Forward
THE MISSION & MOVEMENT OF SCCC
Historic season Volleyball team claims record finish at national tournament
$4.2 million project College breaks ground for Colvin Family Center for Allied Health
Taste of Kansas
Cooks set table for common ground at first-ever food fest
SEWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Volume 3, Issue 1
SPRING 2019
A look back at 2018 at SCCC Saints Athletics
Community Investment • $2.4 million of campus improvements • Joint meetings with city, county, schools • Partnership grants with BlueCross/BS Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Coalition for Families, Kansas Leadership & more!
• Seven athletics teams head to state, national competition • New bleachers, video boards • Athletes donate 1,300 volunteer hours to community • Louie the Saint mascot arrives
TRUST INTEGRITY VALUING OTHERS STUDENT SUCCESS QUALITY Academic Excellence
The Student Experience
• Top-ranked adult ed program in Kansas • New programs: Social Work, Intelligence, Resident Firefighter, BlendFlex delivery • 15 Articulation agreements with FHSU • National Coca-Cola Scholarship recipient
• Free laundry in dorm housing • Louie’s Place cafe & snack shop • Key card security system at SLC • Advising and student support services & staff increase
Workforce Partnerships
Thank you!
• Plumbing apprenticeship program • Internships with OneOK, Williams, Quanta • Teacher and social work bachelor completion options • Cross-disciplinary biofuel and aquaponics projects
TRUST VALUING OTHERS INTEGRITY QUALITY STUDENT SUCCESS Your gifts made possible. Our core values drive everything weitdo.
FORWARD I Spring 2019
F R O M
Page 3
T H E
P R E S I D E N T
TRAILS AHEAD Looking to the past illuminates our progress toward the future At Seward we are a month into the Spring 2019 semester, which promises continued growth and excitement. As I reminded our team at professional development sessions in January, it’s useful to pause and reflect on the success that we have experienced in this groundbreaking year. Here on campus, such reminders of the past are plentiful. The largest and most dramatic nudge to memory is visible at our main entrance, where we see construction on the Colvin Family Center for Allied Health. We anticipate completion in time for enrollment in Fall 2019, and also cherish the memories it evokes of longtime college supporters and friends, the late Bill and Virginia Colvin and extended family led by Kent and Molly Colvin. Connections to past and future are visible as well in the ever-expanding trail system. Liberal and Seward County have long been a point of crossroads and travel. The region’s original inhabitants, the Comanche Indians, regularly moved in tandem with the weather and the buffalo. The Spanish treasure-seeker Coronado and his men passed through the region in the 1540s, long before the establishment of colonies on the eastern seaboard. As the Westward Expansion brought the railroad and settlers to the area, the Santa Fe Trail carved ruts that are still visible in the Cimarron National Grasslands west of Liberal. It’s a point of local pride that our city got its name from the generosity of local pioneer Seymour Rogers, who “liberally” gave well water to passing travelers. After WWII, Liberal residents turned to thoughts of peace and ways to foster international friendship. Through a partnership with sister city Olney, England, our city became the North American “Pancake Hub” with an annual quarter-mile footrace run on brickcobbled streets. The tradition has continued across the Atlantic for 70 years. The combination of generosity, community, and a culture of movement marks Liberal today, as we welcome refugees and immigrants from around the world — Central and South America, Sudan, Somalia, Burma, Vietnam, Laos, the former Yugoslavia and Soviet Union countries. Many of them are accustomed to traveling by foot, and they make use of the pathway system. Through partnership with the Liberal Area Coalition for Families, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the Sunflower Foundation, and the Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife, the trail system has now circled to the northern edge of campus, providing a viable pedestrian path to shopping. Along the way, walkers may see meadowlarks, jack rabbits, and if the season is right, a monarch butterfly or two. I can’t think of a better symbol of how this college works to better the lives of people on campus and in the community at large, providing services to the whole person, always keeping mind the context of the wider world. I hope you will come to campus and enjoy the trail system and springtime in Kansas.
Dr T
The trail system is a powerful example of how our college works to improve everyday life for our community members and the world as a whole. SCCC PRESIDENT DR. KEN TRZASKA
4 I Spring 2019 I FORWARD
Vision
C O N T E N T S
Core Values in Action 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Editor’s Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Feature Stories
Fearless Talk with Travis Combs. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Volleyball Makes History . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 7 Questions - Alum Dallas Gibson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Fifty Years of Serving Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Our Work
A Meal Shared at Taste of Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 New Building Breaks Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Ag Banquet Raises Funds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
WANT MORE NEWS?
Accreditation Review on Track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Saints Athletics News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Worth Noticing Meet New Team Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Corporate Donations . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Business Students in Big Apple . . . . . . . . . . . 12 U.S. Citizen Maria Lara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Saints Alumni News 2k . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Supercharge Your Summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Forward magazine is published by the Seward County Community College office of Marketing & P.R. Contact us at 620-417-1125 or via email, marketing@sccc.
Meet the Team Jen Malin
Meet the Team Liz Hill
It would be impossible to share all the notable events and achievements happening at SCCC in one 20-page magazine. Thank goodness for the digital platform! Here’s a quick list of platforms where you can get your Saints fix: scccnews.com @ SCCCLiberalKS @ SCCCLiberalKS
sewardsaints.com sccc.edu
DIRECTOR
Student Housing Jen Malin, who took on the role of Student Housing Director in July 2018, is a combination mom, counselor, and enforcer to the 150 students at the SLC. But she’s been part of the Saints family since her days as a music major, in the late 1990s, and she continues to enjoy performance. She’s already appeared in two SCCC theater and musical productions, and is helping out with our upcoming “Little Mermaid” show.
DIRECTOR
Athletic Training, Fitness & Wellness For 10 years, Liz Hill coaxed injured athletes back to health as SCCC’s sole athletic trainer. Along the way, she married alum Kelly Hill, and started a family. Hill continues to oversee Saints athletes and new trainer Tanner Urban, in addition to her role as director of the Wellness Center. It’s no surprise that Hill, who earned her graduate degree at Mesa, Ariz., names fitness as her favorite hobby; these days, it’s circuit training and swimming.
F R O M
T H E
Though the marketing and public relations office serves many departments, team members and students across campus, my not-so-secret preferred identity is that of storyteller. Sure, programs and grants and Higher Learning Commission measurements frame what our college president describes as “the perpetual labor of betterment.” Accreditation is crucial. But it’s the individual lives that carry out the end results of that perpetual labor. It’s the individual people who make the High Plains region so unique, marked by a distinct tenacity. The people who live here are the people who toughed it out during the Dust Bowl, and the people who traveled across continents to make new homes. The second continues today. Though Seward County has at times boasted the highest per-county percentage of foreign-born residents, the current political climate has triggered a sense of uncertainty. Firstgeneration students fret about the immigration status of loved ones. Longtime community members sometimes find themselves divided more sharply than ever before. Meanwhile, the college team continues to ask how we can best serve our community — all of it, not just one or two slices
Meet the Team Joel Figgs
DIRECTOR
Student Support Services/TRiO Joel Figgs, a Kansas native from Sabetha, has worked in higher ed for more than two decades. He’s been instructor, advisor, recruiter and VP, and says his favorite career task is having a positive impact on individual students. It’s a great fit for his work leading the TRiO team at SCCC. Outside of work, Figgs enjoys family time with his wife and two children. We’ve heard he has a magic touch with the grill, and has been known to join in when the choir sings.
FORWARD I Spring 2019 I 5
E D I T O R
of the demographic pie. That’s why the Inclusivity & Civility team was so thrilled to see our first-ever Taste of Kansas event embraced with enthusiasm by people from every walk of life. And, it’s why we promoted the groundbreaking ceremony for Colvin Family Center for Allied Health six weeks earlier, inviting the entire community to join us in celebration and anticipation. The cookies and hot cocoa were a hit, too. In both instances, we found that weather and food bring people together, despite whatever barriers we might imagine. Language and color make no difference when your hands are numb and you clap anyhow. Race and income do not determine hunger or pleasure. Through it all, we find there is more common ground than the news might lead us to believe. That, in a nutshell, is the Seward County way. It’s a story worth telling, and our office relishes taking on that job every day. Enjoy this issue of Forward, and find more great stories online at scccnews.com.
Rachel
RACHEL COLEMAN Executive Director of Marketing & P.R.
Meet the Team Louie Lemert
Meet the Team Tano Tovilla
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Executive Team, IT
Louie Lemert is a Liberal native, who returned home to support his mother after an eclectic academic and professional career. Before joining SCCC as CIO, his jobs included microbiology research, computer systems work for the U.S. government, and police training. Rebuilding Pentagon networks after the 9/11 attacks was one of his most challenging projects. His balance for stress? Taoism, easygoing Midwest life, and lifelong friends.
SCCC Foundation
A background in veterinary science and work in the U.S. agriculture industry give Mexican-born Tano Tovilla a unique perspective as SCCC’s chief development officer. With his wife, Paty, Tovilla has made Liberal home for 15 years. Their son, Emilio, attends Regis University and daughter, Ana, is a pre-nursing student at SCCC. Tano enjoys golf, gourmet foods, and travel. Favorite trips: Japan, seeing his brother in Canada, and the 2012 Olympics in London.
6 I Spring 2019 I FORWARD Movers
A MEAL SHARED
I&C Mover team offers connection through food By PHIL LEE SCCC Marketing & PR Seward County Community College hosted a “Taste of Kansas” potluck on Jan. 29 at the library. More than 200 people attended, and had a chance to sample Kansas cuisine which ranged from chicken and noodles to fried rice to samosas to macaroni and cheese to gorditas to black-eyed peas to chili and cornbread. SCCC students, faculty, staff and administration participated by cooking more than 50 delicious dishes, all home-cooked. The event was held on Kansas Day which celebrates the day that Kansas was officially admitted into the Union in 1861. The idea to combine the SCCC event with Kansas Day was to show not only the diversity of the college, but of Kansas as well. “And what better way to do it than
through food,” said Annette HackbarthOnson, SCCC dean of students. “Food brings everyone together. We wanted to show the diversity of our students, the community and Kansas, in general.” Hackbarth-Onson stressed that it was more than just a “potluck,” but an opportunity for the people sampling the different foods to understand and embrace diversity and different cultures. I&C Mover team leader Rachel Coleman noted that Kansas Day is an appropriate time to think about inclusivity. “Our state came into the union as a Free State, and as a Kansas native, I have always been so proud of that,” she said. “Recently, I learned that our state was at the forefront of women’s suffrage, granting the right to vote to women before it was a national law.” Other events in state history include labor law and the Brown V. Board of Education ruling to
desegregate schools. Politics aside, Coleman said, “everyone eats. Everyone feels good about sitting down at the table and talking to friends. Our goal here was to set aside the arguing that has become so divisive, and create an opportunity for people to talk, to get acquainted, to form relationships.” Students, notorious for showing up for free food, made up more than half the diners. Instructors from the Colvin Adult Learning Center accompanied a group of 20 ESL students, who came bearing food. “We took advantage of this event to get our students on campus and help them get comfortable at the college,” said instructor Elida Escarcega. “They were a little overwhelmed at how beautiful it is here, and excited about becoming students someday.” College president, Dr. Ken Trzaska, contributed a traditional dessert prepared by his wife, whose heritage is Indian. Vice president of student services Celeste Donovan brought venison chislic, small cubes of roasted meat often served by immigrants from central Europe in the area where she grew up. Biology instructor Ty Hughbanks, a seasoned world traveler, prepared sticky rice balls with spicy meat, a favorite food in his wife’s home country of Thailand. “All of this is Kansas food, because we are all here together, in Kansas,” said I&C team member Charity Horinek. Her dish? Chicken noodles over mashed potatoes, the ultimate Midwest comfort food.
Movers FORWARD I Spring 2019 I 7
Taste of Kansas
Clockwise from upper left: Assistant Registrar Krystal Zimmerman relishes a piece of community member Kay Burtzloff’s famous baklava. Students Rubi Gallegos and Michelle Mattich team up to add fresh lime juice to their food. Families make a day of it at the Taste of Kansas, including this noodle fan, the grandson of former SCCC team member Patty Stegman. Dr. T talks with students during the comeand-go meal. Opposite page: English instructor Sharon Brockmann’s traditional food from Colombia, where she spent her childhood. “I consider myself Hispanic, although many people would not know it by looking at me,“ Brockmann says. Colvin Adult Learning Center instructors Ilse Cambron and Elida Escarcega help set up the “Authentic Mexican” food table with students. Photos: Phil Lee & Rachel Coleman
8 I Spring 2019 I FORWARD team
Stories
that get beneath the surface
By RACHEL COLEMAN SCCC Marketing & PR
Travis Combs is the last person you’d expect to feel like an outsider. The Dean of Industrial Technology and Continuing Education at Seward County Community College, he’s also an elected member of the local school board, involved in organizations like Seward County United Way, the Liberal Bee Jays semipro baseball, and Liberal’s Cinco de Mayo Committee. He is a homeowner with a dog, an SUV, and a subscription to Men’s Health. Yet, growing up in the Liberal, Kansas version of the “hood,” on the northeast side, Combs was a white outlier in more ways than one. “I didn’t see people who looked like me in my everyday life,” he said. “I related to cultures in my neighborhood, the Hispanic families that fed me menudo and cooked pigs in a hole that we would dig, the African-American kids that my brother and I ran with. Like everybody around us, we grew up on food stamps.” Combs’ parents were “very humble,” he said, employed in the oil patch and food service industries. If they took pride in anything, it was their work ethic, their four children, and their family history of military service. “At age 10, I was working with my mom at her job, sweeping, bussing tables, cleaning up, and that was hard work,” he said. “I don’t think I ever felt like I had to be like everyone else, I had two parents and they took care of us, so in that respect I consider myself very fortunate.” By the time he attended Liberal High School, where he participated in football and track, Combs had grown away from many of his neighborhood ‘gang.’ “I was a high-achieving student,
from a middle-class family from the ‘hood’ and my social circle was mostly white friends,” he said. “My sister entered the National Guard directly out of high school, my brother went
on to play football at Southwestern College, and I chose to attend SCCC out of high school.” Combs was on course to recalibrate his family trajectory. Then, things changed. The fall
team FORWARD I Spring 2019 I 9 semester of his freshman year at SCCC, Combs absorbed a tremendous blow when his father died in an oilfield accident. Combsß completed his freshman year and transferred to K-State where he would join the Track & Field team. Soon after arriving in Manhattan, his sense of home further eroded as his mother struggled to cope with the loss of his father and addiction. Even so, Combs completed a bachelor’s degree and became the first person in his family to graduate from college. His destination was medical school, and a move to a different societal level. From the outside, Combs seemed to be the kid who had all the advantages in terms of race and privilege he said. “That’s not how it was. If most of the people who I hung around with knew how hard I had to work to pay my own way, they would probably have been shocked. My good friends know, but those who don’t really know me would assume that it was an easy road for me.” It’s no wonder Combs was burned out on academics and the task of balancing school and work. “I realized I didn’t want to do this thing called school for eight more years,” he said, “and I realized that what I really wanted to do was teach.” The shift in direction led to an additional two years of study, teacher certification, and master’s degree in education. Returning to Liberal to support his mother, who was terminally ill, Combs admits he was “out of touch with the community. Immigration had been increasing and people were saying, ‘Hispanics are here to take our jobs,’ — growing up, that’s all I ever heard.” In his first job at Newton Alternative High School, he saw something different. “These were kids who everyone had given up on, but they had potential,” he said. The prevailing, often dismissive attitude about human potential of “others” bothered him. As job changes brought him to the SCCC Colvin Adult Learning Center, that feeling grew.
“It took people a while to warm up to me,” he said. After all, what they saw was the “typical white American man with the perfect life.” Getting to know the ESL, GED, and citizenship instructors — who became friends — made the difference. “Sonia Hernandez changed my life, she opened my eyes to things I really didn’t understand,” Combs said. “Nina Highfill, Fe Laguitan, Bill Asmussen, Vicky Bangs, Ilse Cambron, Annie Quillin - the whole team. We became close, and when they vouch for you, you’re in with the students.”
People need to be applauded ... for getting to know someone as an individual, not a symbol.” That in turn led to a deeper understanding of circumstances that made his own burdens seem lighter. “It was eye-opening to me,” he said. “I knew about my problems, but I didn’t really know about hardship when your country falls apart or you have to run for your life. I didn’t know how hard it is to build a new life when you don’t speak the language.”
In time, Combs became so familiar with the group of 500-plus students from around the world that he experienced secondhand discrimination, if such a term exists. Growing up in a “very military” family, a point of pride Combs shares, “we don’t always see eye-to-eye politically,” he said. In 2012, a heated argument between brothers over illegal immigration caused hard feelings that often led to long periods of silence. “I wouldn’t talk to him for days, sometimes weeks,” Combs recalls. Eventually, they mended fences. “We love each other and missed each other,” he said. “He respects me. I respect him. We can agree to disagree.” Today, Combs enjoys warm and honest relationships with his siblings and their children. In those relationships, and in his work at the school district and the college, Combs sees what he would like to see nationwide. “There are some colleges and some communities that haven’t even begun the work that we’re doing at SCCC and USD 480 in Liberal,” he said “People need to be applauded. It comes back to being able to tell the story, getting to know someone as an individual and not a symbol. When we have these discussions about multicultural things, when people are present and willing to listen even if we don’t agree — we are better off.”
NOW SERVED ON THE SCCC CAMPUS!
10 I Spring 2019 I FORWARD allied health
GROUNDBREAKING YEAR
By RACHEL COLEMAN SCCC Marketing & PR
More than 100 community members joined Seward County Community College Dec. 4, 2018, to break ground for the Colvin Family Center for Allied Health, a $4.2 million facility slated to open for the 2019-20 academic year. The “Students First, Community Always” capital campaign launched by the SCCC Foundation began in 2013. The center is so named in honor of the Colvin family, beginning with benefactors Bill and Virginia Colvin, now deceased. Their legacy continued with the extended family and Ken and Molly Colvin and a $1 million gift to the project. Kent Colvin spoke briefly at the groundbreaking, affirming his family’s longstanding connection to the college. “I like to think my parents are looking down on us today, and are happy with what they see,” he said. During a reception following the ceremony, SCCC President, Dr. Ken Trzaska, continued the pattern of appreciation for the past, even as the college moves forward. “It’s because of the long, patient work carried out by the Foundation and people like former college president, Dr. Duane Dunn, former development director Tammy Doll, and donors and team members that we have been able to achieve this goal,” he said. Trzaska also praised Foundation President Duane Bozarth, Vice President of Finance and Operations Dennis Sander, “and the community as a whole, which has worked tirelessly to support this project.” In her remarks, Dean of Allied Health Dr. Suzanne Campbell described the college’s existing programs, which have been housed in the Epworth Building, a repurposed hospital that “has served us well, but as an aging structure,
has limitations,” she said. The new facility allows students to experience cutting-edge technology in an environment close to the workplace. Community and region reap the benefits.
If you’ve had surgery, respiratory therapy, had blood drawn or depend on lab results, those are students or nurses we’ve trained. Representatives from local, state, and national government showed up to take part in the event, from the offices of Sens. Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran, and Rep. Roger Marshall. State legislators Shannon Francis and Steve Alford attended in person, along with Liberal mayor Connie Seigrist and Seward County Administrator April Warden. School board, hospital and Chamber of Commerce representatives also attended. “We appreciate you coming to this historic event,” said VP of Academic Affairs, Dr. Todd Carter. “I’m excited about the possibilities the building offers to students, including high school students in the area.” Following November’s unanimous board approval of a $4.2 million contract, Coonrod & Associates began construction. The project should wrap up in Summer 2019. Above, from left: Lead donors, Molly & Kent Colvin, SCCC Trustee Marvin Chance, SCCC Foundation President Duane Bozarth, SCCC President Dr. Ken Trzaska, SCCC VP of Finance & Operations Dennis Sander, and SCCC Dean of Allied Health Dr. Suzanne Campbell. All photos: Phil Lee
community FORWARD I Spring 2019 I 11
Corporate gifts keep college flourishing By PHIL LEE SCCC Marketing & PR Local businesses and civic organizations are recognizing the value of the college and stepping forward to support projects and programs. Just this year, SCCC has received grants and donations from Black Hills Energy Foundation, Skyland Grain, Sunflower Bank and the Liberal Rotary Club and the Rotary Foundation. Sunflower made the donation, which was almost $500, after hearing about the college’s support to students. “Every year Sunflower Bank tries to give back to the community and we look for specific foundations that help low- to moderate-income families, a diverse group,” said Jonny Vergara, senior branch manager at Sunflower Bank. “We felt strongly about the Foundation after I spoke with Chandler Kirkhart (SCCC associate director of annual giving & alumni engagement) about scholarships they provide and the special funds they provide (for hardship students).” Skyland Grain reached out to award SCCC $2,000 in hopes of creating a pipeline to bring future employees to its company and the agriculture industry in general. “Our main goal is to get more youth in agriculture,” said Aaron Murphy, relationship manager at Skyland Grain. “We’re hoping that things like this can enhance the Ag Department at Seward County Community College and bring those kids in and help the whole industry and feed new hires to Skyland.” Black Hills Energy Foundation, Seward County gas utility affiliate, presented the college with a check for $25,000 for construction of the Colvin Family Center for Allied Health. “It’s very rewarding as a campus and as a leader to have local companies reinvest into the institution to help us move forward with our vision and direction,” said SCCC President Ken Trzaska. “This is truly an honor to receive this donation for the good work that we do. We look forward to continuing to grow the relationship with Black Hills Energy. We’re just grateful to them having confidence in the work we do and reinvesting those
dollars for the betterment of students and the community.” The Liberal Rotary Club and the Rotary Club Foundation donated a combined $3,000 to the SCCC E-Boutique, which provides help to people entering the workforce. The aim is to help women who have overcome hardships, but open to all. “It’s a good project,” said John Engel, board member, Liberal Rotary Club. “It provides (a venue for) someone looking for a job to help present themselves well. They also provide interview skills and helps with resumes. It’s needed.”
Top right: Skyland Grain presents $2,000. Center: Sunflower Bank’s $465 donation. Above: John Engel of Liberal Rotary, SCCC’s Dr. Todd Carter, Lisa Kennedy (left) and Jen Kirkhart. Above: Black Hills Energy’s $25,000 donation for the Colvin Family Allied Health Center project.
12 I Spring 2019 I FORWARD academics
Ag banquet raises $8,000 for program Seward County Community College believes agriculture is a vital part of Southwest Kansas and the programs it provides will sow the seeds for the industry’s future. The college received validation of its efforts with the support it received through the SCCC Agriculture Department’s first-ever fundraising banquet in January. Sponsors and supporters had a chance to meet, learn about the new direction of the SCCC Ag Program, enjoy a great meal and be entertained by acclaimed comedian David Ferrell.The banquet raised more than $8,000. “We appreciate everyone who participated and contributed to this
BIZ IN BIG APPLE
Phi Beta Lambda, the student club for business majors at SCCC, has kept busy this academic year, said sponsor Lisa Kennedy. “We’ve had some great partnership creation, from fundraising to service opportunities,” she said. “I think a lot of people think business is solely concerned with money. In fact, it’s all about people, and I’m thrilled our students are learning this in a real-life way. Highlights have included fundraising with Freddy’s Frozen Yogurt of Liberal,, a service project with students at Meadowlark Elementary School, and a workshop to assist peers and the public with resume creation. Club members also traveled to the PBL Career Connections Conference in New York City. Pictured on the big rock at Central Park are, back, left to right, Cody Bradley, Brice Minor, Rogelio Pando, front, Guadalupe Mercado, Mariah Behms, Alba Torres, Miram Lima. Photo: Lisa Kennedy
event,” said agriculture instructor Joshua Morris. “And, thanks so much to our sponsors.” Diamond Level sponsors: American Ag Credit, Community Bank, Skyland Grain, Western Plains Genetics; Platinum Level sponsors: American Title, Bank of Beaver City, Mortgages Unlimited; Gold Level sponsors: 3 J Cattle Company, Big R, Bloom Family Farms, Evan Winchester, Farmers Insurance, KDA, Liberal Animal Hospital, Seaboard, Windy Prairie Show Cattle. Left, live comedian David Ferrell. Above, guests laugh in response to Ferrell. Photos: Phil Lee
academics FORWARD I Spring 2019 I 13
Corrosion student lands job while completing course When Ty Dixon graduated Rolla High School in 2017, the National Honor Society student hadn’t formed a clear plan. Since childhood, Dixon had hoped to follow his father’s example — work in oil and gas, and run cattle — “but he always preached to me that I should get some schooling,” he said. Father and son had seen firsthand the toll work in the oil patch could take on a person’s body, and how a person can “hit his pinnacle” in terms of advancement. “He told me, ‘Don’t be that guy who can’t move up because you don’t have a degree,’” Dixon said. Dixon enrolled in the corrosion tech program at SCCC and discovered something unexpected: Intellectual engagement. “In high school, you don’t get to choose what you learn, and I was so bored,” Dixon said. “When I got here, for the first time in a long time, I was able to come to class, get technical knowledge, do something with my hands, see the outcomes … I love it.” Ty Dixon Corrosion, he said, “is all a mystery. Mr. (Autry) Coleman, our instructor, can get us to that basic understanding of what’s happening, and then he challenges us to immerse ourselves. When he said we needed to take chemistry, I wasn’t so sure … but what I learned helped me understand corrosion, I got the interest and said, ‘I’m all in.’” “When Ty started asking questions, and applying that curiosity, I knew he would do great in the field,” Coleman said. “You have to combine attention to the details with being open about what you might find. You have to be very intelligent.” Two years later, Dixon has earned an associate’s degree and industry certifications as a corrosion technician, picking up an All Kansas Academic Team award along the way. Days after he completed his fall semester coursework at Seward County Community College, he reported to OneOK offices in Tulsa, Okla., to begin full-time work. A summer internship with SCCC’s industry partner had been so successful, the company recruited him before he’d even completed his studies. “The internship was a big learning experience,” he said. “I was surrounded by engineers, with all that wisdom. Basically, I tried to perform the tasks at hand and do what was expected of me, like my parents have always taught me.” As an Internal Corrosion Tech, he will travel to evaluate pipeline integrity in the field. It’s a job that won’t “wear out my body,” Dixon said, and enables him to earn a living. “My dad was giving me a hard time and told me ‘I might be a little mad, you’ll be making more money than me,’ but I know he and my mom are proud of me,” Dixon said.
Three students to present in nation’s capitol Congratulations to SCCC students Emireth Monarrez, Emily Gibson and Huy Cam. They will present their research in February at the Emerging Researchers National Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Washington. Monarrez, Gibson and Cam produced their research as participants in the Research Immersion: Pathways to STEM, a summer internship offered through KS-LSAMP at Kansas State University. Each submitted a formal, written abstract to present in D.C.
Spring musical headed ‘Under the Sea’ It’s all fishes and wishes this spring with the SCCC Drama Department’s production of Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid.’ The popular movie and subsequent musical is based on a fairy tale written by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. His natural storytelling abilities and great imaginative power of folk legends produced a body of fairy tales that relate to many cultures, said director and theater instructor Michele Van Hessen. Musical director for the show will be Dr. Magda Silva, vocal instructor. Casting and audition have been completed with stage production and rehearsals already underway. Performance dates for the show are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday, April 7.
College preps for HLC accreditation visit The work is continuous, but the accountability check in the form of accreditation comes every six years. The first phase of SCCC’s accreditation renewal by the Higher Learning Commission has been completed with a portfolio submission in October 2018. According to project head, VP of Academic Affairs Dr. Todd Carter, things look good. “The response from HLC regarding our portfolio was positive,” he said. “The notations they provide give us a framework for further improvements in anticipation of their site visit next fall.” For now, Carter said, he is appreciative of the groundswell of work by the SCCC team in preparing the portfolio, which ran to nearly 200 pages. “It was a tremendous project,” he said, “and it required tremendous committment by many people, particularly our data analyst Teresa Wehmeier.”
14 I Spring 2019 I FORWARD athletics
BEST FINISH EVER
By IAN APPLEGATE SCCC Sports Information Director A historic post-season run by the Seward County volleyball team closed with a fourth-place finish at the national tournament Nov. 17, 2018. The Lady Saints fell to the Iowa Western Reivers in the 3rd place match at the NJCAA Nat’l. Tournament 3-1 (25-15, 27-25, 23-25, 23-25). The Lady Saints got rolling early on in set one, jumping out to an 8-3 lead capped off by a dump from Laura De Pra. Schmorantz led the Lady Saints with 20 kills on them match, while Giovanna Tapigliani and Esmadar Tavares each finished with 11. De Pra paced the match with 51 assists. The sophomore class finishes their season with their names written all over the Seward record book. Luz Sierra finishes her career with the fourth highest hitting percentage
(.405). Giovanna Tapigliani finishes with 910 career kills, good for the sixth most in school history. Nathiellen Machado became just the sixth player to record over one thousand career digs, finishing with 1,054, fourth most in school history. Seward County finishes the season with a 32-7 record and a fourthplace finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. The fourth-place finish in the best in program history, topping the 5th place finishes from 1999 and 2000. It also marked the first time Seward had reached the Final Four. The season also marked a milestone for head coach Tony Trifonov, who earned his 400th career win as a collegiate head coach on Oct. 10, 2018. The tally put him among the elite in collegiate coaching. SCCC Athletic Director Mike Davidson, himself a Saint for close to two decades, said the season
The records reflect the incredible talent, work ethic, and team spirit of these athletes. was remarkable. Trifanov is the eighth head coach for the Lady Saints volleyball program. Trifonov came to Seward following 21 years with NCAA Division I Florida A&M University. In his career with the Rattlers, Trifonov accumulated a 378218 record, winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 19 times. “I was extremely grateful and felt honored to be selected as the head volleyball coach at SCCC,” said Trifonov. “The season has only increased that perspective.”
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Dual role for baseball coach Saints head baseball coach Mike Davidson has taken on duties as athletic director for the 2018-19 academic year. College president Dr. Ken Trzaska described the appointment as a choice to maintain continuity and consistency. “We have good momentum in athletics and we know Mike can provide steady leadership based on his tenure at the college, his knowledge of athletics and confidence from his fellow coaches and colleagues throughout our campus,” said Trzaska. Davidson has been part of the Seward family for nearly two decades, starting as assistant baseball coach in 2000. He moved to the head coach position in May 2018, and brought in former Saint Paul Pulley as his assistant. Austin King rounds out the staff as a volunteer assistant. Davidson succeeds Roy Allen, whose departure occurred over the summer.
The timing presented the college with a challenge that Davidson views as an opportunity for the institution. “I look at it as a chance to help athletics continue the ‘Seward County Way’ that we have come to know,” said Davidson. “I want the athletic department to move in a positive direction.”
27-yr. run in women’s hoops The No. 8 Seward County women’s basketball team won their 14th straight game behind a flurry of three pointers, defeating the Northwest Tech Mavericks Jan. 30. The win pushed the team to 20 wins for the 27th year since 1992. Seward shot 63 percent from the field and 79 percent (15-for-19) from behind the arc. Lexi Hernandez finished with 26 points on 7-of-9 shooting behind the arc. The seven threes is the fourth most in a single-game by a Lady Saint, tying eight others to accomplish the feat. Vonda Cuamba finished with a career-high 17 points. Carla Covane, Silvia Veloso and Karolina Szydlowska each finished with 12 points. Seward will fight for first place in the Jayhawk West with the Hutchinson Blue Dragons.
MBB battles for conference It’s been a tremendous 2018-19 season so far for the Saints basketball team. The SCCC men’s squad are off to their best conference start since the 2010-11 season and ranked for the first time since 2016. The Saints started the season with victories over ranked teams like Coffeyville and Snow and a hard fought loss to top-ranked South Plains. With six players averaging double digits in scoring and a stingy defense, success has carried over into the second half of the season as the Saints continue their winning ways against conference foes.
TENNIS ON TOP • It’s no surprise to see Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Champion and All-American Nicolas Rousset hold the No. 1 spot in the ITA Rankings. Sophomores Hugo Lobo (8) and Carlo Izurieta (34) found their way into the top 50 for a second year, while freshmen Sander Jans (18) and Francisco Vargas (21) are ranked for the first time in their careers. In doubles, ITA National Champs and All-Americans Sander Jans and Gabrielle Nery are at the top. Hugo Lobo and Nicolas Rousset are fourth; Carlo Izurieta and Francisco Vargas came in at No. 20. • Two Lady Saints represent Seward in the top 10, as sophomores Patricia Panta (6) and Maria Aveiga (7) are the two highest ranked KJCCC players. Alena Macharova (24) rounds out the singles rankings for the Lady Saints. The doubles team Maria Aveiga and Patricia Panta is the lone Seward tandem to be ranked, at No. 5. Photo: Ian Applegate
• Seward County will look to continue the success as they head into their spring season Feb. 4.
16 I Spring 2019 I FORWARD
ALUMNI NEWS 2000s
Jose Valles, ’07, of Valles Livestock Consulting, has been in Europe as a part of an agriculture leadership program. Juliana (Nascimento) Rodrigo, ’07, is employed as intern/assistant volleyball coach, Bethany College, Lindsborg. T. Erin Rush, ’04, earned a bachelors degree in economics at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Pastor at Emmanuel Southern Baptist Church in Liberal, he conducts discipleship conferences in South Sudan, and hosts “Inspiring to Love,” a weekly radio show. He is playwright of five seasons of the patriotic production LIBERTY, enjoys sports, books, and time with his black lab mix, Mason.
Will Ponder, ’07, is an associate/connections pastor, at New Beginnings Church in Liberal. David Masters, ’08, is now a pharmacist at Walgreen’s Pharmacy in Laramie, Wyo.
2010s
Fanny Benincasa, ’11, transferred to the University of New Orleans. She is a community manager at Arena Water Instinct swimwear and gear sporting supplier, and blogs for the company in France. Paul Pulley, ’11, is the assistant baseball coach working with his former coach Mike Davidson at Seward County Community College. Arlette Austin, ’12, began work as the respiratory therapy director of clinical education, at Seward County Community College in 2018. Fabiana Monte, ’14, is currently working as a student-athlete development coordinator, at Baylor University, Texas.
Originally from Liberal, Lizette Avalos graduated from SCCC in 2013, and transferred to Fort Hays State University. There, she earned a B.A. in Communication Studies, a B.S. in Organizational Leadership, and M.S. in Communication Studies. She now serves as coodinator for the TRiO / Student Support Services office at SCCC, and has begun work on her doctorate degree. She enjoys volunteer work, and spends free time playing with her dogs and attending Crossfit.
Jose Covarrubias, ’14, is a graduate student in Chemistry at Kansas State University. Jazmin Zeledon-Morales, ’15, is completing her masters in nurse education, and works as an oncology nurse. Tanner J. Urban, ’15, transferred to Wichita State University to complete his bachelor’s degree. He is the assistant athletic trainer, a newly-created position, at Seward County Community College. Diana Mendoza-Nieblas, ’15, works as an accountant at Hay Rice & Associates of Liberal. Ricardo Nava ’15, has been admitted to the Physician’s Assistant school at Wichita State University.
Tamara Seda-Camacho, ’15, joined the CD Zamarat Basketball Team, (Spain), where she plays professionally. Niem Stevenson, ’16, plays professional basketball with the Leicester Riders (UK). Leslie Speer, ’16, is the girls assistant basketball coach, Ottawa (Kansas) High School.
Weddings
Lindsey Carter (2004) married Michael Fields on Oct. 6, 2018. She is a biology instructor at Butler Community College. Marquez Patterson (2011) married Brittanie Gardner on April 28, 2018. Paul Pulley (2011) married Briley Benson on Dec. 29, 2018. Lizuly Monarrez (2011) married Jesus Cordero on Sept. 15, 2018. Laercio Lobo (2012) married Marina Carvalho on Jan. 13, 2018. Briston White (2013) married Lyric Robinson on Oct. 20, 2018. Bryson Allen (2014) married Gabby Mercer on Sept. 22, 2018. Daniela Galindo (2016) married Jonathan Castillo on July 21, 2018. Obdulia Covarrubias (2012) married Ricardo “Richy” Perez on Dec. 29, 2018. She is a chemistry doctoral student at Kansas State University.
Births
Coach Clenita “Penny” (Jones) Belford & Jason Belford announce the birth of Jalaya Belford, on Sept. 4, 2018. Nora (Rodriguez) Shea (1999) & Mike Shea announce the birth of Christian Shea in November 2018. Lacy Rose Garcia (2010) and Rigo Resendiz annouce the birth of Camila Rose Resendiz on May 31, 2018.
Ariana (Limon) Villa (2014) and Benicio Felipe Villa announce the birth of Araceli Carmen Villa on Jan. 18, 2019. Jessica Martinez (2015) and Brandyn Terrazas announce the birth of Camila Lupita Terrazas Sept. 10, 2018. Jenny Sarabia (2015) and Jose Pereda announce the birth of Adriel Angel Pereda on June 19, 2018. Karla Rodriguez (2015) and Lorenzo Avila announce the birth of Lía Avila on Nov. 17, 2018.
Thad and Leah (Knudsen) Deaton (2017) with their two sons. The couple live in Liberal.
Share life events, news with friends! Now under the leadership of Associate Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement Chandler Kirkhart, the SCCC Alumni office wants to help you stay in touch with former classmates and friends from Seward. Join the group online at alumni.sccc.edu, or visit our Facebook page, SCCC Alumni Association The purpose of the SCCC Alumni Association is to “foster the spirit of loyalty, commitment, and involvement of the students, alumni, and friends of the college,” Kirkhart noted. “To do that well, we rely on news from our former Saints, so please send yours.” Call Kirkhart’s office at 620417-1135, or send news items to marketing@sccc.edu.
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alumni FORWARD I Spring 2019 I 17
Questions
Dallas Gibson, ’02 Screenwriter
Writing ‘sticks with you,’ leads to screen Starting at Seward in early 2000s, what did you envision for your future? I graduated high school in 2000 then attended Seward from 2000-2002. I had so much fun. I was a criminal justice major and changed majors to athletic training and was a student trainer for the Women’s Basketball National Championship team in 2002. What stands out in your memories of Seward? Mr. (Bill) McGlothing. I took his English classes and a lot of what he taught carries over to what I do now — it sticks with you. In Crusader newspaper, time management. Ms. (Anita) Reed gave us flexibility to write as we saw fit. It was a very good learning experience to learn another aspect of writing. Tell us about your academic process after SCCC. I went to Oklahoma State in Stillwater for a semester and paid entirely out of pocket. I realized I couldn’t afford to go to school there. So I went to work full-time. I completed a bachelor’s degree in information technology from West Texas A&M in Canyon, in 2014. Along the way, you got married? Andrea and I met in 2003 as coworkers, then didn’t see each other for 7 years. We met again in 2011 and got married that year. We have a son, Kodey, 5, and a daughter, Maddy, is 10. How did you start screenwriting, and how has it turned out so far? My wife and I love movies — that’s our thing — and we got to thinking we could write stuff that would be just as good; so we looked into the process, read a few books, sat down and starting writing. Two years later, we’ve written 11 features, a short and three in the works. I wrote a script in 2016, “Overwatch,” and competed in the Golden Script international competition in Glasgow, Scotland. It won the Bronze Script Award. I’ve also been a finalist at the Austin Revolution festival. What's the next project ahead? We are setting up a crowdfunding campaign for a project called Black Sheep, one of my wife’s scripts. We already have an actor signed. He was in Breaking Bad, Maze Runner and Longmire. We will donate funds to the Chris Kyle Frog and the Gary Sinise foundations for service members, first responders, and families. My wife is a veteran and drew on her experience to write this story about a soldier who has PTSD. We feel it’s important to bring awareness to this. If we get to do what we love and support this effort, it’s a win for everybody. Any advice for the Saints now? Keep pushing. In this industry, you’re going to hear “no,” you’re going to hear that your work is crap. Getting it in front of the right set of eyes is what’s going to make you or break you. Be aware that doesn’t mean your work is bad or good; it means that it’s your work; that’s what should matter. — CHANDLER KIRKHART
18 I Spring 2019 I FORWARD alumni SCCC alum and former Crusader editor Maria Lara, now working as a media professional in Everett, Wash., posted her new status as a U.S. Citizen. “I’m thankful to have such courageous parents. Risk takers. I’m proud to be the daughter of immigrant parents,“ Lara wrote. “My family sacrificed safety, comfort, and convenience to give me the best life. We chased the American dream like many others. All the while, waiting for this day to come. And it came. I’m 24 years old… waited 20 years for this. This past weekend I flew to Kansas to attend my citizenship ceremony where 62 countries were represented. There were more than 170 applicants. All anxious to receive the paper I now hold in my hand. Their certificate of naturalization. I only know my story, but I can only imagine that they too have had their fair share of struggles and heartbreaks. But we made it. We’re here. And I’m proud to say I’m officially a citizen.”
SAINT & CITIZEN
Photo: Maria Lara
IN MEMORIAM
Joyce L. Hassell, 1984, April 5, 2018 Caitlin Heronemus, 2014, July 4, 2018 Seward County Community College extends Myra Hettic, 2008, Nov. 29, 2018 its deepest condolences to the families and Bill Jackson, 1981, June 27, 2018 friends of these SCCC attendees and friends: William Kemp, 1982, Dec. 7, 2018 Tad Kepley, 1985, Jan. 16, 2019 SCCC ATTENDEES Tammy King, 2007, Aug. 21, 2018 Doylene Albright, 2015, Aug. 24, 2018 Mike Lewis, 1997, June 19, 2018 Betty Appleton, 1989, Feb. 19, 2018 Harry Lockas, 1984, Jan. 22, 2019 James Armstrong Jr., 1983, Jan. 2, 2019 Pam McCann, 1987, June 24, 2018 Robert Armstrong, 1971, Jan. 3, 2019 Naomi Meza, 1992, Dec. 4, 2018 Robert Barnes, 1995, Sept. 24, 2018 Carmaleta Moore, 2004, June 25, 2018 Loretta Brown, 2009, Oct. 22, 2018 James Mortinger, 2009, June 16, 2018 Linda Buck-Lower, 1982, Dec. 15, 2018 Michael Moyer, 1990, Jan. 17, 2019 Emery Chaffin, 2009, June 2, 2018 Conrad Neal, 2013, July 2, 2018 Celia Coen, 1980, June 5, 2018 Deanna Niles, 1982, Aug. 22, 2018 Jo Ann Combs, 2013, July 30, 2018 Beverly Olsen, 2009, July 25, 2018 Sharon K. Crosby, 1981, Feb. 2, 2018 Oleta Peters, 1983, Nov. 29, 2018 Gerald Danley, 1980, Jan. 21, 2018 LuDessa Prater, 2005, June 28, 2018 Galen Decker, 1984, Oct. 11, 2018 Douglas L. Randall, 1984, July 17, 2018 Karen Dominguez, 1992, Aug. 7, 2018 Brenda Russett, 2005, Dec. 27, 2018 Virginia Eastman, 1984, July 29, 2018 Taylor Seigrist, 2016, June 16, 2018 Jamie Fischer-Arbogast, 2005, Dec. 13, 2018 Bernice Seyb, 1980, Jan. 1, 2019 Joy Fosdick, 2005, March 26, 2018 Carol Sterling, 2000, Dec. 16, 2018 Nicole Galvan, 2000, March 22, 2018 Betty Stevens, 1980, June 15, 2018 Paul Gatlin, 1990, July 6, 2018 Arnold Tabb, 1984, Sept. 20, 2018 Lanell Gregg, 2000, May 13, 2018 Mitch Thompson, 1983, June 27, 2018 Gladys Griffith, 1986, Jan. 3, 2018 Morgan Todd, 2015, Aug. 7, 2018 David Hall, 2009, July 27, 2018 Donna Van Buren, 1992, July 3, 2018 Donald Hatfield, 2007, July 13, 2018 Alma E. Wagenseller, 1980, June 3, 2018
Leon Wilson, 1997, June 21, 2018 Basil Yount Jr., 1998, Jan. 19, 2019 FRIENDS OF SCCC Mary-Kay Berghaus, June 7, 2018 Clois Brown, Dec. 6, 2018 Billy Campbell, Jan. 4, 2019 Eldon Eldridge, Jan. 15, 2019 David Falke, July 3, 2018 Helen Farrar, Aug. 17, 2018 Nick Finke, June 26, 2018 Harriett Gick, Jan. 14, 2019 Laressa Guild, June 18, 2018 Bill Hittle, Aug. 16, 2018 Dorothy Hurst, June 24, 2018 Dorothy Jackson, July 24, 2018 Jason Kenny, July 24, 2018 Jimmy Ketcherside II,J an. 4, 2019 Richard Lee, Oct. 20, 2018 Lawrence Mahoney, Jan. 6, 2019 Alvita J. McCollom, June 7, 2018 Stuart Melchert, June 26, 2018 William Pittman, Dec. 18, 2018 Peggy Quinones, Dec. 11, 2018 Anthony Rios, Jan. 3, 2019 Allen Romero, Dec. 21, 2018 Mary Smith, June 12, 2018 Patsy Tatum, Aug. 1, 2018 A.R. “Dick” Tilgner, Dec. 1, 2018
alumni FORWARD I Spring 2019 I 19
50 YEARS SERVING STUDENTS
The first graduating class at SCCC, 1971, before the high-resolution digital imaging.
College to host Labor Day celebration of 1969 opening
By RACHEL COLEMAN SCCC Marketing & PR Friends of Seward County Community College have been anticipating the college’s 50-year anniversary, which marks the date when SCCC began serving students — Sept. 2, 1969. “Our committee and the board of trustees has chosen to designate Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, 2019, as the official starting point,” said committee chair Lois Magner, SCCC Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Trustees. “Weare working with departments and individuals across campus to offer something for everyone.” Among the events planned are: • Alumni & athletic meet-&-greet • Family fun day on main campus • Car show and BBQ cookout • Time capsule dedication • Pancake breakfast • Past vs. present Saints team games, baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball • Formal reception, drinks & dance Magner noted that plans are still forming, and the committee will update alumni with “Save the Date” mailings and posts on social media. In the meantime, she added, “we are gathering
information of all kinds for some special projects -- a timeline printing and display, nominations and inductees to the ‘Hall of Saints’ that will continue with annual alumni awards, and stories and material for other media.” Marketing and P.R. are collaborating with local videographer to create short videos, which will be shared on social media. “Overall, we view this not only as a celebration, but as an opportunity to renew connections and fuel excitement for the next 50 years,” said SCCC President Dr. Ken Trzaska. “Seward is the culmination of vision, hard work, and persistence on the part of many people, and we look forward to welcoming those Saints back to campus.” To share your memories, photos, or suggestions, please contact marketing@ sccc.edu, or call 620-4171125.
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