Lux Esto Award

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 AppsProfessor of Economics
Tim BakerDirector of Advancement Services
Eric BarthProfessor of Mathematics
Bob BatsellProfessor of Psychology
Alyce BradyRosemary K. Brown Professor of Computer Science
Cynthia CarosellaInstructor in Spanish
Russell CooperTechnical Support Specialist
Jeff DancerNetwork Administrator
Rob DavisERP System Administrator
John DugasProfessor of Political Science
Larissa DugasAssistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies
Gary GreggAnn & Donald Parfet Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Michele IntermontAssociate Provost and Associate Professor of Mathematics
Dana JansmaDean of Students
Amelia KatanskiProfessor of English
Siu-Lan KimProfessor of Psychology
Richard KoenigProfessor of Art
Jim LangelandProfessor of Biology
Chris LatiolaisAssociate Professor of Philosophy
Suzanne LepleyDirector of Alumni Engagement
Eric NordmoeProfessor of Mathematics
Lanny PottsProfessor of Theatre Arts
Ren PruisProfessor of Theatre Arts
Kelly SchneiderAssociate Director of Financial Aid
Regina Stevens-TrussProfessor of Chemistry
Chuck StullSenior Instructor of Economics
Marcie WeathersAdministrative and Custodial Manager
Steve WideenSports Information Director
Margaret WiedenhoeftAssociate Provost and CIP Executive Director
Peter ZillmannDirector 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)