WMU and Kalamazoo will offer numerous global engagement opportunities in April. Highlights include art exhibits, CELCIS conversation circles, jewelry making, family concerts and a choreography showcase.

WMU's Department of Human Performance and Health Education will honor alumni, faculty and student achievements during its Alumni Honor Academy Breakfast from 9:45 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 14, at the Fetzer Center.

Key events kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 7, in Floyd Hall on the Parkview Campus, with concrete canoe races being held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at Ramona Park in Portage.

During two sessions April 12, the University will gather input regarding ideas for constructing a new student center and new student housing as well as developing a South Neighborhood master plan.

WMU's internationally regarded and award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, Gold Company, will perform at the 61st annual Monterey Jazz Festival this fall.

A screening of "Peace During War," a documentary about forgiveness and mentoring youth, will be part of a selection of Transformational Films that start screening at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at the Wealthy Theatre.

Dr. Fritz Allhoff and four WMU students traveled by plane and snowmobile to prepare 300 tax returns for local residents.

The WMU Concert Band will perform with the Portage Central High School Symphonic Band at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at Portage Central High School.

Dr. Xuefei Jin, winner of the prestigious National Book Award and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, will speak at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 5, in 1910 Sangren Hall.

The Spektral Quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Robert White.

"Educational Equity: From the 'Kalamazoo Case' to the Kalamazoo Promise and Beyond," is the topic of a panel discussion at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 2, in 204 Bernhard Center.

The free and open celebration recognizes LBGTQ students' contributions to the University and acknowledges their achievements throughout their collegiate experience.

Graduating seniors from WMU's B.F.A. in dance program will present a concert titled "Beyond the Hourglass" with performances Thursday through Saturday, April 12-14, in the Dalton Center.

Consumers Energy has completed its repairs. The WMU Department of Public Safety and maintenance personnel are verifying that all systems are functioning properly. WMU will open at 10 a.m. for the start of classes and normal business.

Andy Sylvain Hobelsberger, Megan Nicole Miller, Saleh A. Mohamed and Daniel Paul Mozel have been named University Innovation Fellows by Stanford University's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design.

Featured will be a two-week engagement of the spectacular new production of "The Phantom of the Opera" along with "Monty Python's Spamalot," "Cirque Dreams Holidaze" and "Beautiful—The Carole King Musical."

The campus community is invited to bring professional or personal documents and media to be properly destroyed and recycled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 20, in Lot 41 near Sangren Hall.

Dr. Charles "Chuck" M. Woodliff, a professor emeritus of instructional communication and former academic services administrator, died March 17 at age 87. No services are planned.

Dr. Dana Cunningham will speak on "Beyond the Bars: The Impact of Parental Incarceration." during a pair of events Thursday, April 5, in Kalamazoo.

Join the Professional Support Staff Organization Saturday, April 14, as it helps clean up the area around the I-94 and Sprinkle Road interchange for Adopt a Highway. Volunteers must sign up and watch two brief safety videos before participating.

Author Dr. Christian G. Appy, professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, will speak at the free and open event at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, in 1028 Brown Hall.

Playwrights Elaine Romero, Steve Feffer, K. Frithjof Perterson and Tucker Rafferty will read during a free public event set for 7 p.m. Friday, April 6, in 157-159 Bernhard Center.

Kalamazoo County's 20th annual Respecting Differences program, featuring Juana Bordas, will be presented at 9:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. April 10.

Fifty students out of a senior class of more than 5,400 students will be recognized during the 38th annual Presidential Scholars Convocation Tuesday, March 27.

Every student in the WMU Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine's inaugural class matched to a residency slot as part of a nationwide process that is increasingly competitive.

The Latvian Centennial Arts Weekend Saturday and Sunday, March 24-25, at WMU will feature lectures on Latvian art, literature and music, as well as concerts and exhibits.

Sinnie Yzenbaard, a former independent study coordinator in what is now Extended University Programs, died Sept. 12, 2017, at age 101.

Diann J. Miller, assistant professor emerita in what had been the University Counseling and Testing Center, died March 2 at age 76. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Wisconsin at a later date.

Laura G. Manis, an associate professor emerita in what had been the University Counseling and Testing Center, died Jan. 18, at age 93.

Volunteers are needed Friday, April 13, at a location to be determined, and Saturday, April 14, at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo.