Southwestern College will celebrate Founders Weekend April 10-12.  Several activities are scheduled including new inductees entering various halls of fame.  

Four Southwestern College halls of fame will open their doors to new inductees. The celebration will include recognition of inductees entering the Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences, as well as the Fine Arts, Business, and Educators Halls of Fame. All of the induction ceremonies are open to the public at no cost, but there is a cost for associated meals and seating is limited for those meals.

“We are pleased to honor the 2025 class of hall of fame inductees and are looking forward to celebrating them on campus in April,” says Southwestern College President Liz Frombgen. “These are incredible individuals who embody the mission of Southwestern and represent our college well in their work and service; they make the extended Builder family proud.”

Hall of fame festivities will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, April 11, with a dinner in Deets Library for those entering the Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences.  The induction ceremony will begin following dinner. The cost is $25, limited seating is available, and RSVP is necessary.

On Saturday, April 12, the Business Hall of Fame reception will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Christy lobby, followed immediately by the induction ceremony at 8:45 a.m., in Richardson Performing Arts Center; RSVP is appreciated. 

At 10 a.m., a reception will be held for the inductees of the Fine Arts Hall of Fame in the Darbeth Fine Arts lobby followed by the induction ceremony at 10:30 a.m., in Messenger Recital Hall; RSVP is appreciated.   

A luncheon will be held for the Educators Hall of Fame in Deets Library at noon, with the induction ceremony to begin at approximately 12:45 p.m.  Dinner cost is $25, seating is limited, and RSVP is needed.

Other events include:

• Thursday, April 10— Honors Convocation, 4 p.m., in the Richardson Performing Arts Center.
• Friday, April 11— Founders Day Lecture, presented by LaShawn Jefferson, Social Sciences at 4 p.m., in Messenger Recital Hall.  The topic of the lecture is “The Unifying Force of Human Rights: Our Path Forward Together.”
• Friday, April 11—Concert at 7:30 p.m., featuring Jaubi & Multifarious Trio, Richardson Performing Arts Center.  

Individuals entering the various halls of fame include:

• Leaders in Service: Ina (Turner) Gray, who will also receive an honorary doctorate degree at the ceremony; Greg Cole ’10; and Thad Leffingwell ’92.
• Fine Arts: Lori (Alexander) Borger ’76 and Bill Borger ’74.
• Business: Jim Thomas ’76 and Vineeta Sherring ’80. Business Builder award will be presented to Millard Management, based in Lawrence. 
• Educators: Jane Bodman-Smith’93; Susan (Ingerson) Porter ’64, and Ken Rickard ’69.

Southwestern College hall of fame displays are located in Mossman Hall, Darbeth Fine Arts Center, Beech Science Center, Deets Library, and Stewart Field House, but may also be found online at www.sckans.edu/hof.

For more information about any of the events for Founders Day, contact Ashlee Mayo, director of alumni engagement, at (620) 229-6155.