Meet A Future Leader In Kalamazoo-Portage: Caitlin Darrah

The future of Kalamazoo-Portage is looking bright, thanks to the incredible young people working to strengthen our community. In partnership with T-Mobile, Patch is proud to spotlight future leaders like Caitlin Darrah, who are making a positive impact in and around Kalamazoo-Portage.

Caitlin, a student in Western Michigan University’s Early Childhood Unified Education program, is keeping Kalamazoo warm through her registered student organization, Blankets for Bronson. Inspired by a family friend’s experience donating blankets to hospital patients, Caitlin continued the tradition in high school and expanded it by founding the RSO at WMU. The club hosts monthly meetings where members craft blankets and write cards for patients at Bronson Methodist Hospital. In its first year, the group donated 35 blankets, a number Caitlin expects to surpass as the club grows and gains experience.

Recognized for her leadership and service, Caitlin received the First Year Student Leader Award at WMU’s 2023 Golden Bronco Awards for her significant contributions to the campus community. While she identifies as an introvert, Caitlin credits her major with helping her develop leadership, public speaking and problem-solving skills, which she applies both to the RSO and her future career as an educator. Caitlin plans to carry her passion for volunteerism into her classroom, inspiring her students to give back to their communities just as she has.

Congratulations, Caitlin Darrah!

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