Butler Community College Foundation Fall 2017 Magazine

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Foundation Board of Directors Mike Clifton • Suzanne Coin • Carolyn Connell Pam Cross • Vicki Forbes • Evan Funk Alan Jaax • Lance Lechtenberg Gerry Mills • Jessica Ohman • Dalton Patterson Forrest Rhodes • Jeremy Sundgren Denise Weaver • Rod Young

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Table of Contents

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Message from Stacy Cofer

Ex Officio

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Board of Directors

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Butler Gains National Recognition for Innovative Academics

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President’s Donor Dinner

Dr. Kim Krull, President Eileen Dreiling, Trustee Liaison

Foundation Staff Stacy Cofer Vice President of Advancement 316.323.6729 | scofer@butlercc.edu Mary Moon Executive Director of Community Advancement 316.218.6338 | mmoon@butlercc.edu

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Reaching New Heights Scholarship Luncheon

Averie Nelson Scholarship Coordinator 316.323.6737 | anelson5@butlercc.edu

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Cooking with a Cup of Love

Hayley Hobbs Advancement & Communications Coordinator 316.323.6734 | hhobbs@butlercc.edu

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Circle of the Gold Society Luncheon

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From the Farms of Kansas to the Vistas of the Orient

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Butler Softball: Back to Back National Champions

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Advance Kansas

Debbie Sharp Director of Finance 316.323.6733 | dsharp4@butlercc.edu Elizabeth Turner Accounting Clerk 316.323.6732 | eturner7@butlercc.edu

Student Workers John Lind • Katie Lindner • Emily Rishel

Feature Writers Carly Espinosa • Hayley Hobbs • Alice Mannette 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 316.323.6731, or by fax to 316.323.6750.

2 | BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION Cover: Softball Championship Photo Credit: Butler Athletics

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s always, fall is an exciting time on our campuses. At the Foundation, we are honored to provide nearly $600,000 in scholarships to more than 500 students for this academic year. We are so thankful for the donors that make this kind of impact possible for our students!

Here are some expressions of gratitude from the students themselves.

Thank you very much for awarding me this scholarship! I am beyond thankful for all of the support I have [received].

After I graduate at Butler, I plan to go to K-State and become a dietician. Thanks again! —RheaLynn T., McCormick/Bothwell Presidential Gold Scholarship recipient I come from a family of ten. My parents have always encouraged my siblings and me to pursue our passions. I work summers in order to contribute to my college education. Receiving this scholarship will relieve some of the stress of college expenses. I hope to eventually attend a

prestigious school of law and obtain the title of Juris Doctor. —Daniel F., O.J. & Mary K Connell Presidential Scholarship for Agriculture recipient This scholarship allows me to not have to work as much. I have three jobs currently.

Not only does this scholarship help me have my first year paid off, I can save the rest for the next year and not have to work as hard during the school year and over the summer. —Mikayla W., Del Gaines Presidential Gold Scholarship recipient RheaLynn, Daniel, and Mikayla are just three of the hundreds of students who receive support from us every year. They are all grateful and worthy of your gifts, which help us fulfill our mission to make a difference in the lives of Butler students.

Warm regards,

Stacy Cofer Vice President of Advancement

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Board of Directors

The Foundation Board of Directors meets quarterly and governs the operations and investments of the Foundation.

Board members serve three-year terms and represent the communities surrounding Butler Community College.

 Front Row L–R: Eileen Dreiling, Vicki Forbes, Alan Jaax, Evan Funk Back Row L–R: Forrest Rhodes, Dr. Jessica Ohman, Carolyn Connell, Suzanne Coin, Pam Cross, Dalton Patterson, Denise Weaver, Rod Young Not pictured: Mike Clifton, Dr. Kim Krull, Lance Lechtenberg, Gerry Mills, Jeremy Sundgren

Mike Clifton–Owner, Clifton CPA

Alan Jaax–Retired, American AgCredit

Suzanne Coin '90—Community Volunteer

Lance Lechtenberg–Owner, Edward Jones Investments–Lance Lechtenberg

Denise Weaver '92–Registered Nurse

Carolyn Connell–Community Volunteer

Gerry Mills–Vice President— Relationship Manager, American AgCredit

Rod Young–President, Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A.

Pam Cross ’92–Community Volunteer

Dr. Jessica Ohman–Associate Vice President of Student Services, Butler Community College

EX OFFICIO Dr. Kim Krull–President, Butler Community College

Dalton Patterson–Owner, Daltco, Inc.

Eileen Dreiling—Board of Trustees Liaison

Vicki Forbes–Human Resources/ Finance Manager, Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Evan Funk '00–Market President, Sunflower Bank

Forrest Rhodes–Partner, Foulston Siefkin LLP

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Jeremy Sundgren ’02–Partner, Sundgren Realty

Butler Gains National Recognition for Innovative Academics Students are seeing improvements in grades and retention rates because of exciting, out-of-the-box concepts in English, AVID, and Algebra programs. These programs were designed to help students who struggle with their general education classes. National data shows that nearly 60 percent of students entering a community college must take a fundamental class. By deciding to offer these alternative courses, Butler is giving all students the opportunity to flourish.

Butler is reaching out to students at the ground level. The college is succeeding and gaining national attention. In 2013, Butler was one of three community colleges chosen to participate in AVID’s national study. Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is an organization focused on promoting student achievement. Since the study began, Butler showed a 17 percent higher rate of persistence amongst students, and more students completed their degree.

With the AVID program, first year students take classes to learn crucial study habits, note taking, time management, and problem-solving skills. But the students are not the only ones learning new methods for success. Butler’s professors have been retrained to use active learning techniques to help engage students and therefore better understand the material. The college will continue to be evaluated by AVID on student persistence and degree completion through the 2019–2020 academic year. Butler is the only college in Kansas that is part of AVID for Higher Education (AHE). The college is shaking things up in English and math as well.

After studying several English learning models, Butler found that the nationally renowned Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) would benefit students nicely. Butler has always offered a developmental English class for students needing more fundamental training before they take Composition 1, but after realizing that most students did not want to enroll for the developmental course in fear of falling behind in school, Butler began endorsing the ALP model. This model allows students to take developmental English and Composition 1 during the same semester. The ALP program began college-wide last year, and since then, students taking the ALP English program

doubled the pass-rates of students taking the classes one semester at a time. As an added bonus, ALP students showed increased retention and graduation rates.

With student success in mind, the college’s own professors developed a new math program. This fall, Butler introduced math in a modular format. This means that students can take a test to determine whether they are ready to start College Algebra or if they are better suited for an intermediate course.

The modular courses include Pre-Algebra, Fundamentals of Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, and College Algebra. Each course is divided into three five-week sessions. If a student is unable to successfully complete one of the modules, they may begin the same module during the next five-week session rather than waiting until the next semester.

This new format for Algebra courses is the first in the region. It allows students to save both time and money by being able to take and pay for only the modules needed. Butler’s students are now able to earn credit for what they know and focus on what they don’t.

All of these programs were implemented with one focus in mind—to help our students achieve their goals. The data shows us these new and innovative approaches are working!

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President's Donor DINNER

Students and donors were the focus of the President’s Donor Dinner held on Sept. 7. The purpose of the annual event is to thank donors for the many ways their support impacts students and also to recognize those who have reached a new giving level during the past fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. This year, more than 160 guests attended.

Hubbard Award of Excellence winner Olivia Jacoby spoke to guests and the A Cappella Choir performed.

Sponsors for the event were Bank of America, The Commerce Trust Company, INTRUST Bank, and ICI.  Alan and Bobbie Jaax were recognized at the $50,000 Trustee Society giving level

 A Cappella Choir

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 Jill and Dr. Dan Thompson

 New inductees to the Diamond Society are recognized when their lifetime giving reaches $10,000

 Happy 90th Anniversary, Butler!

 Anita Mills brought a cute date—her granddaughter!

 Ashlie Jack and Mike Dorrell

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 Cox Communications, represented by Coleen Jennison and Mandy Wilbert, was recognized at the $100,000 Cornerstone Society giving level

 Sue Knudson, Shirley Jackson, Tom Knudson

 A Cappella Choir performed their version of "Bulletproof" by La Roux

 John and Barbara Templin

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 Amanda and Andy Waller

 Jim and Shannon Kirkbride

 Deann and Chuck Korte were given the Foundation Award for Distinguished Service to the College

 Donna Whiteside was honored as the Dr. Larry and Judy Abraham Grizzlybacker

 Ann and Dr. Dennis Ross

of the Year for outstanding support to Butler athletics

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REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

Scholarship LUNCHEON

This year’s Reaching New Heights Scholarship Luncheon was held Sept. 19 and brought together 200 students and donors.

Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Greg Joyce was the guest speaker for the event. Joyce spoke of how Butler gave him his start in his educational journey to become an optometrist.

“I hope each of you students will look back on your Butler experience as time well-spent,” Joyce said. “I know each of our donors and supporters consider their contributions as time and money well-spent.”

 Dr. Greg Joyce accepts a gift from President Krull as the event’s guest speaker

Sponsors for the event were Professional Engineering Consultants, Roberts Hutch-Line, Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital, Gravity::Works Architecture, Wells Designs, and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.

 Camille Sowa, Ray Sparks & Helen Reynolds Presidential

Art & Creative Writing Scholarship recipient; Joan Sanders

 Jenny Watson, Graham Family Annual Scholarship recipient; Ivon

Castillo, Richard and Faralane Chase Scholarship recipient; Carly Espinosa, Ray & Carolyn Connell Presidential Scholarship recipient

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 Dorothy Miller, Ruth Waite

 Mary Bernard, Martin Park Scholarship recipient; Kay Metzinger;

Danielle Chilcott, Marc Adam Reeves Scholarship for Agriculture recipient; Matt Jacobs

 Mal and Janice Shaffer converse with their granddaughter, Jane

Shelden, a member of the Noteables quartet and Clifford W. Stone Performing Arts Scholarship recipient

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 Bill and Evie Shriver with the recipient of their scholarship,

Trevor Burnett (Shriver Family Presidential Gold Scholarship)

 Logan Hiser and Dallas Gartin, Jeremy Brown Memorial Scholarship for

Welding recipients; Linda Sobieski; Jake Duerksen, Madeline (Carroll) Galbraith Memorial Welding Scholarship recipient

 Jordan Biggs and Remington Putter, Clifford W. Stone Performing Arts Scholarship recipients; Chandler Mongeau, Eugene E. Carlson Music Scholarship recipient; Carlin Campbell, Clifford W. Stone Performing Arts Scholarship recipient

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 Dennis Hanson with his daughter, Debbie, and Wiley!

COOKING WITH A

Cup of Love

For Jodee Bradley, cooking always came naturally, as did hospitality. Growing up, Bradley, the middle child of five, was fascinated by both her mother and her grandmother’s meals.

She sat attentively, watching each of them cook, trying the food and helping out as best she could.

“I call their food 'down-home cooking,'” Bradley said.

Although she was brought up in Tulsa, Bradley lived in McPherson, Little Rock, and Dallas, before settling in Wichita.

More than two decades ago, she headed to the Air Capitol to work at her “Auntie’s” restaurant, in northeast Wichita. She waited tables, helped with food preparation, and, of course, learned more cooking skills.

Years passed, her family grew, and with six young mouths to feed, Bradley took a full-time position at an airplane manufacturing facility. But she couldn’t give up cooking. On the side, she was the head cook for the Boys & Girls Club of South Central Kansas.

“I always knew I had a God-given talent for cooking,” Bradley said.

After 12 years of working both jobs, Bradley decided to go all in with her cooking. With encouragement from many friends and family members telling her to follow her dreams, Bradley enrolled in Butler’s culinary program.

“It was way harder than I thought,” she said. “I thought I was never going to make it. But Tiffani (Price), my instructor, said ‘Don’t say can’t. You can do it.’ She kept encouraging me. My faith in God brought me through.”

During this time, 2010, Bradley decided to take the plunge and become a full-time caterer. She used her new book knowledge—temperature control, recipes, and portion control.

“I learned so much from the program,” Bradley said. “I just fell in love with Butler. They really believed in me.”

Bradley said the culinary program not only made her into a better chef, but it made her proud of herself.

Her catering business, known as Jodee B’s Catering, is thriving. She works for Butler, Wichita State University, many sororities, individuals, and all sorts of community and church groups.

“Butler really put me on the map,” Bradley said. “It helps to have that piece of paper behind your name.”

Bradley’s cooking is a mix of down-home recipes that she learned from her mother, her grandmother, and her aunt, as well as a few twists of her own and skills she learned from her culinary classes. Currently, Bradley rents out an industrial kitchen, but her dream is to one day have her own kitchen.

She was recently named a 2017 Black Women of Empowerment in Wichita honoree. This award acknowledges the recipients hard work, perseverance, and success.

“Butler made me realize what my gift was,” Bradley said. “I love what I do. I love to make people happy. My first ingredient in all my cooking is a cup of love. You can taste it.”

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The annual Circle of the Gold Society luncheon was held in the Hubbard Welcome Center in June. This year, eight individuals and couples were inducted into the planned giving society, bringing the total number of members to more than 70! The Circle of the Gold Society honors those with the vision to establish a planned gift to Butler. Sponsors for this year’s event were Jim and Sally Hargrove, The Commerce Trust Company, and Lance and Lisa Lechtenberg. 2017 Hubbard Award of Excellence winner Olivia Jacoby addressed donors with a message of hope and gratitude.

 Dennis and Pat Perry

 Anita Seivley

 Julie Kobbe

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organization to accept their award for being inducted into the $1,000,000 Hubbard Society

 Ken Bohon

 Luncheon Sponsors Jim Hargrove, Amy Winter, and Mark Utech

 Lance Hayes

 Sally Hargrove presented the Foundation with $10,000 from

 Laura Graham and Jeremy Kohn

 Student speaker and 2017 Hubbard Award of Excellence winner

representing the Commerce Trust Company, and Sally Hargrove

an anonymous donor

Olivia Jacoby

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From the Farms of Kansas to the Vistas of the Orient One Butler graduate sees the world through her camera lens Nora (Sommers) Tejada received her associate degree from Butler in 1994 and then went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in painting from The University of Kansas. After college, she migrated to Dallas and then eventually to New York City. During this time, her affinity for photography grew.

She took classes at the International Center of Photography and landed as a photographer. In 2008, Tejada moved with her husband to Hong Kong.

“China is a visual playground. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places on earth, yet in 20 minutes, I can be on a secluded beach or high up on a mountain,” Tejada said.

“The possibilities for interesting shoots are endless.”

Since moving to Asia, Tejada gave birth to a daughter in Beijing and a son in Hong Kong.

“I travel whenever I get the chance,” said Tejada, now a freelance photographer. “I’ve shot in Beijing’s hutongs—the ancient, dusty alleys where people have lived and died for centuries and in Hong Kong temples crawling with monkeys.”

Tejada, a Circle High School graduate, grew up on a farm in Towanda. Her children find it exotic to ride on grandpa’s tractor when they come to visit.

Photos Courtesy of Nora Tejada

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 Nora Tejada

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Butler Softball Wins Second-Straight

NJCAA DIVISION I NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Butler Community College’s softball team remains the top Junior College team in the nation after going 58–1 and winning their secondstraight National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I title during the 2016–17 season—but the national title was not the only honor Butler’s softball program won.

Head Coach Doug Chance and staff were named the 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association NJCAA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year.

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Additionally, the team was voted by its NFCA peers as the top team in the West Region.

Butler’s only loss last season was during the Region VI Championship. Going into the championship game against the Seward County Saints, Butler only needed one win to take the title, Seward needed two. The first game, Seward won 6–5, consequently ending Butler’s 88-game winning streak.

The Grizzlies bounced back in the second game with a 10–0 win over the Saints. The win advanced Butler to the NJCAA District E Best-of-Three Series against Trinidad State (Colo.).

Butler swept Trinidad State 19–2 in the first game and 17–2 in the second. This led the Grizzlies to St. George, Utah, to defend their title at the NJCAA National Tournament.

The Grizzlies managed to come out on top in the first three games of the NJCAA tournament. Butler faced Salt Lake (Utah) in both the semifinals and the championship game. In both games, the Grizzlies were victorious. The wins allowed Butler to maintain their title of NJCAA Division I Champions.

“Winning back-to-back national titles is a coach’s dream,” said Head Softball Coach, Doug Chance. “The success achieved by the team will show future players what can be accomplished through hard work and determination.”

Though the season was over, the awards kept coming. Seven players were named to the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Division I All-Conference Team. Five players were named All-Americans and five players moved on to major Division I programs. The First Team All-Americans include Ki'Audra Hayter of Nacogdoches, Texas, Kenzie Young of Derby, Brynn Minor of Goddard, Regan Mergele of San Antonio, Texas, and Becca Schulte of Andover.

Minor (pitcher/utility) was named the 2017 Dudley® NJCAA D1 Player of the Year. She was top in the nation at hitting, with a slugging percentage of 1.158. She ranked second nationally for home runs. Along with her other honors, Minor became the 2017 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Most Valuable Player and 2017 NJCAA Betty Jo Graber Female Student-Athlete of the Year. During the team’s championship ring ceremony this September, Butler retired Minor’s jersey.

Minor is on the University of Kansas softball team and is majoring in nutrition.

“I could not have done any of the things that I did at Butler without the amazing teammates I had through it all,” Minor said. “Just knowing that I was able to make history with this special group of girls will always hold a very special place in my heart.”

Mergele (pitcher) was named the 2017 Dudley® NJCAA D1 Softball Pitcher of the Year. In the circle, she pitched a perfect 29–0 and finished her career at Butler with 53 career wins, which ranks second in school history. Mergele was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the national tournament. She will continue playing at the University of Nebraska.

Schulte (shortstop) set the single-season record with 75 runs and 88 runs batted in (RBIs). She is also the Grizzlies' career leader in runs scored (145) and RBIs (161). Schulte was named a Jayhawk Conference Division I Player of the Week twice last season. Schulte is continuing her career at Louisiana State University.

“I hope that Butler continues the tradition that we started there my freshman year,” Schulte said. “I know they have it in them, I just hope they know it too.”

Though the team lost some outstanding players, the graduates know that this year’s sophomores will continue to work hard and show the younger athletes what it means to be a champion.

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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

ADVANCE KANSAS Advance Kansas brings together people from across the community to learn to be better leaders in our increasingly diverse society. To date, close to 350 leaders in business, education, government, faith-based, and non-profit organizations have participated in the annual class which has been hosted nine times.

These graduates are making a difference throughout the region by addressing diversity challenges and opportunities in businesses, organizations, and communities.

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ď ľ Members of Advance Kansas, Class IX

Hosted by Butler for the community, the initiative is designed and facilitated by Juan Johnson, president of Diversity Leadership in Action, a role he has been in since 2006, after concluding an extraordinary 21-year career with the CocaCola Company. Butler is thankful for the shared vision and partnership of Spirit AeroSystems, Meritrust Credit Union, and Westar Energy who provide funding for the initiative.

If you are interested in learning more about Advance Kansas, please contact Mary Moon at 316.218.6338 or mmoon@butlercc.edu.