Who We Are

The Legacy Scholars program is a Supporting Organization of the Battle Creek Community Foundation operating under the auspices of Kellogg Community College and governed by a board of directors. The board is comprised of community leaders, parents, residents, and students.

Board members and Legacy Scholars staff work together to accomplish the mission and goals of the Legacy Scholars program to ensure it provides the educational, emotional, social, and financial support and opportunities for Battle Creek Public Schools and Lakeview School District students. 

The leadership and staff of the Legacy Scholars program currently consists of, Paula Langston-Ware , Program Director, and Shanette Bowser, Program Specialist and a 16 member board:

Patricia Brasseur, Board President
Owner, McDonalds Restaurant

Karl Dehn, Board Vice President
Marketing Director, Battle Creek Unlimited

Wayne Bush, Board Secretary
DMMI Purchasing & Senior Buyer, Denso Corporation

Joe Kretovics, Board Treasurer
Professor of Senior Research, Western Michigan University, Gear Up

James McHale
Senior Vice President, WK Kellogg Foundation

Dr. Charles Coleman
Superintendent, Battle Creek Public Schools

Cindy Ruble
Superintendent, Lakeview School District

Brenda Hunt
President & CEO, Battle Creek Community Foundation

Dr. Edward Haring
President, Kellogg Community College

Dionisio Sanchez
Coordinator, Michigan Works

Michael Larson
President and CPO, United Way of Greater Battle Creek

Brenda Minter
Senior Manager, Materials Procurement, Kellogg Company

Carolyn Ballard
Teacher, Lakeview School District

Dimeko Price
Student Representative, Lakeview School District

Rachael Burnham

Student Representative, Lakeview School District

Alexa Glau

Student Representative, Battle Creek Public Schools 

Genetazia Tatum

Student Representative, Battle Creek Public Schools 

Mission Statement 

It is the mission of the Legacy Scholars program “To provide educational, emotional, social, and financial support and opportunities for Battle Creek Public and Lakeview School District students to graduate from high school and obtain a college degree or certificate.”

Vision and Goals 

children in our community are Battle Creek’s future and the Vision Statement to “Strengthen our community through education, generation by generation, as a vibrant place to live, learn, prosper, and grow” laid the framework for the entire Legacy Scholars program.

The Legacy Scholars program is an initiative developed as a component of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s 75th anniversary in 2005 and was created with the intention of investing in the educational future of Battle Creek area youth. This program supports students attending Battle Creek Public Schools and Lakeview School District who are beginning the sixth grade and follows them through to high school graduation. It was developed to support the following goals:

• Increase on-time graduation rates for Legacy Scholars
• Establish community supports and/or resources that provide or enhance services to Legacy Scholars and their families
• Establish a Funding Development Committee to create a three year fund development plan
• Prepare students to secure opportunities to obtain college degrees or certificates, and
• Create a well trained and educated workforce.

To help support the goals of the Legacy Scholars program, the following exposures and opportunities have been, and will continue to be, provided to the students: