Journeys

Fall 2025

Defunded but not defeated! Our Public Media is here to stay.

The Delta College women's soccer team went undefeated for the 2024 season, bringing home their second national championship title in the program's history.

Read more about Delta College Public Media

In this issue

Letter from the Delta College Foundation Executive Director

Fall is a time of change. The weather gets cooler, students head back to school and Delta College’s hallways and parking lots fill up. Along with pumpkin spice everything, and plenty of apples and cider to go around, these changes are predictable and welcome.

But this year, we have seen some unexpected changes. First is the loss of Delta College President Emeritus Don Carlyon. At 100 years old, he never lost interest in the community college he helped launch back in 1961. We heard from him often and we miss him each and every week.

This summer also saw the rescission of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provided federal grant funding to Delta College’s WDCQ-TV and WUCX-FM. It is a partnership that had been in place for 60 years.

This change was personal for me because I was a student in Delta’s broadcasting program and worked in its studios during my training. Although the loss has shocked and saddened me, we must now do our best to reach out to the community to help us sustain the operation.

Of course, there are good changes as well. We welcomed two new directors to the Foundation board. And, as we plan for A Chocolate Affair in November, we are pleased to find out more about how a Possible Dream graduate benefited from the program.

In the category of “everything old is new again,” Delta’s WDCQ-TV secured tickets to a July taping of Antiques Roadshow. The Charlevoix event is included in this issue. The final program will air sometime in early 2026 and we hope to have a local resident appear on the show!

Working in the Delta College Foundation means we are able to meet wonderful residents who provide dollars to support causes that interest them. Changes we endure at times are the passing of some of our favorite donors, who showed such interest in, and compassion for, our students.

We hope you will celebrate the life of Kurt W. Anderson, who was a supporter of agriculture and learning. In his memory, his family has established a scholarship to support upcoming students. We wish you all the best during this autumnal season and hope all of the changes you encounter are positive.

Pam Clark
Executive Director Delta College Foundation

Foundation welcomes new directors

The Delta College Foundation Board of Directors recently welcomed two new members to serve on the board. This voluntary position invites prominent community members to share their time and talent in support of the Foundation’s mission. We are grateful for their dedication to Delta College.

Read more about the new directors
Building a rewarding career close to home

One year following the launch of the Possible Dream program, Rachel Rivard was inducted in 1993 and remained in the program until she graduated from Bay City Western in 1999. Now, after 21 years working in the chemical industry, Rachel supports 13 sites for DuPont as an integrated operations consultant and global continuous improvement leader.

Learn more about Rachel
Remembering Don Carlyon

For more than three decades, Don Carlyon’s vision shaped Delta into the place of innovation and opportunity it is today. His presidency, spanning 28 years from 1964 to 1992, remains the longest in the college’s history. After his passing this spring, retirees and community members share stories that capture his leadership, his friendship and his everlasting impact on the college and the region.

Read more about Don Carlyon
Delta supporter to appear on Antiques Roadshow

For the first time since 2018, the PBS hit, Antiques Roadshow brought its five-city production tour to Michigan. Of the thousands of items appraised, one of Delta College Public Media's guests, Kathi Spence, was selected to have her grandmother’s necklace appraised in an episode.

Read more about Kathi
Wine, wonder and renaissance

Join Delta College Public Media and General Manager, Tom Bennett, on a ten-day tour of Italy. This trip is planned for April 2026. All the details are covered, including flights, accommodations and sightseeing, so you can rest easy and immerse yourselves in the history, culture, art, wine and romance of Italy.

Learn more about the trip
The life and legacy of a Michigan farmer

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 44,000 farms in Michigan contribute $104.7 billion to the state’s economy. Among them was a dairy farm in Pigeon, Michigan, home to third-generation farmer Kurt William Anderson. His life’s journey embodies the resilience that defines Michigan farming.

Read more about Kurt and his family
Cosmic revival at the Planetarium

After nearly 10 years of planning, the Delta College Planetarium has undergone some big improvement projects.

Read more about the updates
Adventures in learning

Delta students took their education across the ocean, visiting Japan and Australia.

Read more about the trips
Nearly 40 years of investing in education and the community

Three Saginaw foundations— the Frank N. Andersen Foundation, the Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation and the Wickson-Link Memorial Foundation—have provided tremendous support totaling $5,882,513 over 39 years, contributing to numerous institutional advancements and supporting 1,450 students through annual scholarships.

Read more about the foundations
Two degrees and counting

As a recent high school graduate, Jennifer Newcombe enrolled at a big university downstate and hit the road. Feeling unprepared, she decided she would take just one year off to get her finances in order and relieve some of the pressure. That one year eventually turned into over 20 years.

Read Jennifer's story