In 2008, as part of the celebration of the 175th anniversary of the College’s founding, the Community Council created the Community Awards Program and recommended that our Founders Day celebration include recognition of the faculty and staff, who like our founders make Kalamazoo College an exceptional place. As part of the Community Awards Program the Lux Esto Award was created. This award is presented each year at Founders Day to a staff or faculty member who has served the College for 26 years or more and has contributed significantly to the campus.
We are currently soliciting nominations for this year’s award. The criteria for the award are as follows:
- Significant contribution to the College
- Dedication to the campus community and the mission
- Promotes goodwill on campus
- Current faculty or staff who have served the College for 26 years or more.
The recipient will be selected by a committee that includes a representative from the faculty, staff, and students. The Committee will make a recommendation to President Gonzalez and he will announce the award at the Founders Day Celebration on a date to be determined. Below is a list of the individuals who are eligible. I hope you will take the time to nominate a deserving individual. Nominations must be submitted by a date to be determined.
Please mark your calendars for the Founders Day Celebration on TBD in Stetson Chapel to see who receives the award.
Please direct questions to Mikka Dryer at mikka.dryer@kzoo.edu.
2026 Eligible Nominees
| Hannah Apps | Professor of Economics |
| Tim Baker | Director of Advancement Services |
| Eric Barth | Professor of Mathematics |
| Bob Batsell | Professor of Psychology |
| Alyce Brady | Rosemary K. Brown Professor of Computer Science |
| Cynthia Carosella | Instructor in Spanish |
| Russell Cooper | Technical Support Specialist |
| Jeff Dancer | Network Administrator |
| Rob Davis | ERP System Administrator |
| John Dugas | Professor of Political Science |
| Larissa Dugas | Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies |
| Gary Gregg | Ann & Donald Parfet Distinguished Professor of Psychology |
| Michele Intermont | Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Mathematics |
| Dana Jansma | Dean of Students |
| Amelia Katanski | Professor of English |
| Siu-Lan Kim | Professor of Psychology |
| Richard Koenig | Professor of Art |
| Jim Langeland | Professor of Biology |
| Chris Latiolais | Associate Professor of Philosophy |
| Suzanne Lepley | Director of Alumni Engagement |
| Eric Nordmoe | Professor of Mathematics |
| Lanny Potts | Professor of Theatre Arts |
| Ren Pruis | Professor of Theatre Arts |
| Kelly Schneider | Associate Director of Financial Aid |
| Regina Stevens-Truss | Professor of Chemistry |
| Chuck Stull | Senior Instructor of Economics |
| Marcie Weathers | Administrative and Custodial Manager |
| Steve Wideen | Sports Information Director |
| Margaret Wiedenhoeft | Associate Provost and CIP Executive Director |
| Peter Zillmann | Director of Cybersecurity |
Past Lux Esto Award Recipients
Tom Ponto (2008)
Rob Townsend (2009)
Gail Griffin (2010)
Paul Manstrom (2011)
Zaide Pixley (2012)
Paul Sotherland (2013)
Jeanne Hess (2014)
Pat Ponto (2015)
David Barclay (2016)
Greg Brown (2017)
Ed Menta (2018)
Don Mack (2019)
Kim Aldrich (2020)
Kiran Cunningham (2021)
Tom Massura (2022)
Jeff Bartz (2023)
Bruce Mills (2024)
Amy Elman (2025)