Cass County School Supply Spectacular Registration is Now Open
Registration is now open for the 2026 School Supply Spectacular, and United Way of Southwest Michigan is asking Cass County families who could use a hand to sign up before backpacks run out. The annual event gives local students in need a free backpack filled with age-appropriate school supplies so they can start the year ready to learn. Online registration is now open at SchoolSupplySpectacular.com. Backpacks are available to children from pre-K through 12th grade who reside in or attend school in
Hard cider release marks expanded Lake Michigan College wine and viticulture program curriculum
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – Hard cider production is an emerging industry in Michigan, with the state now standing as the second-largest producer of the craft beverage in the country. According to the 2025 Economic Impact Study of the Michigan Craft Beverage Industry, more than 135 Michigan beverage makers craft hard cider, producing over 1.2 million gallons annually. Wineries and cideries in Southwest Michigan are instrumental in this growth, making the region one of the top in the state for production of the
MICHIGAN WORKS! ADULT EDUCATION TEAM SETS NEW GRADUATION RECORD THROUGH BERRIEN COUNTY JAIL PARTNERS
The Michigan Works! Adult Education team celebrated a record-breaking year Tuesday night, recognizing 52 graduates who earned their GEDs- the highest number of graduates in the program’s history. The milestone follows the launch of a new partnership with the Berrien County Jail, created to help adult learners work toward earning their GED before reentering the community. “We hit an all-time high this year, watching 52 graduates earn their GED,” said Mandi Somers, Adult Education Manager at Michigan
Lake Michigan College's Sean Newmiller Named Inaugural First-Year Success Fellow by Strong Start to Finish
Sean Newmiller, Chair of the English, Communication, and World Languages Department, has been named one of six inaugural First-Year Success Fellows by Strong Start to Finish, a national network dedicated to ensuring students complete gateway math and English in their first year of college and an initiative of the Education Commission of the States. Newmiller was selected for his accomplishments in advancing evidence-based reforms that improve student outcomes. At Lake Michigan College, he led his
Honor Credit Union Accepting Applications to Award $20,000 to Michigan Teachers for the 17th Year
Honor Credit Union Accepting Applications to Award $20,000 to Michigan Teachers for the 17th Year BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN – JUNE 2, 2026 – Honor Credit Union has officially opened applications for its 17th Annual Teacher Awards, continuing its long-standing tradition of celebrating and supporting educators across Michigan. This year, 40 teachers will each receive a $500 Amazon digital gift card to help bring their classroom dreams to life, totaling $20,000 in awards across the state. Honor’s
Lake Michigan College's Dr. Scott L. Pratt Named to OnCon Icon Top 100 Technology Professionals
Dr. Scott L. Pratt, Chief Information Officer at Lake Michigan College (LMC), has been named one of the OnCon Icon Top 100 Technology Professionals, a prestigious honor recognizing excellence among technology executives worldwide. The OnCon Icon Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of top organizations and leaders across industries. Recipients are selected entirely through peer voting. Voters chose leaders they felt demonstrated a strong mix of organizational success and positive impact,
Local High School Musicals Featured and Awarded at LMC’s WAVE Awards honoring Excellence in High School Musical Theatre
Thirteen local High Schools participated in the fifth annual WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre at the Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre on the Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. This year the WAVE Awards has grown to include students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in Indiana. The participating schools were evaluated by 10 adjudicators, and about 890 students
Lake Michigan College Wine & Viticulture Technology program offering summer wine and cider tasting series
Southwest Michigan is home to one of the country's most celebrated wine regions, yet few who live in and visit the area have had the chance to truly explore what's in their glass. The Lake Michigan College Wine & Viticulture Technology program is changing that with a summer series of expert-led tasting sessions. The workshops are designed to deepen participants' understanding of wines and ciders from around the world and help them connect that knowledge to the vineyards and wineries right outside their
