The event was held on Saturday, Feb. 25, in the Rhatigan Student Center on the campus of Wichita State University.

The Kansas Black Educators Hall of Fame, founded in 2017, now has 54 members, most of them from Wichita. Members of the hall, a project of the non-profit Art That Touches You Heart, are selected through a community-led nomination and voting process.

PHOTO—Dawn Pleas (left) was inducted into the Black Educators Hall of Fame on Feb. 25.  Friends and family came to support Pleas, including Pastor Pamela Hughes of St. Paul AME Church in Wichita.  Pleas’s artwork was also on display at the event.

Pleas has been at Southwestern College for almost 30 years and was nominated by SC board of trustee member Greg Cole.  This honor has made her reflect on her family.

“I didn’t respond right away,” Pleas says. “I didn’t think I was old enough or ready.  But I decided I needed to stop hiding my light.  If I continue to hide my light, then both my Builder collegiate family and my Pleas legacy family misses this opportunity to shine.  I started thinking about my grandmother, Daisy Pleas, who had a third-grade education.  She raised 10 kids, my dad being number seven, in a two-bedroom house and I think that your legacy isn’t developed in your children but in your grandchildren.  My grandmother never smiled and I just imagined her smiling.  It’s an honor to my family.  And then, I get to talk about the best school ever, and that’s Southwestern College; I want to be bold and dynamic and I don’t want to be scared.”

Pleas grew up on the Southside of Chicago during the civil rights movement in the 60s and 70s. Her family moved to the west suburbs of Chicago during her teenage and college years. Her first professional job was in west Georgia, and has now lived in Winfield for 30 years.  

Pleas has been a driving force in diversifying the SC campus.

“The campus was over 90% white when I got here,” Pleas says.  “I brought about collaboration between functional areas while mediating cultural landmines between administration, disenfranchised students, and campus organizations. I worked closely with athletics and admission to bring honesty and accountability to recruitment. The campus climate is much different today. The racial profile of the college is in thirds: 40% white, 30% Black and Hispanic, and 30% not declaring/two or more races/other ethnicities. The campus is one of harmony, cross-cultural acceptance, and strong relationships.”

In 2008, Pleas earned a higher education doctorate from the #1-ranked University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education.  Since then she has been a part of numerous projects including researching and highlighting the first graduates of color from Southwestern, starting with the first black male, Rev. Elijah Pilgrim Geiger, in 1899; grew the college reputation as an excellent source of service to a diverse campus constituency; and hosted campus field trips for hundreds of urban middle and high schools each year, and facilitated summer academic enrichment camps for middle school and high school students.  She has earned several local, regional, and national awards including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award -- W.G. Williams Foundation (Wichita); Good Apple Award from Wichita USD 259 school system; Wichita Business Journal as Women Who Led; Carruth Sustained Leadership Award from the University of Pennsylvania; and the National Humanitarian of the Year by Church Women United.

Pleas, with a tear in her eye, thought of her parents at this special time.

“My mom told me she is really proud of me,” Pleas says.  “I miss my dad, I wish he was there.  Out of everybody, he was a lifelong educator, he made it for 37 years.  My sister is proud of me.  When your people are proud of you, that’s all there is.”

Southwestern College is a private liberal arts college, founded in 1885 by Methodists in south-central Kansas. Today its Winfield campus is the residential hub that guides students to lives of meaning and service, with well-rounded academic and extra-curricular offerings attracting traditional-aged students from throughout the nation and world. Southwestern College Professional Studies provides options for online students in any location and has been named a top provider for persons serving in the military. The college continues to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

“Our current and future students, faculty, and staff need the support of alumni and friends of the college now more than ever,” says Southwestern College President Liz Frombgen.  “A gift to the Builder Fund helps us meet current needs across campus and in doing so helps to secure the future of our college – we are grateful to those who will step up for Southwestern in this moment.”

Gifts may be made online at www.sckans.edu/stepup, by stopping in at the Dole Alumni office at 201 N. College in Winfield, or by calling (620) 229-6397. The college is also encouraging supporters to share their pride for Southwestern on Thursday, by connecting with fellow alumni, wearing SC apparel, or by sharing support of the college on social media pages.

“Much of our identity as Moundbuilders is rooted in the ideals of care and service,” said Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, vice president for advancement, communications, and marketing. “Step Up creates a moment for us to collectively care for the future of our college, sharing our love for Southwestern through ambassadorship and philanthropic investment. It will be an exciting day at Southwestern as we connect with Builders and supporters from all over the world and work to surpass our goal, to strengthen our college.”

Step Up for Southwestern

The production is directed by Josh Robinson and Allyson Moon.  Amber Peterson is the orchestra director and Simon Hill is the director of music.

“Sunday in the Park with George” is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It was inspired by the French pointillist painter Georges Seurat's painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” The plot revolves around George, a fictionalized version of Seurat, who immerses himself deeply in painting his masterpiece, and his great-grandson (also named George), a conflicted and cynical contemporary artist.

The cast includes: Nathan Oesterle as George/George; Emily Robinson as Dot/Marie; Michelle Zakharov as An Old Lady/Blair Daniels; Maya Damron as Nurse/Elaine; John Moberly as Franz/Dennis; Henley Calvin as Louise; MaKaylan Kuchar as Frieda/Betty; Gabe Gonzalez as Louis/Lee Randolph; Simon Hill as Jules/Bob Greenberg; MJ Harper as Yvonne/Naomi Eisen; Cameron Carter as A Boatman/Billy Webster; Jordan Burford as Celeste #1; Alia Dust as Celeste #2; Sean Whitney as A Soldier/Alex; Seaf Bate as Man with Bicycle/Woman with Parasol; Jacob Giger as Mr. Charles Redmond; Meg Calvin as Mrs./Harriet Pawling; and Nadia Smith as Horn Player.

Tickets

$12 Adults
$10 Seniors
$6 Students
Free SC Students/Faculty (w/ I.D.)

Buy Tickets Online

Reserve Tickets

Reserve tickets by emailing boxoffice@sckans.edu or calling (620) 229-6272.

Sunday in the Park with George

March 31 & April 1, 2 – Richardson Performing Arts Center

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by George Furth.

Sunday in the Park with George is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It was inspired by the French pointillist painter Georges Seurat's painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The plot revolves around George, a fictionalized version of Seurat, who immerses himself deeply in painting his masterpiece, and his great-grandson (also named George), a conflicted and cynical contemporary artist.

Directed by Dr. Joshua Robinson and Allyson Moon

Music Direction by Dr. Simon Hill

Cast includes Nathan Oesterle as George/George, Emily Robinson as Dot/Marie, Michelle Zakharov as An Old Lady/Blair Daniels, Maya Damron as Her Nurse/Elaine, John Moberly as Franz/Dennis, Henley Calvin as Louise, MaKaylan Kuchar as Frieda/Betty, Gabe Gonzalez as Louis/Lee Randolph, Simon Hill as Jules/Bob Greenberg, MJ Harper as Yvonne/Naomi Eisen, Cameron Carter as A Boatman/Billy Webster, Jordan Burford as Celeste #1, Alia Dust as Celeste #2, Sean Whitney as A Soldier/Alex, Seaf Bate as Man w/Bicycle, Maeson Bryant as Woman w/Baby Carriage, Jacob Giger as Mr./Charles Redmond, Meg Calvin as Mrs./Harriet Pawling and Nadia Smith as Horn Player.

“We are excited to welcome these four incredible young people to our Builder Family – they along with the rest of the incoming Class of 2027 will bring much joy and possibility with them to campus and to Winfield next August,” said Liz Frombgen, Southwestern College President. “It is difficult to capture just how talented and unique the students who came to compete for the full-tuition scholarships are; we are so fortunate that the majority of the finalists have chosen to make Southwestern their home for the next four years”

The Pillars Scholarship, a merit-based award that recognizes two students who demonstrate outstanding academic abilities, will provide full-tuition support to Reeder and Willesden. The Moundbuilder Spirit Scholarship recognizes two student leaders who are well-rounded, hardworking, and community-minded. The Moundbuilder Spirit Scholarship will provide full-tuition support to Frager and Holder. Each of the scholarships is renewable for four years and valued at approximately $150,000.

Moundbuilder Spirit Scholarship
	Rylee Frager is the daughter of Becky and Joey Casey and Eric Frager and attends Derby High School.  She plans to major in business and participate in Leadership.
	Arayia-Kristian Holder is the daughter of Dr. Terrance and Cherrie Holder and attends Wichita Southeast High School.  She plans to major in education and participate in the performing arts.
Pillars Academic Scholarship
	Patrick Reeder is the son of Jeff and Elizabeth Reeder and attends Paola High School.  He plans to major in accounting and sports management and participate in men’s basketball.
	Emma Willesden is the daughter of Andrea and Jason Ingram attends Hoisington High School.  She plans to major in psychology and participate in softball.

According to Stephannie DeLong, associate vice president for admission, the college received a number of applications for both scholarship competitions.

“With over 100 students attending the Pillars and Moundbuilder Spirit competitions from all over the United States, we were excited to host such accomplished students,” DeLong says.  “The finalists invited to campus demonstrated their leadership and academic excellence in essays and interviews and exemplify the heart of true Builders.  We are honored to welcome so many wonderful students to our campus this fall.”

Southwestern's competitive full-tuition scholarship program began in 2016. As the number of students applying for admission to Southwestern has grown, the number applying to compete for the full-tuition competition has also increased. Since the beginning, the full-tuition program has attracted a talented and diverse group of students to apply. Each year a large proportion of the students who compete for the full-tuition awards, but are not selected as the recipients choose to come to Southwestern.

“In addition to our Pillars and Moundbuilder Spirit scholarships, we also offer a transfer full tuition scholarship to one incoming transfer student per year,” DeLong adds.  “Applications for the transfer competition open in April with competition on campus this summer.”

Applications are due by March 31 and the winner will be announced on April 13. 

“This is an opportunity for your organization to receive funds that align with our needs statement,” says SC student Cierra Harrison, a member of the Non-profit Leadership class.

The SCPB was developed from the Students4Giving Campus Compact grant awarded in August of 2008.  With this funding, Southwestern created the SCPB as well as the Non-profit Leadership class offered on the main campus to explore all aspects of the philanthropic process.  The SCPB is committed to developing an opportunity for students to explore philanthropy, non-profit organizations, community partnerships, and available grant resources.  The SCPB and the class work together annually to distribute grant funding to community-based non-profit organizations.

View the RFP Application

According to director Amber Dahlén Peterson, the theme behind all the music selections is “water” and will include many pieces familiar to the audience.

“The concert will open with ‘On the Beautiful Blue Danube,’ one of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s most popular compositions celebrating the river that runs through Vienna, Austria,” Peterson says.  “Georg Frideric Handel's ‘Water Music’ will be featured next. This music was originally composed to accompany King George I as he traveled on the river Thames. The concert will continue on with ‘O Waly, Waly’ from John Rutter's ‘Suite for Strings.’ Audiences will recognize this movement more as the folk song ‘The Water is Wide.’ The concert will conclude with Robert W. Smith's Symphony No. 2 ‘The Odyssey.’ Audiences will definitely want to see all the unusual sound effects used by the composer to depict this mythological tale.”

Tickets for this concert are $10 for adults, $5 for children (age 5-18), and free for younger children, as well as Southwestern College faculty, staff, and students. The South Kansas Symphony, currently conducted by Amber Dahlén Peterson, brings together community members and Southwestern College and high school students to provide orchestral performances to the South Central Kansas area.

The title of her lecture is “Sister Death: Living and Dying According to Philosophy, Religion and Science.”

“I am a writer and a scholar, who studies religious and philosophical ideas,” Marovich says. “I come at this work from an irreverent position. This means that I don’t identify with, or defend, any particular religious viewpoint. But I also recognize that as an American, religious traditions (especially Christianity) are at work in our cultures, our politics, and the way we understand who and what we are in subtle and often subterranean ways.”

Jacob Goodson, associate professor of philosophy at Southwestern College, is looking forward to this lecture.

“We are excited to host Dr. Beatrice Marovich and to celebrate the publication of her first book, ‘Sister Death: Political Theologies for Living and Dying’ (Columbia University Press, 2023). The phrase sister death comes from the work of St. Francis of Assissi, and Dr. Marovich's book addresses the question: is death a friend or an enemy? In her talk at SC, she will consider this question from the perspectives of philosophy, religion, and the natural sciences,” Goodson says.

The Beck lectureship, funded by Paul V. Beck to explore topics relating to science and religion, is an annual event on campus and brings in theologians, scientists, and philosophers from across the nation. 

For more information about the Beck Lecture, email Goodson at Jacob.Goodson@sckans.edu.

In October, Doramus-Kinley became the first female in Kansas to wear the white hat and officiate a high school football game in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League.  She followed that up by being on the first KCAC playoff crew selected and the first female to officiate the NAIA National Football Championship in December held in Durham, N.C. She was also recognized as the first female to officiate a National Football Championship at any level.

Doramus-Kinley graduated from Southwestern College in 1998 with a bachelor of science degree.  While at SC, she excelled in the classroom as well as on the volleyball and basketball court.  She then earned her postgraduate degree at West Virginia University.  She knew she couldn’t play sports forever but still wanted to be a part of the game.  So she took up officiating.

Volleyball officiating came first followed by basketball.  Four years ago, she decided to take up officiating football.  She attended many camps and clinics to perfect her craft.  She started as a back judge, then moved to line judge before getting the opportunity to be the referee, otherwise known as the “white hat" this past high school season. 

“There were some nerves for sure, especially with the TV cameras for that game as well as working a National Championship game on ESPN3" she says.  “I hope little girls see me out there and know that they can do it too.  I tell my son that he can do, and be, anything he wants to be if he puts in the work and keeps striving to achieve his dreams.”

Doramus-Kinley points out that the support and love that she received from her parents has led her to her successes.

“My parents have been so dedicated and supportive,” she says.  “When I was playing at Southwestern, they never missed a game; they were always in the stands.”

She also credits the faculty at SC.

“Claudia Geer and Phil Schmidt stick out to me,” Doramus-Kinley says.  "They were my advisors and placed me in spots to succeed.”

Doramus-Kinley and her husband, Keith, also a Southwestern graduate, live in Wichita.  Her schedule is hectic with her job as a CARE consultant for UMR, currently officiating high school and college basketball games, and is an adjunct professor at Southwestern this semester teaching game rules and officiating. In that class, she is focused on teaching more than just rules of the game.  She is educating students about the importance of goal setting, mental training and conflict management. She says that with all of that, family comes first for her.

“Sleep is probably the one thing that gets the least attention right now,” she says.  “But my family always comes first.  I make sure that I'm the first person my son sees in the morning. Especially with officiating, my days can be challenging, but the athletes deserve the best, and that is what I am trying to do every time I step on the court or the field.”

The public is invited to attend.  Tickets are $5 for adults and seniors, $2 for students, and no charge for SC faculty, staff, and students. 

This is SC’s first year creating 24-Hour Plays, since the pandemic.  Prior to the pandemic, SC hosted seven 24-Hour Play events.

The event is licensed by 24 Hour Plays, a New York organization that gives structures, guidelines, timelines, and suggestions to work out details.

The public is also invited to participate. Starting at 8 p.m., Friday, playwrights, actors, directors, assistant directors, and technicians will begin.   Working in shifts so everyone gets a chance to sleep, the playwrights, directors, actors, and technicians will work in shifts all night and day to write and create the collection of 10-minute plays which will be performed Saturday at 7 p.m., and finish by 9 p.m., allowing the actors the time to strike the sets and costumes, clean the theatre, and be done in 24 hours.

To begin, participants introduce themselves and inspire the plays as each brings a costume piece and a prop and tells about their talents.  Pictures are taken of each actor, and by 10:30 p.m., the playwrights will choose actors for their plays and begin writing while the rest of the company goes to sleep.   

At 8 a.m. Saturday, actors, directors, and technicians will begin their 11 hours of rehearsal and tech work for the new plays. Saturday evening theatre patrons will be treated to the premier of six new 10-minute plays.

Want to Participate?

It is an open invitation to the public to participate. Arrive at Richardson Performing Arts Center Lobby in the Christy Administration Building on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:45 p.m. to being the process. Participants are invited to bring one prop and one costume/outfit to use as a springboard for the writing of the play.

• See full participant schedule and details

Tickets

For tickets or other information, call (620) 229-6272, or email boxoffice@sckans.edu.

Faculty and staff that attended were Joshua Robinson, Nathan Oesterle, and Allyson Moon. Students in attendance include D’Marcus Chase, Jordan Burford, Jacob Giger, Gabriel Gonzalez, John Moberly, and Sean Whitney.

All student attendees had the opportunity to attend workshops, sign up for performance and design intensives, and attend a variety of performances including full productions. In advance of attending, Jacob Giger signed up to compete in the Summer Theatre Auditions; D’Marcus Chase signed up to participate in the Drag Show Intensive; and the cast of “Glass Menagerie” was selected to perform a scene from the production in the Scene Showcase.

Chase also participated in the Long Form Improvisational Acting Intensive. The intensive included three troupes, made up of students from across the region, and Chase was chosen to be one of three troupe leaders. The troupes rehearsed through the week and performed.

Southwestern College President Liz Frombgen has already held sessions with faculty, staff, and students, but invites input from the broader community.

Professor Reggie Jarrell will present “Dreams, Hope, and Service” at noon in the Pounds Lounge, located on the lower level of the Roy L. Smith Student Center. Jarrell will share excerpts from his own memoir “31 Days (Nights): Memoir of Living Black in America” along with observations from his life. Jarrell has worked as a pastor, lawyer, communications professional, and university professor. He has lived and worked in Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois and Rock Island. His writing shares scenes from these vast and varied life experiences and reflects on the nature of racial sensitivity and how race affects interpersonal behavior.

Jarrell’s book, published in 2022 by Blue Cedar Press in Wichita, is a collection of snapshots in the form of essays. Both the book and his presentation draw on his life as a journey of reflection, revelation, and inspiration.

Coffee and Pastries will be provided. The event is co-hosted by Campus Life and the Division of Computer Science, Communication and English.

Also on Monday, from 2-3:30 p.m., and 7-8:30 p.m., Dawn Pleas will lead an interactive experience that will challenge participants to consider the small and big ways that they can make the world a better place. The gathering and collective work will honor the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. Campus and community members are invited to attend either the afternoon or evening session which will both be held in Richardson Performing Arts Center.

The topic of his lecture is “The Epistles of John and a Perfectionist Ethics: F. D. Maurice’s Christian Socialist Legacy.”

“Dr. D. Stephen Long is one of the leading experts on the relationship between Christianity and economic theory,” says Jacob Goodson, associate professor of philosophy at Southwestern.  “He is coming to SC to talk about surprising connections between Christian theology, ethical reasoning, the modern economy, and the New Testament. This is his second time lecturing at SC, and we invited him back because he has served as a mentor to three current SC instructors: Dr. Jackson Lashier, Dr. Abigail Cutter, and myself. Current students, faculty, and community members will all benefit from attending his lecture.” 

Long previously worked at Marquette University, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, St. Joseph’s University and Duke Divinity School. He received his Ph. D. from Duke University, and is an ordained United Methodist Minister who served churches in Honduras and North Carolina. He works in the intersection between theology and ethics and has published over 50 essays and 14 books on theology and ethics including “Divine Economy: Theology and the Market” (Routledge, 2000), “The Goodness of God: Theology, Church and Social Order” (Brazos Press, 2001), “John Wesley’s Moral Theology: The Quest for God and Goodness” (Kingswood, 2005), “Calculated Futures” (Baylor, 2007), “Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction” (Oxford, 2010), “Saving Karl Barth: Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Preoccupation” (Fortress Press, 2014), and The Perfectly Simple Triune God: Aquinas and His Legacy (Fortress Press, 2016).

The Parkhurst Lecture is one of three annual endowed lectures hosted by the philosophy and religion department of the social sciences division at Southwestern College. This lecture focuses on Biblical studies.

For more information, contact Goodson by email at Jacob.Goodson@sckans.edu.

“Southwestern College is excited to be on the leading edge of this fast-growing and exciting sport,” stated director of athletics, Jamie Adams. “Flag football is an emerging sport at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) level and offers a new experience for student-athletes on our campus.”

The NAIA named women’s flag football an emerging sport in 2020 and has seen participation in the offering grow since then. Southwestern will become the 20th institution to start an NAIA women’s flag football program since the sport’s inception in 2020, and they will join Bethel (Kan.), Ottawa (Kan.), Kansas Wesleyan and Saint Mary (Kan.) as another KCAC representative for the sport. The Builders will play against the aforementioned KCAC institutions, along with both Midland University (Neb.) and Cottey College (Mo.). 

As a sport, flag football is played in the spring season, and is played on a field 80 yards in length and 40 yards in width. Another one of the chief differences between flag football and traditional football is that seven players from each team will be on the field at one time in a flag football game, which is four less than the 11 for each team in tackle football. Passing and running the football are both options in flag football, and in order to end a play, a defender must pull the flag of the ball carrier from their hip/waist.

“Flag football is a great addition to our athletic offerings,” continued Adams. “It is a growing sport and uses our on-campus facilities to great advantage while bringing in additional dedicated female student-athletes.”

Looking forward to the spring of 2024, several important steps will be taken to insure the success of the newly minted program, including the hiring of Southwestern’s first-ever head flag football coach.

Dean's Honor Roll: Fall 2022

The Moundbuilder Spirit Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship that is awarded annually to two student leaders who are well-rounded, hardworking, and community-minded. Moundbuilder Scholars are active and service-oriented; they volunteer in their community and participate in extra-curricular activities.

The Pillars Academic Scholarship is a merit-based award that recognizes two students who show outstanding academic abilities. Pillars scholars are described as intellectually and creatively adventurous. Pillars Scholarship applicants are typically honors students who have taken advanced placement courses in high school.

"We are excited to accept and review applications and look forward to inviting finalists to campus as they vie for one of the four full-tuition scholarships to be awarded," said Stephannie Delong, associate vice president for admissions. "This is a unique opportunity and each year we have an incredibly talented group of students apply, who are kind and engaged, who make great Moundbuilders." 

The scholarships each award full undergraduate tuition, and are renewable for four years. The four scholarships are valued at approximately $150,000 each over four years. 

The competition requires that qualified students complete a competition application. Finalists will be invited to campus to complete an essay, and faculty/staff interview.  All finalists who attend the competition on campus will receive a renewable $1,000 scholarship to Southwestern. To be considered for either of the scholarships students must have submitted both their application for admission and scholarship applications by Jan. 13. For more information about each of Southwestern’s competitive scholarships visit BeABuilder.com/scholarships or contact the office of admission at Southwestern College by calling 1-800-846-1543 extension 6236.

Ross, who was selected by a committee of fellow faculty and administrators, has already begun building a curated curriculum for the Honors Program, but will continue to work with colleagues in the coming months to fully outline the details of the program. 

“In an open search from the faculty, a committee selected Pat Ross to be the first Chair of the program,” said Ross Peterson-Veatch. "Pat brings recruiting and administrative experiences as well as all the enthusiasm and knowledge necessary to develop the program."

The program is focused on elevating the academic experience for high-achieving students at Southwestern, forming a scholarly community through both classroom and experiential learning, which will include academic travel and undergraduate research.

“My goal is to craft an Honors Program that reflects the core values of Southwestern College: interdisciplinary exploration, service learning, and building bridges while breaking boundaries,” said Ross. “We will offer far more to students than just challenging coursework, our program will inspire students to find fun in journeys of academic discovery and exploration and it will implore them to use their big brains for good – to make a difference in the world.”

Ross will soon begin recruiting the inaugural cohort of honors students. Entry to Honors Program is application based. Program eligibility includes a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher and a minimum score on the ACT of 25 (or 1200 SAT). Interested first-year students may submit a program application accessed at sckans.edu/honors, an essay response, a letter of recommendation, and an interview with Ross and desired major faculty, preferably in person. 

“Pat is uniquely positioned to work with colleagues across campus to build an incredible program that will attract and retain students for whom academic excellence, and exploration are their greatest goals,” said Frombgen. “Pat is such a creative thinker and engaging teacher, even as the program will present rigor and challenge, I anticipate it will also be great fun for students. I know our honors program and the students therein will be a great point of pride for Southwestern College. I look forward to welcoming the first Honor Program cohort to campus next fall.”

Interested high school seniors are encouraged to visit sckans.edu/honors to learn more about the honors program and complete the application for program admission. Pat Ross may be reached by email at Patrick.Ross@sckans.edu.  

Learn More about the Honors Program

Businesses and individuals may bring items to the event. GON Recycling will collect the items and process them for recycling. GON Recycling guarantees 100 percent security on all hard drives and customer information. They are e-Stewards, R2 and ISO 14001 certified.

Rick Cowlishaw, professor of biology hopes that old electronics don’t just get thrown away over the holidays.

“Don’t throw away your old laptop, printer, cellphone, or other electronic devices this holiday season,” Cowlishaw says. “Hold on to those items for the March 7 recycling event.  We want to avoid old electronics, which are being replaced by new Christmas toys, heading to the landfill.”

GON Recycling accepts the following electronic items: computers, laptops, servers, network equipment, LCD Monitors, printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers, POS scanners and equipment, stereo equipment, small household appliances such as toasters, irons, and coffee pots, telephones, telecommunications equipment, phone systems, security equipment, industrial equipment, UPS systems, cell phones, VCRs, radios, keyboards and computer mice, lead acid batteries, re-chargeable batteries, industrial control panels, ink and toner.

Medical equipment that has been inspected and decontaminated of blood-borne pathogens, fluids, solvents, pressure gases or radioactive sources is also accepted. Proof of decontamination is required. This can be a decontaminated sticker or paperwork attached to the unit.

GON Recycling will recycle CRT TVs and monitors for a $5 fee. Everything else is no cost. If you need to recycle these items, please bring the funds to pay the recycling fee.

GON Recycling cannot accept these items: refrigerators, air conditioners that are not properly drained, light bulbs, smoke alarms, alkaline batteries and items that contain blood-borne pathogens, fluids, solvents, Freon, pressure gases, radioactive or gasoline sources.

For questions about recycling, please contact Rick Cowlishaw at (620) 222-1366 or by email at richard.cowlishaw@sckans.edu.

The Fall 2022 review by the CAEP Accreditation Council resulted in 55 educator preparation providers receiving accreditation, bringing the total to 507 providers approved under the CAEP Accreditation Standards–rigorous, nationally recognized standards that were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs.

“These institutions meet high standards so that their students receive an education that prepares them to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said CAEP President Dr. Christopher A. Koch. “Seeking CAEP Accreditation is a significant commitment on the part of an educator preparation provider.”

CAEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. More than 600 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including some previously accredited through former standards. Educator preparation providers seeking accreditation must pass peer review of the CAEP standards, which are based on two principles:

1. Solid evidence that the provider’s graduates are competent and caring educators, and
2. Solid evidence that the provider’s educator staff have the capacity to create a culture of evidence and use it to maintain and enhance the quality of the professional programs they offer.

If a program fails to meet one of the standards, it is placed on probation for two years. Probation may be lifted in two years if a program provides evidence that it meets the standard.

“Our students and instructors should be very proud of the work they are doing. We’ve set a very high bar for our teacher prep program and CAEP Accreditation validates the hard work we are doing,” said J.K. Campbell, division chair for education at Southwestern College.  “Our students and their families are investing in an education program that is designated as nationally accredited for teacher preparation.”

Southwestern College joins 54 other providers to receive accreditation this fall, bringing the total number to 507 CAEP-accredited providers from 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEPnet.org) advances excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.

At 3 p.m., in Messenger Recital Hall, the Pre-College String Ensembles and Southwestern College's Williams String Ensemble will be performing. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children. (All SC faculty, staff, and students can attend for free.)

Immediately following the ensemble concert, private students of Amber Dahlen Peterson (from the Community Music School and Southwestern College) will be featured in a free studio recital at 4 p.m., also in Messenger Recital Hall.

In both performances, audiences will enjoy some holiday favorites, as well as more classical repertoire.

The concert is sponsored by Gail Burden, OD.

This year’s Winterfest is a collaboration between the Southwestern Children’s Choir, SC Jazz Band, A Cappella Choir, and the South Kansas Symphony (SKS).  Conducting the program will be Amber Peterson, associate professor of music; Simon Hill, assistant professor of music; Nikki Kirk, director of the Southwestern Children’s Choir; and Jeremy Kirk, associate professor of music and division chair of performing arts.

The program will also feature James Leland providing organ accompaniment of Christmas Carol Hymn Singing.  The concert will open with the SKS, A Cappella Choir, and alumni performing F. Melius Christiansen’s “Beautiful Savior.” Other selections will range from traditional, contemporary, and jazz Christmas music. The concert will conclude with Dan Goeller’s “Christmas Carol Sing-Along.”

The Southwestern College theatre department and the Campus Players organization produce the show each year as a gift to the community.  Also contributing this year, has been the Southwestern College Worship Outreach team and many alumni who have stepped up in numerous ways to assist with the production. 

“Eagerheart,” which was written by early 20th century English playwright A.M. Buckton, celebrates the legend that Christ and the Holy Family travel the earth each year, blessing one deserving home where they rest on Christmas Eve.   Eager Heart and sisters Eager Fame and Eager Sense, along with shepherds and kings of Power, Wisdom, and Love, reveal their understanding of Christ and His teachings.  The search for the Holy Family is tested by beggars seeking food and shelter.  The play challenges and inspires audiences to live with charity throughout the year. 

Southwestern College campus minister Molly Just is playing the role of Prologue/Epilogue. 

Playing the role of Eager Heart will be Maeson Bryant.  Molly Bender has been cast as Eager Sense and Olivia Worsham as Eager Fame.

The Beggar Man will be played by Jordan Geer.  The kings will be played by Lael Porter, King of Power; Joshua Robinson, King of Wisdom; and Abram Rankin, King of Love. Roxy Callison will play the role of the Old Shepherd. Other shepherds will be played by Alexis Miers, Joy Lenz and Odyssey Mann.

Madeline Nichols, Jordan Burford, Grace Webster, and Sean Whitney will play the role of the angels while the Angel of Death will be played by Jacob Giger.

An uncredited but honored woman traditionally plays the role of the beggar woman who later is recognized as one the Holy Family, and infants of the community are cast as the beggars’ child taken in by Eager Heart.   

The technical staff includes:

Julia Faust, director; Allyson Moon, assistant director; Kathy Baker, stage manager; Brooke Rowzee, production manager; Abram Rankin, props master; Maya Damron, Kelley Graham, and Robin Hathaway Sommer, costumes; Joy Lenz and Terry Quiett, publicity; and D’Marcus Chase, house manager.

Reservations for the shows can be made by calling (620) 221-7720 or (620) 229-6272.  Reservations may also be made by emailing boxoffice@sckans.edu. 

The college initiated a process in August as governed by the institutional policy manual to review academic positions and programs. The work aimed to improve the financial footing of the college and to provide room for reinvestment in new programs and initiatives. The decision for program elimination was reached with the input of a special faculty committee, trustees, and administrators of the college. Timing of the announcement was defined by the college’s policy manual with a request from faculty to notify affected parties prior to the college’s Thanksgiving break.

The programs include:

• Music (Major and Minor)
• Music Education
• Music Performance
• History and Secondary Licensure History
• Theatre (Major and Minor)
• Musical Theatre
• Speech/Theatre Education
• Marine Biology

The college will continue to offer history courses as part of the general education program and as electives. Choral, instrumental, theatrical productions and all adjacent fine arts traditions will continue as co-curricular activities for students. Additionally, the college is launching a pep band in academic year 2023-2024.

“I recognize that there is particular concern surrounding performing arts; while we may be moving away from degree programs in these areas, I am committed to maintaining creative expression through theatre and music as a pivotal part of the student experience at Southwestern College,” wrote Liz Frombgen Southwestern College president. “It is my great hope that these disciplines and traditions will gain renewed strength and commitment with refocused energy and resources.”

Three of the affected faculty positions in the performing arts division will be transitioned to staff positions to facilitate theatre, choral, and instrumental performances on campus. The remaining faculty lines were eliminated through layoffs, planned retirements, or resignation. Layoffs and retirements for affected faculty will all be effective at the end of the academic year, in May of 2023.

“In the division of performing arts 10 students had declared one of the impacted programs, in History and Marine Biology 17 students are affected,” said Ross Peterson-Veatch, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “Our staff and faculty advisors are committed to helping each student complete their studies at Southwestern or we will do whatever we can to help them find the next best step to achieve their goals.”

While new enrollment at the college has held steady in recent years, student retention has lagged. Enrollment on the college’s main campus totaled 579 full-time students and 7 part-time undergraduate students as classes began this fall. The college has responded with a variety of initiatives focused on helping students stay and graduate. As part of that process, the college has been working with key constituents on campus and in the community to develop a strategic plan to guide the next five years. The plan, which is on track to be published in January, will likely include the development of new academic programs on campus.

“These have been painful decisions to reach, none of which were made lightly or in a vacuum,” said Frombgen. “While we cannot cut our way to success we can position Southwestern for strategic reinvestment. Simultaneously, we can commit to new ways of delivering rich experiences to our students that honor our history and traditions. It is not always an easy path, but it is our path forward.”

Doors will open at 11 a.m., with the game scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m.  Curt Caden, Mark Scott, and Daegionna Wilson will provide live game commentary to the RPAC audience, which will also be broadcast on 95.9 BOB FM. 

Additionally, President Frombgen and her husband, Doug Kinnear, look forward to meeting up with Moundbuilder alumni and friends in the visitors section at O’Malley Field at Larry Wilcox Stadium in Atchison. 

The Moundbuilders, 9-1, are the #10 seed while the Ravens, 10-1, are the #6 seed.  Southwestern claimed a share of the KCAC title and qualified for the playoffs for the second year in a row.  Last year, SC traveled to Indianapolis to play Marian (Ind.).  The Builders led 17-6 at halftime but fell 21-17.  

Southwestern is making its 6th appearance in the NAIA FCS. The Moundbuilders earned an at-large berth after finishing in a three-way tie with Avila University and Bethel College for the KCAC title. Benedictine is making their 15th appearance and their first since 2018 when they earned a trip to the NAIA National Championship Game. Benedictine won the Heart of America South title to earn an automatic berth. 

Saturday's meeting will be the 18th meeting between Benedictine and Southwestern as the Ravens hold the series lead, 12-5. The previous 18 meetings came when Benedictine was known as St. Benedict's College and the two schools competed against each other in the Central Intercollegiate Conference. The Ravens competed in the CIC from 1937-1968 while the Moundbuilders competed in the CIC from 1927-1957. The last meeting between the two programs came during the 1958 season when St. Benedict's earned a 48-0 win over Southwestern.

Irving Elementary administration expressed a need to help students learn skills to calm their minds, battle hunger by teaching them the skills to grow their own food, and enrich social-emotional learning by being in nature in a technology-based world.  This is how the idea of an outdoor classroom emerged.  SCPB members felt that, as a staff, they are focused on creating a place students can grow food and explore sensory equipment that will help develop sensory needs.  They are also working toward creating spaces where classes can create and produce learning projects such as art, theater, assemblies, and guest speakers. 

The SCPB awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process.

“We have chosen Irving Elementary school as our winner because of their dedication to helping the youth succeed,” says Brandon Murphy-Ward, a student in the Non-profit class.  “While we feel that all applications would use the grant in a way that would positively impact the Cowley County area, we feel that Irving Elementary stands out by not only providing education for the youth but also demonstrating long-term effects that would take place through their project.”

The SCPB was developed from the Students4Giving Campus Compact grant awarded in August of 2008. With this funding, Southwestern created the SCPB as well as the Non-profit Leadership class offered on the main campus to explore all aspects of the philanthropic process. The SCPB is committed to developing an opportunity for students to explore philanthropy, non-profit organizations, community partnerships and available grant resources. The SCPB and the class work together annually to distribute grant funding to community-based non-profit organizations.

“We hear so much talk today of cancel culture and tainted legacies,” says Jacob Goodson, associate professor of philosophy at Southwestern College. “Dr. Karen Guth has actually written a book about how to make sense of what it means to get 'canceled' or not. She talks about people in the film industry as well as academics and scholars -- all of whom are known for their contributions to their field but also known for illegal or wrongful behaviors. Her lecture at SC will be based on the research she did for her book, ‘The Ethics of Tainted Legacies,’ which was published earlier this year. Please join us for this thoughtful and timely lecture.”

Guth is the author of “Christian Ethics at the Boundary: Feminism and Theologies of Public Life” (Fortress Press, 2015) and “The Ethics of Tainted Legacies: Human Flourishing after Traumatic Pasts” (Cambridge University Press, 2022). She holds a Ph. D in religious ethics from the University of Virginia, an M.T.S. in Religion and Society from Harvard, and a M.Th. in literature, theology, and the arts from the University of Glasgow. She received her B.A. in religion from Furman University. Before coming to Holy Cross, professor Guth was a postdoctoral fellow in religious practices and practical theology at Emory University (2011-2012) and an assistant professor at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn., (2012-2016).

The Smith-Willson lectureship was established by Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Willson to call attention to the important moral and religious aspects of education. National leaders on various related topics are asked to speak at the annual lecture.

“Community support is so important to our college and to our students -- this Saturday we will celebrate seniors on the Moundbuilder football, cheer, and dance teams who have made Winfield home for four years -- we invite Cowley residents to come help us cheer them all on,” says Jamie Adams, director of athletics at Southwestern College.

Southwestern College is currently 8-1 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and ranked #10 in the latest NAIA poll.  The Moundbuilders are coming off a dominating 28-0 win at Friends University in Wichita last Saturday.

The celebration will begin at 5 p.m., with a reception and dinner (cost is $28 per person, seating is limited, and RSVPs are necessary) in Deets Library. The induction ceremony will begin following dinner at approximately 6 p.m., and all are invited to attend (no reservations are required). To make reservations, contact Ashlee Mayo, director of alumni engagement, (620) 229-6155, or Tamara McEwen, chair of the Natural Science division at (620) 229-6191.

This hall of fame honors Southwestern College alumni who have made significant contributions in the natural sciences.

2022 Inductees

Lisa (Ashenfelter) Braun ’98, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in health, physical education, and recreation. During her time at Southwestern, she played volleyball and basketball.  Braun became an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team from 1998-2000. In 2001 Braun was hired as the first female athletic trainer at Southwestern and provided coverage for all the teams while starting an accredited athletic training program so Southwestern could begin to offer a major in athletic training. She has been a board-certified athletic trainer since 2000. In 2002 she earned a Master of Education degree in exercise science from Wichita State University. During this time, she completed an internship with the WNBA’s Portland Fire. In 2003 Braun was named director of the athletic training program and was promoted to assistant professor.  Southwestern successfully gained accreditation in 2004 and maintained the accredited program until it phased out after the graduating class of 2021 due to changes in the profession moving to a masters-level degree. Over those years, she was promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure. Braun is now in charge of the physical performance and sports studies major (PPSS) and advises students majoring in PPSS as well as those students who hope to become athletic trainers. Lisa and her husband, Jason, live north of Cambridge and have two sons, James and Logan.

Michael Cargill ’77, left Kansas following graduation and traveled to Illinois and became the Site Superintendent at Fulton County Camping and Recreation, a large camping and fishing area. Cargill and his crew modernized the camping area by adding electrical hookups, restroom and shower facilities, and improved fishing with the application of fishery management techniques. There is where he perfected his fishery management skills. Ten years later Cargill transitioned from Site Superintendent to Zookeeper at Glen Oak Zoo in Peoria, Ill. There he was promoted to Curator of Education and later to the Curator of Operations. Cargill developed an educational program “Eli the elephant” which was nominated in 1987 as the outstanding educational program by the American Zoological Association. Ten years later he moved back to Kansas as the Director of Public Lands and Director of Brit Spaugh Zoo in Great Bend. As Director of Public Lands, Cargill was identified as “One of the Most 10 Influential Individuals” by the “Great Bend Tribune.” Later the zoo received a million-dollar grant and raised additional monies to construct “Central Kansas Raptor Rehabilitation Center.” After 19 years at the zoo, Cargill decided to dedicate the remaining time left in his career to teaching science and returned to school where he received a teaching license. Today, Cargill teaches in Stafford, where he has enjoyed teaching science for the past 12 years. While developing a professional resume he also developed Project Save, an organization dedicated to environmental education, using free-flighted birds and various reptiles. Project Save has traveled across the county, encouraging young people to protect the environment, stay in school, and excel in math and science. 

Dr. Bryan Dennett '92. Dennett is a member of the 2022 induction class but will be formally recognized at the 2023 induction ceremony.

To see Southwestern College's halls of fame and a full list of inductees visit sckans.edu/hof.        

2022 Natural Science Hall of Fame | November 12

Saturday, November 12
Deets Library

5:00 pm Natural Science Hall of Fame Dinner RSVP Required
6:00 pm Natural Science Hall of Fame Ceremony

“In addition to the incredible work our faculty and staff do each day on campus to impact and transform the lives of our students, this study shows that Southwestern College also plays a vital role in our local, state, and regional economies,” said Liz Frombgen, Southwestern College President. “Our operations and the economic activity generated by our faculty, staff, and students reach every corner of our local economy. While it is no surprise that Southwestern is an economic driver in our region, the numbers resulting from the study are real proof points demonstrating the value our college adds to the economy.” 

The study was commissioned in partnership by KICA and Southwestern and was conducted by Parker Philips, a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in economic impact analysis. Nichole Parker, a principal partner at Parker Philips, said, “Economic impact is an objective way to measure the significance of an organization in the regional economy. Southwestern College clearly is a major contributor to the regional economy.”

In the analysis, the study considered the direct spending on operations, pay, benefits, and capital projects by Southwestern College and the estimated increase in demand for goods and services in industry sectors that supply or support Southwestern. The study also measured the effect of student and college-related visitor spending in 2021 which totaled to $9.9 million.

A key result of this economic activity is that Southwestern supports and sustains 480 jobs including direct employment by Southwestern as well as indirect and induced jobs created by supply and equipment vendors, contractors, and laborers for the construction and renovation of facilities, and jobs created in the community at hotels, restaurants, and retail stores in support of Southwestern’s faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

The analysis also calculated tax revenues generated by this level of economic activity, including sales, property, personal income, and corporate income taxes. The study concluded that the college generates about $3.3 million in total tax revenue. Of the $3.3 million, over $1.4 million was generated in local taxes only.

Additionally, the study shared that in 2021, the combined impact of charitable giving and volunteerism by faculty, staff, and students totaled to nearly $400,000 in community contributions.

“As the study shows, through the generation of revenue, operational spending, and community service, Southwestern College plays a significant role in the economic success and vitality of our larger community,” added Frombgen. “It is also clear that for 137 years Southwestern has contributed to the cultural identity of Winfield and south central Kansas in meaningful ways which we can’t quantify. As we consider the history and future of Southwestern we must acknowledge the many ways in which the college makes our region stronger.”

Statewide, all private, nonprofit colleges and universities, including all 20 KICA members, plus the spending of its faculty, staff, and students, had a total statewide economic impact of $1.1 billion. This activity generated an estimated 8,269 jobs in Kansas.

View KICA Economic Impact Report

The title of the lecture is “Artificial Intelligence’s Love? Chatbots, Social Agency, and Close Personal Relationships.”

“A popular and well-respected professor at KU, John Symons is one of the leading thinkers on the philosophy of technology and questions relating to artificial intelligence,” says Jacob Goodson, associate professor of philosophy at Southwestern College.  “In his lecture at SC, he plans to tease out some connections concerning artificial intelligence and friendship. It is such an honor for me to host him in Winfield.”

Symons mostly works on problems related to the role of computing technology in science and public policy, and he is especially interested in the interaction of technology and social norms. He is the author or co-author of four books: “Cyber-Social Ethics: A Philosophical Inquiry,” co-authored with Ramón Alvarado, (Routledge Press, 2022); “Formal Reasoning: A Guide to Critical Thinking,” (Kendall Hunt Press, 2017); “Daniel Dennett: Critical Assessments of Leading Philosophers,” (Routledge Press, 2014); and “On Dennett,” (Wadsworth Press, 2002).

Upcoming lecturers include:

• Karen V. Guth on Nov. 16 (Smith-Willson Lecture)
• D. Stephen Long on Feb. 2 (Parkhurst Lecture)
• Beatrice Marovich on March 1 (Beck Lecture). 

This is the orchestra's annual Halloween Pops concert, generously sponsored by Phil and Mary Jarvis.

Dinosaur-themed music will include selections from “Carnival of the Animals,” “Rite of Spring,” and “Jurassic Park.” The concert will also feature the Arkansas City High School Jazz Band under the direction of Chris VanGilder and Hans Judd.

Costumes are encouraged for this concert and treats and door prizes will be given out. Immediately following the performance, the Southwestern College's Ed Builders will be organizing a Trunk-or-Treat event in Keyhole Drive, at the bottom of the 77 Steps, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

All children, as well as Southwestern College students, faculty, and staff, can attend the concert for free. Adult tickets are $10. Season tickets will also be on sale at this first concert ($35 for adults and $10 for children.). Season ticket holders receive a discount on tickets and reserved seating for most South Kansas Symphony and Pre-College String Ensemble performances.

Members of the symphony include Southwestern College students and alumni, community members, and high school students. They represent Winfield and Arkansas City, as well as surrounding communities like Belle Plaine, Derby, Dexter, Mulvane, South Haven, Udall, Wellington, and Wichita.

The concert will feature the A Cappella Choir and the SC Singers.

“The program considers what we witness in our own creative spirit, in the world around us, and how this witness manifests through song,” says Simon Hill, director of choral activities and voice at Southwestern College.

The Trunk-or-Treat will consist of decorated vehicles parked near the bottom of the 77 Steps and children and their families will be able to walk through and vote on their favorite one.

Ed Builders is an SC education organization that strives to do as many projects as possible to benefit children of all ages. 

The Trunk-or-Treat event is sponsored by Ed Builders with funding provided by the Southwestern College Student Government Association. 

“Across the country, debate rages on about college access and affordability,” said Kansas Independent College Association President Matthew Lindsey. “We believe that KICA and KACCT have developed a forward-thinking and sustainable resource to demonstrate to Kansas families and taxpayers we are leading the way.”

(Pictured: Dr. Randy Smith, President of Cowley College with Dr. Liz Frombgen, President of Southwestern College.)

This new transfer agreement was formally adopted during a signing ceremony on Tuesday, September 20th at 2:30pm at Friends University in Wichita, following a joint discussion by presidents from both the Kansas Community Colleges and Kansas Independent Colleges on current and future opportunities to serve students better. 

Kansas Association of Community College’s Executive Director Heather Morgan praised the partnership, noting “The benefits of the new transfer agreement, the student opportunities it provides, and the potential for additional partnerships to benefit Kansas students reflects the synergy that we need in higher education. We’re working to meet the needs of Kansas learners and this transfer agreement is a key link to ongoing student success and advancement.”

Dr. Michael Schneider is President of McPherson College and Chair of the KICA Board of Directors, celebrates the event by saying, “The spirit of innovation and the road to success intersect at the passion of a Kansas student. The agreement we signed today is the preamble to the new stories of enterprise that our students will write.” 

Kansas leaders understand and hold strong to the quantitative proof that higher education leads to an improved quality of life for students, their families, and their communities. A positive experience while in college in Kansas leads to more students living and working in Kansas, a benefit to the entire state.

Today, more than half of Kansas college students attend one of the state’s 19 community colleges or 1 of the 20 Independent Institutions. 

The Kansas Community College Trustees Association serves as the voice of the Kansas Community Colleges. The Kansas Independent College Association develops and enhances the competitive standing of its 20 member colleges by coordinating efforts including professional development and collaboration, governmental advocacy, and public engagement collectively aimed at supporting students and their success. 

For More Information, contact Jesyca Hope, Director of Member Programs, at jesyca@kscolleges.org or 785-554-0247.

A total of 15 entries are entered in the parade, including Homecoming king and queen candidates. They are: Cierra Harrison, Jasmin Hauska, KenTayshija Pruitt, Jen Garcia, Daegiona Wilson, Hunter Clift, Caleb Worsham, Eric Farbes, Dalton Ward, and Slavoski Wright. 

The full schedule of Southwestern College Homecoming activities can be found at https://www.sckans.edu/homecoming. 

Kara (Beal) Westrup

Kara (Beal) Westrup had a decorated career in women’s basketball. She was a three-time All-KCAC First Team selection, twice unanimously, a 2008-2009 Honorable Mention All-American, and led the nation in free throw percentage in 2009. She currently ranks second in all-time free-throw-made percentage (87%), fifth in most career points (1,327), sixth in most three-point shots made (162), and 10th in most points in a season (461, 2007-08).  She was an academic All-American and a member of the Deans Honor Roll in 2007, 2008, and 2009 and was also inducted into the Order of the Mound in 2009. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in sports management and earned a masters of business administration degree.  Westrup lives in Denver with her husband, Ryan, and their 16-month-old son, Hudson.  She is a registered dietician at Kara Westrup Nutrition.

Matt Welch

Matt Welch participated in football from 1981-84 at Southwestern College. Welch played guard and was a three-time All-Conference selection, twice unanimously, and an All-District selection in 1984.  He was a part of two KCAC Championship teams, played in two bowl games, and one national playoff appearance.  He was an assistant coach at Southwestern from 1985-2001 and was a part of five more KCAC Championships, three playoff appearances, and one more bowl game.  Welch and his wife, Kim, have three children and four grandchildren.  They live in Forney, Texas, on Lake Ray Hubbard, 15 miles east of Dallas.

Mike McCoy

Mike McCoy is being inducted into the Southwestern Hall of Fame in the meritorious category, due to his lifetime of support for Moundbuilder Athletics. McCoy, who played football during his years at Southwestern, earned a bachelor of science degree in education at Southwestern and a master of science degree in sports management from the University of Kansas. McCoy has enjoyed success as a general manager and administrator for arena football.  He was the GM for the Wichita Stealth, Wichita Aviators, and Nebraska Danger; was a consulting GM for the Wichita Falls (Texas) team, and the director for business development and expansion for the Indoor Football League.  McCoy has earned several awards including the 2002 General Manager of the Year by Arena Football 2, 2003 Professional Sports Administrator of the Year by Wichita State Univ., Franchise of the Year while with the Wichita Wild, and Executive of the Year and Franchise of the Year with the Nebraska Danger. McCoy was the director of athletics at Southwestern College for four years. McCoy is an instructor in the sports management department at Wichita State University.  He and his wife, Anne, have five children and 11 grandchildren, and reside in Wichita.

Dave Denly

Dave Denly began coaching Southwestern College women’s basketball in 1998 and after 18 seasons at the helm, he became the all-time winningest coach in Lady Builder history.  He finished his SC career with an overall record of 348-171.  He has continued his coaching at Bellevue (Neb.) with a 111-73 record.  While at SC, Denly’s teams enjoyed a tremendous amount of team and individual success.  He led SC to seven straight 20-win seasons, and seven NAIA National Tournament appearances including five straight appearances, sweet 16 in 2004, and a final eight appearance in 2014.  His teams were nationally ranked in eight straight seasons, including a #6 final poll ranking in 2014.  Denly was named KCAC Coach of the Year in 2004, 2012, and 2014.  He coached 10 NAIA All-Americans, three KCAC Player of the Year recipients, 24 KCAC First Team All-Conference players, 48 NAIA Academic All-Americans, and 84 KCAC Academic All-Conference athletes.  Denly is currently ranked as the 12th-winningest active coach in the NAIA.  Denly also served as Southwestern’s athletic director from 2009-15.  He and his wife, Sara, have two children, Ben (18) and Abbey (16).  

Grover Jones

Grover Jones played wide receiver for the Moundbuilder football team from 1968-71. In a game versus Ottawa in 1971, Jones caught 13 passes, a record that still stands today.  He held the record for most pass receptions in a season (64) until it was broken in 2021.  He was a team captain for the team in 1971 and 72. Jones was a co-founder of the Black Student Union and taught Black Culture for a January Term class in 1972.  He has been married to his wife, Wintze “Bunnie” Jones for 42 years.  He is a small business development consultant in St. Paul, Minn.  He and his wife have five sons, 12 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. 

“The 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame Class is a resounding example of Moundbuilder excellence," said Jamie Adams, director of athletics. “We are thrilled to induct Kara, Matt, Mike, Dave, and Grover to the Southwestern Athletic Hall of Fame. Each of them demonstrates what it means to be a Builder, not only through their athletic careers, but also in the ways they connect and engage in the communities where they live. Their athletic prowess and well-earned accolades are incredibly impressive, but it is the caliber of their character that makes the Builder family proud. We are grateful for the opportunity to honor each of them.”

The public is invited to attend the ceremony and there is no admission charge. For more information about the SC Athletic Hall of Fame or the induction ceremony, call (620) 229-6218.

The show will feature many former troupe members for an evening of laughs and celebration.

Troupe director Allyson Moon says that 14 former troupe members will return to perform.  They include: Michael Bumgarner (2001-06), Ben Rivers (2001-04), Brett Smith (2006-10), Cody Davis (2006-10), Tabatha Rosproy (2008-10), Chris Cole (2010-13), Emily Tilton (2013-16), Jordan Hill (2013-14), Meagan Morrow (2014-17), John Rohr (2015-16), Melissa Connell (2016-18), Allie Petrovich (2016-17), Sam Beck (2018-21), and Brett Leise (2021-22).  They will be joined by current members Eric Farbes, D’Marcus Chase, and Liam Cunningham.  

“Each alum has been asked to submit their three most favorite short-form improv games,” Moon says.  “The content of the show will be based on the games that the alums choose.”   

Moon adds that the show is designed for members of the greater Southwestern College, Winfield, and Cowley community in mind. The content is rated PG13.

Sandee McDade

The SC Ambassador Award will be presented to Winfield resident Sandee McDade. This award recognizes non-graduates of the college who have captured the Builder spirit and have served as ambassadors of goodwill for the college and the community.  

McDade, a 1973 graduate of Winfield High School, attended SC from 1973-75 before going to work at the Winfield State Hospital where she, along with four others, were in charge of the Serendipity School.  Since it was brand new at the time, they wrote the program for the school.  She then worked at William Newton Hospital as a physical therapy assistant, a job she held for 13 years, before moving on to Via Christi.  She was working at Presbyterian Manor in Arkansas City before a cancer diagnosis halted her working. McDade overcame the disease and is still getting checkups but is currently cancer free.

She has found a new passion; meeting Southwestern College students and their families, in-particular, SC baseball players.  As she describes it, a couple of players actually adopted her and so she supports them with her presence and supportive messages.  She says at 67 years old, being around campus and supporting SC students keeps her young and active.

Tabatha Rosproy

Tabatha Rosproy will receive the Young Alumni Award.  This honor is presented to a recent graduate (or graduates) who have made an outstanding commitment to the college through ambassadorship and support, including attendance at college functions and recruitment of new students.

Rosproy is a 2009 SC graduate.  She majored in early childhood education at Southwestern and participated in numerous groups including the 9 Lives Improv Comedy Troupe, theatre, Discipleship Team, and Ed Builders.  She was in the Freshman Class Council, Student Government president, orientation leader for Builder Camp, summer Builder Bound camps, and was named a Masterbuilder.

Rosproy was the 2020 National Teacher of the Year and the first preschool teacher to ever be awarded the national honor, in the history of the United States. She is well-known for helping to create a unique preschool program that is housed at Cumbernauld Village in Winfield where she came to know many community residents, who are SC alumni and serve as volunteer “grandmas” and “grandpas” in the classroom.  Rosproy taught at Cumbernauld for three years before departing for a new opportunity in Kansas City, Kansas.  

Now a 13-year veteran teacher, Rosproy has transitioned into a new role as the early childhood project coordinator for Kansas Parent Information Resource Center where she provides training around the state to school districts and organizations on best practices in early childhood education and family engagement. Rosproy is also a certified instructor for Conscious Discipline and spends her extra time speaking, training, and collaborating with educators all over the country.

She has been married to her husband, Tim, also a Southwestern graduate, for eight years. They now reside in Olathe with their four cats, Mr. Darcy, Beak, Beezus, and Frankenstein.

Steve and Sally Cauble

Steve and Sally Cauble, 1972 graduates, will receive the Outstanding Alumni Award in honor of their contributions to the college and community.

Steve attended Southwestern after graduating high school at Wichita East.  While at SC, he played tennis and was undefeated at #6 singles and claimed a KCAC league championship. He served as a student representative on the Southwestern College Board of Trustees, the first-ever student to do so.

Two weeks following his graduation from SC he was drafted and joined the Air National Guard for six years as a medic.  He served in Wichita and Memphis, Tenn. He then attended optometry school at Southern School of Optometry.  He graduated, joined, and bought a practice in Liberal in 1974.

Now retired, Steve is still busy as a Southwestern College Board of Trustees member, East Heights Methodist Church trustee, Downtown Lions Club Past President, Lion Sight Foundation board member, and a Professional Men’s Club Past President.  He has served on mission trips to Bolivia, Africa, Costa Rica, and nine times to Panama with Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity.

Sally Cauble graduated from SC in 1972 with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education.  While at SC, she was a member of the first dance team at the college, was voted in as secretary of the senior class, and worked on campus in the library. 

Sally taught in Fredonia, Memphis, Tenn., and in Liberal.  While in Liberal, she was the education coordinator at Liberal United Methodist Church.  She was on the school board for USD 480 and was chairman of the board.  She also served on the library board, Southwestern College Board of Trustees, the United Way Board, was elected to represent District 5 on the State Board of Education, and the Kansas Optometric Auxiliary.   She has earned many awards for her work including awards from the American Optometric Auxiliary, Kansas Optometric Association, and is a member of the Southwestern College Education Hall of Fame.

Steve and Sally were married in 1973 and have two children, Stephanie, and her husband Kevin Makalous, and Stewart and his wife, Nichele.  They also are the proud grandparents of the three granddaughters; Ashley, Allyson, and Amanda Makalous. 

Steve and Sally have been co-chairs of a capital campaign to raise money for Southwestern College and have been named the Southwest Daily Times Citizens of the Year and the Liberal Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year.       

 “We look forward to celebrating and connecting with the many wonderful alumni who come back to campus for Homecoming, but we are particularly excited to lift up these four individuals, who represent the Builder Spirit and our college in all that they do for their communities and Southwestern,” said Frombgen.

The full 2022 Alumni Homecoming schedule may be found at www.sckans.edu/homecoming.

“The alumni of Southwestern are a passionate and talented group,” said Mayo. “My goal is to help alumni find new ways to plug into Southwestern. I know doing so will enrich their lives and strengthen the college.”

The college hosts annual events on campus for alumni of the college including Homecoming (Oct. 14-16), Athletic Hall of Fame (Oct. 15), Natural Science Hall of Fame (Nov. 12), WinterFest (Dec. 4), and Founders Weekend (April 21-22). Mayo is also looking forward to planning both local and regional alumni meet-up events as well as online gatherings throughout the year.

“I’m looking forward to getting creative to reenergize our alumni base. Southwestern truly is a magical place that is made more magical by the love and support of engaged alumni, donors, and community,” said Mayo. “I am excited to support that connection, creating mutual benefit for alumni, and our beautiful little college on the hill.” 

The office of institutional advancement and alumni services is also working to update the alumni database, alumni and individuals who are affiliated with Southwestern, are invited to take a moment to update alumni information at www.sckans.edu/whatsnew. For questions or to connect, email Ashlee.Mayo@sckans.edu or call (620) 229-6155. 

“It is going to be a beautiful Saturday at Jantz Stadium and we invite the whole community to enjoy some family time while supporting Moundbuilder football along with our cheer and dance teams,” says Jamie Adams, director of athletics at Southwestern College.

Southwestern College is currently 4-0 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and ranked #6 in the latest NAIA poll.  The Moundbuilders are coming off a thrilling 24-21 win over Avila last Saturday.