Founders Day weekend at Southwestern College will be Thursday through Sunday, April 16-19.  Five Southwestern College halls of fame will open their doors to new inductees. 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, Scholars, and Educators Halls of Fame.

The festivities will begin at 3 p.m., on Thursday, April 16, with readings and a book signing by family members of Helen and Orville Strohl in Deets Library.  They will read from “Fifty Years to Shape a Dream, 1933-1983,” by Helen and Orville Strohl and copies will available to purchase for $24.99.

On Friday, April 17, at 2 p.m., Jackson Lashier, associate professor of religion, will lead a discussion on his book, “Irenaeus on the Trinity,” in Deets Library.  Lashier will analyze Irenaeus' Trinitarian conception of God and how it contributes to the development of Tinitarian thought in early Christianity.  A book signing will follow the presentation.

Hall of Fame festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday with the unveiling of plaques of those entering the Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences and a dedication of the hall of fame to outgoing Southwestern president, Dick Merriman, in recognition of his outstanding 17-year tenure.  At 6 p.m. there will be a dinner in Deets Library followed by the induction ceremony at 6:45. The cost is $20, limited seating is available, and RSVP is necessary.

From 8-9 p.m. in Darbeth Fine Arts Center, there will be a reception for Madeline (Magnusson) Norland ’83.  Items from her personal art collection will be on display in the President’s Gallery throughout the weekend.

Saturday’s schedule begins at 8:30 a.m. with an open house at the President’s Gallery, for persons who were not able to attend the evening reception to view paintings from the Norland collection.  At 9 a.m. the Fine Arts Hall of Fame brunch will be held on Richardson stage (limited seating, RSVP necessary), followed immediately with the induction ceremony honoring the inductees into the Fine Arts Hall of Fame in Richardson Performing Arts Center.  

A luncheon will be held for the Business Hall of Fame in Deets Library at 12 p.m., with the induction ceremony to begin at approximately 12:45 p.m.  The cost is $15, seating is limited, and RSVP is needed.

At 3:30 p.m., in Deets Library, there will be a reception for the Educators and Scholars Hall of Fame inductees. At 4 p.m., the induction ceremony for the Educators Hall of Fame will begin followed by the induction ceremony for the Scholars Hall of Fame at approximately 4:45 p.m.  There is no charge but to insure adequate seating, RSVP is appreciated. 

Another exciting component of Founders Weekend is the President’s dinner (by invitation only) at 6 p.m. on Saturday night.  New inductees to the Heritage Society, persons who have made provisions for Southwestern College in their estate plans, will be recognized.  Heritage Society inductees for 2015 are Dr. Martha Kyle ’67, Dr. David ’60 and Grace Nichols ’80, and the Rev. Dr. Robert and Delores Eades.

At 8 p.m., the Cherokee Maidens & Sycamore Swing will perform in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are $20 per person, $15 for alumni, and $10 for students.  For tickets, call (620) 221-7720.

“Just like the welcome excitement of seeing the first flowers of springtime, I look forward to Founders Weekend every year at Southwestern College,” says Susan Lowe, director of alumni programs at SC.  “In addition to all the activities going on, we celebrate outstanding Moundbuilders at five halls of fame during this weekend.  Their successes validate the education provided here.”

Individuals entering the various halls of fame include:
•    Leaders in Service: F. David Froman ’68, Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez ’94, and John William “Bill” Todd ’51.
•    Fine Arts: Michael Brummett’79, Terry McGonigle ’73, and Madeline (Magnusson) Norland ’83.
•    Business: Shawn Fanshier ’83, Gregg Howell ’73, and Leo “Pete” Whalen ’51. Business Builder Award: Winfield Economic Development (board members: Rodger Steffen, Jill Long, Warren Porter, Craig Duncan, and Stan Ahlerich).
•    Educators: Gyla (Brock) Conklin ’58, Cheryl (Bernard) Schasteen ’71, and Kenneth Valentine ’70. 
•    Scholars: Dale Sims ’80, and Philip Schmidt. 

Southwestern College hall of fame displays are located in Mossman Hall, Darbeth Fine Arts Center, Beech Science Center, Deets Library, and Stewart Field House.  Electronic viewing of the halls may be found at www.sckans.edu/connecting-to-sc/halls-of-fame/.  The Heritage Society display is located in the Christy Administration Building.
 
For more information about any of the events for Founders Day, contact Lowe at (620) 229-6334.