Ross Dingwall is one of KCC’s earliest alumni, graduating in 1961. Class president and a member of the basketball team, Dingwall was a student when KCC moved from its original home on College Street to its current main campus location on North Avenue.
After KCC, Dingwall earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and completed graduate studies at Western Michigan University and the University of California, Berkeley, going on to teach for the Lakeview School District for 35 years. He was awarded a KCC Alumni Award in 2022.
How did you first hear about KCC, and why did you initially decide to attend?
I heard about KCC when my parents informed me that it was my only choice for going on to school. Shortly after that, Coach Jim Stone asked me to try out for the basketball team. That really eased my ego and decision, one that I have never regretted. The result was two great years of classes with excellent instructors, friends and the opportunity to go to school, work and play ball.
What did a typical day as a KCC student in the 1960s look like?
My freshman year was just an extension of high school because we spent most of our time at Battle Creek Central with only one or two classes in the small building on College Street. Then came the move to the North Avenue campus. That was a big deal for all of us. Classroom Building, Science Building and at mid-year a beautiful new library where I had the privilege of working for Mrs. Maulding. Moving to the North Avenue campus made us feel like COLLEGE students with a modicum of independence.
What was it like transitioning from the old Battle Creek Community College to the new KCC campus?
My memories of moving to the new KCC campus are numerous. First, the classes really made me grow and learn to appreciate the importance of education. Secondly, every academic credit transferred to Albion College and the University of Michigan. Also, being elected as a class leader from a very good slate of candidates along with the toughness and leadership of my basketball coach, Jim Stone, was very important to me. At KCC, each of us was a name – a person who mattered to all staff and administrators.
What is your favorite memory from your time at KCC?
As I look back on my many memories, my favorite would have to be the experience of moving to the new campus on North Avenue and feeling that we had all become real college students.
How did your time at KCC influence your career path or life direction?
KCC gave me two years to mature and prepare to move on in college. I discovered that without KCC, my choices and opportunities would not have been the same. Hard work and self-discipline became my mantra, and I was able to carry that into my classroom after my graduation. It also showed me that at a bigger school it was my responsibility to not just be a number but a proud member of the student body. That is definitely one of the factors that sent me on to a career in education and service.
As one of KCC’s earliest graduates, what about the College today makes you most proud?
The diversity of programs and KCC’s involvement in all aspects of Battle Creek and surrounding communities is something that gives me great pride in having been a part of the growth of the College. KCC has lived up to the promises made to us more than 65 years ago; it has become a beacon of hope for all who give it a chance. It is a community of pride for all of us in this area, and I am very proud to call myself a BRUIN!
What advice would you give today’s KCC students?
Be proud to be a part of such a progressive and dynamic school. Whatever your curriculum, do it with pride and a determination to be the “BEST YOU” you can be!
This Q&A first appeared in the March 2026 edition of BruIN magazine. To read the issue online, please visit kellogg.edu/bruinmagazine.
