Kalamazoo Valley Community College will hold Commencement on December 19

KALAMAZOO, Mich., Dec.16, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Kalamazoo Valley Community College will hold Commencement on December 19

Kalamazoo Valley's 85th commencement ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19 in Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University. The graduates total nearly 500 students who completed their studies in both April and December.

William deDie is the faculty speaker for this year's ceremony. He teaches English and transitional studies and has been a Kalamazoo Valley instructor for nearly 20 years. "I don't know what else I would have done if I hadn't become a teacher," deDie said. "This is all I've ever wanted to do." He said he enjoys seeing students gain confidence as they begin to understand class content. He also likes sharing information about topics he loves. Most importantly, though, is his wish to make sure no student ever has to struggle in class the way he once did.

deDie firmly believes that community college is a second chance. "If you try, you can discover who you are and carve yourself a future," deDie said. "And there are lots of people who are willing to help. If you look, you will find someone you can connect with."

The commencement student speaker Imani Lewis agrees that there are plenty of helpful people on campus. She decided to enroll in Kalamazoo Valley after hearing about the Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program (KVAAP) and credits the support she received through the program with helping her to complete her associate in communications degree.

"KVAAP is the reason I went to college and I got through it," she said. She is earning an associate degree in communications from Kalamazoo Valley and plans to transfer to Siena Heights through Valley's University Center or to Western Michigan University. KVAAP helped by covering tuition and books and providing a monthly stipend.

"I knew that I liked media and connecting with people, and public speaking. I just really enjoy all of those things," she said. Lewis said being in college has helped her to develop self-confidence and to trust her decisions. "In high school I was very average," she said. "I didn't think I was smart enough and I would constantly compare myself to others instead of diving into my talents."

During her commencement speech, she plans to tell others to trust their instincts and seek out available resources. "Look into all of the resources Kalamazoo Valley has to offer and then do it for yourself," she advises. "If I hadn't made the decision for myself, I wouldn't have come to Valley. This is a decision I made for myself."

All guests, including family members and children (regardless of age), must have a ticket to enter Miller Auditorium. Guests without tickets may view the ceremony livestream via Public Media Network at https://videoplayer.telvue.com/player/2bm0gzQWeVRzdCgvjXziXKwO3icSKh05/stream/539?fullscreen=false&showtabssearch=false&autostart=false&jwsource=cl.

Graduates have the opportunity to reserve five tickets for the ceremony and will be required to pick tickets up in advance. Face coverings are required by all regardless of vaccination status for the entirety of the event.

Established in 1966, Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers certificate programs in more than 50 areas of study and associate degrees in 60 others. These include business, healthcare, human and public service, and technical occupations, culinary arts and brewing training. It has four Kalamazoo, Mich., locations, including the Texas Township Campus, the Groves Campus, the Arcadia Commons Campus and the Bronson Healthy Living Campus. Classes are available during the day, evening, online and weekends.

Registration for winter semester, which begins on Jan. 10, is going on now. See http://www.kvcc.edu/register for details.

Media Contact: Linda Depta
Executive Director of KVCC Foundation
Director of Fund Development
269.488.4821 or [email protected]

Media Contact

Dawn Kemp, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, 269.488.4685, [email protected]

SOURCE Kalamazoo Valley Community College