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LANSING, MI — November 21, 2025  — The Board of Education’s Board Recognition Committee is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for outstanding alumni, employees, and community contributors. This inaugural initiative celebrates the exceptional individuals who exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the Lansing School District—those who have inspired excellence through their achievements, service, and leadership.

Purpose of the Committee

The Board Recognition Committee exists to honor and celebrate the individuals who have shaped, strengthened, and carried forward the mission of the Lansing School District. By recognizing outstanding employees, alumni, and community contributors, the committee fosters a culture of appreciation, builds pride in our schools, and inspires future generations to continue a tradition of excellence and service.

The committee represents a collaborative partnership among Lansing School District staff, educators, administrators, students, families, community members, and the district’s Board of Education—working together to advance shared goals for our schools.

Award Categories – Employee

An individual may be nominated based on exceptional job performance, teamwork, initiative, customer impact, professional growth, and demonstration of district values.

All nominees must have a minimum of 10 years of service (exceptions possible for extraordinary contributions), may be retired, currently employed, or deceased, must have served in good standing.

Award Categories – Alumni

An individual may be nominated based on professional excellence, community involvement, engagement with the district, leadership, integrity, and alignment with Lansing School District values.

All nominees must have graduated with a diploma, GED, or equivalent from the district at least 10 years prior to nomination, recognized for significant professional, civic, or cultural achievements, must have a demonstrated commitment to community or public service.

Award Categories – Community Contributor

A community member, group, or organization that has demonstrated a sustained and significant impact on students, programs, or the school district at large, may be nominated.

Nominations – Selection – Recognition

Nominations will be accepted until 5:00 pm on January 30, 2026, with no limitations on who can submit names for consideration.

The Board Recognition Committee will score all nominations received based on the stated criteria and determine which nominees best exemplify the district’s mission and values. All award winners will be recognized by the Board of Education and the Lansing School District in March of 2026.

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CAMP Director Luis Garcia said the decision has left students, families, and staff deeply concerned.

“Well, the recruitment we primarily do is from Michigan, but also from feeder states like Florida, Texas, and California,” Garcia explained. “The bulk of our students come from Michigan. A lot of these families work here during the season and return south in the winter. That’s the connection to Michigan.”

Garcia emphasized that MSU’s support for farmworker students has long been central to its mission as a land-grant institution. “If you look at CAMP students or farmworker students, they’re the core of what Michigan State University is about. Our first reason for existing was agriculture,” he said.

Still, Garcia acknowledged that misconceptions about the term “migrant” complicate public understanding of the program. “When we say migrant, you and I understand that as people moving from one state to another following the crops. But the general public often assumes these are international students here illegally. In fact, in order to participate in CAMP, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents,” he said.

Parents of current CAMP students have already expressed fears about the program’s future. “Some parents asked me if they should tell their daughter to pack her clothes and come home,” Garcia said. “I had to explain, no, MSU is covering this academic year. We’re looking at future years after this one.”

University officials confirmed that the administration has committed to funding CAMP for one year despite the budget cut, giving students security through the current academic cycle. Looking ahead, MSU is seeking community support to keep the program alive by accepting financial contributions to the Migrant Student Services Endowment Fund.

The program’s fate is now tied to shifting university priorities under new leadership. “As soon as the President (Trump) came in, it was clear he wanted things aligned with his way and his priorities. 

“We’re evidently not a priority,” Garcia said. “It’s really interesting because we’re talking about the people who help feed America. And to say they’re not a priority—I don’t understand that.”

Garcia said that while the university is exploring options to secure funding, outside support will be critical to keeping CAMP alive. “Any money we take in right now, people that want to donate, it’s really going for student support,” he said. “The ones that are going to survive are the ones that get institutional support. And I’ll be real clear with you: I plan on surviving here. We’re moving, we’re shaking every tree to see what we can do to get support.”

Despite the setback, Garcia remains optimistic that the community will rally around the program. “I think there are a lot of good people out there that understand what we do, they appreciate it, and are going to be supportive of this.”

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Directed by Ernesto Todd Mireles, War of the Flea captures the real-life struggle of Xicano students at Michigan State University who, through the grassroots efforts of the Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlán (MEXA), fought to establish a Xicano/Latino Studies program on campus.

The film documents a modern-day David vs. Goliath battle, as students faced institutional resistance, political pushback, and coordinated efforts to silence their voices. Despite these challenges, their commitment to cultural self-determination and academic equity never wavered.

The screening will be followed by a community discussion with Mireles, offering deeper insight into the movement and its lasting impact on both education and identity.

The event is free and open to the public, inviting students, educators, activists, and community members to engage in an evening of film, resistance, and dialogue.

For those interested in social justice, ethnic studies, and grassroots organizing, War of the Flea is a must-see.

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Financial and operational challenges have led Siena Heights University in Adrian to announce the university’s closure at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

The announcement came Monday in a news release posted to the private Catholic university’s website. The university said senior leadership assessed its financial situation and its long-term sustainability and concluded continuing beyond the academic year was not feasible.

“For 105 Years, Siena Heights University has been a beacon of light in a world sometimes cast in darkness,” said Siena Heights University President Douglas Palmer in a statement. “The spirit of Siena Heights will continue long after the institution itself closes its doors because it lives in every graduate, faculty member, and staff person who has been on campus – whether in-person or online.”

Current student academic progress and creating transfer pathways with partner institutions with as little disruption as possible will be the priority for the university as it works to close its doors.

The university was founded in 1919 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, which along with the university’s board of trustees supported the move to close the school named after Saint Catherine of Siena.

“We are deeply grateful to the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who have worked hard decade after decade to make Siena Heights an incredibly special place,” Palmer said. “We look ahead to the next academic year planning all the activities one would normally get including athletics, residential life, and great events that we share with our alumni and entire community.”

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