Giving Impact
January 24, 2023
From Impossible to Turning the Tassel
Isabel Sofia Lopez, like most students, chose to attend WMU for a variety of good reasons. “I instantly fell in love with the campus, diversity, and of course, the long list of engineering programs that Western had to offer.” Isabel said the moment she learned about what paper engineering entailed...
January 11, 2023
Two-Time Alumna Breaks Down Barriers with Book Program
Zenia Gutierrez’s high school Spanish teacher and counselor gave her the encouragement she needed to pursue higher education. “I guess they saw in me a brightness that I didn't see in myself,” she said. Zenia then began the process of applying to colleges and got a a full-ride scholarship to...
December 12, 2022
Studying at WMU was Music to Margaret Winchell’s Ears
Margaret Winchell (M.M. ′22, Conducting) chose Western Michigan University’s School of Music because of the caliber of the faculty. “I watched my eventual teacher, Kimberly Dunn Adams (Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music at WMU), working at a festival in Illinois that I had students singing in...
December 07, 2022
Matthew Sape’s Career is Already Off to a Flying Start
Matthew Sape is from what he calls “a little town in the middle of nowhere.” That town, Linwood, MI, is about 10 miles east of Lake Huron. Living in a bigger city like Kalamazoo was an adjustment for this first-generation college student, but he’s navigated the change with flying colors...
December 06, 2022
Leah Latumaerissa brings her culture and history to life
While most of us probably haven’t heard of the Moluccan people, one Bronco is changing that. Leah Latumaerissa is bringing her culture and history to life, thanks in part to scholarship support she received through Western Michigan University Libraries. Along with supporting her academic journey, the scholarship also recognizes this...
November 30, 2022
First-Year Math Teacher Zeros in on Continued Success
Clare Bunton (B.A. ′21, Mathematics Secondary Education) had a passion for becoming a teacher for as long as she could remember. During her middle and high school years, that passion grew into a love for mathematics. “As I gained knowledge and experience about teaching mathematics, I realized the discipline offers...