Educators
Educators Hall of Fame
In October 1999, Southwestern College received a gift from the estate of Marjorie Smith, a 1927 graduate who had taught mathematics at Lyons and Dexter, Kansas, for 20 years.
This gift was used to establish a hall of fame to honor Southwestern College alumni educators who have made significant contributions in the field of education. The first Educators Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in April of 2000.
Inductees to the Southwestern College Educators Hall of Fame are honored each year in April. More information on nominating deserving educators can be found under "Criteria" in the gray directory to the right of this webpage.
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2024 Educators Hall of Fame
Inductees
- Anita (Jantz) Ewart `74
- Stephen Peebles `89
2024 Inductees
Anita (Jantz) Ewart was born into a farm family in Cimarron. She graduated from Cimarron High School in 1970 and enrolled in Southwestern in the fall of that year. She graduated from SC in 1974 with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and began a career that lasted for 33 years that morphed into various elementary grade levels and to eventually teaching ESL classes at Kansas Newman University. Stops along the way during her career included Ingalls, Smith Center, and Cimarron. She added educational endorsements as a Reading Recovery Specialist from both Emporia State and Fort Hays State Universities and an ESL Endorsement from Fort Hays State. In 1992, she expanded her career and earned a masters degree in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University. She was involved in several professional organizations such as Kansas Reading Association, International Reading Association, Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Golden Plains Reading Council in which she served as president from 2001 to 2005. Ewart retired from education in 2008 and now resides in Lawrence.
Stephen Peebles graduated from Southwestern in 1988 with a bachelor of science degree in health, physical education, and recreation with an emphasis in math education. Peebles was inducted into the Southwestern College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. After graduation, Peebles returned to his hometown of Bradenton, where he put his Southwestern College experiences to work. He was inducted into the Manatee High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. He was honored to be nominated twice for the School District of Manatee County Teacher of the Year. For 36 years, he has taught Hospital Homebound students. This program allows students to continue their education while unable to attend school due to short-term illness or terminal cancer. As a teacher and coach, one of his most important goals was to hold his players to high academic standards. He worked diligently to connect his players and students with academic and athletic scholarships.
Nominations
To nominate a deserving teacher, please fill out the online nomination form. For more information on Southwestern College department of education, please refer to the education webpage.
EDUCATORS HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM
Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
The Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education was created in 2000 for the purpose of recognizing Southwestern College alumni who have given distinguished service as special education teachers. The original corpus of the fund supporting the McNeish Award was established through the generosity of Dick Merriman and Margot Kelman.
To nominate a deserving teacher for this award, fill out the appropriate online nomination form or contact the Office of Alumni Programs to obtain a form to return by mail. Letters of support are not required but may be provided for additional information about nominees.
MARILYN MCNEISH AWARD NOMINATION FORM
Mission
To recognize and honor outstanding Southwestern College Alumni who excel as educators.
Goals
- To recognize and honor outstanding educators.
- To provide opportunities, resources and assistance to aid teachers in their professional growth.
- To celebrate excellence in teaching.
- To recognize the history and quality of the development of teachers by the Southwestern College Education Program.
- To provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to invest in quality educators.
Guidelines for selection of nominee
Dedication, Knowledge, Professionalism
Criteria for Qualification
Alumni of Southwestern College Education Department with
significant contribution(s) to education
See also, Scholars Hall of Fame
Alumni of Southwestern College who have distinguished careers in higher education or other areas of scholarship are recognized in the Scholars Hall of Fame
Educators Hall of Fame Members
Southwestern College alumni who have made significant achievements in the field of education are recognized annually in the Educators Hall of Fame. Since the inaugural year of 2000, many notable Moundbuilders have been honored by having their names placed in this Hall of Fame. The actual display is located in the lobby of the Jim and Hazel Dole Center for Teacher Education on the Southwestern College main campus.
The Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education is given to a dedicated, knowledgeable, and deserving alumnus/a of the Southwestern College education department who has made significant contribution(s) to the field of special education.
2024 Inductees
Anita (Jantz) Ewart `74
Stephen Peebles `89
2023 Inductees
Tabatha Rosproy ‘09
Brent Wolf ‘03/’15
Barb White ‘80
2022 Inductees
Lynne (Bales) Hunter '75
Ruth (Franklin) McKeefery '45
2022 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Ralph Hanna Jr. '60
2019 Inductees
Dr. Gary King ’63
Judy (Martin) Haynes ’67
Dr. Janet Doud ’16
2018 Inductees
Joe Coles '72
Chuck Haag '72
Kris (Grooms) Trimmer '75
2018 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Bill ReQua '70/'06
2017 Inductees
Chitra Harris '10
DeAnne (Hastings) Heersche '84
Joy (Weigle) Will '69
2016 Inductees
Kathryne (Cooper) Delcarpio '74
Florence (Cutter) Metcalf '63
Robert "Bob" Nispel '57
2016 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Danielle N. Shioyama '10/'14
2015 Inductees
Gyla (Brock) Conklin '58
Cheryl (Bernard) Schasteen '71
Kenneth E. Valentine '70
No award for the Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education in 2015
2014 Inductees
Frank D. Davidson '79
John W. Marshall '70
Ronda J. (Sims) Marshall '70
No award for the Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education in 2014
2013 Inductees
Marilyn G. (Stanton) Davidson '63
Diane K. (Ford) Nickelson '95
Bobby Joe Slade '57
2013 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Vicki L. (Sims) Hitchcock '72
2012 Inductees
E. Katherine (White) Davidson '38/'56
Angela C. "Anne" Farmer '97
James D. "Jim" Wilson '67
2012 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Andrew M. Brenn '01/'06
2011 Inductees
Yvonne (Osgood) English '60
Lynn (Watkins) Felts '77
Lonnie A. Howerton '69
No award for the Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education in 2011
2010 Inductees
Thomas "Tom" Mundinger '72
Clinton C. Trillingham '21
Lois J. (Dryden) Vasey '49
2010 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Kimberly I. "Kim" Mercer '86
2009 Inductees
Sally (Mann) Cauble '72
Gary L. Rhodes '72
Darla Jean (Jones) Wilson '58
No award for the Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education in 2009
2008 Inductees
H. Bertram "Bert" Keller '38
Bruce J. Williams '62
Larry R. Williams '60
2008 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Kathryn (Heitschmidt) Cavalier '69
2007 Inductees
Elizabeth (Arisio) Baumgart '60
Hazel (Palmer) Dole '52
Minerva (Smith) Van Arsdale '69
2007 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Linda Weir-Enegren '69
2006 Inductees
Mary Lou (Bauer) Martin '60
William C. "Bill" Medley '49
T.H. "Curley" Vaughan '14
2006 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Geoffrey G. Moon '97
2005 Inductees
Cindy (Batt) Goertz '66
Grady Kimbrell '56
Marilyn (Edwards) Shaw '75
2005 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Nancy (Carroll) Juhlin '73
2004 Inductees
Ron Haynes '67
Patricia (White) Barlow '73
Shirley (Stewart) Ross '58
2004 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Marvin Estes '66
2003 Inductees
Ronald Burgess '58
Kathi (Phillips) Fischer '74
Sheldon McGuire '53
2003 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Louise (Simpson) Reimer '68
2002 Inductees
James Dole '58
Ken Forsyth '61
Dan Kahler '50
2002 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Sharilyn (Hogue) Hill '87
2001 Inductees
Sheryl (Huber) Lloyd '69
David McGuire '47
Fran (Swink) O'Keefe '93
2001 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Charles Kent Garhart '59
2000 Inductees
Marjorie Smith '27
Glenn Wooddell '63
Larry Miller '71
Bill Musick '39
Brilla (Highfill) Scott '59
Linda Lungren '68
Past Inductions
2022 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 23, 2022
2019 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 13, 2019
2018 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 14, 2018
2017 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Photos
2017 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video
2016 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video
2016 Educators Hall of Fame Photos
2015 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2014 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
