall, a 1965 alumnus of WMU, died Wednesday, June 1, after an extended illness. A memorial service is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, June 11, in Detroit.

The agreement will allow incoming law students to take 15 credits worth of law classes on WMU's main campus, beginning with the fall 2016 semester.

"Mannheim Steamroller Christmas" will come to Miller Auditorium for one performance only at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.

"Dirty Dancing—The Classic Story On Stage" is coming to Miller Auditorium for four performances Friday through Sunday, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2.

Displays of original local artwork; Greek dancing, food and music; a satirical parade through the streets of downtown and an outdoor concert series kick off summer events June 2-5.

Field school begins June 30, followed by summer camps and a lecture series. Events conclude with an annual open house in August.

Dr. Satish Deshpande has been appointed as interim dean of the Haworth College of Business, and Jane Baas will take the reins of the Lee Honors College.

Ursula Barrett, retired staff member in Burnhams Dining Services, died May  8 at age 76. She joined the WMU staff in 1980 and retired in 2006 after almost 26 years of service.

If your family enjoys meeting new people and exploring new cultures, consider becoming a host family for international visitors who will be arriving from Japan in August.

WMU's precision flight team, the Sky Broncos participated in the 2016 National Intercollegiate Flying Association championship, held May 9-14 at Ohio State University.

Stephen Anthony Williams has been named the new general manager of WMU's public radio station, effective July 1.

Registration for 18 courses and four trips offered this summer by the Osher Institute at WMU is underway for institute members and will open Tuesday, May 24, for nonmembers.

Many University offices will be closed and classes canceled Monday, May 30, in honor of U.S. Memorial Day. Classes and regular hours will resume May 31.

Dorene Lois Scheffers, a retired receptionist who most recently worked in Graduate College admissions, died April 17 at age 77.

The group MNOE, made up almost entirely of WMU music students, has started a crowdfunding campaign to pay for a trip to Sonic Ranch near El Paso, Texas, to record its debut album.

Dr. Lee Penyak comes to WMU from the University of Scranton, where he has served in multiple roles since 2000. He joins the Office of Study Abroad May 23.

WMU music students continue their streak of winning multiple awards in DownBeat's annual Student Music Awards, taking five prizes in this year's contest.

Paule Miller, associate professor emeritus of languages and linguistics, died May 1 at age 91. A celebration of her life will be held from 5 to 7  p.m. Friday, June 3, in Kalamazoo.

High-achieving Michigan high school students have been awarded scholarships worth $15,000 annually over four years.

Joshua Teo, a graduate research assistant studying mechanical engineering, received the award for his invention Durabilika, an interactive cloud-based durability analysis software.

Julie K. TerMeer, a staff member in the Sindecuse Health Center, died May 11 at age 44. A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17.