by Mark Schwerin
from http://www.wmich.edu

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University music students are stepping to a familiar beat, winning six awards from DownBeat magazine in its annual student music competition, third most of any institution worldwide and substantially more than any other school in Michigan.

WMU students took top honors in a wide range of categories, making the achievement especially gratifying, says Tom Knific, WMU professor of music and director of the Jazz Studies Program. The competition also is becoming more international in stature, which gives the WMU wins even more prestige.

Women volunteers and Lowe’s Heroes, all representing “The Build Generation,” raised their hammers on a Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity (KVHH) construction site today in recognition of National Women Build Week. National Women Build Week, held May 5-13, is a nationwide initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program developed in partnership with Lowe’s.

This year’s theme, “The Build Generation,” reflects the event’s goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of Habitat Women Builders – young women, ages 18-24 – to help support Habitat’s mission to create affordable housing. Today, women volunteers in Kalamazoo worked with the Habitat home buyer partner family on their new Habitat house. Lowe’s is providing Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity a $5,000 Lowe’s store gift card, as well as in-store volunteer training to support of this Habitat for Humanity Women Build home.

When she moved into her Habitat for Humanity home on Kalamazoo’s north side in 1985, Kattie Johnson was putting down roots for three children. Twenty-seven years later, Johnson’s home is a gathering place for her children and grandchildren, extended family, friends, and neighbors. Each summer, hundreds of local children also gather in her backyard for an annual back-to-school bazaar Johnson and her friends and family sponsor. In 2011, more than 300 free backpacks of school supplies were distributed. Students also enjoyed free haircuts, games, and refreshments. This is just one example of the service to the community that earned Johnson recognition by Habitat for Humanity of Michigan as the Habitat Homeowner Partner of the Year. This is the first time the organization has presented the award.