SMC Fall Choir Concert Leans on Love, Opera

“Song and Saga,” Southwestern Michigan College’s fall choir concert, was performed Nov. 2 in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus. Director of Choral Activities David Carew structured seven suites like the year-end Collage Concert, which unspools in a seamless stream of sound, unbroken by applause. “In general, the theme is love,” Carew said. “In this day and age, we need to lead with love, which is the title of the first piece” performed by the Collegiate Chorale.

SMC Mourns Loss of Alumnus Scott Novak

Scott Novak, the dean of southwestern Michigan sportswriting for 40 years, died Oct. 23 at 63. Southwestern Michigan College’s final home volleyball game Oct. 29, a 3-1 win over the Glen Oaks Vikings, began with a moment-of-silence tribute, his visage smiling down from the video scoreboard. Novak got his start at SMC as sports editor of the campus newspaper, The Southwester, in 1981.

Costumed Audience Slips into Character at Creepy Concert

“Spooktacular,” Southwestern Michigan College’s Halloween-themed fall band concert Oct. 25, lived up to its name and then some. A 16-month-old toddler vigorously conducted the Symphonic Band for the Alma Mater, her baton a blur.

SMC ‘Sawdust Day’ Promotes Building Trades

Communicate and be empathetic and kind was the advice architect Tony Leininger left prospective construction trades students from area high schools Oct. 25 at Southwestern Michigan College’s “Sawdust Day.” Leininger, of CARMI Design Group in Niles, not only works on SMC projects, such as the current residence halls expansion, he is in his 14th year teaching for the college.

SMC Construction Students Pour It On

Southwestern Michigan College Construction Trades Green Technology students collaborated this week with the Building and Grounds Department to pour two sidewalks. One sidewalk is in front of Thomas F. Jerdon Residence Hall. The other is outside the Student Activity Center of the Charles O. Zollar Building.

Jazz on the Lawn Previews ‘Spooktacular’

Southwestern Michigan College Jazz Ensemble’s “Jazz on the Lawn” outside the Dale A. Lyons Building previewed “Spooktacular.” The fall band concert takes place Friday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus.

Dual Enrollment Director Spans MTV, SMC

New Director of Dual Enrollment Juliann Jankowski brings to Southwestern Michigan College her extensive higher education experience and a wealth of stories from her time at Club MTV.

Faculty Recital Premieres ‘Aurora’

Southwestern Michigan College’s Oct.10 brassy faculty recital, “Danny Lopez and Friends, Too,” treated the audience to the world premiere of Holland composer and classical guitarist Dr. Robert Lunn’s “Aurora.” “Danny has been asking for the last few years for us to play a piece together,” Lunn said. “I suggested over the summer I write one."

SMC Board Previews Nursing Campaign

At their Oct. 9 meeting, Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees previewed the digitally driven “BoRN for This” nursing campaign, reviewed the third annual Futures Fair and presented three service pins. Director of Marketing Michelle Orlaske reported on the grant-funded outreach to potential nursing and health-services students.

28-Year-Old Mom Running Cross Country for SMC

Like many 28-year-olds, Chelsea (Howard) Behnke has a fulltime job, a mortgage, a husband of four years and two young children. Then her resume veers in a different direction to cross-country runner, making her Southwestern Michigan College’s ultimate non-traditional athlete. “I call myself the geriatric runner,” she said.