FALL 2019 MAGA Z INE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Foundation Board of Directors Mike Clifton • Suzanne Coin • Carolyn Connell Pam Cross • Tom Estep • Vicki Forbes Evan Funk • Alan Jaax • Janice Jones Chase Locke • Teri Monteferrante Ryan Murry • Jessica Ohman • Forrest Rhodes Jeremy Sundgren • Rod Young
Ex Officio Dr. Kim Krull, President Eileen Dreiling, Trustee Liaison
Foundation Staff Tom Borrego Executive Director 316.323.6729 | tborrego@butlercc.edu Mary Moon Executive Director of Community Advancement 316.218.6338 | mmoon@butlercc.edu Averie Nelson Assistant Director of Development & Scholarships 316.323.6737 | anelson5@butlercc.edu Hayley Hobbs Assistant Director of Donor Relations 316.323.6734 | hhobbs@butlercc.edu Angie Friesen Accounting Officer 316.323.6733 | afriesen4@butlercc.edu Chelsey Barnhart Office Specialist 316.323.673 | cbarnhart2@butlercc.edu
Feature Writers Rodney Dimick • Hayley Hobbs Butler Community College Foundation Magazine is published twice a year and maintains the copyright of the materials contained within these pages. All rights reserved. Please send comments and updates to Butler Community College Foundation, 901 S. Haverhill Road, El Dorado, KS 67042, by email to foundation@butlercc.edu, by phone at 316.323.6734, or by fax to 316.323.6750. Cover: Grizzly Student Athletes Photo Credit: Ed Bailey, Athletics Staff Photographer 2 | BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
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Table of Contents
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Message from Tom Borrego
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IRA Rollover Giving
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President's Message
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Reaching New Heights Scholarship Dinner
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Our Students Say Thank You
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Agriculture Professor Builds “Food Computer” for Student Learning
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Circle of the Gold Society Luncheon
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President’s Donor Dinner
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Tuition Update
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Butler Partners with Volvo Curriculum
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Excellence in Diversity Awards Breakfast
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Federal Designation of Excellence for Cybersecurity
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Board of Directors
Correction: In our Spring 2019 issue, our alumni highlight incorrectly stated Keith Darlington's graduation year as 1952. Darlington's graduation year from Butler is 1959. Notice of Nondiscrimination (Equal Opportunity Employment) It is the policy of this organization to provide equal opportunities without regard to race, color, religion,national origin, gender, sexual preference, age, or disability.
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have to start off by saying how glad I am to have joined the Butler Family. There are many opportunities that Butler Community College is pursuing and exciting areas for growth abound at this institution. At our recent Institutional Development Day, President Krull talked about the college’s four strategic goals and priorities. I found these values to be truly timeless and know it is important for the Foundation to be integrated in each one. Ensure Student Success: The top priority of our institution and the very reason we do this work every single day. Many of our goals are focused on student completion. Contribute to our Communities: By strengthening our partnerships for economic development and community service, Butler strives to show our commitment to the many communities we have a presence in. Advance Institutional Effectiveness: In an age where transparency is an important trait of good organizations, we hold ourselves accountable to deliver on our promised value by ensuring the fundamentals of our business are sound. Invest in our Employees’ Success: Performance excellence drives our culture of work at Butler. Our employees are the most important factor in engaging and influencing student and community success. The vision behind each of these strategic priorities is the driving force behind our work. With strong institutional knowledge and employees, alumni, donors, and community members who believe in what we do I know that Butler will certainly be able to grow in all the right ways.
Contact Tom 316.323.6729 tborrego@butlercc.edu http://foundation.butlercc.edu
Your support is invaluable to that success and we are eternally grateful. I welcome phone calls and emails from you—our donors and alumni. We will get there together and continue to make our students’ dreams realities with your help.
Warm regards,
Thomas E. Borrego, J.D. Executive Director and Special Assistant to the President
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IRA ROLLOVER GIVING 70 1/2 years of age or older? An IRA Rollover Makes Sense! In 2015, Congress reauthorized the IRA rollover permanently. This means that if you are age 70 1/2 or older, you can make a charitable gift of up to $100,000 from your IRA per year and see the impact of your gift during your lifetime. Your gift will qualify for your required minimum distribution, and you will not have to pay federal income tax on the amount transferred directly from your IRA to charity. Check with your advisor on how an IRA rollover gift could reduce your taxes while helping charities like the Butler Foundation.
As higher education costs have risen, the need for financial assistance to provide opportunities for students pursuing advanced degrees has become even more important. A gift through an IRA is the perfect vehicle to ensure that resources will be available in the future. —Bill and Carol Powers, scholarship donors
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THE IRA ROLLOVER ACT NOW TO SAVE ON TAXES Your required minimum distribution can make a difference.
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erving the communities that Butler calls home is and has always been our top priority as an institution. It is easy for colleges and universities to take advantage of the population that supports them– both financially and steadfastly in spirit–and that has never been the Butler way.
Our network of caring for our students instills that same value in them–a value they take with them as they complete their educational goals at Butler and go out into the world for the next chapters in their lives. To help students accomplish the amazing things they do, we are constantly working on evaluating, implementing, and improving our curriculum, policies and procedures, facilities, and all the other things that make Butler what it is: one of the top community colleges in the country. This constant evolution has been the way Butler and other community colleges stay current and increase access for students and members of the community. In the past year, improvements have been initiated at our 5000 Building located on east 13th street in Andover. Classrooms, faculty offices, and student service operations conducted within Andover High School since 1992 are being relocated to the 5000 Building due to the school district’s expansion and building project and plans to raze the north wing of Andover High School. Though it sounds like a simple move, all the work is being done without shutting down operations or classes. We are renovating previously unfinished space in the building into new classrooms, offices, lab space, and student services areas. A larger meeting room is also being built to be used by both internal staff and community organizations. Some employees will be moving to new office and classroom space for the start of the spring 2020 semester and the rest of the moves will take place at the end of the spring semester. Our Butler Family has been very patient and understanding during the process. Watching the 5000 Building become more modernized and student-friendly is truly exciting and I am looking forward to the transformation at that campus location both inside and out and the impact it will have serving our students and the community.
I am forever grateful to our alumni, donors, and friends who make the work we do possible. Without your support we could not help our students finish what they start and watch them achieve their dreams! Gratefully,
Kim Krull, Ph.D. President
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REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Scholarship DINNER
The Reaching New Heights Scholarship Dinner was held in late September. This unique event brings together donors and the students who benefit from their generosity in the form of scholarships. Butler staff and administrators helped serve the meal so donors and students could have ample time to converse!
Dr. Kim Krull, Meg McGranaghan, Jackie Burdorff
Sponsors for the event were Professional Engineering Consultants, Roberts Hutch-Line, Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, Gravity::Works Architecture, and Regier Carr & Monroe, LLC.
Adam Deewall, multiple scholarship recipient; Greg Hiebert;
Gretchen Shum, Clyde and Betty Hiebert Presidential Scholarship for Science recipient
Foundation Executive Director Tom Borrego was the guest speaker
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Mark Utech, Tom Borrego, Dr. Rick Nichols; Mara Stewart—Graham Family Presidential Scholarship recipient
Paige Miller and Martha Moenning, William E. Stone Presidential Agriculture Scholarship recipients
Kristi Clothier, Mac Corbin Presidential Gold Scholarship for Agriculture recipient; Heather Ward; Kent and Sara Marnane
Vanessa Aggson, Irving Cook Presidential Gold Scholarship recipient;
Nathan Luke, Frank and Beverly Gaines Academic Scholarship recipient
Students get to converse with Trustee Doug Law, donors Lisa and Lechtenberg (Lance also serves as a Trustee), and Jay Buckner
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OUR STUDENTS SAY
Thank You
The Clifford W. Stone Performing Arts Scholarship has contributed to my success in many ways. I am now able to focus on my schoolwork rather than my financial situation.
I now have peace of mind and feel determined to work as hard as ever. This scholarship has also filled me with immense confidence and excitement to finish my degree as a vocal performance major. —Emily J., Music major, Clifford W. Stone Performing Arts Scholarship recipient
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Coming from a small town with limited scholarship opportunities, this will help me greatly and motivate me to finish my degree at Butler.
This is a HUGE weight being lifted off my shoulders and I am so blessed to receive this scholarship! —Cade P., Sports Management major, Boyer Educational Trust Scholarship recipient
This scholarship has allowed me to focus more on the final goal, which is graduating and transferring to another school to play football and continue my success. I plan to major in law, that way if football doesn’t work out I’ll have a back-up plan! –Ezekiel, R., Liberal Arts major, Aldine & Lloyd Chapman Presidential Gold Scholarship recipient
Ever since I was a kid I have always known that I want to help people in any way I can as I get older. I love being around kids and I think that teachers can make a huge impact on children. I am completely honored to be awarded this scholarship to help further my education! —Lillian H., Education major, Boyer Educational Trust Scholarship recipient
Your generosity has inspired me to help others and I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me. I plan to attend the University of Florida upon graduating from Butler. I was very happy and appreciative to learn that I was selected for a scholarship. –Phillip A., Pre-Computer Science major, General Academic Presidential Gold Scholarship recipient
I have very high expectations for myself and get discouraged easily if I don’t reach them. I put a lot of time and effort into my education and that is why I think that I have been as successful as I have been with my grades and classes. Financial struggles are always present when attending college and receiving this award will allow me to not focus on the financial aspect of school. —Ashley M., Pre-Health Sciences major, Martin Park Scholarship recipient
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AGRICULTURE PROFESSOR BUILDS
“Food Computer”
FOR STUDENT LEARNING
Global Database Drives Innovative Food Growing Techniques Assistant professor of agriculture Derek Foust has built what he calls a “personal food computer.” The size of a small refrigerator, the enclosed 24-inch by 24-inch square by 36-inch-tall box will contain lettuce and other small leafy greens and herbs that receive light from several grow-lights in the top of the device. The plants are suspended in containers of nutrient-rich water and the walls of the chamber are covered with reflective material designed to multiply the efficiency of light emanating from the grow-lights. The food computer applies the science of hydroponics, the method of growing plants without soil. “Essentially it is a hydroponics food-growing chamber that is connected to a small computer,” said Foust. “In addition to a web cam mounted inside to chart daily growth, sensors will measure various parameters such as light intensity, temperature, and humidity. We will manually measure the pH and nutrient levels and, on a regular basis, all of the data will be uploaded into the project’s data cloud.” Foust emphasized that though the food computer is physically located in the agriculture department building in El Dorado, it is one of dozens of similar food computers in 62 countries around the world that collect plant-growth and environmental data. The data cloud is managed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and will be available to other project participants for analysis; just as other participants' data will be available to Butler students. Asked the project’s purpose, Foust explained the Butler agriculture department’s goal is to expose each ag-track student to the latest developments in the agricultural sciences. “We knew creating a food computer and participating in an opensource, networked, data-collection experiment would be an ideal learning opportunity for teaching students about the basics of research and the intersection of computer science with plant science,” explained Foust. “However, when we first investigated the MIT Open Agriculture (OpenAg) Initiative, it was geared toward larger research institutions and required a good deal of engineering and software knowledge,” Foust continued.
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Foust noted that because the project encouraged discussion among participants through an online forum, it became immediately apparent that there was need for a less expensive, more user-friendly food computer design. The less technically challenging design has not only expanded the range of students, laymen gardeners, and others who can participate in the experiment, explained Foust, but the number of participating food computers will also increase the amount of raw data available for analysis. According to Foust, the MIT OpenAg Initiative was born out of a growing realization among scientists that current industrialized farming practices have substituted taste and nutrition for an easy-to-harvest, shippable product. "One of the most exciting aspects of Butler students getting involved in this experiment is that it is not cut and dried," Foust said. "It is designed to let participants tinker with the process, produce different outcomes, and compare notes with other participants' data." The open source collaborative concept, Foust explained, is recognized as one of the most productive research methods in science because it allows large numbers of participants to work on the same project from anywhere in the world. “This project will not only allow Butler ag-track students to participate in a ground-breaking scientific experiment,” Foust explained, “but do so with people from around the world, across language barriers, and across technical skill levels at the same time.”
Dr. Kim Krull, Pat Riffel, Stacy Cofer, Tom Borrego
In June we recognize our special donors who have committed to leaving an estate gift that benefits Butler. Donors who inform us of planned gifts are inducted into the Circle of the Gold Society to acknowledge and appreciate their impact on Butler forever. Mark Utech, Stacey Meier, and Mary Moon; The Commerce Trust
This year six couples and individuals joined the Circle of the Gold Society.
Company was one of our generous event sponsors.
• Anonymous • Will and Sherri Conard • Dan and Anita Mills • Pat Riffel • Teresa Riffel • Rod and Terry Young Sponsors for the event were The Commerce Trust Company, Hargrove Law Office/Jim and Sally Hargrove, and Lance and Lisa Lechtenberg.
Kim Krull and Ashley Small, 2019 Butler graduate and special guest speaker at the event
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President's Donor DINNER
The President’s Donor Dinner is held annually to honor and recognize individuals, couples, and businesses who have reached a new giving level based on their prior fiscal year giving. Sponsors for this year’s event were Bank of America, Commerce Bank, Gravity::Works Architecture, ICI, and INTRUST Bank.
Barb and Ted Dankert
2019 Hubbard Award of Excellence winner Claudia Hess returned to speak to donors about her Butler experience
Tom Borrego, Dr. Kim Krull, Dr. Greg Joyce, Forrest Rhodes—Dr. Joyce
received the Foundation Award for Distinguished Service to the College
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Alan Jaax, Bobbie Jaax, Janice Jones
Dorothy Miller
Amy Prater and Matt Jacobs
Todd Carter, Dr. Kim Krull, Dr. Larry Abraham, Teri and Bill
Dr. Larry Abraham became the fifth member of the Hubbard Society
Candace and Colin Parry
Chris and Tom Borrego, Kelly Snedden
Rinkenbaugh—the Rinkenbaughs were named the Larry and Judy Abraham Grizzlybacker of the Year recipient
—the level reserved for donors who have given $1 million or more to Butler in their lifetime
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Dr. Greg and Helen Joyce received their award for reaching the Cornerstone Society giving level
Barry and Marlene Avery, Anita Seivley, Barbara and John Templin
Betty Hiebert's children accepted her posthumous award for reaching the Trustee Society giving level
Smorgaschords Babershop Quartet
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Stephanie and Tyler Nordman
Steve Waite with his mother, Ida Mae Waite
The Noteables and Smorgaschords greeted guests with song
Dr. Kim Krull received her award for reaching the Trustee Society giving level
2019 Diamond Society Inductees
Tiffani Price, LaDonna Snook
Shawn Lancelot represented the Bank of America Foundation—the organization reached the Trustee Society giving level
Evie and Bill Shriver
Vocal music students assisted with serving the dinner
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Sierra Pieschl at her Early Learning Center South classroom.
Tuition Update Butler Community College Board of Trustees met Tuesday, June 23, in a special board meeting to approve the college’s Notice of Public Hearing and published budget for 2019—2020. The budget includes lowering the taxes to be levied to 19.175 mills by not accepting the county assessed valuation increase. In addition, the budget reflects the April decision by the College Trustees to lower in-district tuition and fees for all Butler County residents by an additional $2 per credit hour while slightly increasing out-district, out-of-state and international tuition. The budget provides a $17 tuition and fee discount per credit hour for Butler County students compared to all other Kansas students. The Trustees appreciated insight gained from the Listening Tours across its service area and the work of the Butler for Butler Task Force conducted last fall. From the feedback received they worked to determine the best approach for lowering the burden on Butler County taxpayers and students.
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BUTLER PARTNERS
with Volvo Curriculum will be trained in the latest Volvo technologies, and auto tech students will have hands-on access to training from faculty for the premiere technology within Volvo cars. The Volvo curriculum, to be launched this fall and embedded into the existing curriculum, will become standard for all auto tech students. All the tools and resources for training purposes will be provided by Eddy’s Volvo Cars of Wichita. The dealership’s Service and Parts Director, Todd Truitt, headed the program and will meet regularly with Mark Jaye, Butler’s auto tech lead instructor, to stay updated on information and training throughout the program’s duration. Dean of STEM Mel Whiteside and Program Lead Mark Jaye
Luxury Car Repair Training Comes to Butler Community College The premiere car maker, Volvo, and Butler Community College officially collaborated in August in an effort to strengthen the auto mechanic workforce and develop a pipeline for the car company. The agreement was made possible in part by Eddy’s Volvo Cars of Wichita, serving as the sponsoring dealership, and Volvo’s Car University Program designed to embed Volvo system technology into top accredited auto tech programs in the country. Volvo Cars issued this statement, “Volvo Car University supports local Volvo retailers in developing the next generation of technicians by facilitating training, tools, and vehicle availability at local colleges and educational institutions.”
“I'm excited about a new partnership with a local community college and hope it can better equip students interested in the field with a more realistic idea of what they will be facing on a day-to-day basis,” said Truitt. The access to the Volvo curriculum and technology enhances the program by broadening student knowledge of luxury cars; knowledge which is typically only accessible through private training facilities. Butler’s Auto Tech Program is located in El Dorado and is certified by the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF). Those interested in Butler’s Auto Tech Program can contact program lead, Mark Jaye, at 316.322.3257 or mjaye1@butlercc.edu.
Butler Community College is proud to be one of the first collegiate Volvo Training programs in the country. Butler’s faculty
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Excellence in Diversity
Awards Breakfast Butler Community College presented Cargill, the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Yolanda Camarena with Excellence in Diversity Awards during a breakfast ceremony at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6 at the Noah’s Event Venue. Now in its eighth year, Butler Community College’s Excellence in Diversity Awards Breakfast is held annually to recognize excellence in diversity and inclusion.
The breakfast increases awareness of the value for supporting efforts to address diversity challenges and opportunities in workplaces and communities. The event also helps raise awareness of Advance Kansas. Hosted by Butler with support from Spirit AeroSystems, Evergy, Meritrust Credit Union, and Envision, Advance Kansas is designed to bring together leaders from all demographic groups and across all sectors of society—business, nonprofit, education, religion, government—to educate them in effective ways to engage pressing diversity issues in their communities.
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Federal Designation of
Excellence for Cybersecurity The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security have designated Butler as a National Center of Academic Excellence in cybersecurity defense. The designation is through the 2024 academic year. Students can earn a certificate or associate degree in cybersecurity.
“This affirms that we set the bar higher for our programs,” said Brett Eisenman, associate professor of computer information technology. Nearly 60 students are enrolled in the program, Eisenman said. Kevin Lann-Teubner, associate professor of computer information technology, said the designation is important to Butler’s students and the college itself. “It reinforces what we teach here and gives credibility to our program,” he said. “What it means is the NSA has a series of knowledge units they have decided these centers of academic excellence should teach. We have been mapping these courses to those knowledge units.” The designation covers more than the classes students take at Butler. It covers the “institution as a whole,” Lann-Teubner said. “I had to prove that our information technology department also takes cybersecurity seriously,” Lann-Teubner said.
He and Eisenman also had to show that other departments teach students about cybersecurity threats.
“Your ability to meet the increasing demands of the program criteria will serve the nation well,” Karen Leuschner, the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education at the NSA, said in a letter to Butler announcing the designation. Butler helps train students to deal with growing cybersecurity threats and prepares them for jobs such as security analysts and network administrators. “Every day we are hearing there is a new data breach or new security issue of one kind or another, and we are training the next generation of workforce employees to be able to combat these bad actors that are out in the world,” Lann-Teubner said. “The field is growing, and there is a definite shortage of workers right now. There are more jobs available than we can fill.” Students interested in government jobs will particularly benefit from the college’s designation, he said. Butler holds an articulation agreement with Friends University, which grants students their first two years toward the Cyber Security degree at Friends. Friends accepts up to 78 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree from Butler cybersecurity graduates. Students may also continue at Friends to complete a cybersecurity master’s program. The agreement between Butler and Friends helps form a local pathway for students to continue their education in cybersecurity, offering in-demand career opportunities. The NSA and Department of Homeland Security will recognize Butler at a November 20 ceremony during the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education conference and expo in Phoenix. Eisenman and Lann-Teubner will represent the college at the conference.
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 181 Parsons, KS
901 S. Haverhill Road El Dorado, KS 67042 http://foundation.butlercc.edu CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
2019 – 2020 Foundation Board of Directors
The Foundation Board of Directors meets quarterly and governs the operations and investments of the Foundation.
Forrest Rhodes—Partner, Foulston Siefkin LLP President Finance & Investment Committee Rod Young–President, Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A. President-Elect Finance & Investment Committee Mike Clifton–Owner, Clifton CPA Treasurer Finance & Investment Committee
Dr. Tom Estep—Retired cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Finance & Investment Committee
Ryan Murry—President, ICI Vicki Forbes—Community Volunteer Finance & Investment Committee Evan Funk '00—Commercial Banker, Fidelity Bank Finance & Investment Committee Alan Jaax–Retired, American AgCredit Past President Finance & Investment Committee
Suzanne Coin '90—Community Volunteer Carolyn Connell—Community Volunteer Finance & Investment Committee Pam Cross '92—Community Volunteer
Teri Monteferrante—Community Volunteer
Dr. Jessica Ohman–Associate Vice President of Student Services, Butler Community College Jeremy Sundgren ’02—Partner, Sundgren Realty At-Large Member Finance & Investment Committee
Janice Jones—Retired Nursing Faculty, Butler Community College
EX-OFFICIO Dr. Kim Krull—President, Butler Community College
Chase Locke—Contractor, iHeart Media and the NFL
Eileen Dreiling—Board of Trustees Liaison
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