Founders Day celebrates Kalamazoo College’s founding in 1833 and shines a light on our amazing faculty and staff, inducts members into the Golden Hornets Club, and honors milestone anniversaries. Three community awards are also announced during the event: the Outstanding First-Year Advocate Award, the Outstanding Advisor Award, and the Lux Esto Award. We remind ourselves how important it is to recognize each other and the work that each of us does.
Founders Day 2026 will be held on a date to be determined. Traditionally held in the Stetson Chapel, Founders Day is an annual light-hearted celebration, with music, light refreshments, and fellowship. We hope to see you there!
Golden Hornets Club
Colleagues who have dedicated their careers to K for 25+ years become members of the elite Golden Hornets Club. Congratulations and welcome!
- Jessica Fowle
- Kathryn Lightcap
- Carol Passage
- Jamie Zorbo
Golden Hornets Club Members
- Hanna Apps
- Tim Baker
- Eric Barth
- Bob Batsell
- Alyce Brady
- Greg Brown
- Cynthia Carosella
- Russell Cooper
- Jeffrey Dancer
- Rob Davis
- John Dugas
- Larissa Dugas
- Amy Elman
- Jessica Fowle*
- Gary Gregg
- Michele Intermont
- Dana Jansma
- Amelia Katanski
- Siu-Lan Kim
- Richard Koenig
- Jim Langeland
- Chris Latiolais
- Suzanne Lepley
- Kathryn Lightcap*
- Don Mack
- Eric Nordmoe
- Carol Passage*
- Lanny Potts
- Ren Pruis
- Kelly Schneider
- Regina Stevens-Truss
- Chuck Stull
- Marcie Weathers
- Steve Wideen
- Margaret Wiedenhoeft
- Peter Zillmann
- Jamie Zorbo*
*New members in 2026
Milestone Anniversaries
The following colleagues achieved milestone anniversaries during the 2025-26 year:
Five Years
- Daniela Arias-Rotondo
- Karah Boodt
- Dave Crider
- Liza Escamilla
- Marilyn Evans
- Oakley Gabriel
- Cyndy Garcia-Weyandt
- MJ Huebner
- Karen Isble
- Adam Kaur
- Dan Mervak
- Jared Pittman
- Sally Read
- Wraegen Williams
Ten Years
- Jennifer Bailey
- Jennifer DiGiuseppe
- Kristen Eldred
- Jorge Gonzalez
- Dan Kibby
- Josh Moon
- Stephen Oloo
- Santiago Salinas
- Raechel Scholz
- Craig Simpson
- Richard Sylvester
- Nathaniel Waller
- Dwight Williams
Fifteen Years
- Deborah Annen-Caruso
- Dennis Frost
- Jory Horner
- Jeff Moran
- Becca Murphy
- David Peshlakai
- Taylor Petrey
- Manfa Sanogo
- Adam Schumaker
Twenty Years
- Lisa Ailstock
- Jennifer Combes
- Jeff Haus
- Kimberly Russell
- Aaron Smith
Twenty-Five Years
- Jessica Fowle
- Kathryn Lightcap
- Carol Passage
- Jamie Zorbo
Thirty Years
- John Dugas
- Gary Gregg
Thirty-Five Years
- Chris Latiolais
Forty Years
- Kelly Schneider