News Articles

A beautiful spring afternoon on the Albion College campus formed the backdrop for 2017 Commencement and its celebration of education on Saturday, May 6. Along with recognizing some 280 graduates, Albion gave honorary degrees to educators Michael Milkie and Linda (Carmitchel) Yonke, ’75, and retired Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Inspector General Jess Womack, ’65.

Vicki Baker, professor of economics and management, has been studying the changing definition and scope of liberal arts colleges, and her research has drawn the interest of national media.

The nine incoming first-year students, introduced at an April 27 evening event in Upper Baldwin Hall, represents the largest group of Fellows yet as the program prepares to enter its third year. They will receive four-year tuition, room and board from the College in exchange for engagement in service projects that will benefit the Albion community.

They come from different backgrounds with different viewpoints and different specialties. But when Jess Womack, ’65; Linda Yonke, ’75; and Michael Milkie speak to Albion College’s Class of 2017 at Commencement on Saturday, May 6, their messages could not be more similar.

An appreciative audience got a unique, behind-the-scenes look at history as presidential granddaughter Mary Jean Eisenhower presented the 2017 Joseph S. Calvaruso Keynote Address on April 20. The evening capped Albion’s 28th annual Elkin R. Isaac Student Research Symposium, which saw approximately 100 students present original work on topics ranging from equine aromatherapy to cancer cell death, and Great Lakes sailing songs to sustainability and climate change.

Kylie Heitman, ’17, has been a horse lover and rider since she was five and she has long dealt with the stress many horses experience when their daily routine is interrupted. Specifically, she wanted to know if an essential oil, in this case lavender, when diffused into the air could reduce stress in horses by suppressing their heart rates and cortisol levels.

“When people come in to a tax situation, it’s stressful,” says Albion College junior Maggie Troost, who will spend some 80 hours this spring working with the College’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. “I feel like we can show people they don’t have to be stressed out, because we can relax and not only talk about taxes.”

Three noted members of the education field will deliver Commencement remarks to Albion College’s Class of 2017 on Saturday, May 6: Jess Womack, ’65, retired general counsel and inspector general of the Los Angeles Unified School District and recent board member of L.A.’s Green Dot Schools; Linda Yonke, ’75, superintendent of suburban Chicago’s New Trier Township High School District; and Michael Milkie, CEO and superintendent of Chicago’s Noble Network of Charter Schools.

Albion College biology professor Dale Kennedy’s love of birds led her to a career of studying the feathered creatures. Her passion resulted in her recently received William and Nancy Klamm Service Award from the Wilson Ornithological Society, one of the oldest ornithological societies in America.

Albion College’s Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented annually to alumni who have demonstrated excellence in career achievements and contributions to community and humanity.

The College’s Young Alumni Awards are presented each year to alumni who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their first 10 years following graduation.

An annual awards ceremony—this year to be held on Friday, April 21—allows the College to recognize and showcase the noteworthy success of its alumni. Please join us as we recognize and extend congratulations to the 2017 honorees!