KALAMAZOO, Mich., May 15, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Bronson
Healthy Living Campus (BHLC) project, a partnership between
Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
(KCMHSAS), Bronson Healthcare (Bronson) and Kalamazoo
Valley Community College (Kalamazoo
Valley), has been named the winner for the 2019 American
Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Outstanding
College/Corporate Partnership Award.
The award honors local, regional and national collaboration
between a college and corporate partner that has achieved
demonstrable, multi-year success in advancing the mission of the
institutions, the economic prosperity of a community and the
learning excellence of students.
The award was announced on April
15 at the American Association of Community Colleges' Awards
of Excellence Gala, part of AACC's 99th Annual Convention in
Orlando,
Florida.
Kalamazoo Valley's President
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
accepted the award on behalf of the collaborators.
In 2013 the three organizations came together with the ambitious
goals of urban revitalization, community health improvement and
workforce development through sustainable food education and
training. Bronson donated
previously unused land adjacent to its downtown Kalamazoo hospital for the new BHLC, which now
includes the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health
Building, the Food Innovation Center (with a food hub and indoor
and outdoor growing spaces) and an integrated health services
clinic for KCMHSAS customers, which serves about 9,000 persons
annually.
"This collaboration is meeting the increasing demand for
sustainable, holistic approaches to food education and health. The
award provides meaningful acknowledgement of the important work
being done here in Kalamazoo,"
Washington said. "I am very pleased that the AACC chose to honor
our collaboration with Bronson and
KCMHSAS in this way."
The nation's community colleges serve more than 40 percent of
all U.S. undergraduates, providing a pathway to the American Dream
for 12 million students. Other finalists for the award included
Indian River State College in Florida, Monroe Community
College in New York and
North Carolina's Wayne Community College.
Award winners were selected by a committee of the AACC Board of
Directors. Finalist colleges also were recognized at the Awards of
Excellence Gala.
Photo caption:
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.,
President, Kalamazoo Valley Community
College;
Mike Way, Senior Vice President,
Supply Chain, Facilities and Real Estate, Bronson Healthcare; and
Jeffrey W. Patton, CEO, Kalamazoo
Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
For More Information
Linda Depta, Director of
Marketing
ldepta(at)kvcc(dot)edu or 269.488.4821
SOURCE Kalamazo Valley Community College