WMU’s 15-member roster—composed entirely of aviation flight science majors—secured fifth place in ground events, fifth place in flight events and third place for the prestigious Judges Trophy.

For doctoral student Bincy Binny, continuous curiosity and innovation are the future of science. Binny, an international student from India, studies chemistry at Western Michigan University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Inspired by her family's legacy and her high school business teacher, Gracie Feckovics found her true calling in Western Michigan University’s business education program. Through campus involvement and hands-on pre-internship experiences, she is already applying real-world skills like universal design learning to create accessible classrooms for future students.

Mac Rincon is retiring from his second career as a faculty member in the Department of Marketing. His focus has been on developing courses that are engaging and interactive. As an alumnus of Western Michigan University, his teaching role has extra significance. 

Paul Gallagher, associate dean for resources and technology, created ReadReady, a new tool to remediate thousands of PDFs to help Western Michigan University students access critical educational content and comply with a looming digital accessibility deadline in the United States. 

After 40 years of helping students develop their career pathways, Geralyn Heystek, long-time director of the Zhang Career Center at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business, is retiring. Her impact on students has been memorable—her commitment to Western unparalleled.

An active researcher and dedicated teacher, Dr. Ann Veeck has had an impact with students and colleagues across generations. Her own emphasis on lifelong learning has helped her continually learn from her students throughout her career. After 28 years, Veeck is now retiring with plans to continue her research.

Dr. Jack Hartnell, an honorary associate professor of art history at the University of East Anglia in England and head of research at the National Gallery, London, earned the award for his book “Wound Man: The Many Lives of a Surgical Image.”

Western Michigan University music alumnus Henry Koperski has racked up an impressive portfolio since graduating in 2011, performing alongside world famous pop stars and theatre performers while also creating his own music.

"This is the best day ever!" said 13-year-old Vail Fear as he wrapped up an immersive tour of Western Michigan University's College of Aviation. A collaboration with Make-A-Wish Illinois, the young aspiring aviator had a chance to get into the cockpits of multiple aircrafts, test out state-of-the-art 737 MAX and Cirrus G7 simulators and check out plane engines in technical operations laboratories.

After 24 years with Western Michigan University, Dr. JoAnn Atkin is retiring and leaving a legacy of strong relationships with students and alumni. Her service to WMU Haworth and impact in the classroom has been recognized with multiple awards.

Dhani James, a double major in Spanish and special education, recently completed a transformative semester abroad in Costa Rica. Through the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, James balanced cultural immersion with a specialized internship at the Instituto de Perfeccionamiento en Educación y Desarrollo.

The conference featured workshops, panel discussions and a college fair to help students navigate admissions and financial aid, explore emerging career fields, and prepare for the transition to higher education.

Three Western Michigan University students majoring in food marketing have been awarded scholarships from Grocery Manufacturers' Representatives (GMR) of Grand Rapids. Grace Carlyle of Plainwell, Michigan, Samantha Shaffer of Dearborn, Michigan, and Samantha Steiner of Troy, Michigan, were recognized for their academic excellence and commitment to building careers in the food marketing industry.

WMU alumna Kelly Alvarez, a statewide leader in multilingual education, was honored with the Spirit of Excellence Award for her lasting impact on multilingual learners and educators across Michigan.

Western Michigan University business students once again distinguished themselves as top finishers at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference, which included 1,200 competitors from across the world. Five WMU Haworth students placed in the top three in the international competition.

Western Michigan University is recognizing one of its alumni, as Erik Meerschaert, a 2009 graduate of WMU’s special education program, has been named the 2026–27 Michigan Teacher of the Year.

Madison Vogel, a music education student turned a mock interview into a real teaching opportunity, and ultimately a position leading a secondary choral program at Schoolcraft Community Schools.

Fashion student, Dagny Gulledge designed "Matcha Slumbers," a sustainable, Eastern-inspired sleepwear collection crafted from upcycled fabrics naturally dyed with real matcha tea to promote peace and relaxation.

A personal essay from WMU Student Anniya McWhorter about her decision to study abroad in Singapore. 

Western Michigan University aerospace engineering student Tom Scott celebrated a historic milestone as his Thin-Sat payload launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to become the University’s first satellite in space. Developed through the Western Aerospace Launch Initiative (WALI), this student-led research mission now orbits in the ionosphere to collect critical data on spacecraft charging and plasma density.

Multiple product design students walked away winners at Western Michigan University’s Venture Studio Pitch Night. Now, the budding entrepreneurs have the tools they need to take their inventions to the next level.

Western Michigan University supply chain management student Jadazay Ledbetter transitioned from classroom to career by leveraging internships, networking at national conferences and taking advantage of other Experience-Driven Learning opportunities.

Students in Western Michigan University’s Social Work with Communities course recently visited Gerald R. Ford International Airport for a behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale community programs are designed to serve the public.