2025 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 / Alma College Launches Program to Help Paraeducators Become Special Education Teachers
Paraeducators working in Michigan schools who aspire to become special education teachers can now achieve their goals through Alma College’s newly launched Bachelor of Arts program. Specifically designed for working adults, the Paraeducator to Special Education Teacher program provides a streamlined pathway to teacher licensure while accommodating the schedules of full-time paraeducators.
February / Alma College Announces $1.5M Endowed Chair to Honor Joseph J. Zimmerman
Alma College has announced the creation of a $1.5 million endowed chair of English to honor one of the college’s most generous benefactors, Joseph J. Zimmerman ’61. In recognition of Zimmerman’s achievements and contributions at Alma College, the Joseph J. Zimmerman ’61 Endowed Chair in English is intended to attract or recognize an esteemed faculty member in English who demonstrates a distinguished record of academic excellence and enriches the institution’s history. The initial award will be made for the 2025-26 academic year.
February / Alma College Names Dr. Joseph Odenwald as its 14th President
Alma College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joseph L. Odenwald as its 14th president. Currently president of Southwestern Michigan College, Odenwald brings with him a wealth of expertise and years of academic leadership. The appointment was unanimously approved by the Alma College Board of Trustees, based on the recommendation of the presidential search committee. Odenwald will assume his new role on June 1, 2025, succeeding interim president Eric Blackhurst ’83.
April / 2025 Barlow Trophy Winner Excels Academically While Pursuing Diverse Interests
Toby Layson, of Washington Township, is the 2025 recipient of the Barlow Trophy, Alma College’s most prestigious award for a graduating senior. Established in 1949 by Dr. Joel Barlow, 1929 honors graduate of Alma College, the award recognizes academic achievement for students in the top 10 percent of their class as well as contributions to campus and community.
May / Distinguished Alumni Award to be Named After Hugh Brenneman ‘67
Hugh Brenneman, a member of the Class of 1967 and a longtime ambassador for Alma College in many respects, is being honored as the namesake of the Distinguished Alumni Award. Brennaman retired from the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan after 35 years as a magistrate judge. Prior to that experience, Brenneman was a Captain, Army JAGC, federal prosecutor and private practice attorney in Grand Rapids, Mich. He has co-founded three legal societies, been an author and college instructor, and remains court historian for the federal court.
May / Student-Led Music Program Bridges Campus and Community
A student-led initiative at Alma College is creating new opportunities for local youth to experience the power of music. The Alma College Community Music Outreach program, founded this past fall by senior Krysta Bennett, connects college musicians with area students to offer affordable lessons, hands-on experiences, and greater access to music education — resources that are often limited in small or rural communities.
May / BPA, Model UN Succeed at National Competitions
The Alma College chapters of the Business Professionals of America and Model United Nations both followed up on impressive showings at regional championships with excellent results at their respective national competitions. The Model UN team competed at the 2025 National Model UN Conference in April in New York City and received three “outstanding delegation” awards for its representations of Chile, Djibouti and Ethiopia, along with numerous individual accolades. The BPA team took part in the 2025 National Leadership Conference in May in Orlando and won one first-place award, along with 18 top-10 finishes.
July / Alma College Alum to Appear on ‘Jeopardy!’
Pete Johnston, a 2003 graduate of Alma High School and 2007 graduate of Alma College, made his debut on the iconic quiz show “Jeopardy!” in July. Johnston got an early start in competitive trivia as a member of the Quiz Bowl team at Alma High School before moving on to Alma College, where he majored in studio art with a concentration in photography. He was deeply influenced by professors like Sandy Lopez-Isnardi, Carrie Parks-Kirby and Bob Rozier.
July / Alma College Hogan Center to Benefit from Generous Donation
The Hogan Center is Alma College’s primary venue for commencement, convocation, major events and athletics. For many members of the campus and local communities, as well as visitors to the institution, it’s a gathering place, as well as a showcase of Alma College as a whole. That showcase has been enhanced, thanks to the addition of new furniture in the Carra Jones Smith ’42 Lobby and the David ’60 and Patricia ’59 Hubbard Lobby, made possible by a generous donation by Alma College parents Jeff and Stephanie Leppien.
December / New Tartan Edge Scholarship Represents a Bold Commitment to Local Students
Alma College is proud to introduce The Tartan Edge, an ambitious new initiative launching in Fall 2026 that reimagines how the college supports students in the mid-Michigan region. Designed in response to declining college-enrollment rates across rural Michigan, The Tartan Edge represents one of the largest access-focused investments in the college’s history. Across the three participating counties, hundreds of students graduate high school each year, yet a growing number report that cost remains the primary barrier preventing them from pursuing a four-year degree.
