Leaders in Service

Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences

The Southwestern College Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences was established in 2009 in order to honor alumni and friends who have shared significant achievements in the social sciences as represented by the fields of political science, history, religion, philosophy, leadership, anthropology, and psychology.

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2026 Leaders in Service Hall of Fame
Friday, April 17

6:00 pm Leaders in Service Dinner & Ceremony | Deets Library RSVP Required
Leaders in Service Hall of Fame Ceremony to immediately follow the dinner

Inductees

Adam Barlow-Thompson `06

Don `52 and Betsy Drennan

RSVP by April 10, 2026. Cost for the dinner is $25/person. To RSVP, submit RSVP form, email alumni@sckans.edu or call 620.229.6155

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2026 Inductees

Adam Barlow-Thompson, graduated from Southwestern College in 2006 and is a community builder, nonprofit leader, and advocate for the power of neighborhoods to transform lives. As the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Neighboring Movement in Wichita, Kansas, Adam has spent the past decade helping people rediscover the simple but profound act of being good neighbors. Recently, Adam helped The Neighboring Movement transition to new leadership and was named CEO and President of HumanKind, the largest provider of permanent supportive and affordable housing in Sedgwick County.

Under his leadership, The Neighboring Movement has grown from a small gathering of neighbors in a living room into a nationally recognized organization advancing community health, civic engagement, and social connection. Through training, storytelling, and place-based development, Adam has helped equip hundreds of leaders across Kansas and beyond to strengthen their neighborhoods using asset-based community development practices.

Adam’s work bridges relationships and real estate. He has led efforts to revitalize Wichita’s South Broadway corridor, transforming underutilized properties into spaces that foster connection, local business, and long-term neighborhood stability. His vision centers on the belief that thriving communities are built not only through programs, but through proximity, trust, and shared ownership.

A respected voice in the field, Adam has been recognized nationally for his leadership in community development and has helped shape conversations around social connection as a critical component of public health. He has secured millions of dollars in philanthropic investment to support grassroots organizing and innovative neighborhood-based solutions. In his new role as CEO and President of HumanKind, Adam will work to expand access to affordable housing in Wichita and collaborate with partners to achieve functional zero homelessness in Sedgwick County, a state where the number of people entering homelessness never exceeds the community's capacity to house them.

Beyond his professional work, Adam is a gifted storyteller, a collaborative leader, a musician, and a firm believer that everyone has something to offer their community. His work continues to inspire a growing movement of people committed to building a more connected, caring, and just world—one neighborhood at a time.

Don and Betsy Drennan Don `52 and Betsy Drennan

Donald Drennan, graduated Southwestern College in 1952.

After college, Donald enlisted in the United States Air Force. In December 1954, he was assigned to Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1956. On In 1955, Donald married Elizabeth “Betsy” Johnson in Ramstein, Germany.

In addition to the Rotary Club president, he had 51 years of perfect attendance. He was also greatly involved in all aspects of Rotary International. He was a member of the USD 465 Foundation Board and the Southwestern College Alumni Board. He was a 50-year member of the American Legion, was involved in Habitat for Humanity, received awards for Service above Self, was a middle school math tutor for 2 1/2 years, and received the Community Cornerstone Award in 2002.

Betsy Drennan was raised in San Antonio and graduated in 1955 from the Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas with a major in Primary Education. She began teaching in 1965 and started the PreK program at Lowell and the Title 1 program. She continued teaching in the lower grades until her retirement in 1994.

She was a pillar of the Winfield community and was a member and officer in many organizations. She was an active member of the Chapter FD/PEO, Delta Kappa Gamma, and was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary, and a member of the Winfield Rotary Club. She was also a lifetime member of the William Newton Hospital Auxiliary and she was honored by Winfield Corner Bank for her community service.

Don and Betsy were members of Grace United Methodist Church for more than 70 years and served on many of the church boards and committees over the years.

Together, they worked to find host families for Southwestern College international students and were surrogate parents to many international Builders. Betsy and Don were gracious hosts and opened their home to many people throughout the years.

Criteria

Candidates for induction into the Southwestern College Leaders in Service Hall of Fame will be considered for induction based on a high degree of professional achievement in the social sciences. A high degree of achievement is one in which the exceptional skills and abilities of the candidate are exemplified by, but not limited to, the following measures: tenure, leadership position, board membership, publications, graduate degrees, firm partnership, and sacrificial service. Candidates must have been a student at Southwestern College or have given service to Southwestern College.

Nomination

Nominations will be received from alumni and friends of the college. In order for a nomination to be formally accepted, a completed nomination form must be submitted to the nominations committee. Nominations will be sought via college publications and communications. Once an individual is formally nominated, that name will remain eligible for selection for induction for five years. After that time has passed, if not selected, the given individual must be formally nominated again to be considered for selection. The nomination pool will be managed and maintained by the alumni department.

Leaders in Service Hall of Fame Nomination Form

Selection

Determined by Social Sciences Division.

Number of Inductees

The number of inductees for the inaugural year will be seven, of which a maximum of three may be inducted posthumously. After the inaugural year of the Southwestern College Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences, the maximum number of inductees per year will be three. A maximum of one posthumous inductee is allowed per year.

Members of Leaders in Service Hall of Fame for the Social Sciences

Southwestern College alumni who have made significant achievements as leaders in service are recognized annually in this hall of fame. Beginning with the inaugural year of 2009, many notable Moundbuilders will be honored by having their names placed here.

2026 Inductees
Adam Barlow-Thompson `06
Don `52 and Betsy Drennan

2025 Inductees
Greg Cole `10
Ina (Turner) Gray
Thad Leffingwell `92

2024 Inductees
Paul Bean `85
Claudia Geer (retired faculty)
Willie Williams `68

2023 Inductees
Velma Grier ‘53
Joe Sherman ‘72
David Nichols ‘60

2022 Inductees
Dr. Wallace Gray
Mona Klein '74
Rev. James Reed '64

2019 Inductees
C. Michael Lennen ’67
Stephanie Sharp Bruyn ’98
J. Michael Medina ’72

2018 Inductees
General Dean Strother '29
Mary (Briscoe) Jarvis '87
Dr. Kelly Bender '68

2017 Inductees
Theodore S. "Ted" Hresko, class of 1973
Roy L. Smith, class of 1908
Richard B. Wilke, Bishop in Residence

2016 Inductees
Randy E. Eshelman '07/'09
Barbara (Johnson) Isely '64
Mabel Madeline Southard, class of 1899

2015 Inductees
F. David Froman '68
Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez '94
John William "Bill" Todd '61

2014 Inductees
Bishop Bruce Blake
Harry H. Dunn '23
Pedro M. Esquivel '62

2013 Inductees
Scott C. Hecht '90
Carl M. Metzger '71
Victor C. Sherring '41

2012 Inductees
Larry D. Eason '55
Eugene L. "Gene" Lowry '55
J. Myrne (Richards) Roe '58

2011 Inductees
M. Kristine (Lange) Cheatum '59
Forrest J. Robinson '44
James M. "Jim" Shultz '61

2010 Inductees
Billie A. Day '60
Lyman S. Johnson '28
Hon. C. Darnell Jones II '72

2009 Inductees
A. J. "Jack" Focht '57
Hon. Loy W. Henderson '15
Carl E. Martin '60
M. Kim Moore '71
F. James "Jim" Robinson '80
Edward H. Salm
Hon. David H. Swartz '64

Past Inductions

2019 Leaders in Service Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 12, 2019

2018 Leaders in Service Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
April 13, 2018

2017 Leaders in Service Hall of Fame Induction Photos

2017 Leaders in Service Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video

2016 Leaders in Service Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video

2016 Leaders in Service Hall of Fame Photos

2015 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2015 Hall of Fame Gratitude Video

SC Alumni Hall of Fame: Gratitude from Southwestern College on Vimeo.

Southwestern College alum speaks on how grateful he is for his experience and opportunities at SC . Find more at sckans.edu.