Kansas Association of Community College Trustees

KANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGES
“GOOD NEWS”

February 2008

BARTON….. Barton County Community College’s Forensics Program placed first overall in Community College Sweepstakes in the Border Wars Invitational Tournament Feb. 1-3 at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. Barton’s Forensics Program is hosting the Kansas State Forensics and Debate Tournament on Barton’s campus Feb. 15-16..…Barton hosted approximately 175 professionals from the oil and gas industry for the 23rd annual Corrosion Control Seminar presented by NACE International Feb. 6-8 at the Midwest Utility and Pipeline Training Center on Barton’s campus

SEWARD….. Seward County Community College head baseball coach Galen McSpadden will be inducted into the class of 2008 NJCAA Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame May 23, 2008, at the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series banquet in Grand Junction, Colo.   The Seward County Community College women’s basketball and all of its fans and supporters helped raise $610 for breast cancer research through its “Think Pink” gathering on Wednesday night at the Green House.  Our Black Collegiate Union (BCU) collaborated with the community and held a well attended Martin Luther King, Jr. remembrance celebration.  It began with a march in the bitter cold by several students, faculty, staff and community members followed by a program on campus.

LABETTE… LCC Vice President Honored by Phi Theta Kappa - Dr. Wayne Hatcher, Vice President of Student Services, was recently notified that he was chosen as recipient of the prestigious Administrator Award of Distinction. College Administrators, nominated by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapters, are selected for this award based on outstanding support provided PTK over the years. Hatcher will be presented this award at PTK’s international convention in Philadelphia this April.  LCC Receives LCC Tech Grant - Labette Community College has been awarded a $41,463.34 technology grant from the Kansas Board of Regents in order to support the purchase of equipment and technology for our Nursing and Respiratory Care Programs….  Labette Community College’s Nursing Program has been in place since 1968, and has graduated over 1500 nurses. 100% of LCC Nursing graduates have gained employment as NCLEX-RN® registered nurses within the professional nursing field.  LCC History Instructor Published Labette Community College History instructor, Dr. John Mack, is published in this month’s Kansas History magazine. The article entitled “United We Stand: Law and Order on the Southeastern Kansas Frontier, 1866-1870,” focuses on how after the Civil War, thousands of settlers poured into southeast Kansas seeking new opportunities for economic success that had, perhaps, eluded them back east.  The article can be found on the Kansas History website at www.kshs.org

NEOSHO….. First Graduates of Online Nursing Program Fourteen Registered Nursing students from the NCCC Mary Grimes School of Nursing, graduated December 15, 2007, after completing the first class of second level online nursing.  The online nursing program is made possible through the Kansas Board of Regents Nursing Initiative Grant that NCCC’s nursing program received in July of 2006.  As of the fall 2007 semester, second level RN students have the option of taking nursing courses in the classroom or taking hybrid classes; meaning that theory is taught online and the clinical experience is taught in person….. Two from NCCC selected for PTK award - Dr. Vicky Smith, President and Dr. Brian Inbody, Vice President of Student Learning have both been selected as recipients of Phi Theta Kappa’s prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction.   The nominations were based on their outstanding support of Phi Theta Kappa.  They will be recognized at the 90^th Annual International Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania April 3 – 5, 2008.   …In recent years NCCC, USD413 and area businesses have been struggling with a common problem.  For area businesses, there is a high demand for workers in welding, construction, and drafting but an inadequate number of qualified individuals to fill those jobs.  As a result of innovation and perhaps one-of-a-kind partnership between these three groups, new welding, construction and drafting programs will now be offered at the USD 413 new technology building, taught by NCCC with the acceptance of local businesses. 

CLOUD…… More than 300 high school students from 20 Kansas schools rehearsed and performed Jan. 26 and 27 in Concordia at the 38th annual Youth for Music event. Cloud County Community College and Tom's Music House, Concordia, are co-sponsors of the event……An Associated Press story on wind energy and technician training opportunities including the new two-year program at Cloud has appeared in major daily newspapers in Kansas, Texas, Ohio, Massachusetts and California……Monthly "Star Parties" at Cloud's Earl Bane Observatory attract area stargazers of all ages to campus.  CCCC Instructor Dennis Smith directs the stargazing event, typically the third Saturday.

JOHNSON COUNTY…. DEBATE TEAM in Texas last week participating in the Texas Two-Step, which is composed of two tournaments – hosted by University of North Texas and UT-Dallas. JCCC debaters finishing in various positions solidified JCCC's ranking as the top community college in the country and moved JCCC up three spots in the overall rankings.  During the second half of the Two-Step, JCCC debaters won against Wichita State, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Missouri State, and proceeded to Quarterfinals where they won on a 3-0 decision against Kansas State. In Semi-finals, they debated Minnesota and won on a 3-0 decision. JCCC Debaters then advanced to the final round, where they earned a second-place finish and a Finalist Award.  To date, the JCCC Debate team has won top honors at six out of the seven tournaments competed at this year. The team of Zac Hartkopp and Brad Jacobs have earned three final round appearances and three undefeated prelimination round records at tournaments, which currently distinguishes them as the only team in the country to have this honor.

GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS AND FACULTY HONORED at the fourth annual Kansas City AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Artists) Design Competition and Awards held January 25, 2008:
·        Professor Stephanie Sabato was honored as the recipient of the 2007 AIGA Fellow Award for excellence and dedicated service to graphic design education, AIGA and communities around the world.
·         The AIGA Jurors Choice Award for student work was awarded to JCCC graphic design student Julie Sledgister for her short film titled “Summer Hand.”
·         Awards for the AIGA student competition were also presented to JCCC graphic design students Ben Armour for photography, Casey Denbleyker for CD packaging and Jessica Johnston for magazine design.
 NURSING PROGRAM REACCREDITED  JCCC’s registered nursing program received a maximum eight-year accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting.

BUTLER…. Butler athletes named to the KJCCC Fall 2007 All Academic Teams include:
o        Cross Country – Shanda Anderson (Marquette), Jennifer Butler Bennington), Sydnee Cole (Phillipsburg), Kristi Gildner (Derby), Megan Henson (Argonia), Dale Page (Sedgwick), Holly Poe (Oakley), Katie Simmons (Lakin), Crystal Stegman (Salina) and Leah Thompson (Salina)
o        Football – Bradley Briggs (Manhattan), Erik Dahl (Shawnee Mission), Jarvis Doleman (Lawrence), Michael Garrison (Shawnee Mission), Lucas Hamm (Tampa), Josh Haydon (Rose Hill), Garret Jacobsen (Emmett), Clint Kuhns (Meade), Grant Levin (Kensington), Chad Modlin (Burr Oak), Chance Riley (Lawrence), Jason Robben (Mount Hope), Pres Taylor (Medicine Lodge), Ben Warta (Atwood), Wade Weibert (Hillsboro) and Kyle Woodall (Salina)
o        Soccer – Whitney Campbell (Wichita), Caitlin Ford (Omaha, NE) and Kacey Spangler (Kechi)
o        Volleyball – Barbara Cervantes (Universal City, TX), Kelly Curry (Shawnee Mission), Christian Hallman (Topeka), Kiersten Karlix (Olathe), Rachel Moore (Olathe), Kendra Neubauer (Salina), Kristi Parker (Mulvane) and Alexandria Szalawiga (Olathe) 
·         Troy Morrell, Head Football Coach, was selected as NJCAA National Coach of the Year at the American Football Coaches Association annual convention held in Anaheim, California.  This is the second time Morrell has won the national award.   ·         Valerie Mack, Vocal Music Faculty, was recently interviewed by the BBC 3 Radio regarding her published book “Icebreakers”. 
·         Butler’s Realtime Reporting Program has received certification from the National Court Reporters’ Association and was highlighted in the National Journal for Court Reporting as the first participating and first certified Realtime Reporting Program. 
·        Micaela Ayers, Directory of Library Services, was appointed to the State Library Board of Kansas.
·         Butler Community College hosted presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, on January 29th.  His speech was also broadcast live to an overflow crowd in the Hubbard Champions Training Center and Butler Theatre.

 HIGHLAND ….. HCC Collecting Memorabilia for 150^th - Officials at Highland Community College are collecting College memorabilia for display during the 150^th Celebration, starting February 9, 2008....College memorabilia was on display at the opening event of the yearlong 150^th Celebration held in the HCC Wellness Center. Three former presidents – Dr. Bill Spencer, Dr. Larry Devane, and Dr. Betty Stevens –attended the event, in addition to Congresswoman Nancy Boyda and Bill Thornton of Atchison, a recent appointee to the Kansas Board of Regents......HCC Holds Annual Quiz Bowl - The Highland Community College 22nd Annual Scottie Invitational Academic Challenge Quiz Bowl was held Saturday, January 26th, on the HCC campus.  Twenty-one Northeast Kansas high schools participated by accumulating scores for questions answered correctly.  The top three winners were: Topeka West, Oskaloosa, and Frankfort High Schools.  Community volunteers assist each year, serving as moderators and scorers.  This year, 42 volunteers assisted, two per high school team. 

HUTCHINSON….. Good News-Hutchinson Community College - The spring semester is well underway at Hutchinson Community College. Clark Jacobs, Director of Business and Industry Training at HCC, has been named the 2007 Fall Employee of the Semester.  Jacobs received a plaque and cash award from Dr. Edward Berger, president of Hutchinson Community College, at the all-Employee Meeting on Tuesday, January 8th.  Jacobs has worked for 31 years at HCC, serving first as an instructor from 1974 to 1984, and returning to the college again in 1987, after a stint in private business.  Jacobs guides numerous workforce and industry training programs and partnerships as Director of the Business and Industry Institute at HCC.  He also supervises the Workforce Development Center located on the HCC campus and the satellite offices in McPherson and Newton.  James Bradley, author of the bestseller “Flags of Our Fathers,” spoke at HCC on January 28, as the first speaker of the 2008 Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series.   Bradley’s speech was entitled “Doing the Impossible.” Beverly Morgan-Welch, Soledad O’Brien, Jerry Moe, and Senator Pat Roberts will also lecture during this year at HCC as part of the 2008 series.

FORT SCOTT…. Members of the Fort Scott Community College Forensics team attended the Kansas Wesleyan University and John Brown University 3^rd Annual Border Wars Swing Forensics Tournament February 1-3, 2008.  FSCC’s Michael Johnson received individual honors in the novice Lincoln-Douglas debate on Saturday where he placed second and in the novice IPDA debate on Sunday with another second place finish.  The FSCC team was awarded the Part II Community College Sweepstakes 3^rd place trophy.  FSCC forensics team members are Matthew Blunt, Benjamin Cole, Michael Johnson, Daniel O’Rear, Samuel Tiner, and Amanda Tompkins.......Two of Fort Scott Community College’s Rodeo cowboys, Justin Peebles and Chancy Lovinggood, visited Arma’s Headstart. The children had the opportunity to try on chaps and use a lasso.  Both Peebles and Lovinggood were excited about the chance to share their talents with the children. Theresa Hurd, an employee with Arma’s Headstart program stated that Peebles and Lovinggood did a great job interacting with the children. Peebles showed a video of himself competing in different rodeo competitions and both Peebles and Lovinggood read to the children.

COLBY…..Colby Community College President Dr. Lynn Kreider was one of 15 community college presidents selected from over 1,600 two-year institutions to participate in a one-day summit with other rural community college leaders January 15 in Washington, D.C.  Agenda items for this summit included two-to-four year transitions, adult and non-traditional students, accountability and leadership. The summit was hosted and underwritten by the U.S. Department of Education…..CCC chemistry instructor Dr. Max Pickerill is beginning his 100^th semester of teaching.  Dr. Max Pickerill, who is 82 years old, has been a teacher for 58 years, which 33 of those at Colby College.

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