Alumni News
December 19, 2025
Lifesaving Flights Thanks to Academic Heights: WMU Alumna Goes Above and Beyond in Career
From dispatching critical missions across the Great Lakes to being crowned Miss Michigan American 2025, Shelby Hastings (B.S.’16, University Studies) embraces every challenge as an opportunity to grow and inspires others to do the same. Shelby discovered her passion for aviation at a young age and quickly set her sights...
October 27, 2025
The Sound of Success: Alumna Conducts Chorale at Carnegie Hall
In June of 2025, the WMU University Chorale took the stage at Carnegie Hall, an unforgettable milestone under the direction of Dr. Amanda Quist (B.M.’00, Music Education; M.M.’06 Choral Conducting). The performance brought additional members of the WMU choral program together with 270 singers from across America in a powerful...
June 11, 2025
Alumnus Turns Setback into Soundtrack of Success
Western Michigan University told Gary Dembs (B.S.’78) no at first. He not only turned that rejection into a yes, but also into a successful and rewarding career. “I first applied to WMU in January of my senior year, 1974, and was declined,” he says. “I reapplied in late summer that...
May 22, 2025
Resilience at the Helm: A Business Bronco’s Journey to Success
From campus life to catastrophe recovery, Darrell Hanson (B.B.A.’70) built his success on leadership, grit and lessons he learned at Western. Long before he was a successful entrepreneur and marina owner in Florida, Darrell was a college student seeking a change of pace. His decision to transfer to Western Michigan...
September 30, 2024
A Lifelong Teacher: Janice Kato’s Impact in the Classroom and Beyond
Janice Kato (B.S.’08, Education) has dedicated 15 years to her unwavering career in the educational field, a journey marked by her commitment to inspiring students and educators alike. From her early days as a kindergarten teacher to her innovative role as an Instructional Technology Coach for Saginaw County, Janice’s career...
September 27, 2024
Alumna Masters the Art of Care and Compassion
Who needs time when you’ve got art? While art may not heal all wounds, the act of creating and engaging with it has been shown to uplift mental and emotional well-being. As a dedicated art therapist whose passion for helping others began right here at WMU, Jacqueline Carmody (B.A.’11, Art)...