2024 was a remarkable year for Alma College, and we were honored to document its many highlights. Below are 10 of our most popular web articles from the year:
January / Pine River Anthology Student Magazine Recognized for Excellence
Pine River Anthology has been recognized for excellence in the 2023 Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) program, through the National Council of Teachers of English nonprofit group.
February / Softball Coach Griffin Wins 1,000th Career Game
Denny Griffin, who for 35 years has led the Alma College softball team as its head coach, reached his 1,000th career win with a 1-0 win over Eastern University.
March / Dorothy Johnson Honored with Inaugural Lynne Sherwood Women’s Leadership Award
Dorothy “Dottie” Johnson was announced as the first winner of the Alma College Lynne Sherwood Women’s Leadership Award at a reception before family, friends and the Alma College community.
April / 2024 Barlow Trophy Winner Excels Academically While Pursuing Diverse Interests
Taylor Neeb, of Weidman, Mich., is the 2024 recipient of the Barlow Trophy, Alma College’s most prestigious award for a graduating senior.
May / Chatman LLC Celebrates First Graduating Class at Alma College
DeQuan Powell and Morgan Leake, both members of the Class of 2024 at Alma College, are the first graduates of the Julius Chatman Living Learning Community, which was founded in 2021.
June / Twelve Students Win Alma College Community Engagement Scholarships
Twelve students from six high schools in Gratiot and Montcalm counties were the winners of the Alma College Community Engagement (ACE) Scholarship Program award this year.
July / Alma College Celebrates Inaugural Graduation of Special Education Master’s Program
A group of 19 Michigan teachers celebrated a unique milestone at Alma College’s Andison Chapel as the first graduates of Alma’s Master of Arts in Special Education with Learning Disabilities Endorsement program.
August / Forest Management Work on ‘Bog’ Property to Preserve Ecological Diversity for Future Generations
Alma College is working to restore a more diverse, native ecological community, to the Alma College Ecological Station property, better known as “the Bog,” which will allow students to continue to study an interesting and unique resource in the field of science for generations to come.
October / Alma College Student Duo Set to Perform on ‘American Idol’
Kaylee Vonderau, a first-year music major at Alma College, and Frank Karl, a sophomore music major, will appear on ABC’s “American Idol,” when the singing competition TV series opens for its 23rd season in 2025.
November / Eric Blackhurst, Alumnus and Longtime Trustee, Named Interim President of Alma College
Following Alma College’s announcement of a national search for its 14th president in April, the Board of Trustees has moved to the next phase of leadership transition, naming Jeffrey Abernathy as President Emeritus, and appointing Eric Blackhurst as Interim President, effective November 20, 2024.
