General

Albion College has once again been recognized for its programs and accomplishments in the 2018 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges. Established by Edward B. Fiske, former education editor of The New York Times, the Fiske Guide provides detailed information on 322 colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom.

During a College-sponsored trip to Poland last month, Cameron Voss, ’20 (left), noted an incident that underscores the trip’s importance. “Rachael Vitale uncovered a gravestone that really excited the cemetery curator. He told us a family was coming the next week to look for this grave,” Voss said. “We couldn’t lift that stone, but we were able to prop it up so the family could see it.”

Blues at the Bohm, the monthly blues concert and jam at the downtown Bohm Theatre, has been a two-year labor of love for professor of chemistry Cliff Harris. And now, with continued enthusiastic support from the community, it’s starting to break through beyond the Albion area, as more acts pour in from farther afield to perform. Harris talks about it in an interview with The Daily Yonder website and in a recent video.

From 1951 to 1995, Frank Bonta represented the College to prospective students and their families. “It’s hard to put into words what Albion College meant to Frank,” said Chuck Frayer, ’77, about his father-in-law, who died May 20 after a long illness at the age of 92. “Although Frank had a long, distinguished career at Albion, the College was always more than a place to work. The relationships he formed at Albion continued beyond his retirement and remained at the center of his life.”

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.

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.

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’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!