The inauguration of Southwestern College President Brad Andrews will highlight a busy Founders Weekend at Southwestern College Thursday through Sunday, April 14-17.  

The inauguration ceremony will be at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  A reception will follow at 5:15 p.m. in Deets Library. Inauguration day also will include a 10 a.m. dedication of presidential pavers and a tree planting at the Cole Mound Plaza located at the bottom of the 77 Steps. First Lady Trish Andrews will be honored at a noon reception Friday, April 15, in Deets Library, and an exhibit of photographs by Trish Andrews will be available in the library from Tuesday through Sunday. 

Founders Weekend will also see four Southwestern College halls of fame 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, and Educators Halls of Fame.

The festivities will begin on April 11 when an art glass exhibit, presented by 1997 graduate Scott Hartley, will be displayed in the Presidents Gallery in Darbeth Fine Arts building.  The title of the exhibit is “Where Glass Meets Science.”  The exhibit will show through April 21.

Hall of Fame festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 15, with the unveiling of plaques of those entering the Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences.  At 6 p.m. there will be a dinner in Deets Library with the induction ceremony to begin at approximately 6:45. The cost is $20, limited seating is available, and RSVP is necessary.

On Saturday, April 16, the Fine Arts Hall of Fame brunch will begin on the Callison Stage in the Richardson Performing Arts Center at 9 a.m. (cost is $15, limited seating, and RSVP necessary).  The induction ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in Richardson Performing Arts Center, and is open to the public with no reservations needed.  

 A luncheon will be held for the Business Hall of Fame in Deets Library at noon, 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 Hall of Fame inductees. At 4 p.m., the induction ceremony for the Educators Hall of Fame will begin. There is no charge but to ensure adequate seating, RSVP is appreciated.

At 8 p.m., John McCutcheon will perform with the South Kansas Symphony in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  The concert is sponsored by the Walnut Valley Festival. Tickets are $22.50 for adults, $15 for children, $20 for alumni, and $10 for children of alumni. For tickets, call (620) 221-7720.

The weekend activities will conclude on Sunday, April 17, with the Southwestern College Spring Choral Concert at 3 p.m., in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are $10 and available at the door. 

Other events include:

• Tuesday, April 12—writing on the Wall of Well Wishes in the Java Jinx and Deets Library.  Southwestern College students, faculty, and staff along with community members are invited to write messages or simply sign the wall.
• Friday, April 15—Jacob Goodson, associate professor of philosophy at SC, will have a book presentation at 2 p.m. in Deets Library. The presentation is titled “Why Do We Need the Virtues for Reading Scripture?” and copies of Goodson’s book, “Narrative Theology and the Hermeneutical Virtues,” will be available for signing.  

Individuals entering the various halls of fame include:

• Leaders in Service: Randy Eshelman ’07/’09, Barbara (Johnson) Isely, ’64, and Madeline Southard (deceased), class of 1899.
• Fine Arts: Scott Hartley ’97, Timothy Myers’00, and Brandon Smith ’98.
• Business: Todd Conklin ’84, Bruce DeHaven ’70, and Benjamin Harrison ’12.  Recipient of the Business Builder Award for 2016 is Galaxy Technologies.
• Educators: Kathryne (Cooper) Delcarpio ’74, Florence (Cutter) Metcalf ’63, and Robert “Bob” Nispel ’57 (deceased). McNeish Special Education Award—Danielle Shioyama ’10/’14. 

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/.  

For more information about any of the events for Founders Day, contact Susan Lowe at (620) 229-6334.