Butler Community College Foundation Spring 2021 Magazine

INSIDE

SPRING 2021 MAGAZINE

Historic Gift to Culinary SPRING 2021Program MAGAZINE | 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS Foundation Board of Directors John Blickenstaff • Aletra Chaney-Profit Mike Clifton • Suzanne Coin • Carolyn Connell Pam Cross • Tom Estep • Evan Funk Alan Jaax • Janice Jones • Teri Monteferrante Nelson Mosley • Ryan Murry • Betsy Redler Jay Stehley • Rod Young

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Table of Contents

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Message from Tom Borrego & Dr. Kim Krull

Ex Officio

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Create a Simple Plan for the Future

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Master Teacher—Cory Teubner

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Hubbard Award of Excellence

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Transfer Scholarship Winners

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Culinary Program Receives Historic Gift

Dr. Kim Krull, President Forrest Rhodes, Trustee Liaison

Foundation Staff Tom Borrego Vice President of Advancement 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 Gina Jacoby Executive Assistant 316.323.673 | gjacoby@butlercc.edu

Feature Writers Rodney Dimick • Hayley Hobbs Lindsey Giordano • Trish Walls 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.

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Butler Alumnus Provides Scholarships to Students

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From an Alumnus—Frank Nesmith

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Butler Benefit Auction

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Distinguished Alumna—Junetta Everett

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Brent Sommerhauser Art Featured in Las Vegas

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Butler's Economic Impact

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.

T

he messages we are inundated with on a daily basis seem to be full of heartache and suffering. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing has truly stood out in the midst of all the negative: community.

We have seen the word ‘community’ gain a whole new meaning. People from across the globe are connecting with each other in new and impactful ways. Here at Butler, every spring our students join together to participate in commencement exercises–becoming a new community of associate degree and certificate achievers. This milestone moment in their lives is a jumping off point to greater things; whether it be the next step in their education, advancement in their career, or starting a brand new one.

During this extra special time of the academic year there are many moments to be reflective of the impact our donors and community have on our college.

Students make sacrifices to reach their dreams. Though it may take several years, it is our pleasure to see where those sacrifices take them. Throughout this issue, we feature many successful alumni and how Butler propelled them forward to accomplishment.

It is our hope that these stories of success inspire our supporters and demonstrate how important your generosity is. We would not be Butler Community College without our community behind us.

Warm regards,

Thomas E. Borrego, J.D.

Kim Krull, Ph.D.

Executive Director President Butler Foundation Butler Community College

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PLAN FOR YOUR

Future

Like You Plan for Your

Butler Community College Foundation 901 S Haverhill Road El Dorado, KS 67042 316-323-6729 TBorrego@butlercc.edu butlercc.edu

Vacation

There is another area of life that requires good planning.

That has to do with your

estate plan. A good estate

plan can also help ensure you are prepared so that you have what you need when you need it.

What Do You Own?

Before taking a vacation you carefully pack your bags to ensure you have everything you need.

Packing often requires planning or making a list.

With planning, you can make sure you don’t forget something important - such as shoes, personal care items, or medicine.

This information is not intended as tax, legal or financial | BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE advice.4Gift results may vary.

Consult your personal financial advisor for information specific to your situation.

18AB06

One approach that may help you with your planning is to think about the who, the what and the how of your plan.

Who Matters to You? Your will or living trust can be used to provide for family, friends and cherished causes. Consider who is important to you and the legacy that you want to leave.

You may own real estate or have personal property such as furniture, cars and other items.

Perhaps you have an insurance policy or retirement, bank and investment accounts. You should ensure that your plan accounts for all that you own.

How Should You Give?

There are many ways for you to provide for the people you love, using what you own. You may want your plan to include charitable vehicles, such as gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts. These can accomplish your charitable goals, give you income and tax benefits, and can provide for your family and friends.

No matter what your goals, we can help you. We have information that can help you put together a plan that is right for you. Please call or email us so that we can assist you.

The names and images shown here are representative of typical donors and may or may not be

FOUNDATION actual donors to the organization. Under federal rules your benefits may be different from this example. Please contact us for your specific benefits.

Copyright © 2021 Crescendo Interactive, Inc. Used by permission.

MASTER TEACHER

Cory Teubner

National Institute of Staff & Organizational Development recognition to come English instructor Cory Teubner was named the 2021 Master Teacher Award recipient at Butler Community College’s Professional Development Day in January. Since 1973 the Butler Community College Education Association has selected a faculty member who exemplifies the qualities of student engagement, scholarship, exemplary teaching ability, service to the college, and service to the association.

Teubner’s honor also includes recognition by the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) at their yearly conference in April, which was virtual this year.

Teubner was initially informed in November that he was this year’s Master Teacher Award recipient but was asked to “keep it on the down low” until the official announcement in January.

A Winfield native, Teubner is in his ninth year as an instructor at Butler. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Kansas State University and earned his Master of Arts in English at Wichita State University. He is a founding member of both the faculty development team and the inclusion team, which addresses diversity and general inclusion at Butler.

Teubner also played a key role in the development of the PDX program, which focuses on students’ first-year experience in higher education.

BCCEA President Terry Sader points to Teubner’s work with students as a significant factor in his selection as a Master Teacher, emphasizing that Teubner is highly regarded by both students and colleagues.

“He’s well known as a very good English teacher.”

discussions for granted, Teubner finds that now they are “more eager than ever to talk to each other.”

Teubner cites his work with AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) for Higher Education as pivotal in his professional development.

“It’s all about engaged learning. Students are learning and discussing together.” As a result, he has taken steps to minimize classroom lectures.

“I think a class has been successful if the students do more talking than I do.”

For Teubner teaching during a global pandemic has posed challenges and created new opportunities for engagement.

When Teubner’s split classes are in session, half the class is present in the classroom, and half is present via Zoom.

Teubner has implemented small group conversations for his in-person students and utilizes Zoom’s breakout room feature to give remote students opportunities to collaborate. While students in past years might have taken face-to-face class

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2021 HUBBARD AWARD

of Excellence Winner Janet Busenitz Janet is from Burns, Kansas, and will continue her education at the University of Kansas and major in nursing. Janet has a compassion and drive to impact humanity by serving as a nurse. Her high-achieving academics have earned her a 4.0 GPA and a place in the Order of the Gold as well as on the President’s Honor Roll throughout her time at Butler. Additionally, she volunteers at summer camps and works as a childcare provider.

One of Janet’s professors described her as a student whose classmates and peers gravitate toward. She has an accomplished résumé with a bright future ahead of her.

HUBBARD AWARD FINALISTS Martha Moenning

Mara Stewart

Transfer Institution: South Dakota State University

Transfer Institution: Oklahoma Christian University

Jessie Nibarger Transfer Institution: Emporia State University (BEST Program)

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TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS Butler Community College Trustee Scholarship – Mara Stewart Mara is an El Dorado High School graduate and an El Dorado native. A serious and active student, Mara is the DECA Club President, a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and keeps busy as a Butler Headliner as well. In the community Mara represents the best of Butler, working for the College Relations and Marketing Department, at Seven K Company in El Dorado, and for Gravity::Works Architecture. She is an accomplished academic and won three awards at the 2020 and 2021 state DECA Conferences. Mara will transfer to Oklahoma Christian University to study Marketing.

Helen Teter Zebold Science Award – Kaylie Hansen Kaylie will transfer to the University of Kansas to study Biochemistry. A graduate of Maize High School, Kaylie works as a medical assistant at two hospitals in Wichita and was an academic tutor ambassador at Butler. Her ultimate goal is to attend medical school. This award is chosen annually by faculty.

Winnie Broers Estate Scholarship – Taylor Dieball Crossland Family Scholarship – Tori Rhynard Tori will study Family and Consumer Science Education at Pittsburgh State University. During her time at Butler, Tori participated in several clubs and organizations including Educators Rising and served as president of Family and Career Community Leaders of America. Like many students, Tori worked while going to school, managing to maintain high grades for the Dean’s Honor Roll for four semesters.

An Inman High School graduate, Taylor is part of the extremely successful Livestock Judging team at Butler. As the number one team in the country, it is no wonder that Taylor has stacked up plenty of leadership experience and awards to propel her forward to a degree in Animal Science at Kansas State University. Taylor’s ultimate goal is to run for the American Hereford Association Board of Directors and the National Hereford Women Board of Directors.

Frank H. Cron Award – Zachary Grelinger David and Shirley Longfellow BEST Scholarship – Jessie Nibarger Jessie is an elementary education major. As a student in the Butler/Emporia Students to Teachers (BEST) program, she will remain at Butler to complete her bachelor’s degree in education through Emporia State University. Jessie, a Circle High School graduate, played volleyball at Butler and kept extremely busy volunteering, working, and maintained her grades as a student-athlete.

Presented by the Kansas Oil Museum, the Frank H. Cron Award is given annually to one student at Butler who shares a love of history. Zachary Grelinger is a 16-year-old Butler graduate who plans to major in Cybersecurity at Fort Hays State University. Zachary receives a medal of honor, recognition in the local newspaper and museum newsletter, and is added to the Cron Award plaque on permanent display in the Kansas Oil Museum.

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CULINARY PROGRAM

Receives Historic Gift Two local benefactors make significant contributions to Butler Culinary Arts The Culinary Arts program at Butler Community College is moving forward with what some are calling “Culinary 2.0.” Scott Redler, co-founder and COO of the fast-casual restaurant franchise, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, and wife Betsy announced in April, that they and Vantage Point Properties, Inc. are making significant donations to the Butler Community College Foundation to support the growth and expansion of Butler’s award-winning Culinary Arts program.

The cash and land gifts prepare Butler’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management programs to make significant enhancements. The result will be a brand-new teaching and entertaining facility in Andover’s hottest development area on Kellogg. The building will serve as a state-of-the-art training facility for the Culinary and Hospitality program while providing students the opportunity to showcase their unique cuisines to the public.

The vision is the brainchild of Scott Redler, who currently sits on the board for the National Restaurant Association.

“I’ve been thinking about this for some time,” said Redler. “I think this venue will bring a lot of excitement to the Andover area not only as a food and hospitality venue, but also will provide a state-of-the-art training facility for Butler’s outstanding Culinary and Hospitality program. I’ve been a part of the Butler program for over 25 years.

It’s a dynamic program and they have accomplished a great deal with the facilities they’ve had. Now we are ready for a facility and teaching team that will make the program known in the Midwest for culinary and hospitality excellence.”

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 Betsy and Scott Redler

The vision and timing fit well with the City of Andover’s current economic development plans for the area on Kellogg near the Dillons Marketplace. Paul Jackson, president of Vantage Point Properties, also got excited about the vision.

“With Scott and Betsy’s generous lead gift to kick this off, we are thrilled to participate and do our part to help move it forward,” said Jackson. “I want to see our community build on its culinary legacy, and I believe Scott’s vision and leadership, combined with Butler’s award-winning programming goes a long way to achieve that.”

The City of Andover is pleased the Redlers and Vantage Point Properties are bringing the vision to Andover Marketplace, the cities hottest development area.

“I appreciate the partnership of the college in serving our Andover citizens. They've done a lot of work at the north end of Andover with their 5000 Building remodel,” said Andover Mayor Ronnie Price. “With these gifts and vision, the south side of Andover can be the permanent home for this new Culinary and Hospitality facility. It will fit nicely as an evening venue for the community and that's a win-win for everyone.”

Butler President Dr. Kim Krull noted the Redlers are longtime supporters of the college giving their time, talents and

“I love it. Freddy’s is built on love and family and you feel that from the corporate team. Scott and Betsy have been nothing but great in supporting me.

Butler sent me on my way to where I am, even if I didn’t know what all to expect.”

It’s those life changing opportunities that spur the Redlers to serve their community. Scott Redler is also involved with the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Board, and he and Betsy both serve on multiple boards in the Wichita area.

 Paul Jackson

 Scott Redler

treasures as Scott serves on the Culinary Advisory Committee and Betsy serves on the College’s Foundation Board of Directors. In addition, the Redlers endowed the Betsy and Scott Redler Hospitality scholarship three years ago for Butler’s hospitality students.

Over the years, Scott has presented many times to Butler’s Culinary students and has hired students into the Freddy’s organization. He’s thrilled to see Butler alum Chris Williams now managing one of the highest volume Freddy’s in the country at Maple and Ridge in Wichita, and former student Curtis Beat working as a Freddy’s Franchisee.

Williams was a college graduate, a husband, and a father when he entered Butler’s program. He enrolled and graduated with certificates in both Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts.

“The staff was great, and I learned a lot ... I’ve always felt that family connection with Butler,” said Williams. “I’ve never felt so close to instructors ever and it’s unique things like that which kept me going, especially when I had so much going on. They made me feel comfortable and that made me want to show them what I could do.”

“Scott and Betsy both understand the value of the culinary program at Butler and recognize its importance to the community and our students,” said Krull. “Vantage Point Properties has been visiting with us for a couple of years regarding the possibility of a permanent home for our Culinary program. The stars aligned when these two sat down and decided to make it happen. We are so grateful for their generosity and for their support of our students.”

“The Foundation is excited to work with the Redlers and Vantage Point Properties, Inc to construct an exceptional facility in Andover,” said Tom Borrego, vice president of Advancement of the Butler Community College Foundation.

“We are ready to raise the necessary funds to create a brand-new facility for our Culinary and Hospitality Management Programs.”

Williams was introduced to Redler during his first year at Butler and that started a connection.

“I immediately liked his personality and we talked about the program and the industry,” said Williams. That connection led to Williams joining the Freddy’s team as a supervisor while he was still in school. In nine months, he was promoted to manager. He’s now general manager.

Williams could sense the ‘family feel’ and support was also alive inside the Freddy’s organization.

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Butler Alumnus

PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS Former Grizzly, Chief Academic Officer for Columbia College Hollywood, and Laurie Marie Foundation founder, David Carter brings his journey full-circle after donating back to Butler students.

His parents were illiterate. He grew up in what he calls “abject poverty” in rural Kentucky. He didn’t dream about going to college—something no one in his family had done. David W. Carter not only went on to earn a doctorate after starting his education at Butler Community College, he also now funds scholarships so others can follow in his footsteps through his Laurie Marie Foundation.

The foundation recently awarded scholarships to five Butler students. Carter was the 2019 commencement speaker at Butler. A speaker and educator, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a combat engineer, as a police officer, and as an education technician for the National Park Service. The San Diego resident now serves as the Chief Academic Officer for Columbia College Hollywood.

foundation.” Butler provided a $500 scholarship to Carter when he started classes, and he used it to purchase a laptop.

Carter named his foundation after his mother-in-law, who gave him money to “buy an old Jeep in Benton, Kansas, so I could get to classes at Butler.” Without the laptop and the vehicle, he’s not sure where he would have ended up. His mother-inlaw reviews every scholarship application.

“I put 50% of what I make as a speaker and give it to the foundation,” he said. Students don’t have to be studying anything particular. He studied teaching at Butler.

“I work with companies, colleges, and universities to improve efficiency in organizations,” he said. “I’m a lifelong academic, so I’m always teaching in some capacity as well. I write as well.

I work more in the education space than anything else.”

“Secondary education was my focus there, and I’ve been teaching ever since,” he said. “I had fantastic instructors at Butler who poured into my education. Because of that, I’ve always had Butler in mind as far as giving back.”

Carter started classes at Butler in late 2006 prior to a deployment, finding the college while he was at McConnell Air Force Base. He finished up in 2008. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in military history from Norwich University, and a doctorate in higher education and organizational development from Benedictine University. He’s given two TEDx Talks about leadership—“The Lesser Seat” in 2015 and “How Old Are You?” (the answer is “old enough”) in 2016.

This was the first year the foundation awarded $500 scholarships to Butler students. Being commencement speaker, he said, “just reinforced that concept of giving back where there’s a need to do so. Community college is just such a great place to give.” At age 17, Carter joined the military “so I would have a pathway to education in some form.”

He remains the only one in his family to graduate from college.

Carter said he was inspired to start his foundation to help students like him see a path to success.

“That wasn’t a thing that anyone did in my family,” Carter said.

“I did have a difficult upbringing—as a lot of students do. I didn’t let that define me.”

“I do not believe in debt,” he said in a recent interview.

“Community college has long since had a mission to make college affordable for students. Butler has continued along that path. That was a big part of the impetus for starting the

During a 2018 visit to Butler, he told staff at a conference during orientation week that “I have so many fond memories of my time here. My mind got stretched here. The courses I took changed my life.”

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FROM AN ALUMNUS

Frank Nesmith The month of September has always figured significantly in my life. Everywhere I’ve lived, some type of hunting opportunity always opened while the days were getting shorter and cooling off enough to put an extra spring into my step.

Additionally, in my school and college days it also meant an end to summertime jobs and a return to the classrooms.

My most traumatic September was 50 years ago when I started college. I had just finished almost eight years in the Air Force and was preparing to start on the long path towards getting a bachelor’s degree. I had a lot of reservations about whether I could succeed, but my wife Judy never seemed to have any doubts and continually encouraged me in her optimistic way. Evidently she saw something in me that I didn’t know I had. So, we moved to Kansas near where her parents lived, and I enrolled full-time at nearby Butler County Community College. Judy and I both thought a junior college would be advantageous since I had been out of high school for so long. We chose Butler County because it had been fully accredited by Northwestern University. That meant all credits were transferable to the university I planned to attend. Butler was the only junior college that could guarantee that.

Two-year colleges also provided remedial high school level classes in subjects like algebra, chemistry, and geometry that wouldn’t be available at the university. Besides, it was cheaper.

Even though I would be getting full-time G.I. Bill educational benefits, and Judy would work full time, it was going to be an economical squeaker for us to get through four years.

Only those who have started college later in life, like I did, know the loneliness of those first days. I had spent a long time in uniform being called by my rank and last name. Then I suddenly found myself in another world where I wore civilian clothes and was largely surrounded by teen-agers that seemed to be a separate species.

My major was biology with a minor in chemistry. I had taken chemistry in high school, but eight years had taken its toll on my recollection of it. It quickly became obvious to me that I was way over my head in college chemistry. On my advisor’s advice, I dropped it and continued with the rest of my courses. After repeatedly making high grades I steadily gained

confidence in my learning abilities. I even made the Dean’s List that first semester, but the dire threat of college chemistry still hung over me like a dark shadow.

During the first class the professor asked the class several questions relating to chemistry. After long pauses that indicated no one was going to answer I found that I recalled at least some high school chemistry by correctly answering many of them.

Professor [Clyde] Hiebert instructed us to work in teams of two in the laboratory. He strongly hinted that if we could pair up with someone who knew more chemistry than we did, it would undoubtedly help our grades.

After the class was dismissed I was suddenly confronted by several females; two of whom got into a shoving contest. Out of the commotion an older woman who sat near me in French class quickly emerged and, over protests about her breaking in line, asked to be my lab partner.

When I graduated from Wichita State University with honors three years later, I had amassed enough required hours in chemistry to have made a double major if my foreign language had been in German instead of French. I admitted that Judy had been correct in believing I would succeed.

Then, while working on a master’s degree in fisheries biology, I was required to teach freshman zoology and botany laboratory classes. I thought it ironic that my students were the counterparts of those who had intimidated me so much when I first started college four years previously.

College has never been meant for everyone and should never be advocated as such. For present day veterans who are doing the same, I empathize with their feelings as they take those first steps onto college campuses around the nation. I wish them the very best.

But, if they will only persevere and give it their best, most will triumph. I know, because I stand among the uncountable numbers of veterans who have already succeeded in achieving a college degree. And, for all of those armed services veterans who are starting out on that winding road to a college education this September, I wish them the very best.

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BUTLER

 Butler Headliners

Benefit Auction Annual fundraising auction turns virtual to raise money for Foundation, scholarships Like so many nonprofits over the last year, the Butler Community College Foundation adapted to the virtual landscape. The 24th annual Butler Benefit Auction was held completely online for the first time ever.

“Safety was our first priority,” said Mary Moon, executive director of community advancement. “We recognized the importance of holding the event to raise money to impact our students.”

 BCTV Studio

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 Kim Krull and Valerie Mack

A livestream event, consisting of pre-recorded and live elements, was filmed on-location in the tv studio housed on Butler’s El Dorado campus. Dr. Henry Waters, vocal music instructor, hosted the event. Auctioneer Jeremy Sundgren highlighted live and silent auction items. The video streamed on Butler’s YouTube channel and has been viewed more than 250 times. TV Producer and Station Manager Director Matt Jacobs, Mass Communications Professor Dr. Keith West, alumnus Tom Mittlestadt, and several students helped bring the production to life.

“Showcasing our students to donors is what makes the Butler Benefit Auction so special,” said Moon. “Students are the reason our donors come together for this event every year and it was important to us to incorporate students in this virtual event.”

 Jeremy Sundgren

 Watch Party

 Tom Mack

 Mary Moon, Jeremy Sundgren, and Kim Krull

Students Lloyd Johnston, Mara Stewart, and Tar Tut gave short testimonials about how scholarship dollars have impacted their educational journeys. Livestock Judging students, who usually sell raffle tickets at the event, pre-recorded a message urging donors to buy their tickets virtually. After the fundraising, guests were treated to a performance by Butler’s nationallyacclaimed show choir, the Headliners, directed by Vocal Music Professor Valerie Mack.

Total funds raised topped out at $111,000. Donors could bid using their mobile phones on silent and live auctions, the golden ticket drawing, and make gifts of Pure Philanthropy.

The highest-selling item of the night was a live auction item trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park.

The trip sold three times for a total of $8,150.

Top sponsors for the event were: HollyFrontier, Bank of America, Premier Food Service, BG Products, Commerce Bank, Gravity::Works Architecture, IMA, L.J. Lechtenberg Strategic Financial Partners, Professional Engineering Consultants, and Simpson Construction Services.

 Henry Waters and Sam Sparks

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Distinguished Alumna JUNETTA EVERETT Written by Trisha Walls

Finishing what you start is one of Butler Community Colleges’ strategic priorities—it’s also one of Junetta French Everett’s.

Everett is Butler’s 2021 Distinguished Alumna award honoree.

Everett says the award takes her back to where she started.

“Things are put in place for a reason,” says Everett. “I remember doing stuff (at Butler) that didn’t mean a thing to me then and I realize it’s come full circle.”

“I had no intention of going to college but I had some friends who were planning on going to Butler,” says Everett. “I wanted to do something to make my parents and grandparents proud.”

Everett grew up living with her grandparents from the age of 2.

“I needed to be more independent and to figure out my own values, beliefs, and goals while remaining close to home since I was the church musician and needed to be there weekly,” says Everett. “Having friends from high school join me was a bonus, but other benefits were meeting others who become lifelong friends. It was one of the best decisions I made since it jump-started my path that I am on now.”

“Butler made it simple for me, the young little Black girl who didn’t have a clue,” says Everett. “Butler admissions made it extremely inviting and the process simple. I never looked back. Butler was where I was meant to be.”

Everett began classes at Butler in 1973. She got her first job as a student worker in Coach Ollie Isom’s track and field office. “At that job was the first time I met my future husband when he came for a track visit, but he didn’t remember me from then,” says Everett. “We met again later at Wichita State.”

Once on campus, Everett and her friends would go to football and basketball games. “Afterwards there were parties and while many of the athletes were African American, we weren’t invited to the parties,” says Everett. “I told my friends, if we can’t go to their party, we’ll have our own.”

That was the beginning of Butler’s first Black Student Union.

Six African American women who lived in the dorms started

14 | BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION

it and Everett became the organization’s first president. “We visited high schools and told students to come to Butler,” says Everett. “We let them shadow us or tour with us so more African Americans would come to Butler. Our whole purpose was to be more inclusive, a chance to even the playing field.

Nowadays they’d call that intentional inclusivity.”

“Get to know someone else who is not like you.”

The next two firsts in Everett’s life came as she completed her four-year degree at Wichita State University, becoming the first African American to graduate from the college’s dental hygiene program and the first in her family to finish college.

Everett’s original major was nursing because Butler had a good nursing program and she wanted to help people. But after a semester or two, she realized she didn’t want to have to work on holidays and weekends and started looking for something else. “Butler helped me choose dental hygiene and I didn’t lose credit hours I already had that way, like my chemistry,” says Everett. “What they didn’t tell me is that there weren’t any Black dental hygienists in the state, not that it would have mattered to me.”

After starting her dental hygiene coursework at WSU, an instructor suggested that Everett might want to go into another field. “She told me ‘this is an expensive curriculum, plus there will be a lot of people who may not be comfortable with your fingers in their mouths’,” says Everett. “The challenge only made me more determined.” Everett persevered and became the first African American dental hygienist in Kansas.

After graduating and starting to work in private practice, Everett began recruiting more minorities and men to the field, in part by speaking to high school students about the dental hygiene program and career possibilities.

“I realized that we needed to be more diverse,” says Everett. “Passion and awareness without action are a total waste. Eventually I was blessed to be able to afford and offer scholarships in dental hygiene for people of color.”

After working for 10 years as a hygienist, Everett joined Delta Dental in 1987 as a customer service representative and quickly moved up in other positions before being promoted to vice president of professional relations, a position she held for 27 years before retiring in early 2021.

Along the way, Everett has gathered many honors and awards for her service and leadership (see the sidebar on page 17).

Everett’s honors resume includes a Governor’s Exemplary Service Award.

She earned the award for starting the P.A.N.D.A. program in Kansas in 1995 in conjunction with Delta Dental. P.A.N.D.A., an acronym for Prevent Abuse and Neglect through Dental Awareness, is a program for dental professional, teachers, SRS workers, and other mandated reporters to learn how to recognize and report suspicion of child abuse and neglect.

“Over 65% of abuse is found in the head and neck areas,” says Everett. “Yet less than 2% of reports were from the dental profession. That’s because we didn’t know what to look for or what to do.” P.A.N.D.A. is now being taught in dental hygiene programs and has educated more than 4,000 people.

SPRING 2021 MAGAZINE | 15

The list of boards and committees Everett has participated on is lengthy. “One of the things I’ve learned in giving back to the community, if you want something or see something and you don’t like how it’s going now, you have to make a change,” says Everett. “On a national, state, and local level, I’ve served on boards to be the voice of inclusivity. I get asked to sit on many boards for that reason. The first thing I ask is ‘What are we doing to intentionally address inclusion?’”

Perhaps the board she’s most proud of is another of Everett’s firsts. After serving on the diversity and inclusion committee for the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, Everett was picked to be the Board president. She was the first person of color to hold this position, the sixth female, and the first health care professional.

Other boards, committees, and organizations Everett has been involved include: Kansas Health Foundation, Wesley Hospital, Equity Bank, WSU National Advisory Council; the Wichita Chapter of the Links, Inc.; BizWomen; the NAACP; The Kansas African American Museum; Leadership Kansas, Class of 2010; Urban League; Exploration Place; Wichita’s

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District 2 Advisory Board; the Greater Wichita Partnership; as well as multiple dental organizations on a local, state, and national level.

“I am trying to do board development,” says Everett. “I make sure I represent the voices of the unheard and the unusual voice. I make sure that before I walk away from any table, I’ve brought someone else up with me, like an elevator. Inclusion is my passion.”

Everett and five other African American women were invited back to Butler in 2017 to sit on a diversity panel, talking about the experiences they had as students of color in the 1970s. Each woman had different stories but the message was the same: success and acceptance. Everett encouraged current students to step outside their box and embrace diversity adding, “Walk in somebody else’s moccasin,” she said. “Get to know someone else who is not like you.”

Everett was also back at Butler in 2019 as part of the 11th annual Advance Kansas class, a diversity leadership initiative hosted by Butler.

“Advance Kansas took me to a different level of understanding diversity,” says Everett. “In almost everything I do, I now add intentionality. This is because of the experience and enhanced understanding I received at Advance Kansas, particularly about intentional inclusion and looking at diversity as more than optics–beyond the shell-like race and gender. It’s also culture, industry, generational, and even knowledge and experience.

Advance Kansas challenged me and now plays a huge factor in the way I think on different matters.”

“Advance Kansas is a program I would recommend every CEO and community leader take,” says Everett. “It made me think differently and from a different perspective.”

Everett and her husband, Victor, whom she met for the second time at WSU, have been married 39 years and have five sons and eight grandchildren.

Looking back at her student experience at Butler, Everett says, “Butler was a home away from home. Close enough to go home for church on the weekends but far enough away to grow up. It was one of the best decisions I made since it jumpstarted my path that I am on now.”

HONORS • Inducted into The Kansas African American Museum Trailblazer’s Hall of Fame • 2020 Citizen of the Year from Realtors of South Central Kansas • Wichita Business Journal’s inaugural class of Leaders in Diversity, Women in Business, and Women Who Lead • Urban League’s Whitney M. Young Leadership award • Heartland Black Chamber Civic Leadership award • WSU Distinguished Alumni Recognition • Community Voice Corporate Standout • Governor's Exemplary Service Award

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Brent Sommerhauser

ART FEATURED IN LAS VEGAS Written by Lindsey Giordano

Brent Sommerhauser, Distinguished Alum, finds success in the world of art.

Growing up on a farm outside of small-town Rose Hill, Kansas, didn’t provide Brent Sommerhauser many opportunities to see art. What he did encounter often, though, were situations on the farm that required creative problem solving, forcing him to “pull solutions out of thin air with items on hand,” which would later prove beneficial in his career as an artist.

After he graduated from Rose Hill High School in the early 1990s, Sommerhauser attended Butler Community College, where he took introductory art courses. He received his associate degree in 1993 and then transferred to Emporia State University. There, he met someone who was in a glass blowing class and was intrigued by what “this weird playing with fire and glass thing was.” Sommerhauser stopped by the university’s art studio to see what it was all about.

“I was pretty much hooked and decided I needed to try this out,” he said. “I don’t think I’d ever seen anything like that that I was immediately captivated by.”

After that experience, Sommerhauser signed up for the glass blowing class right away, setting his career as a glass blowing artist in motion. He eventually graduated from Emporia State with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, glass concentration.

Since then, Sommerhauser’s career has taken him across the globe, from Turkey to Japan and beyond, where he’s either taught or worked with other glass blowing artists. He’s been to many places state-side as well, from working as an apprentice under a master glass blower in Nebraska to a teaching job at an art school in Detroit.

The year 2006 found Sommerhauser in Las Vegas, where he’s lived ever since. This past year, he collaborated with Meow Wolf—a Santa Fe, Nevada-based arts and entertainment company—on Omega Art, its permanent installation in Las Vegas. This installation is the anchor experience at AREA15, an immersive art and entertainment district located close to the Las Vegas Strip.

Sommerhauser is one of more than 325 creatives who’ve been involved with over 250 projects inside the exhibition, which is dubbed “America’s Most Exceptional Grocery Store.” He describes the goal of the project best: “make normal things weird.”

Specifically, Sommerhauser worked on the installation’s walkin drink cooler. When someone opens the doors, they find that the cooler curves in an ‘S’ shape, with pop bottles flanking each side of the walkway. Sommerhauser designed the bottles out of glass himself, making them appear as though they’re stretching. It was a technical endeavor, as he had to figure out how many bottles would be needed in a twisting hallway. Right

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inside the doors of the cooler, the bottles appear normal. As one walks through, the bottles gradually begin to bend toward the end of the exhibit. Then they stretch and get taller.

Making the bottles was especially tough because for each vertical column, Sommehauser had to ensure there were eight identical bottles. “That part was pretty challenging because you’re essentially getting this bottle up to probably 1,900 degrees or so in order to get it to begin to stretch in the way I wanted it to stretch.”

Ultimately, Sommerhauser created around 600 bottles for the exhibit and is proud of his contribution to the unique installation.

In addition to his work for Meow Wolf, Sommerhauser designed and created props and carpentry for Cirque de Soleil, the largest contemporary circus producer in the world, up until the pandemic hit.

“That was great to have a really good job with a really great company, using the skills that I’d built up over the years as a traveling artist and problem solver,” he said. “That’s where it really came back to me thinking that growing up on a farm was a pretty great place for an artist to learn things.”

scholarship because they needed someone to do some AV work—and discover what he wanted to pursue. “I thought that would be a good way to look into a variety of options and figure it out from there,” he said.

Sommerhauser, who received the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in Professional Career, also remembers when Butler’s art gallery re-opened after renovation while he was a student.

“I remember seeing things in a nice gallery with a wood floor and bright lights and everything really intentionally presented,” he recalled. “That made a difference. Once I got [to Butler], there was an awful lot of opportunity if you were willing and able to take it to see other things that were going on.”

And because of this Butler experience, the genesis of Brent Sommerhauser, American sculptor, glassblower and artist, came to be.

Sommerhauser also credits Butler Community College for setting him on a successful path as an artist. He initially chose to attend the college because it was somewhere he could afford—interestingly enough, he received a drill team

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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

BUTLER’S ECONOMIC IMPACT A recent economic impact study shows Butler Community College helps drive the economy for the 10-county region in southcentral Kansas—its primary market—and generates more in tax revenue than it takes. EMSI, a nationally recognized economic analysis partner for higher education completed the study.

According to EMSI, for every $1 paid in taxes to the college, the college returns $2.30 for the region which includes Butler, Chase, Cowley, Greenwood, Harper, Kingman, Marion, Morris, Sedgwick, and Sumner counties. The study, based on data from fiscal year 2018–2019, reviewed three main areas: college operations, student spending, and alumni impact.

The study showed that: • Butler added $387.1 million in income to the primary market.

• Alumni and the productivity of Butler graduates who stay in the region contributed $322.9 million to the economy.

• The college spends $42.9 million in the region.

• Students generated $21.3 million in added income for the regional economy through groceries, accommodations, transportation, and other household spending.

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Butler supports 6,311 jobs—one in every 67 jobs in the region.

Dr. Esam Sohail Mohammad, associate vice president of Research and Institutional Effectiveness for Butler Community College, said studies such as this help taxpayers and college stakeholders better understand the return on investment in education.

“The primary purpose of the study is to serve as a communication tool between the college and the community,” Mohammad said. “Because Kansas community colleges are supported by local taxpayers, this helps validate that through college operations, classes, and opportunities provided to students, and graduates who remain in the region, Butler brings significant value to the county, region, and state’s economy.”