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75 Years of Lake Michigan College

75th anniversary badge.

Happy birthday to us! We are proud to be celebrating Lake Michigan College’s 75th anniversary. The celebration kicked off with a Beach Bash at the Mendel Center and employee and student celebrations during Welcome Week.

Enjoy perusing the important milestones throughout LMC’s rich history, including stories from alumni, friends, and former employees of LMC. We also hope you’ll contribute your own!

The next time you visit our Benton Harbor Campus, you'll be treated to a timeline photo installation in the main entrance. 

View of walking up the ramp at the main entrance, with big photos with text, Then and Now, and historical photos by decade on the columns flanking the ramp.

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April 23, 2024

The Lake Michigan College Alumni Association Board of Directors is seeking nominations for its 2024 Alumni Awards.

On Thursday, April 4, Lake Michigan College leaders revealed the new name of the LMC Mendel Center Mainstage during a dedication ceremony. The 1,500-seat performing arts venue is now known as the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre in honor of long-time Mendel Center patron and College benefactor Rolfe Jenkins. 

November 16, 2023

The Lake Michigan College Alumni Association Board of Directors honored the recipients of its 2023 Alumni Achievement Awards on Sunday, Nov. 12, at Lake Michigan College's Mendel Center on the Benton Harbor Campus. 

Lake Michigan College is currently seeking Spirit of MLK Spotlight nominations for 2024.

July 24, 2023

Lake Michigan College has partnered with Arizona State University to provide students with a seamless transfer experience using the MyPath2ASU® program. MyPath2ASU allows students to take the necessary steps at the start of their college experience, to successfully plan their transfer to ASU, ensuring a smooth transition process and student success. 

Lake Michigan College’s Visual & Performing Arts Department has named Madelyn Ostenson as its 2023 Outstanding Musician of the Year.  

LMC Alumni Association seeks nominations, names service award after late Dr. Gladys Peeples-Burks

June 14, 2023

A total of 456 students received 472 degrees and certificates from 31 areas of study, including 431 associate degrees, 15 advanced certificates, and 26 certificates of achievement during LMC'S 76th annual commencement ceremonies.

June 13, 2023

At the Lake Michigan College commencement on May 7, Betty Timmreck walked across the stage to earn her degree that has been 60 years in the making. 

May 3, 2023

Alejandra Ramirez, Kalyah Watson, and Aalyah Watson have been selected as student speakers for Lake Michigan College's 76th annual commencement ceremonies.

May 3, 2023

Lake Michigan College will host its 76th annual commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. (Arts & Sciences and General Studies) and 1 p.m. (Career & Workforce and Health Sciences) Sunday, May 7, at The Mendel Center Mainstage on the Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave. 

November 1, 2022

Gregory Vaughn spent 25 years at Cornerstone Alliance before retiring as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Business Development in 2019.

November 1, 2022

Steve Zaban’s civic work started as a favor for a neighbor. Steve was elected as a Board Trustee for Williamstown Township, Mich., serving four four-year terms. He also served one term as clerk for the community just east of Lansing. During his tenure, Steve served on the fire board, planning commission and handled all aspects of elections.

November 1, 2022

Hannah Kusaka Gorenflo estimates that she sent 150 job applications to Apple before receiving a return email from the global technology giant. That one reply, however, turned what seemed like an unattainable dream job into reality. The 2015 Lake Michigan College graduate has been working as a product design engineer for Apple since 2021.

June 23, 2022

Merlin Hanson, a titan of Southwest Michigan industry, died Tuesday, June 21. He was 94 years old. As a community leader, he was instrumental in founding Cornerstone Alliance and supporting Lake Michigan College, alongside several other causes.

May 26, 2022

The Lake Michigan College Alumni Association Board of Directors seeks nominations for its 2022 Alumni Awards. Nominations must be received by June 8 for best consideration. Recipients will be announced in September. 

October 4, 2021

As LMC marks its 75th anniversary, a panel of alumni, including Dr. Gladys Peeples Burks' 48, sister Barbara Peeples '61, James Ellis '72, Gloria Ender '90, and Kevin Miller '01, reflect on their time at the college through the decades and the common threads that bind them all.

October 4, 2021

The Clarence Beckwith Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to alumni who accomplish significant success in their personal or professional endeavors.

October 4, 2021

The Alumni Service Award is presented to alumni who offer significant personal or professional contributions to Lake Michigan College and beyond.

October 4, 2021

The Alumni Service Award is presented to alumni who offer significant personal or professional contributions to Lake Michigan College and beyond.

October 4, 2021

The Alumni Achievement Award is presented to alumni who demonstrate significant achievement and distinguish themselves in their career, education, or community.

November 20, 2020

The Clarence Beckwith Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to alumni who accomplish significant success in their personal or professional endeavors.

November 20, 2020

Whether it was in a restaurant, a hotel, or in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, Larry Wozniak has spent a life dedicated to service.

November 20, 2020

The Alumni Achievement Award is presented to alumni who demonstrate significant achievement and distinguish themselves in their career, education, or community.

November 20, 2020

The Alumni Achievement Award is presented to alumni who demonstrate significant achievement and distinguish themselves in their career, education, or community.

June 17, 2019

Lynne Christiano says that there is nothing traditional about her, which is why she decided that it was time to pursue a college degree even though

June 17, 2019

Wilce L. Cooke has been a nurse for nearly 50 years, most recently in the emergency room of Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.

June 17, 2019

While studying speech at Lake Michigan College, Craig Stilwell landed his childhood dream job. He wanted to be in radio since the third grade and i

June 17, 2018

The Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award was presented to Mike and Lisa Welch in 2018.

June 17, 2018

Cynthia Joseph-Keller is Assistant Vice President at DexYP with an extensive background in real estate, facilities and sourcing.

June 17, 2018

Joseph DeFrance, Jr. graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1949 and attended LMC before transferring to Western Michigan University.

June 17, 2017

Gloria Ender is a successful business owner with an international customer base, but she is still able to donate time and energy to many causes aro

June 17, 2017

Cindy Reuss considers Lake Michigan College part of the fabric of who she is.

June 17, 2017

Lake Michigan College alumna Melanie Owen developed, co-owns and manages Lazy Ballerina Winery, the only women-owned winery in southwest Michigan.

June 17, 2017

Rick Smiedendorf retired from his position as a police officer for the City of St. Joseph, Michigan in 2009 after 30 years.

June 17, 2016

Edward J. Todd was born and spent his early childhood years in Muskegon, Michigan, moving to St. Joseph in 1947. He was a member of the 1953 St.

June 17, 2015

Andrew Bauer has served with distinction as a Conservation Officer for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for 23 years.

June 17, 2015

Brittnee Carter’s academic inclinations became apparent early when she chose as a sophomore at South Haven High School to expand her educational ho

June 17, 2015

Donald C. Mitchell’s family has lived in the St.

June 16, 2014

Dr. Mark A. Kuriata is an osteopathic dermatologist who owns and practices at Advanced Dermatology in St. Joseph.

June 16, 2014

Valerie Dell Huber says that when she was taking courses at Lake Michigan College in comprehensive social science, she may have been daunted to thi

June 16, 2014

Lake Michigan College alumna Dr.

June 16, 2014

Brenda Kniebes, a lifelong resident of the area who grew up in Coloma, has taught elementary school at Decatur Public Schools for more than thirty

June 16, 2013

Becky Kliss’s path to becoming an environmental steward started when she opened her own cleaning business, Great Lakes Cleaning, Inc., following gr

June 16, 2013

Great teachers inspired Colleen Cullitan to want to learn and explore subjects that she did not realize interested her.

June 16, 2013

Brian Doak infuses positive energy and a high level of commitment into all areas of his life - work, family, and community.

June 16, 2012

“If I had an X-ray done today, the doctor would find a picture of LMC in my heart,” is how Captain James F.A.

June 16, 2012

It’s hard to draw the line between Richard Schinkel’s work life and personal life. They appear to blend seamlessly.

June 16, 2012

For Barbara Lane, being a nurse and the executive director for the Berrien County Cancer Service has been more than “just a job.” She has devoted h

June 16, 2012

Diane Curry chose LMC twice in her life.

June 16, 2012

Stephenie Henderson chose to attend LMC because of the opportunity to pursue a degree along with playing softball and volleyball at the collegiate

June 16, 2011

William Emery received the Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award in 2011.

June 16, 2011

Mary Fowler received the Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award in 2011.

June 16, 2011

Steve Fairbanks was the president and CEO of Iowa Mold Tooling Co. (IMT) in Garner, Iowa, where he was hired by Private Equity in 2004 to develop a

June 16, 2011

Patrick Lynch is a registered pharmacist and has been the proud operator, for the last 24 years, of Hill’s Prescription Shop in Paw Paw.

June 16, 2010

Mamiella Chavis-Brown graduated with an Associate in Arts degree from LMC in 1977, followed by a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College.

June 16, 2010

Karen (Kolberg) Kietzer journey toward a life in education began when she enrolled at Lake Michigan College after graduation from Lakeshore High Sc

June 16, 2010

Nancy Conybeare attended Benton Harbor Junior College, a predecessor of LMC, after graduation from St. Joseph High School.

June 16, 2009

Melissa Stolfo’s avocation has been to support those in need of assistance in achieving their personal and professional goals.

June 16, 2009

Paula Wygonik is the executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Competitive Edge in Stevensville, where she oversees the company’s or

June 16, 2009

Brad Gorman is a communications specialist at Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor.

June 16, 2009

John Miller is the tribal chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. As the highest elected official of the sovereign nation, he presides

June 16, 2008

Dr. Gyl Kasewurm owns and operates one of the top audiology practices in the country. Professional Hearing Services, Ltd.

June 16, 2008

An HIV prevention specialist for the Berrien County Health Department, Melissa Zmyslo provides HIV testing and counseling, works on case reporting

June 16, 2007

Clifton C. Turner was a mentor to the young people of the Flint area for more than 30 years as a teacher, coach and school administrator.

June 16, 2007

Richard H. Smart worked for aerospace giant McDonnell Douglas Corporation for 37 years.

June 16, 2007

Dana Harris Slagle is an associate editor at Jet magazine in Chicago where she researches and writes on topics ranging from education and entertain

June 16, 2006

Theresa Orlaske-Rich is an attorney and human resource professional who has worked for General Motors Corporation since the mid-1980s.

June 16, 2006

Professor Richard L. Bishop is professor emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

June 16, 2006

Gloria Ender is president of Freedom Finishing in Benton Harbor.

June 16, 2006

Neldine Edwards is executive director of We Can Make a Difference, a non-profit organization through which she delivers parenting and life skills t

June 16, 2005

Monte of Riverside is president and owner of Monte Package Company, a company that he has taken from being a local agricultural supplier to a natio

June 16, 2005

Roger Kullenberg of Kalamazoo is a journalist whose career has included being a reporter, editor, and assistant to the publisher.

June 16, 2005

Mary Goff has served on the St. Joseph City Commission since 1986. She was elected by the Commission as the first female mayor of St.

June 16, 2004

Leo “Joe” Berger is the retired co-founder of Finite Filter Corporation in Oxford, Michigan, a company he helped to grow from a workshop- and basem

June 16, 2004

Barbara Peeples influenced generations of students during her 40-year career as a teacher in the Benton Harbor Area Schools.

June 16, 2004

Lt. Michael Bradley is the Emergency Management Homeland Security Coordinator for the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.

Tell Us Your Story

It’s our birthday! As Lake Michigan College turns 75, we look to you to help tell our story.  

Whether you are an alumnus, staff, faculty, or a frequent visitor to campus, we'd love to hear about your time at LMC. Please take a moment to fill out this brief questionnaire, which may be shared as part of our 75th anniversary celebrations. 

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