General

Personal histories of some beloved Albion educators merged with a national documentary earlier this week in a community-centered conclusion to Albion College’s 2018 Black History Month celebration. On February 27, Tell Them We Are Rising, a film about historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) was shown at the downtown Bohm Theatre; it was followed by a “talk back” from three local HBCU alumni and Albion Public Schools educators.

Some 70 Albion College students gathered around The Rock on the evening of February 27 for a somber, emotional candlelight vigil in honor of the victims of the February 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla.

Michael Williams, ’78, is a funny guy, with the great gift of using humor to drill into uncomfortable subjects. The former mayor of Albion and current Albion College trustee celebrated and challenged what makes this community great during the 2018 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation and Community Celebration, held January 29 at the downtown Bohm Theatre.

A different take on community set a fitting tone for nearly 200 participants in Albion College’s third annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Dialogue and Service, held January 15. Several athletic teams and student clubs gave up their last late morning of winter break for an inspiring keynote by Skot Welch, ’90, an internationally recognized consultant and facilitator for organizational diversity initiatives. Following his remarks, attendees engaged in small-group dialogues and participated in service projects.

A three-person delegation from the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), located near the City of Albion’s Sister Cities of Noisy-le-Roi and Bailly, France, visited Albion College earlier this week to discuss the possibility of expanding educational and cultural opportunities between the two institutions. “There’s quite a lot of potential here,” said one of the officials.

On Monday, January 15 (the MLK holiday), Welch will give the keynote at Albion College’s third-annual Day of Dialogue and Service in Washington Gardner Auditorium. Two weeks later, on Monday, January 29, the College and community will gather at the Bohm Theatre for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation and Community Celebration. Williams, a former Albion mayor and current College trustee, will be the featured speaker.

Andrea Wells, Albion College’s new equestrian center director, has done just about everything in the horse world and now she brings that experience to a school looking to make an impact of its own on the national level.

The spirit of generosity was on display as alumni, faculty, students and friends of Albion College donated more than $185,000 on Giving Tuesday that was held November 28

Since 1967, The Philadelphia Center has provided thousands of college students with a compelling semester of off-campus study—highlighted by a significant and meaningful internship experience with a top-flight employer—in one of the country’s largest, most diverse and most historic cities. Launched by the Great Lakes Colleges Association, the Center remains firmly rooted with the GLCA and its member colleges. This semester, a new chapter of that partnership has begun, as Albion College is now the official administrator of the program.

The theme was “Meaning” but the keyword was “opportunity” for Albion’s first BRITx Talks event, held October 20 as part of Homecoming 2017 festivities. A rebellious student, a failed partnership, a lucrative-but-unfulfilling job, and a career-changing discovery made on an exercise bike—each gave the alumni presenters an unlikely opportunity to clarify the values and passions that have led to success.