SGA Senate Meeting Minutes 10-27-2024 Powerpoint PDF

SGA Senate Meeting Minutes 10-13-2024 Powerpoint PDF

In addition to the gifts received as part of Samuel’s memorial, a local family, who wishes to remain anonymous, has offered a $65,000 pledge to endow the fund – challenging community members to contribute. The lead donor hopes that, with additional support, the fund could generate multiple scholarships for Southwestern College nursing students each academic year.

“The nursing program continues to make good progress, we are now in the final phase of approval from the Kansas State Board of Nursing (KSBN) and anticipate accepting applicants for entry to the program in the fall of our 2025 academic year,” said nursing program director, Shona Turner. “We presently have students in the pre-nursing pathway who will apply for entry and are excited to begin recruitment efforts in earnest to fill our initial cohort once KSBN approval is received – scholarships are vitally important as we recruit students and build a strong program.” 

The Dr. Shanthi Samuel Endowed Scholarship for Nursing and Health Sciences was created to provide service-minded students financial assistance as they pursue a nursing degree at Southwestern College. 

“The scholarship is named for our friend and neighbor Dr. Shanthi Samuel – while she may not have graduated from Southwestern College, she was a Builder at heart. Dr. Shanthi was a true ambassador of our college, sharing her care and support with numerous students, faculty, and staff for nearly 50 years – we remain grateful to her and the Samuel family and we are excited to honor her legacy through the support of nursing students,” said Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, vice president for advancement, communications, and marketing.

Samuel passed away in May of 2024. She was born in 1941, in the city of Bangalore, South India. She completed her undergraduate and medical school degrees in India, graduating from the Christian Medical College in Vellore in 1967.  It was there that she met and married Chandy Samuel. The newly minted physicians worked together in a small remote mission hospital in South India and provided emergency, primary, and surgical care to a very underserved population before immigrating to the United States in 1971.  They moved to Syracuse, N.Y., to pursue training in their medical specialties; Chandy in surgery and Shanthi in pathology.

They brought their young family to Winfield in 1976 when Chandy (known as Dr. Sam) joined a local surgery practice.  Dr. Shanthi began practicing medicine at William Newton Memorial Hospital in 1980, after completing her pathology residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.  She was a dedicated, patient-centered, detail-oriented pathologist for nearly 35 years and a teacher at heart, offering cancer prevention education to community members and ‘show and tell’ presentations to school children demonstrating the effects of smoking and chronic alcohol use on human organ specimens from her hospital laboratory. 

Samuel loved hosting and caring for Southwestern College students, faculty, and staff and remained a strong supporter and ambassador of the college throughout her lifetime.

“This scholarship will make a great deal of difference in the lives of our students for years to come. The Dr. Shanthi Samuel Scholarship truly is an investment in the future of healthcare in our community. It is a continuation of Dr. Shanthi’s care for others and her dedication to the advancement of healthcare in our community,” said Liz Frombgen, president of Southwestern College.

Obituary for Dr. Shanthi Samuel

“Building a More Socially Connected Community: A listening & learning session with Legacy Foundation and Deets Library,” will address a 2023 report published by the Surgeon General that explains that the "epidemic of loneliness" can be just as harmful as daily cigarette smoking. 

“If you're concerned about loneliness in our community, join us for a conversation about how to build social connections in Cowley County,” says Emily Hedges, Deets Library director.  “All members of the community are invited to attend, including SC students who can speak to the particular challenges faced by young adults new to the area.”

Questions that will be asked include:

• Who is most socially isolated or lonely in our community?
• What makes you feel like you are welcome and belong in our community?
• What makes you or others feel like they don't belong in our community?
• What helps people in our community connect with each other more easily?

“We will discuss factors leading to disconnection and who is most at risk, as well as brainstorm solutions to overcome these challenges,” Hedges says.

A light dinner will be provided by the Legacy Foundation.  For more information, or to RSVP (appreciated but not required), contact Hedges at emily.hedges@sckans.edu.

The celebration will begin at 5 p.m., with a reception and dinner (cost is $25 per person, seating is limited, and RSVPs are necessary) in Deets Library. The induction ceremony will begin following dinner at approximately 6 p.m., all are invited to attend (no reservations are required). To make dinner reservations, contact Ashlee Mayo, director of alumni engagement, (620) 229-6155.

This hall of fame honors Southwestern College alumni who have made significant contributions in the natural sciences.

James Morgan ’77, James Morgan, graduated with a bachelor of science in biology and a minor in chemistry. While at Southwestern he participated in track for four years, A Capella Choir for three years as well as a year each on the cross country, football, and soccer club squads. After Southwestern, he received a master of science degree in biology with an emphasis in comparative endocrinology from the University of Oregon and a PhD in zoology from Oregon State University doing research in Neurophysiology. After graduating from Oregon State, research continued with gastric ion transport and stress physiology at the University of Arkansas. While teaching physiology and anatomy to nursing students at the University of Arkansas, Morgan became interested in sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture combined ecology and environmentalism with experience gained as a youth on a family farm in Kansas.  In the early 2000s, he and his wife, Teresa, were hired to manage the Katahdin Sheep National Breed Association. He used the position to continue teaching, by educating and encouraging shepherds to use “appropriate” science to improve environmentally sound lamb production.  This teaching encompassed several fields of biology including physiology, genetics, ethology, ecology, developmental biology, reproduction, and botany. In addition, Morgan worked with genetic researchers at Universities and USDA to develop new programs to improve sustainable and profitable sheep production in the USA. He was very effective at helping design data collection and recruited flocks to participate in the research. Resulting data were used by academic researchers to develop the first Estimated Breeding Values for parasite resistance and for total pounds weaned per ewe in the USA. This eventually led to incorporating genomics and modern DNA technology to more accurately identify superior sheep genetics. Along the way, he has been invited to speak on sheep genetics at the World Sheep and Wool Congress, as well as conferences in Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and around the USA. He served as President of the National Sheep Improvement Program for all breeds for 10 years, and Chairperson of USDA’s Southern Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Council (the main granting agency for sustainable agriculture in the Southern USA). He is a member of the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control and participates in committees for the American Sheep Industry Association. Jim and Teresa still have a sheep farm, market lamb meat at the Fayetteville Farmers Market, develop lamb recipes and sell sheep breeding stock.

Ken Lockwood ’80, grew up in Brockway, Penn., where he graduated from high school and was offered a football scholarship at Southwestern College which led him to spend the rest of his life in Kansas. Lockwood was one of the original starting players of the Wichita Flyers a semi-pro football team. His employment career included working for a meat packing plant, KGE, and the United States Post Office, where he met his wife of thirty-one years, Susan Ewertz Lockwood. He left the post office in 1999 which led him to a new adventure and passion. He was hired to be an animal and groundskeeper for what is now known as Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Ken and Susan lived on the park grounds for five years while caring for the animals and developing educational tours for the public. Ken owned a Siberian tiger named Maya. In 2003, Ken and Susan built their home in rural Cheney and established the Eagle Valley Raptor Center. Ken acted as the program director and head rehabilitator for eagles, owls, and hawks. Ken also developed educational tours at the site as well as providing educational presentations with animals at schools, churches, and other public events. Ken was an avid lover of all wildlife and nature. He possessed a vast knowledge about many animal species and was passionate about sharing this knowledge. He also volunteered at the Safari Zoological Park. Ken passed away on June 20, 2023.

Michael Porter ’81, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is an Associate Professor of Surgery and is the Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program at the University of Kansas - Wichita. Born and raised in Kansas, he received his bachelor of science degree from Southwestern College in 1981 with majors in biology and chemistry. He then pursued his medical degree at The University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency in Wichita, followed by a colon and rectal fellowship at the prestigious Ferguson Clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He returned to Wichita to begin his practice with Wichita Surgical Specialists and joined the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1991. Over the years, Porter has established himself as a highly respected surgeon and educator, eventually taking on the role of Program Director for the General Surgery Residency Program in 2016. His leadership in training the next generation of surgeons has been recognized for fostering excellence and innovation in surgical education. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Porter is deeply committed to his family. He and his wife, Lori, have three children and are proud grandparents. Outside of medicine, he is an accomplished trombonist, performing in jazz bands, orchestras, and concert bands. His passion for music is matched by his enthusiasm for running marathons. 

To see Southwestern College's halls of fame and a full list of inductees visit sckans.edu/hof.        

“This grant allows us to engage key members across our campus community in leadership development that will help us make progress on strategic initiatives,” says J.K. Campbell, vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at Southwestern College.  “I appreciate KLC giving Southwestern the opportunity to participate in leadership training experiences that will build our capacity to embrace change and meet challenges in productive and influential ways.”

Organizations that receive a Leadership Transformation Grant will establish a core team of three to six individuals to take on the responsibilities of the grant. Organizations chosen will have one year to participate in KLC’s dynamic program experiences and utilize KLC resources and consultation.

“KLC has been awarding grants to civically engaged organizations around the state for the past 10 years and we look forward to helping them make lasting progress on their biggest challenges. We’re proud to see this program grow every year since we started offering these grants,” said Kaye Monk-Morgan, president and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center.

In the 10 years of awarding these grants, KLC has given 700 grants, trained more than 15,000 people, and partnered with more than 350 Kansas organizations and communities.

President Liz Frombgen led the dedication and spoke of the love and spirit that the Grays provided, having spent their professional lives growing the students of Southwestern.

Photo: The Dr. Wallace and Ina Gray Garden in the courtyard at Winfield Hall was officially dedicated during Homecoming festivities at Southwestern College.  Pictured are (from L-R) Toni Gray, Ina Gray, and SC President Liz Frombgen.

“The Grays have offered Southwestern College so much – their time, talent, and resources,” Frombgen said.  “They’ve done this with intention and with love. And today we get to honor their graciousness. For years to come, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who interact with this space will get to feel the welcoming and accepting spirit of Ina and Wallace.”

In addition to the engraved limestone marker which will be set in concrete, there are additional plans for the garden, which include planting more flowering plants.

Dr. Wallace Gray earned his doctorate from Vanderbilt University before beginning his teaching career in 1954 in the undergraduate religion department of Southern Methodist University. Two years later, the family arrived in Winfield. An ordained Methodist minister, Wallace became the Kirk Professor of Philosophy and Religion. One tribute described how his courses “opened the minds of Kansas farm boys and girls to modern historical and literary interpretations of the Bible.”

By the time he retired from Southwestern 40 years later, he had taught more than 5,000 students, but not all were Builders. He had taught English at the YMCA in Hiroshima, Japan, and during summers instructed supply pastors in schools of theology in Kansas City and Dallas, as well as other classes and scholarly opportunities.

Toni Gray, daughter of Ina and Wallace and member of the Southwestern Class of 1976, also spoke at the occasion, "When I asked Ina Turner Gray her favorite quotation about gardens, she chose, 'To nurture a garden is to believe in tomorrow,' attributed to Audrey Hepburn.  In addition to her belief that Southwestern College is key to our tomorrows, she loves flowering and vegetable gardens."

Ina Turner Gray earned her master of arts from Scarritt College in Nashville in religious education and church history and she completed postgraduate work in sociology at the University of Hawaii.  For twenty years Ina served as the Executive Director, Pi Gamma Mu, International Honor Society in Social Science, retiring in 1996.

“Ina offered thoughtful and creative leadership to Pi Gamma Mu – a society that has offered enrichment to the thousands of faculty and students and that was founded here at Southwestern College in 1924 by Dean Leroy Allen,” Frombgen said.  “So Ina’s work to advance Pi Gamma Mu carries particular weight and perhaps extra admiration here on our campus.”

Frombgen is grateful for her friendship with Ina.

“I regret that I never was able to know Wallace,” Frombgen said.  “In Ina, I have found a great friend."

According to director Terry McGonigle, “The Fantasticks” is a parable; a tongue and cheek look at parenting with children who think they are adults, but aren’t just yet.

“Audience members should expect an evening of fun, laughs, and maybe even a touch of nostalgia,” McGonigle says.   “It’s a fun show with great characters that people will be able to identify with.  The old actor who still wants to be active, parents who think they are smarter than children, and children who think they are smarter than the parents.”

The cast includes: Anika Fairbanks as The Mute; Abbey Denly as Bellomy; Jordan Burford as Hucklebee; MaKaylin Kuchar as Luisa Bellomy; John Moberly as Matt Hucklebee; Simon Hill as El Gallo; Jacob Giger as Henry Albertson; and Pio Hernandez as Mortimer.

“The Fantasticks” ran for 42 years in NYC and closed in 2002.  In 1967 SC performed the show and was one of the first college productions done after it was released for public performances in the mid-1960s.  

McGonigle says that some of that original cast will be in attendance for the Thursday night performance including Ron and Judy Haines, who played the boy and the girl in the show, and eventually married.  Also coming is Roxy Callison and Nelson Warren.  On Friday, Campus Players alumni Marcie Brown ’71 and her husband are coming as well as Donna Bean ’71.

 “The fact that they are supporting us, keeping the program alive is great (Brown is underwriting the production),” McGonigle says.  “I cannot express enough gratitude to those folks, helping with donations, doing what they can.  It is nice to know that the alumni are still very positive about the college and the program.”  

McGonigle also adds that Messenger Auditorium has been upgraded.

“Messenger has been spruced up, seats repaired, ceiling painted, new lighting system, and the sound system has been beefed up,” McGonigle says.  “Our cast of eight is working so hard, wanting to make this a successful production. The set is finished, costumes are ready to go.  The first production of this show was in the Little Theatre with platforms that were built for that show.  Those original platforms will also be used in this show, so they have come full circle.”

The College has shown marked improvement in first to second-year retention, a key indicator of institutional health. Overall retention has improved from 48% in 2022 to 56% 2024.

Photo: Southwestern College’s first-year students, the Class of 2028, gathered for a group picture along with student orientation leaders in August.

“As a campus community we have made retention a priority of our work and while we’ve made incredible progress over a short time, we still have ground to cover,” said Elizabeth Frombgen Southwestern College President. “We are committed to an actionable plan focused on providing support and removing barriers so that our students can complete the work, have a great experience, earn their diplomas, and ultimately be prepared for success and service in their future endeavors."

Southwestern began moving students into residence halls on Aug. 7, classes began on Aug. 19.

“Now, 20 plus days in, we’ve celebrated important institutional traditions, such as the Moundbuilding Ceremony and Opening Convocation, and are looking forward to mid-terms, fall break, Homecoming festivities, athletic competitions, and performances,” said Frombgen. “Students are noticeably more engaged in campus life than they have been in recent years and are embracing the culture of our campus community as they make a home here in Winfield.”

Since 2022, the College has launched new academic programs and initiatives to provide students with additional learning opportunities and support to help them reach their academic goals. In addition to an honors program, new majors include agribusiness, construction management (both in partnership with Cowley College), and criminal justice and legal studies. Also on the horizon is the return of a bachelor of science in nursing, with students now enrolling in pre-nursing as the College works to open the program in the fall of 2025. The College has also added a first-year experience advising program that includes a summer orientation for students and families, all aimed at supporting new undergraduates and their families during the transition to college life. These initiatives support improved retention.

"We are fortunate to have an incredible group of students, faculty, and staff here on the hill and far abroad via our online programs, the work we do together each day as learners and teachers builds opportunity and expands possibility. I am pleased that our College is off to a strong start in this new academic year," added Frombgen.

The new members are Zak Tazkargy ’12, Tracy (Juden) Adams ’86, Brett Annis ’06, Andrae Harper ’07, T. J. Harris, ’04, Jeff Boone ’73, and the undefeated 1967 SC football team. Inductees will also be introduced at halftime of the Southwestern-University of Saint Mary Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 5.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Zak Tazkargy

Zak Tazkargy excelled in the classroom and on the football field while at Southwestern College.  He earned First Team All-KCAC Defense three times, was listed as a NAIA First Team player in the preseason leading into the 2012 season, was selected to the KCAC Academic All-Conference team, and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention. He is second all-time in the KCAC for tackles in a single game with 29.   Tazkargy graduated as a Presidential Scholar and was selected to the KCAC Academic All-Conference team. 

Following graduation, he earned a pharmaceutical doctorate from KU School of Pharmacy in 2016. Tazkargy then went on to earn a medical doctorate from KU School of Medicine in 2021. He just finished his residency training in Colorado and is currently working as a primary care doctor in Salina. Zak, and his wife, Sara, have been married for a little over a year now.

Tracy (Juden) Adams

Tracy (Juden) Adams participated and lettered in volleyball and track and field for four years and played and lettered in basketball for one year while at Southwestern.  On the track, Adams was named All-KCAC her junior season and competed at the Outdoor National Championships.  As a senior, she was named Most Valuable Track Athlete and Academic All-KCAC.  Adams held the school record in the 100 and 200 meters for several years.  In volleyball, Adams was an Academic All-KCAC selection three times, First Team All-KCAC as a junior and a unanimous First Team All-KCAC selection as a senior.  As a junior, she ranked 12^th in the nation in kill percentage and was named Most Valuable Offensive Player.  As a senior, she was ranked 6^th in the nation for kill percentage, had an 87% serve reception efficiency and a 93.6% serve percentage. In her volleyball career, she played in 345 out of 383 games.

She is currently in her 37^th year of teaching; she taught junior high girls physical education in Wellington for eight years and has taught elementary physical education for 29 years in Oxford.  She and her husband, Dale, have two step-children, Curstin (Jason) Jinkens and Zach Adams; and three grandchildren, Cydnee, Brooklyn, and Zander.

Brett Annis

Brett Annis played basketball at Southwestern from 2001-2005.  The year prior to joining the Moundbuilder team, SC won just three games.  In his freshman year, SC was 8-21 but by his senior season, the Builders went 21-8.  Annis was a big part of the turnaround which went full circle with a 28-3 record and a NAIA Tournament berth the following season.  Annis was a defensive menace as he accumulated 124 steals in his career and was named to the All-Defensive KCAC team three times.  He played in 106 games as a Builder, became the 12^th member of the 1,000-point club, and finished his career with 1,146 points, 10^th all-time when he graduated. He was respected by his teammates and he was named team captain as a junior and senior.  He was just as tenacious in the classroom as he earned KCAC All-Academic status three times, and twice was named a NAIA Scholar Athlete. 

Annis and his wife, Katie, have two daughters, Avery and Jayci, and live in Oklahoma City.  Brett is the vice president of Wholesale Natural Gas Trading at Clearwater Enterprises.

Andrae Harper

Andrae Harper ran cross country and track at Southwestern College from 2003 to 2007.   He was a three-time national qualifier in cross country and a four-time All-American in track and field. During his time competing at SC, he set the indoor record for the 800-meter run, and he was also part of the indoor 4x800 team and distance medley relay team that made the record books at SC. Harper graduated from Southwestern with an elementary education degree, was named a Masterbuilder, and was the recipient of the Fran Jabara Leadership Award.

Harper resides in Arkansas City with his wife, Nicole, a 2009 Southwestern graduate. They have two daughters, Riley and Kinsley.  He teaches computer science at Ark City Middle School and is the middle school track and high school cross-country coach for the Bulldogs. 

T. J. Harris

T. J. Harris participated in track and field while at Southwestern and graduated in 2004.  He is the current record holder at SC in the triple jump and the long jump.  During his time at Southwestern, he was never beaten in any KCAC meet in those two events.  Harris was a three-time All-American, twice in the long jump and once in the triple jump.  He was a five-time KCAC Champion, twice in the long jump and triple jump, and once with his 4x100 relay team.  He was also a part of two KCAC team titles. Following graduation, Harris began lending his knowledge as a coach.  He is currently coaching at San Jose St. University. Prior to that, he coached eight years at Southwestern producing 31 KCAC champions and three All-Americans; two years at Johnson County Community College producing four national champions and 16 All-Americans; and seven years at Campbell University where 30 athletes became Big South Conference champions and two NCAA All-Americans.  At SJSU he coached their first-ever women’s All-American, seven other All-Americans, and nine Mountain West champions. 

Harris has been married to his wife, Mandy, for 20 years and they have three children; Sydni, Leyla, and Maxwell.

Jeff Boone

Jeff Boone came to Southwestern after two years of playing basketball and tennis at Garden City Community College.  He continued playing those sports at Southwestern.  He was a guard on the SC men’s basketball team from 1971-1973.  The 1973 team finished runner-up in the KCAC with a 12-4 record.  In tennis, he played #1 singles and #1 doubles with his playing partner, Larry Ewart. In 1973, the duo finished as semi-finalist in the KCAC.  After graduation, he ran the marathon at the 1979 Drake Relays and finished in 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Boone, M.D., M.S., is the President, CEO, and Medical Director of the Boone Heart Institute, a Denver-based healthcare organization dedicated to the eradication of heart disease and stroke.  In addition, Dr. Boone is an expert Consultant in Cardiometabolic Health, Preventive Cardiology, and Stress Medicine.  In 2007, he was selected as one of the 160 Top Doctors in America by Men’s Health Magazine, and listed as one of the 17 Top Cardiovascular Doctors in America for Men. Boone served as a member of the NFL Cardiovascular Committee from 2010 to 2013.  He also served as the National Co-Director of the NFL Player Care Foundation Cardiovascular Program sponsored by the NFL, NFL Player’s Association and the NFL Alumni Association, from 2006 to 2013. Boone’s work with professional sports organizations has expanded in subsequent years to include consultation and cardiovascular testing of the Pittsburgh Pirates (2016-2020) and the San Francisco 49ers (2017 through present).

The 1967 SC Football Team

The 1967 SC football team is the first team to be inducted into the hall of fame.  SC finished the season by beating Emporia 25-10 giving SC their undefeated season.  Only the 1918 team had ever accomplished that feat.  They had a smothering defense that recorded three shutouts on the season.  In 10 games, the most points scored against them in a single game was 14, while the offense scored 30 or more points five times.  They finished with a record of 9-0-1 and claimed the KCAC title.  The Moundbuilders placed nine team members on the all-conference team, Dennis Cavalier was a unanimous choice for All-KCAC and was named as an NAIA All-American, and head coach Bud Elliot was voted KCAC Coach of the Year. 

Individually, 12 members of the 1967 team have entered the SC Athletic Hall of Fame along with head coach Bud Elliot.

“What an incredible class of inductees; to be able to celebrate these individuals and a team that have strengthened Southwestern through their talent and grit, is truly a privilege,” says athletic director Matt O’Brien.  “We’re excited to host so many who care deeply for Southwestern athletics in historic Stewart Field House for a memorable evening.”

O’Brien adds that nominations for the 2025 Southwestern College Athletic Hall of Fame will be accepted until Dec. 31.  To submit a nomination, email Matt.O’Brien@sckans.edu.

Community members and educators are invited to a discussion of civics education in American classrooms. The event features Steven Steinbach, a Winfield native and co-editor of “With Liberty and Justice for All?: The Constitution in the Classroom” (Oxford University Press).

“With Liberty and Justice for All?” will be of interest to anyone—whether teacher, student, or citizen—seeking a better appreciation of how constitutional disputes have influenced the course of U.S. history. The book combines essays by constitutional scholars with a wealth of supporting primary source documents, discussion topics, and suggested classroom strategies.

Steinbach taught United States History and American Government courses and served as history department chair at Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C. Prior to becoming a teacher, he was a partner in the Washington, D.C., law firm of Williams & Connolly LLP, where he specialized in criminal and civil litigation. Steinbach grew up in Winfield, graduated from Winfield High School in 1974, and attended Harvard College and Yale Law School.

“On the heels of Constitution Day, and with the coming election, it’s the perfect time to discuss the important role of civics education in schools,” said Emily Hedges, Southwestern College librarian. “Preparing the next generation of educators is a key mission for Southwestern College. By partnering with the Winfield Public Library and their work to support community and civic engagement, we open this important conversation to our combined communities, including current and future teachers, and anyone who is interested in civic education.”   

Copies of the book may be purchased at a discount from the publisher at www.oup.com with promotion code AAFLYG6.

Unfortunately, the Hawaiian Gala Fundraiser has been canceled.

If you would still like to support the SC music students for their trip to Hawaii, please contact Denise Stephens in Institutional Advancement at (620) 229-6397 or make an online gift here (be sure to designate Other: SC Music Hawaii Trip).

The Southwestern College music department is having a Hawaiian Gala fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m., at The Barns at Timber Creek, located at 14704 91st Road in Winfield.  The cost of the event is $50 per person and the deadline to RSVP is Sept. 26. 

“We want to invite everyone for an evening of Hawaiian food and music to support our upcoming student trip to Hawaii,” says Simon Hill, director of choral activities and voice at Southwestern College.

 According to Hill, patrons will enjoy a delicious and authentic Hawaiian dinner catered by Noble House in Wichita.  Noble House has been serving authentic Hawaiian cuisine to Wichita since 2013.  The menu will include Kalua pork, Huli chicken, mac salad, and steamed rice.  

Following dinner, the World Music Ensemble and the A Cappela Choir will perform. 

All proceeds from the event will directly support the SC students' nine-day tour to Hawaii in May of 2025.

“This incredible journey will allow them to share their talents with new audiences, receive personalized instruction from renowned hula practitioners, and immerse themselves in Hawaiian culture in ways that ordinary tourists simply can't,” says Jeremy Kirk, director of bands and percussion at Southwestern. 

For more information or to make reservations, contact Hill by email at Simon.Hill@sckans.edu, call (620) 229-6302, or go to the RSVP web page at https://bit.ly/scmusicgala.

Hawaiian Gala Fundraiser Registration

The 2024 Paris Olympics offered a number of memorable moments, notably a Southwestern College graduate had a hand in making history.

Prince Ezeala, a 2007 Southwestern College graduate, was an assistant coach for the Nigerian women’s Olympic basketball team. With wins over heavily favored Australia and Canada, the Nigerian squad advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament.  It marked the first time ever that an African Nation basketball team, men or women, advanced that far in Olympic play.

“We won our first game against Australia and our confidence shot through the roof,” Ezeala says.  “Maybe too much because then we lost to France.  But then we beat Canada and advanced.  All the teams we played had at least three or four WNBA players and we didn’t have any. It was amazing.”

Ezeala is no stranger to winning.  At Southwestern, he was a member of the 2006 KCAC regular season and KCAC tournament championship team that finished with a record of 28-3, under then head coach Doug Hall, and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament. In his time playing at SC, the Builders went 51-11.

“Prince Ezeala is a winner,” says Hall.  “I knew when we were recruiting Prince that he loved basketball and it was evident in his approach every day. He was always in the gym working on his game. He was an unbelievable teammate as well. It was never about Prince, he was all about the team. He knew his role and thrived in it. I would say Prince was the best positional rebounder I ever coached. He had a knack for the ball and played way bigger than his size.”

Now an assistant coach for the El Reno (Okla.) High School girls basketball team, Ezeala helped guide that squad to a 28-0 record and a 5A State Championship this past season.

He credits Hall and his staff for teaching him about transition basketball. 

“Coach Hall, along with coach (Greg) Hackerott and coach (Mike) Collins taught me how to run transition, and how the post players’ first three steps have to be long and fast,” Ezeala says.  “I use this today, our transition offense is fun. We like to run and play hard.”

Ezeala shares that his time at Southwestern led to the successes he’s found since graduation. He earned a bachelor's degree in sports management at SC and later earned a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from Langston University.  He still stays in contact with many of the people he met and went to school with at SC. Many of those friends became fast fans of the Nigerian women’s basketball team in the past month, watching all of the games and sharing their support for Ezeala and his team.

“The best time of my life was my time at Southwestern College,” Ezeala says. “I made a brotherhood with my friends from SC. We sometimes go months without seeing each other but then we get together and our friendships are the same. It’s like we are family for life.”

Ezeala’s immediate family is just as important to him.  He was born in the United States but his parents were from Nigeria.  He says he is grateful for his parents taking him to Nigeria on three or four occasions to meet aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. With a smile, and a tear in his eye, he says he knows his mom is looking down on him from heaven with a smile on her face. 

Hall says he is not surprised with the success Ezeala is having.

“Knowing he had the opportunity to coach on the world's biggest stage in the Olympics should bring all of us who were privileged to coach and play with Prince great pride,” Hall says. “Those young ladies that have had Prince as their coach, whether at the Olympics or the high school level, are fortunate to be around someone like him - just as I was fortunate to get to coach him at SC. I am so proud of him.”

Ezeala plans to continue coaching with the Nigerian women’s team as well as his team at El Reno. his team at El Reno.

For more information on any of the Homecoming festivities, contact Ashlee Mayo, director of alumni engagement, at (620) 229-6155. For schedule updates or to register for events, refer to the homecoming website— www.sckans.edu/homecoming.

Homecoming Registration

2024 Homecoming Schedule

Friday, October 4

• 3 to 5 p.m.— Registration and welcome in the lobby of Stewart Field House
• 5 to 5:30 p.m.—Athletic Hall of Fame Social, Stewart Field House
• 5:30 p.m. — Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and dinner, Stewart Field House (Reservation required, limited seating, $50 per person or $500 for a table of eight). Inductees include Zak Tazkargy, ’12, Tracey (Juden) Adams, ’86, Brett Annis, ’06, Andrae Harper, ’07, T. J. Harris, ’04, Jeff Boone, ’73, and the undefeated 1967 Southwestern College football team.

Saturday, October 5

• 9 a.m. — Homecoming parade on Warren Ave.
• 10 a.m. — Builder block party and registration, Wallingford lawn. Fun activities for kids and so much more
• 10 a.m.—All-Class brunch, Roy L. Smith Dining Hall (reservations required, $8 per person)
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.—Homecoming tailgate, Stewart Field House ($12 adults, $6 child under 6)
• Noon – President’s Luncheon for 51+ years alumni, Winfield Country Club (Reservation required, alumni/free, non-alumni spouse/guest $17)
• 1:30 p.m. — Homecoming football game vs. University of Saint Mary, Richard L. Jantz Stadium
• 5 p.m.—Class of 1974 50-year photo, Winfield Country Club.
• 5:30 p.m. — Class of 1974 50-year reunion dinner, Winfield County Club, ($30 per person RSVP required)
• 5 to 8 p.m.—Childcare available at First United Methodist Church, ($5 hour)
• 7 to 10 p.m.—All-Class alumni gathering at Ladybird Brewery, 523 Main St. Dine with a local food truck. 

Sunday, October 6

• 10:50 a.m. — Homecoming worship service, Grace UMC, Rev. Connie Wooldridge ’79 guest speaker.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.—Sunday brunch buffet, Roy L. Smith dining hall ($9 per person)

Community members will have an opportunity to view the Academy-Award winning documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” followed by a discussion with Lev Mitin, local high school senior who lived through the event; Stephen Woodburn, local historian to offer perspective on the Russian/Ukrainian conflict; and Joe Hedges, a local business man who spent time on the ground in Ukraine, involved in the project to monitor the contact line between Ukraine and Russia in the years leading up to war.

The viewing of “20 Days in Mariupol” will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with discussion to follow. Attendees are welcome to join in for the discussion only.  “20 Days in Mariupol” is available to screen anytime at pbs.org/frontline, on Frontline's youtube channel, or on the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel. The film tells the story of the 20 days director Mstyslav Chernov spent with his colleagues in the besieged city of Mariupol in February-March 2022 in the first weeks of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Chernov compiled footage that he collected in Mariupol together with the team from PBS's Frontline and the Associated Press.

For more information, contact Emily Hedges by email at Emily.Hedges@sckans.edu. 

The opening convocation will wrap up the festivities for Builder Fest 2024 and officially start the academic year. It will feature the recognition of students included on the Dean’s Honor Roll for the spring 2024 semester and the announcement of the Scholar of the College.

Kelly is from Newport News, Va., but now calls Wichita home.  He is a graduate of Old Dominion University where he earned a bachelor of science degree in corporate communication and a master’s degree in management from Colorado Technical University.

Kelly is responsible for supporting current and cultivating new corporate and business partners that foster greater value for communities and organizations served by KLC. Before joining KLC he was assistant vice president – project manager with Equity Bank headquartered in Wichita. A proud Air Force veteran, Kelly understands the idea of servant leadership and aims to exemplify it on the job and in the community.

Kelly has received numerous awards and recognition throughout his military and civilian career. In 2020, he was named Wichita Business Journal’s 40 under 40 and received the Diversity & Inclusion award. Additionally, he was honored with the Exceptional Young Leader Award in 2021, presented by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce. Kelly serves on multiple boards and committees including the Greater Wichita YMCA Metro board, Wichita Art Museum board, The Gathering committee, and is a proud Rotarian. One of Darryl’s passion projects is supporting efforts to revitalize Wichita’s Historic Dunbar Theatre and surrounding areas. Darryl is a staunch proponent for getting involved and believes that you must be the change that you want to see.

2024 Opening Convocation Livestream

John Haskell “Tex” Gibbons, from Elk City, Okla., played at SC in the late 20’s.  In 1929, Gibbons was named First Team All-Conference and Second Team in the annual Inter-collegiate Tri-State Basketball Tournament held in Stewart Field House. After graduation in 1931, Gibbons joined the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and played for several teams.  In 1935 he was a member of the AAU National Champion McPherson Oilers team that qualified for the 1936 Olympic Games.

Photo: John Haskell "Tex" Gibbons from the 1929 SC Moundbuilder Yearbook.

According to Wikipedia, basketball at the 1936 Summer Olympics was the first appearance of the sport of basketball as an official Olympic medal event. The tournament was played in Berlin, Germany, under the watchful eye of Adolf Hitler. Twenty-three nations entered the competition, making basketball the largest tournament of the team sports, but Hungary and Spain withdrew, meaning 21 competed.

The International Olympic Committee and International Basketball Federation, which is the governing body of international basketball, used the 1936 tournament to experiment with outdoor basketball. Lawn and dirt tennis courts were used for the competition, but this caused problems when the weather was adverse, especially during the final of the tournament when the USA played the game on a clay and sand court in the rain.

The US team beat the Philippines 56-23 in the quarterfinals, beat Mexico 25-10 in the semifinals, and defeated Canada 19-8 to capture the gold medal.  The team finished the Olympics with a record of 8-0. James Naismith, the game's inventor, watched many of the 1936 Olympic basketball matches and helped award medals at the end of the basketball competition.

Gibbons, a captain on the team, went on to teach and coach at UCLA before joining Phillips Oil where he made his career in the petroleum industry.

Gibbons passed away in 1984 at the age of 76. 

This year, there will be four different move-in dates:

• Wednesday, Aug. 7—Freshman Fall athletes.
• Thursday, Aug. 8—Transfer and returning Fall athletes.
• Wednesday, Aug. 14—Freshman Spring and Winter athletes and non-athletes.
• Saturday, Aug. 17—Transfer and Returning Spring and Winter athletes, and non-athletes.

Builder Fest (Aug. 7-23) is an on-campus experience introducing new students to the many aspects of Southwestern College, including Freshman Workday on Friday, Aug. 16.  

Some of the other Builder Fest activities include:

• Monday, Aug. 19, classes begin for students.
• Tuesday, Aug. 20, rock painting party from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Wallingford lawn.
• Thursday, Aug. 22, annual Moundbuilding Ceremony at 7 p.m., at Cole Mound Plaza at the bottom of the 77 Steps.
• Friday, Aug. 23, Opening Convocation at 11 a.m. in Richardson Auditorium.

Friends of Southwestern College are invited to attend the Moundbuilding Ceremony and Opening Convocation.

For more information about Moundbuilder Check-In, visit online at www.sckans.edu/checkin or contact the office of admissions at (620) 229-6236. 

The team is put together by PhD Hoops Travel Tours which offers a selection of distinct travel tours each summer.

The team consisted of players ages 17 to 21 and competed against teams from Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, and France.  The USA team, which consisted of players from New York, Georgia, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, went 3-2.

“It’s an awesome experience to represent the United States,” O’Brien says.  “You cannot duplicate the feeling of coaching a team with USA on their chest.”

According to O’Brien, the team had just three practices before competing.

“I like putting together a team; figuring out our strengths and weaknesses,” O’Brien says.  “It’s exciting getting young people to play for each other and for our country.”

O’Brien credits his longtime friendship with Richie Schueler, owner and CEO of PhD Hoops, for the opportunity.  Schueler is a former college basketball player, 10-year college basketball coach, and current basketball analyst for Fox Sports and the ESPN family of networks. PhD Hoops was designed to give players and coaches a platform to exchange basketball knowledge, ideas, and resources with the intent of enhancing the game worldwide.

The eight-day trip also incorporated some sightseeing which included visiting the beach of Normandy, the Eifel Tower, and The Louvre Museum. O’Brien was particularly awestruck with the Olympic rings that are currently hung on the Eifel Tower.  The Summer Olympics will be held in Paris beginning July 26. O’Brien says that they would light up at 11 p.m. and were amazing. 

Manfre will transfer to Southwestern College from La Trobe University.  She plans to major in health science and participate in flag football.  She is the daughter of Anthony Manfre and Teresa Manfre.

This merit-based award annually recognizes a transfer student who demonstrates outstanding academic ability as well as strong community engagement. Scholars must be accepted for admission to Southwestern College before they are considered for the Full-Tuition Scholarship competition. 

The scholarship will award full undergraduate tuition and is renewable for three years if certain criteria are met.

Dear Editor,

As a group, we represent the most local trustees serving as volunteers on the Southwestern College Board of Trustees. As the college has completed another academic year and is preparing for the return of students and the arrival of a new class of Moundbuilders in August, we simply write to express our support for Southwestern and to highlight its indispensable role in our community – a fixture since 1885.

While larger universities often dominate discussions about higher education, it is crucial to recognize the unique and profound contributions of institutions like Southwestern College, particularly in the context of Winfield and Cowley County. The college, under the leadership of President Liz Frombgen, has been urgently confronting challenges and making bold, strategic, and often difficult decisions to put the college on a path to sustainable growth. This work has included a data-driven approach to inform work around retention, program realignment, and operational discipline. Certainly, some decisions have stirred attention and anxiety, but continuing the status quo would have had far greater consequences for the college and our community. With all of this in mind, we write to remind you of the importance of Southwestern College.

Southwestern College provides a personalized and holistic education that fosters critical thinking, creativity, service, and intellectual curiosity. Students benefit from faculty and staff who support and challenge them. This educational environment prepares students for professional success but also cultivates responsible, thoughtful citizens – who we hope will choose Winfield again as they begin their careers – becoming teachers, doctors, pastors, nurses, lawyers, and business leaders who will serve our community into the future. These young people are our future neighbors, they are our best succession plan. In fact, three of Winfield’s doctors are Southwestern graduates.  

Moreover, Southwestern College serves as a cultural and intellectual hub for our community. The college frequently hosts public lectures, performances, athletic competitions, camps, and conferences that enrich the cultural fabric of our town. These events offer residents opportunities for lifelong learning and cultural engagement.

The economic impact of Southwestern College cannot be overstated. The college is a significant local employer, providing jobs for faculty and staff – it also maintains contracts for maintenance and food service personnel. Additionally, students, faculty, and visitors contribute to the local economy through housing, dining, and shopping. The presence of the college attracts businesses and fosters an environment of growth and vitality. And, here we would add that there is a renewed commitment on the part of the college to be a more significant participant and partner in the strength of our region. We have witnessed first-hand the commitment President Liz has to create economic synergy and growth in Cowley County through program development and strategic partnerships.

Furthermore, the college's community service initiatives and partnerships with local organizations enhance the quality of life in our town. Students and faculty actively engage in volunteer work and educational outreach, addressing local needs and contributing to the common good. These efforts not only benefit those directly involved but also strengthen the bonds between the college and the community.

Southwestern College exemplifies the ideals of higher learning, civic engagement, and community spirit. Its continued success is vital not just for its students but for the well-being and prosperity of our entire community.

We urge our friends and neighbors to support Southwestern College in recognition of its enduring importance as a cornerstone of our community. Please consider making a gift in support of the Builder Fund which directly benefits the experience of students and helps strengthen the college in countless ways. There is an active matching gift challenge open until June 30… Visit www.sckans.edu/buildermatch to learn more or call 620-229-6397.

Equally important though, as students return, please be a Southwestern supporter. Attend games and performances, cheer these young people on, welcome them to our community, and show them kindness. Put a Builder Pride sign in your yard and wear SC apparel – be a fan of the Moundbuilders. Their success is OUR success. Your support of Southwestern College truly does make all the difference – the students, faculty, and staff all feel your care.

As we look forward to the 140th academic year at Southwestern College we invite you to be a part of the effort to preserve and grow an institution that means so much to our community. Let’s not take SC for granted.

Signed by the Trustees of Southwestern College from Winfield –

Susan Andrews
John Baker
Laura Buterbaugh Bradbury
Dr. Bryan Dennett
Cory Helmer
Dr. Daniel Miller

The new members are:

• Zak Tazkargy – Football (class of 2012)
• Tracy (Juden) Adams – Track and Volleyball (class of 1986)
• Brett Annis – Men’s Basketball (class of 2006)
• Andre Harper—Men’s Track and Field and Cross Country (class of 2007)
• T. J. Harris – Men’s Track and Field (class of 2004)
• Jeff Boone – Meritorious Service (class of 1973)
• The undefeated 1967 Southwestern College Football Team

The Hall of Fame Induction will take place in conjunction with Homecoming weekend at Southwestern.  The induction ceremony will be Friday, Oct. 4.  The new hall of fame members will also be recognized at halftime of the football game between Southwestern and the University of Saint Mary on Saturday, Oct. 5.

More information about Homecoming activities and the hall of fame inductees will be released at a later date.

The festival features students in 7th to 12th grade with three areas of emphasis: voice, band, and strings.

The upcoming concerts include:

Monday, June 3, 7 p.m.—Injoy Fountain, guest artist-in-residence, will present a solo recital in the Richardson Performing Arts Center. Fountain is a Wichita local and an in-demand performer on the regional, national, and international stage. Favorite regional credits include Celie in “The Color Purple” (Roxy’s Downtown), and Justice in “Rock of Ages” (Music Theater Wichita). While living in New York City, Fountain performed regularly with four-time Tony nominee Condola Rashad in addition to making her off-Broadway debut. She looks forward to returning to NYC this July to headline her second off-Broadway show at the Green Room 42. Other national credits include touring with Post Modern Jukebox and being a contestant on The Voice (season 17, team Kelly). Fountain has also enjoyed performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, notably in a production of “Rent” under the direction of Anthony Rapp. She is the proud director of Injoy Fountain Academy, a youth performance academy based in Wichita. Fountain is represented by Evolve Talent Management NYC.

Tuesday, June 4, 7 p.m.—Simon Hill and Jeremy Kirk will present a joint faculty recital in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  Hill will perform a lecture-recital on Broadway and Musical Theatre. Kirk’s set will include a program of contemporary solo percussion works for instruments including marimba, multiple percussion, and snare drum.

Wednesday, June 5, 7 p.m.—Sarah Jane Naillon, joined by Wichita Symphony violinist Rebecca Schloneger, will give a guided tour showcasing the versatility of the violin from the Baroque through the 20th century. This performance will be in Messenger Recital Hall in the Darbeth Fine Arts Center. 

Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m.—The Summer Music Festival campers will present the music they have been working on over the course of the week as a grand finale to conclude the festival. This performance will be held in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.

Area students on the list include:

Harrison graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics, a minor in Leadership, and a secondary licensure in mathematics. Carter graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology.

The Fran Jabara Award is presented to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship and excellence in its recipients.  Jabara, an Oklahoma State University and Wichita State University graduate, was an advocate of the American free enterprise system and founded the Center for Entrepreneurship at WSU in 1977.

Harrison has participated on the Leadership Team and the Student Government Association – where she most recently served as the vice president for student organizations. Harrison has played volleyball and golf while at Southwestern, and was a member of the Hope Squad, president of the Newman club, a math tutor, and a student ambassador.

Harrison has accepted a position to teach math at Burlington High School.

Carter was a member of the A Cappella Choir and Builder Bandits while at Southwestern.  He was also a section leader in the Grace United Methodist Church Choir.  According to Southwestern College President Elizabeth Frombgen, he was a leader on campus, and in the areas of residence life and student life, he served the college and his peers well. 

Harrison and Carter each received a plaque and a cash award.

Pettey earned her bachelor of arts degree in physics and masters degree in business administration from Southwestern College and her Ph. D in business administration from Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Ariz.

“Dr. Pettey is a fierce advocate for Southwestern College in all ways—but particularly for our students,” says Southwestern College President Elizabeth Frombgen.

Prior to working at Southwestern College, Pettey was employed at Cessna Aircraft Company as a Systems Safety Engineer for three years. She then worked for General Electric Aircraft Engines at Strother Field as a Process Engineer on the CF34 engine line.

In late 2007, she was hired at Southwestern as an adjunct professor to teach Quantitative Methods for the business department and she joined the college as a full-time professor in January of 2008.

“Dr. Pettey continues to be an active faculty member at the college, serving the college on various committees – this year she is the faculty chair and is serving as the assistant faculty athletics representative,” Frombgen says.  “Additionally, she is often called upon to sing the national anthem at sporting events. She also sings and plays piano for the Faculty/Staff Chapel Band. She is an active person who enjoys playing tennis and pickleball.”

Pettey lives in Winfield with her husband, Brian, and son, Hayes.

Presented were the Fassnacht Outstanding Administrator/Staff Award to Tad Humphrey, telecommunications specialist, and the Fassnacht Outstanding Faculty Award to Kurt Keiser, professor of business and the business division chair.

Awards for years of service were also presented for:

• 30 years: Dawn Pleas, Terry Quiett, and Rodney Worsham
• 20 years: Misty Terrell
• 15 years: Lonnie Boyd, Matt O’Brien, Stephannie DeLong, Jimmy Tagg, and Tad Humphrey
• 10 years: Michael Beardslee, Anthony Gropper, Jason Haunschild, and Mark Whitener
• 5 years: Allyson Allen, Shannon Grose, Reggie Jarrell, James McSorley, and Trevor Strong.

The Student Government Association initiates the process for naming Masterbuilders by calling for each SGA member to nominate students.  The list of students who receive votes is then submitted to a faculty vote.  Finally, the entire student body votes, choosing recipients from the names remaining on the list. 

Masterbuilders for 2023-2024 include: Cevin Clark, Arkansas City; Olivia Worsham, Medicine Lodge; Paiden Bell, Lawrence; Cierra Harrison, Cheney; Mallorie Lund, Wichita; and Jarvis Jennings, Columbia, Mo.

Dre’Shaun Flowers, McAlester, Okla., was named the recipient of the Dr. Dawn Pleas Student Affairs Leadership Award.

The Dawn Pleas Student Affairs Leadership Award celebrates a student who has been a role model on campus, regardless of whether or not they held a formal leadership position.  This award is designed to promote the Southwestern College values of personal growth, responsible citizenship, and leadership through service. 

The Student Government Association (SGA) at Southwestern College, presented the SGA faculty and staff citations.  The staff citation was awarded to Claire Nichols, director of campus life.  The faculty citation went to Tammy McEwen, professor of biology.

“Morea is a Builder, and she brings expertise and leadership to this critically important role,” said President Liz Frombgen. “The search committee was committed to finding someone who exhibited integrity and a high level of technical ability, but who also deeply loves our college and Winfield – as a graduate and long-time member of our affiliate faculty, Morea, is the perfect fit and we are excited for all that she brings to our team.”

A native of Winfield, Morea received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southwestern College. She has over 27 years of experience in accounting, finance, and operations. Having previously worked for the Kansas City Star and Cargill, for the past 10 years Simmons has worked for the Kansas Department of Corrections as the business administrator and chief fiscal officer for the Winfield Correctional Facility and Wichita Work Release programs. There, Simmons offered leadership and financial oversight to a facility with over 250 employees and nearly 1,000 residents. She has demonstrated success in the areas of budget management, multi-location site planning, strategic planning, leadership development, policy development, and asset management.

Simmons has served the college as an adjunct professor since 2018 teaching online courses, primarily to employed professionals and military learners looking to complete their degrees. She has taught courses in managerial accounting, cost accounting, financial accounting, intermediate accounting, corporate accounting, and strategic management and finance for non-financial managers.

“I am thrilled to serve Southwestern College in this new capacity, and I understand the importance of the work,” said Simmons. “Under the leadership of President Liz, our college is on the move and the team has plotted a necessarily bold course forward. I come into the position with a great love for Southwestern and I recognize the important role the college plays in our community. We must be diligent and strategic in decision making, always considering the experience of our students today and planning for students who will come to campus in the decades to come.”

Simmons has already begun work at the college having shared a period of overlap with Bob Schmoll who served the college as interim chief financial officer for the past year. Schmoll will continue to consult for the college and will work closely with President Frombgen on the launch of several undergraduate and graduate-level programs. 

“Morea has truly hit the ground running and is doing a fantastic job as we look toward our fiscal year-end on June 30, and plan for the academic year ahead,” said Frombgen. “Most immediately, Morea is taking up the oversight of several important facilities projects on campus this summer and she’s done a good job getting up to speed. We continue to be grateful for the experience and skill that Bob offers our college as we strengthen our financial position and leverage strategic opportunities. The transition of this role is so critical to our success, and we are blessed by the leadership that Morea and Bob offer.”

Jordan Burford, a psychology major from Andover, is the recipient from Southwestern College. She is the daughter of Theresa Maples and Kevin Burford and a 2021 graduate of Andover Central High School.

KICF awards up to 19 individual scholarships, one for a student at each Foundation member institution. The recipients are all full-time, degree-seeking students on the cusp of graduation, and have each demonstrated excellence in academics, character and integrity, and a commitment to the value of a private college education in Kansas. These students maintain GPAs of 3.5 or above while also contributing to their respective communities.

“The students at Kansas’ independent colleges are going to change the world for the better. It’s a privilege to support them in their endeavors and we’re grateful to Maud Wyatt for making it possible for us to do so,” says Matthew Lindsey, president of KICF.

The scholarship was established in 1995 through the generosity of Maud Wyatt, whose bequest has supported the work of KICF and its institutions since 1961. The Kansas Independent College Foundation seeks to develop, promote, and direct unified approaches to selected corporations, foundations, and individuals for financial support of Kansas’ independent colleges and universities.

The new public-private agreement brings together Cowley College, Butler Community College, Friends University, Newman University, and Southwestern College. By working together, the institutions have created a seamless and more affordable transfer option for Secondary Education majors. 

CAPTION--The presidents of five area college’s announced a partnership called Educate the State.  Signing the agreement were (from L-R) Michelle Schoon, president of Cowley College; Kim Krull, president of Butler Community College; Elizabeth Frombgen, president of Southwestern College; Amy Bragg Carey, president of Friends University; and Kathleen Jagger, president of Newman University.

In 2022, the Kansas Independent Colleges Association (KICA) announced a global transfer for any Kansas community college graduate earning an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree to transfer as a junior status directly to any Kansas private university.

Educate the State takes it a step further as these institutions also guarantee a lower tuition rate at the private university level for those wanting to become K-12 teachers.

Tuition per credit hour is discounted to $300 per credit hour at the university level for Educate the State students.

How to Access Educate the State:

1. Earn a Secondary Education associate degree from Butler or Cowley with a 2.75 minimum GPA.
2. Transfer to Friends, Newman or Southwestern based on subject matter emphasis as a full-time Secondary Education major.
3. Receive the discounted $300 tuition rate for final two years regardless of the four-year institution selected.

Cowley Secondary Education Pathways for Educate the State:

Earned Associates of Arts (A.A.) or Associates of Science (A.S.) degree pathway in:

• Secondary Education – Math (AS)
• Secondary Education – Science (AS)
• Secondary Education – Language Arts (AA)

Butler Secondary Education Pathways for Educate the State:

Earned Associates of Arts (A.A.) or Associates of Science (A.S.) degree pathway in:

• Secondary Education (AA)
• Secondary Education Science (AS)

“Educate the State gives Cowley College students an affordable option to pursue a degree in secondary education at one of three high-quality private institutions,” Cowley College president Michelle Schoon said. “This partnership provides opportunities for our students to stay local and fill the shortage of educators in our region.”

Cowley College and Butler Community College students can go on to enroll in the following Secondary Education Pathways at Southwestern College:

Earned Associates of Arts (A.A.) or Associates of Science (A.S.) degree pathway in:

• Secondary Education – Math (AS)
• Secondary Education – Science (AS)
• Secondary Education – Language Arts (AA) 

Southwestern College president Elizabeth Frombgen says this is a great way to serve the state of Kansas.

“Since our founding in 1885, Southwestern College has proudly prepared and educated teachers who have gone on to serve students and communities all across Kansas,” said Frombgen. “Through cooperative initiatives such as Educate the State we will leverage incentives and partnerships to attract more young people to the vocation of teaching and in doing so we will better serve our communities, and more broadly, Kansas.”

Learn more about Educate the State

Southwestern College is a private liberal arts college, founded in 1885 by Methodists in south-central Kansas. Today its Winfield campus is the residential hub that guides students to lives of meaning and service, with well-rounded academic and extra-curricular offerings attracting traditional-aged students from throughout the nation and world. Southwestern College Professional Studies provides options for online students in any location and has been named a top provider for persons serving in the military. The college continues to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Visit sckans.edu for more.

Cowley College was founded in 1922 and has a rich history of providing quality education for over a century with multiple campuses located in Arkansas City, Mulvane, Wellington, Wichita, and Winfield Kansas. Cowley College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers a wide range of academic programs, including associate degrees, technical certificates, and workforce development courses, catering to various career paths and interests. Visit cowley.edu for more information.

The festival is for students from 7th to 12th grade.  Campers will choose from tracks in voice, band (brass, woodwind, and percussion), or strings (violin, viola, cello, and bass).  Campers can also choose from elective classes which include fiddling, guitar, songwriting, bagpipe, ukulele, music therapy, and organ. The daily schedule will include ensemble rehearsals, technique class, practice time, recreation time, and much more.  

Scholarships covering full-tuition, half-tuition and $100 discounts are available from the V.J. Wilkins Foundation. Participants may choose to be overnight or commuter campers. Overnight campers will be housed in Wallingford Hall with 24-supervision. 

The guest artist-in-residence will be Injoy Fountain. Fountain is a Wichita local and an in-demand performer on the regional, national, and international stage. Favorite regional credits include Celie in “The Color Purple” (Roxy’s Downtown), and Justice in “Rock of Ages” (Music Theater Wichita). While living in New York City, Fountain performed regularly with four-time Tony nominee Condola Rashad in addition to making her off-Broadway debut. She looks forward to returning to NYC this July to headline her second off-Broadway show at the Green Room 42. Other national credits include touring with Post Modern Jukebox and being a contestant on The Voice (season 17, team Kelly). Fountain has also enjoyed performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, notably in a production of “Rent” under the direction of Anthony Rapp. She is the director of Injoy Fountain Academy, a youth performance academy based in Wichita. Fountain is represented by Evolve Talent Management NYC.

For more information or to register for the Summer Music Festival, call Brittany Donals, director of camps, conferences, and events, at (620) 229-6141, email brittany.donals@sckans.edu, or visit the website at www.sckans.edu/musicfestival.  

Learn More about Summer Music Festival

The camp will have two sessions for different age groups starting with first through fifth graders from 9 to 10:15 a.m., and sixth through ninth graders from 10:30 a.m., to noon each day.

According to Southwestern College head men’s basketball coach Matt O’Brien, the campers will learn fundamentals such as shooting and ball-handling, but above that, will have a chance to have fun with kids their own age playing basketball.

The camp staff will include current and former SC players as well as the SC coaching staff. Registration is currently open and can be found on the Winfield Recreation website at www.winfieldrec.com.  Cost of the camp is $55.

This event began in 2017 and has been held annually since as a music education outreach program for elementary schools throughout Cowley County.  The Honor Choir will include over 70 students and be joined by various guest musicians throughout the day. 

“The SCC and I look forward to sharing our enthusiasm for singing with the 2024 Elementary Honor Choir once again on Tuesday,” says Nikki Kirk, director of the Southwestern Children's Choir. 

Class of 2024 Commencement activities include:

Friday, May 3

• 12-1 p.m.—Business division reception, Mossman Hall room 134

Saturday, May 4

• 2:30-4 p.m.—Natural science and mathematics division reception, Welcome Center patio
• 3-4 p.m.—Creative technologies and communications division reception, lower level of the Christy Administration Building.

Sunday, May 5

• 9:45 a.m.—Order of the Mound ceremony and reception at the Cole Mound Plaza (recognition of students graduating in the top 10% of the class and meeting guidelines stated in the college catalog).
• 10:50 a.m.— Class of 2024 Baccalaureate service, Grace United Methodist Church, 320 College St.
• 2:30 p.m.—Commencement ceremony and graduate hooding for main campus and professional studies students, Richard L. Jantz Stadium.

The 2024 Commencement activities will be live-streamed on closed-circuit television on the Southwestern campus as well as online on the Southwestern College Facebook page and the Southwestern College YouTube channel.  The viewing location on campus will be in Richardson Performing Arts Center.   

Parking for graduation day will be available for persons with handicap permits in the parking lot between the Christy Administration Building and Roy L. Smith Student Center.  Security personnel will assist in finding parking and by providing rides on golf carts. 

In case of inclement weather, the decision to move the commencement exercises indoors will be posted on www.sckans.edu/campus and social media sites.

The concert program offers a time to pause and consider what it means to hold a space sacred.

“The music speaks to sacred spaces that are constructed, the sacred space of the natural world around us, and the sacred space that exists between persons,” says Simon Hill, director of choral activities and voice at Southwestern College.  “The program concludes with the question of what is required of us to maintain these spaces and what our role in restoring sacred space, land, and relations might look like. This program does not offer answers but, like prayer, hopes to inspire reflection that leads to action. These perspectives are shared through repertoire representative of various faith and cultural traditions while featuring eight languages and a broad span of musical styles.”

According to Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, vice president for advancement, communications, and marketing at Southwestern College, there are over 40 unique items and packages that have been donated by trustees, alumni, staff, community members, and businesses.

“This is our first time holding ‘Bidding for Builders’ an online auction event that will generate additional support for the Builder Fund,” Riggs-Johnson says.  “The packages, donated by trustees, alumni, friends, and businesses, offer a diverse range of experiences and items. The winning bidders will feel particularly good knowing that their purchases will support current and future students at Southwestern College.”

Auction item categories include: excursions, exclusive experiences at Southwestern and beyond, art, antiques, and jewelry.

View Bidding for Builders Auction

Southwestern College athletic director and head men’s basketball coach Matt O’Brien is looking forward to the addition of the DeHaven Football Complex. The facility will include training space, team meeting and film rooms, study hall, locker room, conference room, coaching offices, a laundry room, and equipment storage space.

“We are thrilled to be dedicating a new facility in honor of Coach DeHaven, a member of the Southwestern Class of 1970 and highly accomplished special teams coach in the NFL,” O’Brien says.  “The DeHaven Football Complex will not only create much-needed training space, but also provide our student-athletes and staff with a top-notch environment to learn and work in together. Friday will be a proud day for Builder Nation.

Head football coach and assistant athletic director Brad Griffin says he is glad that SC is honoring DeHaven.

“I had the opportunity to meet Coach DeHaven and know he would be very honored and proud,” Griffin says.  “We are very excited and look forward to completion of the new facility which will help develop our current and future Builders as scholar-athletes. Coach DeHaven’s legacy will forever live on at Southwestern College.”

Wichita’s Littlest Heroes’ is passionate about changing the landscape of what pediatric resources look like for generations to come in Kansas by providing programming for medically fragile children and their families. SCPB members felt that, as a group, these children didn’t choose this life and that it is very expensive to afford school supplies on top of all the medical bills that the family has to pay first.

The SCPB awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process.

“This struck a passion within our hearts that some families couldn’t even afford school supplies for their children because they are drowning in medical bills to pay,” says Trevor Peterson, a student in the Nonprofit class. “We feel that this grant would greatly benefit and extend beyond the child to help the families of these medically fragile children.”

The SCPB was developed from the Students4Giving Campus Compact grant awarded in August of 2008. With this funding, Southwestern created the SCPB as well as the Nonprofit Leadership class offered on the main campus to explore all aspects of the philanthropic process. The SCPB is committed to developing an opportunity for students to explore philanthropy, non-profit organizations, community partnerships and available grant resources. The SCPB and the class work together annually to distribute grant funding to community-based non-profit organizations.

The theme of the hour-long show is “Nine Lives Takes a Shower.”  According to director Allyson Moon, all the games will be centered on April showers and each game will incorporate water.

“We hope individuals of all ages who would like to have a fun time in the theatre will attend,” Moon says.  “We will finish with a game called Drowned Rat, which will include a large bucket of water and players act out a scene while trading places with some members with heads in buckets of water.”  

In order to prepare for a community show, the troupes reached out to Whittier Elementary School to see if members of each troupe could work with fourth and fifth graders on improvisational acting.  According to Moon, it has helped the troupes tailor their material to the community members of a variety of ages instead of just college aged audiences.

Performing members include: Nine Lives Troupe—Jordan Burford, Liam Cunningham, Michael Wooster, Cameron Carter, and R.J. Mader. They will be supported by apprentices John Moberly, Grace Whisenhant, and Conner Barbour. The Snark Troupe—Meg Calvin, Joel Wilke, Charles McKinzie, Samantha Voss, and Chris Rogers.  

The community group has practiced for about a year.  They have had two prior performances and will have another performance in July.  They practice in the evenings during the week.

Prior to the show, the Southwestern Children’s Choir will present their Spring Pops Concert at 7 p.m., in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  The choir is under the direction of Nikki Kirk.  There is no admission charge to attend.

“You don't want to miss this fun concert that includes toe tapping old and new musical favorites performed by some of the most talented kiddos around,” Kirk says.

Moon hopes that everyone will attend both performances.

“Every individual playing just loves improv and they have been looking for an opportunity to work together, so this seemed like a perfect event, to provide some hilarious entertainment for the community,” Moon says. “We encourage everyone to attend the children’s choir concert, and then finish off their evening with some great laughs.” 

Moon adds that the show is designed with families and members of the greater Southwestern College, Winfield, and Cowley community in mind. The content is rated G.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun and the shadow of the moon falls on the earth’s surface.  For this eclipse, the moon’s shadow will race across the earth’s surface starting in the eastern Pacific Ocean and traveling through Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and on through a number of Midwestern and eastern states before entering the Atlantic Ocean at the Canadian Maritime Provinces.  When viewed from Cowley County, the eclipse will start at 12:31 p.m. The maximum eclipse will occur at 1:48 p.m. when 90% of the sun will be covered, and the eclipse will end at 3:06 p.m. 

The 90% coverage seen in Cowley County for this eclipse will be similar to the maximum coverage experienced in Cowley County during the August 2017 solar eclipse.  A telescope will be used to project an image of the eclipse, and a limited supply of eclipse glasses will be available for use by participants.  These eclipse glasses will be distributed near maximum eclipse at 1:45 p.m. 

“At no time will the eclipse be safe to view in Cowley County without adequate eye protection, and normal sunglasses are not sufficient,” says Bob Gallup, professor of physics and mathematics at Southwestern College. “Even at maximum eclipse, the 10% of the sun still visible will be able to cause serious and permanent eye damage.”

Questions and requests for more information can be directed to bob.gallup@sckans.edu.

“This would be a great opportunity for students, faculty, and members of the public to see what they do and how Court of Appeals cases are handled,” says J.K. Campbell, associate vice president for faculty affairs and dean of faculty at Southwestern College.

Judges Amy Fellows Cline, G. Gordon Atcheson, and Rachel Pickering will hear oral arguments starting at 10 a.m. The case being heard is a wrongful termination case brought by Stephen Mattice against the city of Stafford.  Mattice brought a claim under the Kansas whistleblower statute after the city of Stafford terminated his employment as police chief. The district court originally dismissed the claim. The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the case for further proceedings. After discovery, the city moved for summary judgment, contending that Mattice could not meet the elements of the statutory claim. The district court granted summary judgment, and Mattice again appeals, contending that the district court improperly resolved material fact disputes.

The 14-judge Court of Appeals hears all appeals from orders of the Kansas Corporation Commission and all appeals from district courts in both civil and criminal cases, except those that may be appealed directly to the Supreme Court. In fiscal year 2022, the Court of Appeals resolved appeals in more than 1,000 cases, including 781 cases in which the court issued formal written decisions.

The court may hear appeals en banc, which means by all 14 of its judges. Most frequently, though, the court sits in panels of three judges.

Court of Appeals judges decide appealed cases by reading the trial record and written briefs filed by the parties, and sometimes hearing oral arguments from lawyers. They research and review relevant laws and write decisions, some of which are published in bound volumes.

Entry fee is $125 per person and covers green fees, golf cart, door prizes, and lunch.  Businesses may sponsor a hole for $250, or they may assemble their own four-person team and sponsor a hole for $650.  There will be many prizes available on the course and all proceeds go to purchasing new uniforms for the Southwestern College football team. 

“The last couple years have been a lot of fun seeing our hard work payoff from the previous years,” says head football coach Brad Griffin.  “To bring a conference championship back to Southwestern College has ultimately been the goal this whole time. Our plan is to continue to work hard, do great things on and off the field, and make another championship run. It takes a lot of dedication and support to have success and we are very thankful to all those that have helped our program get to where it is.”

Reservations are required by Monday, April 15.  For more information or to register, contact Griffin at (620) 481-0382.

The celebration will include recognition of inductees entering the Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences, as well as the Fine Arts, Business, and Educators Halls of Fame. 

All of the induction ceremonies are open to the public at no cost, but there is a cost for associated meals and seating is limited for those meals. To make meal reservations or for other information, contact Ashlee Mayo at (620) 229-6155. Reservations are needed by April 8.

Festivities will begin at 4 p.m., on Thursday, April 18, with the annual Honors Convocation in Richardson Performing Arts Center. The featured speaker will be Kalaba Chali, district superintendent for the Wichita East and West districts in the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church.

On Friday, April 19, plaques will be unveiled for the Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences.  Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Deets Library with the induction ceremony to follow. Meal cost is $25.

On Saturday, April 20, the induction ceremony for the Business Hall of Fame in the Christy lobby at 8:30 a.m., in Richardson Performing Arts Center.

The induction ceremony for the Fine Arts Hall of Fame will begin at 10:30 a.m., in Richardson Performing Arts Center. 

At 12 p.m. in Deets Library, there will be a luncheon for the Educators Hall of Fame inductees. Lunch cost is $25. At 12:45 p.m., the induction ceremony for the Educators Hall of Fame will begin, also in Deets Library.  

Individuals entering the various halls of fame include:

Leaders in Service:

• Claudia Geer, retired faculty
• Paul Bean ’85
• Willie Williams ’68

Fine Arts:

• Roxy (Clark) Callison ’69/’91
• Roberta (Gilger) Banks ’72

Business:

• Dick Barnes, retired faculty
• Alex Gottlob ’09
• Business Builder Award: Timber Creek Floral and Gifts

Educators:

• Stephen Peebles ’89
• Anita (Jantz) Ewart ’74

Southwestern College Hall of Fame displays are located in Mossman Hall, Darbeth Fine Arts Center, Beech Science Center, Deets Library, and Stewart Field House.

See Founders Weekend Schedule

The financial aid team will help people complete their FAFSA and will be able to answer general financial aid questions. 

“We are asking community members to bring their tablet or laptop to complete the FAFSA or create their studentaid.gov ID,” says Randi Whalen, financial aid counselor at Southwestern College.  “We are targeting learners from all populations, including high school juniors and seniors and their families, adult learners who are in school or thinking about going back, learners who are considering online or main campus classes, and military.”

Whalen says that the goal of this event is to reach out to not only families in Winfield, but to surrounding communities that may not have access to local college resources like Winfield and Arkansas City do.

For more information, contact Whalen by email at Randi.Whalen@sckans.edu.  

Acceptable items

GON Recycling accepts the following electronic items: computers, laptops, servers, network equipment, LCD Monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers, POS scanners and equipment, stereo equipment, small household appliances such as toasters, irons, and coffee pots, telephones, telecommunications equipment, phone systems, security equipment, industrial equipment, UPS systems, cell phones, VCRs, radios, keyboards and computer mice, lead acid batteries, rechargeable batteries, industrial control panels, ink and toner.

Medical Equipment

Medical equipment that has been inspected and decontaminated of blood-borne pathogens, fluids, solvents, pressure gases, or radioactive sources is also accepted. Proof of decontamination is required. This can be a decontaminated sticker or paperwork attached to the unit.

CRT TVs & Monitors

GON Recycling will recycle CRT TVs and monitors for a $5 fee. Everything else is at no cost. If you need to recycle these items, please bring the funds to pay the recycling fee.

Unacceptable Items

GON Recycling cannot accept these items: refrigerators, air conditioners that are not properly drained, light bulbs, smoke alarms, alkaline batteries and items that contain blood-borne pathogens, fluids, solvents, Freon, pressure gases, radioactive or gasoline sources.

For questions about recycling, please contact Tad Humphrey at Tad.Humphrey@sckans.edu.

“Every gift to the Builder Fund creates impact at Southwestern College – in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff – to the future of our college,” says Southwestern College President Liz Frombgen.  “The Builder Fund helps us meet current needs across campus, but it also helps us invest in important initiatives that will make our college stronger and more attractive. Stepping up for Southwestern means investing in a bold vision of what Southwestern College will become.”

Gifts may be made online at www.sckans.edu/stepup, by stopping in at the Dole Alumni office at 201 N. College in Winfield, or by calling (620) 229-6397. The college is also encouraging supporters to share their pride for Southwestern on Thursday, March 21, by connecting with fellow alumni, wearing SC apparel, or by sharing support of the college on social media pages.

“Step Up is a day when we acknowledge the ways in which Southwestern has impacted our lives and community and together show our care for the college, offering support in all the ways we’re able,” said Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, vice president for advancement, communications, and marketing. “March 21 promises to be an exciting day at Southwestern as we will connect with Builders and friends from down the street and from all over the world who will offer their support and play an important part in helping us surpass our goal to advance Southwestern.”

Step Up for SC

“Every gift to the Builder Fund creates impact at Southwestern College – in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff – to the future of our college,” says Southwestern College President Liz Frombgen.  “The Builder Fund helps us meet current needs across campus, but it also helps us invest in important initiatives that will make our college stronger and more attractive. Stepping up for Southwestern means investing in a bold vision of what Southwestern College will become.”

Gifts may be made online at www.sckans.edu/stepup, by stopping in at the Dole Alumni office at 201 N. College in Winfield, or by calling (620) 229-6397. The college is also encouraging supporters to share their pride for Southwestern on Thursday, March 21, by connecting with fellow alumni, wearing SC apparel, or by sharing support of the college on social media pages.

“Step Up is a day when we acknowledge the ways in which Southwestern has impacted our lives and community and together show our care for the college, offering support in all the ways we’re able,” said Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, vice president for advancement, communications, and marketing. “March 21 promises to be an exciting day at Southwestern as we will connect with Builders and friends from down the street and from all over the world who will offer their support and play an important part in helping us surpass our goal to advance Southwestern.”

Step Up for SC