Southwestern Michigan College put in the work this summer to be poised for a three-peat this fall, President Dr. Joseph Odenwald reported to the Board of Trustees at their regular meeting on Aug. 21.

Enrollment shows a 2-percent increase, 1,958 head count compared to 1,917 last year at this time. “We have another two weeks, and we’ll see what happens. This is registration week and our offices are open extended hours.”

“For context,” he added, “the only time we have been up three straight falls in the last 25 years was 2008-09-10.”

Students move into the residence halls on Sunday, and fall classes begin Sept. 3.

Chuckling at perceptions that the college closes during the summer, Odenwald detailed Educational Talent Search and athletic camps that took place, his seventh annual campus fish fry, open wrestling on Tuesday nights, construction to expand two residence halls, creation of a centralized mailroom, signing a partnership with Grand Valley State University, holding the 50^th road and trail race known as Steve’s Run and celebrating winning SMC’s first-ever Charlie Chanter All-Sports Trophy for 2023-24.

Michigan Community College Athletics Association’s most prestigious honor, the All-Sports Trophy recognizes overall program success among 24 schools. The Roadrunners fully returned to intercollegiate competition just two years ago after a 25-year hiatus.

Odenwald noted that 46 fulltime faculty members include a third welding instructor for a program taught at the Niles campus from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Trustees, in addition to presenting five service pins for five to 20 years, also extended special recognition to Chief Human Resources Officer Kristin Reynolds, 37, for being named to Moody on the Market’s “40 Under 40.”

She should have her doctorate by 40 as she starts a three-year program through Louisiana State University. Wednesday marked the third anniversary of Reynolds’ SMC start on Aug. 21, 2021, coming from Illinois Central College.

Martin Bargerhuff, Oracle database administrator from Granger, received his 20-year pin from Trustee Dr. Elaine Foster. He came to SMC on Aug. 16, 2004, from 15 years in manufacturing and a brief stint in the medical software field. Bargerhuff and his wife of 28 years have three children.

Chris Smith of Niles accepted her 20-year pin from Trustee Tracy Hertsel. An SMC graduate, she worked in the School of Technology, for M-TEC, for the School of Nursing during the initial ACEN accreditation and, currently, coordinates academic affairs, working closely with faculty, administration and staff to build curriculum. She is married and the mother of three sons. Smith is starting a bachelor’s degree in management through Bethel University.

Dr. Melissa Kennedy of Niles, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Services, accepted her 10-year pin from Trustee Skip Dyes. An SMC alumna, she started as a cardiac telemetry nurse at what is now Corewell Health. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bethel University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Colorado’s American Sentinel University. Married for 23 years, all three of her children have attended SMC. She has a 2-week-old grandson and serves on Edwardsburg’s foundation board.

Vice President for the Student Experience Dr. Katie Hannah of Granger received her 10-year service pin from Trustee Beth Cripe. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois-Chicago, a master’s degree from Oakland University and her doctorate in educational leadership from Central Michigan University. She and her husband have a 15-year-old son.

Brian Howard of Niles, manager of dual enrollment student success since 2019, was presented his five-year pin by Trustee Becky Moore. He has a master’s degree in higher education administration from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. He served 12 years, 2007-19, as director of academic advising at Holy Cross College. He and his wife have twin daughters.

Trustees also confirmed three directors to the SMC Foundation board —William M. White, Greg Lozeau and David Tate.

Lozeau lives in Kalamazoo and pursued an extensive information-technology career.  He is an SMC alumnus and member of the SMC 1974 Cross County National Championship team.

Tate’s late wife served on the board for more than 18 years. SMC’s Carole A. Tate Teaching and Learning Center memorializes her. He retired after  heading the Van Buren District Library system for 34 years and was clerk for Hamilton Township. His son Zach is an SMC alumnus.

White, of Jones, an SMC  alumnus for whom one of the three residence halls on the Dowagiac campus was named in 2013, retired as board secretary at the end of 2022 after more than 30 years of service.

“All three of the new foundation directors are dedicated and connected to SMC in different ways.  They will be valuable to help guide and grow the foundation that is so important for scholarships and improvements at SMC,” Board Chair Tom Jerdon said.

The board acknowledged 12 donations totaling $13,769 to the foundation and accepted nine gifts to the college for $9,192.10.