WMU cadets took home seven gold and two silver badges at the competition for the German Armed Forces Badge at Toledo University Oct. 27-28.

The prestigious award will help two students spend the spring semester overseas, one in South Africa and the other in New Zealand. The third student will spend nearly six months in Spain.

Bye will be honored for his National Scholar Player of the Year achievement at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Luncheon Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Check out what the Student Recreation Center has to offer by visiting the facility Wednesday, Jan. 10, and taking part in tours, free classes, exciting contests and more.

"What is your position in times of challenge and controversy?" is this year's theme, and free, public events include a convocation, march, day of service, educational programs and presentations.

Following a national search, Dr. Satish Deshpande, a longtime WMU faculty member and administrator, will become dean of the Haworth College of Business, effective Jan. 1.

WMU baseball has 23 home games and five home MAC series in 2018. The Broncos will host their first home series against the Butler Bulldogs from the Big East Conference March 16-18.

Numerous global engagement opportunities will be offered in January by WMU and in the Kalamazoo community. All are open to the public, and many are free.

WMU's master's-level program represents "outstanding achievement in quality and content" and is one of just six programs in the world to be certified by the American Society for Engineering Management.

Men's soccer players Zach Bock, a defender, and Brandon Bye, a midfielder, and forward Alex Ruffer, of the women's soccer team, all were named Academic All-Americans by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Following a nationwide search, WMU has named Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy the new vice president for research. Kinzy, currently vice president for research at Rutgers, will take the reins of WMU's research enterprise, effective Jan. 8

WMU had the second-most number of players named to the 2017 Football Academic All-MAC team. All 16 Broncos will now be eligible to be voted as Distinguished Scholar-Athletes by the league.

The Bell's Brewery Development Award will give WMU and KVCC student interns experience in four key departments—quality, brewing, packaging and brewing innovation—over the course of one year.

The sustainability-focused Gibbs House Fellowship program is accepting applications for 2018-19 fellows through Jan. 18. Attend an information session Jan. 12 to learn more.

The Board of Trustees has approved an $8 to $19 monthly rent increase for on-campus apartments and apartment-style residential units, keeping WMU rates in alignment with the surrounding community.

Holiday recess begins with the end of fall semester, and some campus services will cease or have reduced hours starting Friday, Dec. 15, through the start of spring semester Monday, Jan. 8.

A total of $200,915.56 has been pledged, with 34 percent of employees and 11 percent of retirees responding. The president's office will continue to collect pledge cards for those wishing to "Change the Story."

Earl Borr, associate professor emeritus of education and professional development, died Nov. 5 at age 90. Services have taken place.

The WMU Board of Trustees will consider apartment rental rates, a motion to dissolve the WMU Research Foundation, and amendments to the WMU Foundation's bylaws and articles of incorporation Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Before bad weather moves in, learn about WMU's closure policy, snow- and ice-removal procedures, and safe-walking tips.

Dr. Charles Mills, City University of New York, will discuss "Liberalism and Racial Justice" in the final ethics presentation of the semester at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, in 157 Bernhard Center.

Tickets are on sale for Disney's "The Lion King" at Miller Auditorium April 4-15. Now in its 20th year, "The Lion King" continues to be one of the most popular stage musicals in the world.

William H. Cotton, retired director of WMU's Office of Business Development Services, died Sept. 12 at age 75. A memorial service has been held in South Carolina.

Carroll Stump, a retired Western Michigan University custodian, died Nov. 23 at age 80. No memorial service has been scheduled.

During three commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 16, President Edward Montgomery will preside over his first graduation exercises at WMU.

"The Life and Death of Latisha King" will be explored by Dr. Gayle Salamon, author and associate professor of English at Princeton University, at noon Wednesday, Dec. 6.