KRESA’s Early/Middle College Program Celebrates Graduates
Students from the Kalamazoo RESA, Gull Lake, and Van Buren Early/Middle College (EMC) programs were recognized for their dedication and academic success at the annual EMC Completion Ceremony on May 7, 2026, hosted by Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
EMC is an innovative initiative that allows students the opportunity to earn an associate degree or certificate while still enrolled in high school. Over five years, students gradually transition from traditional high school courses to college-level studies, with the ninth-grade year dedicated to high school classes only.
“I think [EMC] is great, especially because there’s not a whole lot of pressure on what you need to do,” Addison Burleigh, a Portage Central student and EMC graduate, said. “Even if you figure it out later, you’ll still have the credits.”
“I’m so surprised by the number of people that I’ve met through EMC,” Ben Boyd, a Portage Central student and EMC graduate, said. “Going to KVCC, I’ve met such a wide variety of amazing people.”
Designed for motivated students ready to embrace academic challenges, the EMC program opens doors to higher education and career opportunities.
“[EMC] has been great,” Jackson Rand, an EMC graduate, said. “Even when I’ve had a hard time with things, there’s always someone in the program to help me get through it.”
Congratulations to the following 2026 KRESA Early/Middle College Program Graduates:
- Kirsten Berens - Kalamazoo Central
- Braeden Boer– Vicksburg
- Benjamin Boyd – Portage Central
- Marissa Bruininks – Portage Central
- Addison Burleigh – Portage Central
- Mitchell Cannon – Comstock
- Cole Curtis – Climax-Scotts
- Dylan Danner – Schoolcraft
- Juanita Daza Reyes – Portage Northern
- Micayla DeWaal – Climax-Scotts
- Michael Esman– Comstock
- Aniya Foster – Kalamazoo Central
- Genevieve Gibson – Parchment
- Lucas Hamelink – Schoolcraft
- Kailionna Jackson – Parchment
- Joshua Lent – Kalamazoo Central
- Nora Lynn – Climax-Scotts
- Alekh Marion – Kalamazoo Central
- Zachary McPherson – Parchment
- Alyssa McMillan – Schoolcraft
- Eva Morris – Loy Norrix
- Grace Ohland – Schoolcraft
- Brooklyn Olgine – Parchment
- Ryan Proskow – Portage Northern
- Jackson Rand – Portage Central
- Jaden Reiber – Schoolcraft
- Lukas Rinderspacher – Schoolcraft
- Michael Riordan – Portage Northern
- Myles Scherer – Climax-Scotts
- Leah Standish – Vicksburg
- Lily Vanderhoof – Galesburg
- Lily VanDillen – Climax-Scotts
- Madison Vincent – Climax-Scotts
- Ariel Whiteside – Parchment
- Harmoniey Whitfield – Comstock
- Megan Zimmerman - Schoolcraft