Alumna Anne Lipsey (BA ’74, History, Economics, Political Science) is the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Woman of Achievement Award. Lipsey began her career working as the Assistant Director at Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes; an organization that helps provide emergency food to people in need. Lipsey started working with Loaves and Fishes when it was still a grass-roots effort, but it now has an annual budget of $1.7 million. There are 26 food pantries in Kalamazoo County alone, and they serve approximately 500 people daily.
Lipsey has also served as president of the Michigan Food Bank Council, giving her the opportunity to work with food banks outside of Kalamazoo.
Lipsey has a long list of volunteer experience, including Ministry with Community, Housing Resources, Inc. (formerly Center City Housing), the Kalamazoo Public School Board, the Anti-Racism Alliance, and the Kalamazoo Deacon’s Conference.
Bonnie Jo Campbell (BA ’92, Secondary Education; MA ’95, Mathematics; MFA ’98, Creative Writing) was alongside Lipsey at the ceremony and also received a Woman of Achievement award. Campbell has worked as a Low Residency Program Writing Instructor and is the author of four books; Once Upon a River, American Salvage, Q Road, and Women & Other Animals.
Campbell has won a significant number of awards including the Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, the Michigan Author Award, and the Associated Writing Programs Short Fiction Award. Campbell was described by her nominator as a role model for younger women.
The last (but certainly not least) of the Bronco graduates is Dorothy Young (MA ’71, Education). Young also has an extensive list of awards, including the NAACP Humanitarian Award, the Western Michigan University Black Caucus Community Service Award, and an Outstanding Leadership Award.
Young has volunteered for groups such as the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Northside Association Educational Advancement, and Mothers of Hope. Young was an educator for Kalamazoo Public Schools, and has since retired.
La June Montgomery Tabron was also honored at the award ceremony. Montgomery Tabron is the Board President for the Western Michigan University Foundation, and was described by her nominator as a person who has lived her life as an example for others. She volunteers for a variety of organizations, including the Southwest Michigan First Board, the Kalamazoo Chapter of the Links, Inc., and the Foundation Financial Officers Group.
Anne Lipsey recently took some time to reflect on her life of service, which can be read at mlive.com.
Posted by Stan Sulewski