Fine Arts

Fine Arts Hall of Fame

The Southwestern Fine Arts Hall of Fame was established in 2009 to honor alumni who have excelled and obtained significant success in their chosen field of Fine Arts or Fine Arts Education, and former faculty who have made significant contributions to the Fine Arts at Southwestern College. Additionally, a service award was established to honor those who have made significant contributions to the Southwestern College Fine Arts.

This hall of fame has been underwritten by the Jenkins Endowment which was created and funded by Mr. Charles Kopke, SC class of 1944. The endowment is in honor of twenty years of fundraising service by Mr. Ronnie Jenkins, whose role included a special focus on the arts at Southwestern College. Mr. Jenkins retired in 2013 and a plaque for the Jenkins Endowment was added to the Fine Arts Hall of Fame in Darbeth Lobby to commemorate his role.

For more information on the fine arts at Southwestern College, please refer to the appropriate webpage: music or theatre arts.

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2026 Fine Arts Hall of Fame
Saturday, April 18

View photos from 2026 Halls of Fame

10:00 am Fine Arts Hall of Fame Reception | Christy Lobby RSVP Requested
10:30 am Fine Arts Hall of Fame Ceremony | Richardson Performing Arts Center

Inductees

Warren Brown

Gregory Dalton-White `76

RSVP by April 10, 2026. To RSVP, submit RSVP form, email alumni@sckans.edu or call 620.229.615

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2026 Inductees

Warren Brown was born in 1919. His father was a pastor, and later bishop, in the Methodist Church and served in various churches in the Kansas West Conference. In 1938, he matriculated at Southwestern College, but interrupted his studies to train as an aircraft mechanic in 1941 and join the Army Air Corps. During World War II, he served in Egypt, across North Africa, and finally in Italy, as a tail-gunner on B-52 bombers. After the war, he returned to Southwestern in 1945 and graduated in May of 1946 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He then attended the University of Denver, receiving his MA in Fine Arts and teaching certification. While at Southwestern, he wrote for the Winfield Daily Courier.

His first teaching job was at Hutchinson High School, where he taught high school English and art classes, later becoming the lead art instructor and chair of the art department. During his time in Hutchinson, he served several terms as the president of the Hutchinson Teacher’s Association and as president of the Kansas Art Federation. Brown’s art was exhibited frequently around Kansas and the Midwest during his 19 years at Hutchinson High. In the summer, Brown and his family spent their summers in Colorado, where he sold his jewelry and pottery, mostly in shops in Aspen, Colorado. Brown was also involved in set design for both Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Community Theatre productions.

In 1969, Brown accepted the position as Head of the Art Department at Southwestern College and continued to exhibit his own work regionally, including his photography. At Southwestern, he led many Jan Term trips to Italy to study Renaissance Art, continued his love affair with the Colorado Rockies during the summer, and trained hundreds of art teachers for Kansas area high schools. During the first 5 years of the Walnut Valley Festival, he organized student exhibits at the arts and crafts fair. Two of his children graduated from Southwestern College’s Art program.

Warren retired from Southwestern College in 1985. Warren’s brother, Ronald, also graduated from Southwestern, as did his three children and one grandchild.

Gregory Dalton-White, a 1976 graduate of Southwestern College, was born and raised in Winfield. He became aware of the college’s theater program when his sixth-grade class was invited to attend The Sound of Music. A member of Campus Players, he appeared in numerous plays and musicals as well as participating as a member of the debate and oral interpretation teams. During the summers he was a member of the acting troupe of the Walnut Valley Horsefeathers and Applesauce Summer Theater Programme.

After graduating with a B.A. in Language Arts, his forty-three year career in education began. Greg taught at the high school and middle school levels in Caldwell, Udall, Rose Hill, Haysville and Coffeyville. He directed theater programs, coached debate/forensics, and also taught English. He was instrumental in beginning the Advanced Placement program while in Coffeyville and served as an instructional coach. For thirteen years, he served as professor of Theater and Speech at Dodge City Community College and time as the Humanities Department chair after receiving a Masters in Communications with emphasis in theater. During this period, he was an active member of the Boot Hill Repertory Company, appearing in plays and musicals and assisting with scenic painting, appearing as Mr. Beeson in the Long Branch Saloon summer show and directing Company. Happily, he also did voice overs on radio and television commercials eventually appearing as the face of the Dodge City Days BBQ competition in several television promos.

Greg retired from education in 2019, but continues to work as director, designer or actor at various theaters in Wichita including Kechi Playhouse, the Wichita Community Theater, the Crown Uptown Theater, Guild Hall Players, Signature Theatre and Forum Theatre. He was honored to be the recipient of several Mary Jane Teall Theatre awards in acting and design.

Criteria

Candidates for induction into the Southwestern College Fine Arts Hall of Fame will be considered for induction based on their achievements, professionalism, and character. A significant achievement is one in which the exceptional skills and abilities of the candidate are exemplified. Candidates must be alumni of Southwestern College, former faculty or persons who have made significant contributions to Fine Arts at Southwestern College.

Nomination

Nominations will be received from alumni and friends of the college. In order for a nomination to be formally accepted, a completed nomination form must be submitted to the nominations committee along with two letters of recommendation (not from the nominator). Nominations will be sought via college publications, electronic means, and special communications. Once an individual is formally nominated, that name will remain eligible for selection for induction for 5 years. After that time has passed, the individual must be formally nominated again to be considered for selection. The nomination pool will be managed and maintained by the alumni department.

Fine Arts Hall of Fame Nomination Form

Selection

The selection of inductees will be made by the selection committee of the college. The Fine Arts Hall of Fame selection committee will consist of up to three faculty (current and/or emeritus) from the Division of Performing Arts, the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, the Director of Alumni Programs, and up to three alumni with Fine Arts degrees. The alumni will serve on the committee for a term of two years. All other members serve by position.

Number of Inductees

The number of inductees for the inaugural year will be a minimum of seven and a maximum of ten. The award may be given posthumously. After the inaugural year of the Southwestern College Fine Arts Hall of Fame, the maximum number of inductees per year will be three, one of which can be the service award. A maximum of one posthumous inductee is allowed per year.

Fine Arts Hall of Fame Members

2026 Inductees
Warren Brown
Gregory Dalton-White `76

2025 Inductees
Lori (Alexander) Borger `76
Bill Borger `74

2024 Inductees
Roberta (Gilger) Banks `72
Roxy (Clark) Callison `69/`91

2023 Inductees
William Christie ‘74
Roger ’70 & Allyson ’76 Moon
Tim Shook

2022 Inductees
Frieda Lindburg '70
Misty Maynard '75
Tom* '59 and Mari '60 (Waite) Wallrabenstein

2019 Inductees
Dr. James Leland
George Jason Johnston ’69
Virginia (Stubbs) Spray ’33

2018 Inductees
Dr. Stephen C. Anderson '67
Miss Grace Raymond 1897

2017 Inductees
Arthur Sinclair Covey 1899
Woodrow J. Hodges '65
Don Phillip Gibson '61

2016 Inductees
Scott I. Hartley '97
Timothy A. Myers '00
Brandon Q. Smith '98

2015 Inductees
Michael R. Brummett '79
Terry L. McGonigle '73
Madeline J. (Magnusson) Norland '83

2014 Inductees
George M. Cole '63
Loren B. Crawford '34
Ronald K. Curfman '64

2013 Inductees
Kenneth A. Forsyth '61
Leora K. (Martin) Kline '66
Lou (Edwards) Tharp

2012 Inductees
Orcenith S. Smith
James H. "Jim" Strand
Jerry D. Thomas '81

2011 Inductees
L. Dean Angeles '67
F. Joe Sims '51
Gordon E. Young '49

2010 Inductees
Dennis P. Akin (art professor at SC from 1958-1967)
Norman D. Callison '63
Gayle C. McMillen '71

2009 Inductees
E. Marie Burdette '29, '32
Earl W. Dungan '40
Mildred (Demaree) Erhart '41
Helen Graham '19
Lauren Kilmer
David C. McGuire '47
Grace Sellers '27
Ross O. Williams '35