Educators
Educators Hall of Fame
In October 1999, Southwestern College received a gift from the estate of Marjorie Smith, a 1927 graduate who had taught mathematics at Lyons and Dexter, Kansas, for 20 years.
This gift was used to establish a hall of fame to honor Southwestern College alumni educators who have made significant contributions in the field of education. The first Educators Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held in April of 2000.
Inductees to the Southwestern College Educators Hall of Fame are honored each year in April. More information on nominating deserving educators can be found under "Criteria" in the gray directory to the right of this webpage.
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2025 Educators Hall of Fame
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Inductees
- Jane Bodman-Smith `93
- Susan (Ingerson) Porter `64
- Ken Rickard `69
2025 Inductees
Jane Bodman-Smith `93 graduated from Southwestern College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, English Education, and Elementary. She began teaching Winfield students that fall when she was hired by USD 465 and assigned to Winfield Middle School where she taught language arts and social science. Bodman-Smith taught at WMS through the spring of 2000, at which point she took a two-year sabbatical from teaching to earn a Master of Arts Degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Kansas.
In the fall of 2002, she returned to USD 465 and began teaching at Winfield High School where she continued to teach both language arts and history classes. In 2004, she received her English as a Second Language certification through Project Excellence at Emporia State University. In addition to teaching, Bodman-Smith has served USD 465 as a coach or assistant coach for WMS volleyball, cross country, track, and cheerleading.
She has served as a cooperating teacher and mentor to new teachers in the district, as a member of the WHS Renaissance Committee, as Academic Team Leader at WMS, and as Social Science Department Chair at WHS. Bodman-Smith has served as an adjunct professor at both Cowley College and Southwestern College.
In the fall of 2024, Bodman-Smith was named the USD 465 Secondary Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026. Jane Bodman-Smith is currently completing her 27th year of teaching for Winfield Public Schools and is teaching 10th-grade World History, 10th-grade AP World History, and 11th-grade AP US History for Winfield High School.
Dr. Susan (Ingerson) Porter ‘64 was the foremost expert on American musical theatre from 1785 to 1815 and a teacher of teachers.
Professor Porter was born August 20, 1941, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree cum laude at Southwestern College in 1964, a Master of Arts in Music History at The University of Denver in 1972, and a Ph.D. in Musicology at The University of Colorado in 1977.
Dr. Porter held a visiting lectureship at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in 1975-76, and in 1977 she came to The Ohio State University, Lima Campus as an Assistant Professor. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 1983; in 1984 she was a visiting lecturer at The University of Keele, Staffordshire, England; and in 1992 she was promoted to Professor at The Ohio State University, the first woman to attain this rank at the Lima Campus.
Porter taught for fourteen years at the Lima campus of The Ohio State University. Her principal responsibility was teaching music fundamentals to aspiring grade-school teaching majors. Music education was the heart of Dr. Porter’s profession, as shown by her textbook, Basic Experiences in Music for the Elementary Teacher. (1985).
During Dr. Porter’s tenure at OSU, she founded the Great Black Swamp Dulcimer Festival, one of the premiere teaching festivals. In 1990, festival size had to be limited to 1,000 participants from 26 states and Ontario, 7 concerts, 146 workshops, and 33 vendors and exhibitors!
In 1989 she was diagnosed with colon cancer. During the next four years she travelled three times to the UK and eastern Europe, published three books, one with Smithsonian Press, and helped found the American Music Research Center in Boulder Colorado.
In 1992 she was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. The Sonneck Society for American Music honored her with both the Irving Lowens Award for her With an Air Debonair: Musical Theatre in America, 1785-1815, as the best book on American music published in 1991, and the Distinguished Service Award for her nationally recognized work on behalf of American music.
Susan Passed away in 1992 at the age of 52.
Ken Rickard `69 graduated from Southwestern College and continued on to earn his teaching certificated from Emporia Teachers College in 1973 and his Masters in Administration from Wichita State University in 1983. Rickard spent 40 years working in secondary education in the Maize and Newton School Districts in Kansas. Twenty-eight of those years were in administration, and twelve years were in teaching business education. During Rickard’s twelve years in the classroom, he also coached football, basketball, and track. He enjoyed those twelve years and has numerous happy memories.
My administration years were filled with teaching observations, central office meetings, educational workshops, teacher conferences, parent conferences, and walking throughout the building seeing and greeting students, and teachers daily. He always believed that a very important attribute in a building principal is being visible and available. A principal needs to know how everything meshes together to contribute to a successful and secure safe day for students and staff.
Every person involved in education (students, staff, support personal, and community leaders) must be aware of day-to-day activities to make the school day safe, enjoyable, and challenging. These entities all come together to make a successful school day and a positive experience for everyone.
A quality secondary education truly, supports post graduate studies, and a successful life. Rickard retired in June of 2013.
Nominations
To nominate a deserving teacher, please fill out the online nomination form. For more information on Southwestern College department of education, please refer to the education webpage.
EDUCATORS HALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM
Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
The Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education was created in 2000 for the purpose of recognizing Southwestern College alumni who have given distinguished service as special education teachers. The original corpus of the fund supporting the McNeish Award was established through the generosity of Dick Merriman and Margot Kelman.
To nominate a deserving teacher for this award, fill out the appropriate online nomination form or contact the Office of Alumni Programs to obtain a form to return by mail. Letters of support are not required but may be provided for additional information about nominees.
MARILYN MCNEISH AWARD NOMINATION FORM
Mission
To recognize and honor outstanding Southwestern College Alumni who excel as educators.
Goals
- To recognize and honor outstanding educators.
- To provide opportunities, resources and assistance to aid teachers in their professional growth.
- To celebrate excellence in teaching.
- To recognize the history and quality of the development of teachers by the Southwestern College Education Program.
- To provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to invest in quality educators.
Guidelines for selection of nominee
Dedication, Knowledge, Professionalism
Criteria for Qualification
Alumni of Southwestern College Education Department with
significant contribution(s) to education
See also, Scholars Hall of Fame
Alumni of Southwestern College who have distinguished careers in higher education or other areas of scholarship are recognized in the Scholars Hall of Fame
Educators Hall of Fame Members
Southwestern College alumni who have made significant achievements in the field of education are recognized annually in the Educators Hall of Fame. Since the inaugural year of 2000, many notable Moundbuilders have been honored by having their names placed in this Hall of Fame. The actual display is located in the lobby of the Jim and Hazel Dole Center for Teacher Education on the Southwestern College main campus.
The Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education is given to a dedicated, knowledgeable, and deserving alumnus/a of the Southwestern College education department who has made significant contribution(s) to the field of special education.
2025 Inductees
Jane Bodman-Smith `93
Susan (Ingerson) Porter `64
Ken Rickard `69
2024 Inductees
Anita (Jantz) Ewart `74
Stephen Peebles `89
2023 Inductees
Tabatha Rosproy ‘09
Brent Wolf ‘03/’15
Barb White ‘80
2022 Inductees
Lynne (Bales) Hunter '75
Ruth (Franklin) McKeefery '45
2022 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Ralph Hanna Jr. '60
2019 Inductees
Dr. Gary King ’63
Judy (Martin) Haynes ’67
Dr. Janet Doud ’16
2018 Inductees
Joe Coles '72
Chuck Haag '72
Kris (Grooms) Trimmer '75
2018 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Bill ReQua '70/'06
2017 Inductees
Chitra Harris '10
DeAnne (Hastings) Heersche '84
Joy (Weigle) Will '69
2016 Inductees
Kathryne (Cooper) Delcarpio '74
Florence (Cutter) Metcalf '63
Robert "Bob" Nispel '57
2016 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Danielle N. Shioyama '10/'14
2015 Inductees
Gyla (Brock) Conklin '58
Cheryl (Bernard) Schasteen '71
Kenneth E. Valentine '70
No award for the Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education in 2015
2014 Inductees
Frank D. Davidson '79
John W. Marshall '70
Ronda J. (Sims) Marshall '70
No award for the Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education in 2014
2013 Inductees
Marilyn G. (Stanton) Davidson '63
Diane K. (Ford) Nickelson '95
Bobby Joe Slade '57
2013 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Vicki L. (Sims) Hitchcock '72
2012 Inductees
E. Katherine (White) Davidson '38/'56
Angela C. "Anne" Farmer '97
James D. "Jim" Wilson '67
2012 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Andrew M. Brenn '01/'06
2011 Inductees
Yvonne (Osgood) English '60
Lynn (Watkins) Felts '77
Lonnie A. Howerton '69
No award for the Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education in 2011
2010 Inductees
Thomas "Tom" Mundinger '72
Clinton C. Trillingham '21
Lois J. (Dryden) Vasey '49
2010 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Kimberly I. "Kim" Mercer '86
2009 Inductees
Sally (Mann) Cauble '72
Gary L. Rhodes '72
Darla Jean (Jones) Wilson '58
No award for the Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education in 2009
2008 Inductees
H. Bertram "Bert" Keller '38
Bruce J. Williams '62
Larry R. Williams '60
2008 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Kathryn (Heitschmidt) Cavalier '69
2007 Inductees
Elizabeth (Arisio) Baumgart '60
Hazel (Palmer) Dole '52
Minerva (Smith) Van Arsdale '69
2007 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Linda Weir-Enegren '69
2006 Inductees
Mary Lou (Bauer) Martin '60
William C. "Bill" Medley '49
T.H. "Curley" Vaughan '14
2006 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Geoffrey G. Moon '97
2005 Inductees
Cindy (Batt) Goertz '66
Grady Kimbrell '56
Marilyn (Edwards) Shaw '75
2005 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Nancy (Carroll) Juhlin '73
2004 Inductees
Ron Haynes '67
Patricia (White) Barlow '73
Shirley (Stewart) Ross '58
2004 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Marvin Estes '66
2003 Inductees
Ronald Burgess '58
Kathi (Phillips) Fischer '74
Sheldon McGuire '53
2003 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Louise (Simpson) Reimer '68
2002 Inductees
James Dole '58
Ken Forsyth '61
Dan Kahler '50
2002 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Sharilyn (Hogue) Hill '87
2001 Inductees
Sheryl (Huber) Lloyd '69
David McGuire '47
Fran (Swink) O'Keefe '93
2001 Marilyn McNeish Award for Special Education
Charles Kent Garhart '59
2000 Inductees
Marjorie Smith '27
Glenn Wooddell '63
Larry Miller '71
Bill Musick '39
Brilla (Highfill) Scott '59
Linda Lungren '68
Past Inductions
2024 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 20, 2024
2022 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 23, 2022
2019 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 13, 2019
2018 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 14, 2018
2017 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Photos
2017 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video
2016 Educators Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video
2016 Educators Hall of Fame Photos
2015 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2014 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
