Extended Excelsior News

K-Central Choir Selected for Top Rating at State Festival

Congratulations to Kalamazoo Central choir students who received an excellent “1” rating at State Solo and Ensemble Festival at Allendale, Mich. The choir students are Aaliyah Averhart, Margot Champagne, Chelsea Chavez, Marina Gutierrez, Alli Kelley, Kasey Meishiri, Terence Mills, Marlyre Morrison, and Katrina Price.                                                                                  Photo: The Kalamazoo Central Choir

Excellence in Education Honors Winners for 2010

The Excellence in Education program, which marks its 24th anniversary this year, recognized 56 Kalamazoo County students for their academic achievements during a reception in their honor. Each selected student had the opportunity to recognize two educators who were significant in his/her K-12 education. The program also awarded 12 Educator Incentive Grants for the 2009-2010 school year. 

 KPS teachers, Ryan Bailey and Jennifer Young Heymoss, were awarded the Two-Educator Incentive Grant. Having been accepted into the Cultural Connections project through WMU, Bailey and Young Heymoss will take part in a five-week field work experience. The field work will take place in West Africa and France.

 Michelle Wilson-Banks, high school mathematics facilitator, won the District/Multi-District/School Cluster Grant. Through the Anti-Racism Team and the Anti-Bias Education Network, Wilson-Banks will develop an annotated bibliography and assemble a set of resources focused on the four goals of anti-bias/anti-racist curriculum. This curriculum can then be used by secondary educators.

KPS students honored:

Kalamazoo Central (KC)

Simon J. Boehme     College: University of Michigan      Career: Political Science/Business

Significant Educators: Vickie Winfield and Kathryn Dahl

Cara Cunliffe     College: Western Michigan University      Career: Nursing

Significant Educators: Daniel G. Carlson and Mark Branch

Cindy Lee      Career: Medicine

Significant Educators:     Ryan A. LaBudda and Maggie Naoum

Yasmeen Naoum     College: University of Michigan

Significant Educators:   Elaine G. Sayre and Maggie Naoum

Kelsey-Ann Wessel      College: University of Michigan      Career: Writing

Significant Educators:   Julie Scott and Christopher Bullmer

KC and Education for Employment

Thomas Groesbeck     Career: Engineering

Significant Educators:   Josh Gottlieb and Daniel G. Carlson

KC and Western Michigan University

Melissa Resnick      College: University of Michigan      Career: Engineering

Significant Educators:   Gina M. Bonebrake and Mark Branch

KC and Education for the Arts

Kelsey A. Socha   College: University of Michigan  Career:

Communications/Theatre Design & Production

Significant Educators:   Jackie Bynum and Rex Hafer

Loy Norrix High School

Brooks Allwardt

Significant Educators:    Matthew J. Porco and Anne Gray Bowser

Marleena Broekema    College: Michigan State University   Career: Political Science/Public Affairs

Significant Educators:  Corey O'Bryan and Matthew J. Porco

LN and KAMSC

Joseph Billian     College: University of Michigan

Significant Educators:   Barbara Ridge Felkel and Matthew J. Porco

 Megan Davis      Career: Education

Significant Educators:  Anne Gray Bowser and Barbara Ridge Felkel

 Hannah Marie Duke     College: University of Michigan     Career: Education

Significant Educators:   Matthew J. Porco and Anne Gray Bowser

Note: Where college and career preference do not appear, the student is undecided.

 Photos:  Simon J. Boehme,  Cara Cunliffe,  Thomas Groesbeck,  Cindy Lee,  Yasmeen Naoum,  Melissa Resnick,  Kelsey A. Socha,  Kelsey-Ann Wessel,  Brooks Allwardt,  Joseph Billian,  Marleena Broekema,  Megan Davis, and Hannah Marie Duke.

 KIA 2010 High School Area Show

Carol Buck, art consultant for KPS, is very proud of the KPS students who had their art selected for the KIA Area High School Show. “We had 27 works of art created by 23 students in the show. Competition was very stiff this year with 397 works of art submitted from students all over South West Michigan. Out of that 397 the juror accepted only 117.”

 Susan Eckhart from the KIA wrote: "Congratulations to KPS teachers and students for all their entries. It is a lot of work for teachers and an intimidating thing for students to submit work. I'm so pleased KPS are very well represented in the exhibition.”

 “The KPS art teachers are truly dedicated professionals,” Buck continued, “and this tribute goes not only to the students but to the entire art staff K-12. To Cindy Vanlieu, Nancy Mollhagen, Holly Stephenson, Mark Voege, and Eva Erickson (KPS art teachers), a tremendous thank you for all the work you did to submit your students work and help them receive this honor.”

 Here are the names of the KPS students who had works of art in the show.

Loy Norrix:  Carrie Hoekstra (2),  Klee Pergon (2),  Rogelio Almaguer,  Gregory Adams,  Jared Eckley,  Rachel Junker,  Stephanie Knowlton,  Frances Lesatz,  Anthony Lindahl,  Tumar Boatar Otgontsetseg,  Kyle Peckhem, and Willie Smith.

LoyNorrix/KIA Kirk Newman Art School:  Ava Feirer-Garrison (2) and Lisa Freeman (2)

Kalamazoo Central:  Megan Greer,  Kendra Hutchings,  Kashmira Meisheri,  Elizabeth Morales (special recognition),  Melania Plasko,  Hanna Steinmann,  Samara Woolfolk.

Kalamazoo Central/KIA Kirk Newman Art School:  Sierra Vasquez

Photos:   Carrie Hoekstra, Loy Norrix, and her artwork “Hourglass.” Medium: mixed media.

Elizabeth Morales, Kalamazoo Central, and her artwork “Calla Lillie.” Medium: terra cotta.