Washburn University, Topeka, has announced seven Kansas City, Kansas, students graduated after the fall semester.
Washburn, founded in 1865, has more than 8,000 students in more than 200 academic programs.
On the fall graduation list from Kansas City, Kansas:
Meg Calvert, Bachelor of Science, Nursing
Kathryn Elkins, Bachelor of Business Admin., Accounting and International Business
Ceirra Jackson, Bachelor of Health Science, Medical Imaging
Joseph McSorley, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Corrections
Jenny Quinn, Master of Science, Nursing
Anne Seeberger, Bachelor of Applied Science, Technology Administration, and Bachelor of Health Science, Health Services Administration
Claire Swanson, Bachelor of Science, Nursing
Rep. Pam Curtis by Rep. Pam Curtis, D – 32nd Dist.
Last week, the Kansas Legislature returned from turnaround. Both chambers have returned to the Statehouse to continue to work and pass bills, as well as address bills from the opposite chambers.
The Legislature still has several big issues to address, including school finance and a budget bill.
I serve as the ranking member on the House Government Technology and Security Committee and the two cyber-security bills that we worked on were approved by the full House. This is a good first step in strengthening the state’s cyber-security measures. Both of these bills, referenced below, are now headed to the Senate for consideration.
It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 452-S, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at 785-296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can e-mail me at [email protected].
Expert witness in Gannon case presentation
On Friday, Feb. 23, Lori Taylor, the out-of-state expert witness hired by Republican leadership in the Kansas school finance case, presented her methodology to members of the Legislature and Education committees. Taylor is conducting a study that ideally will advise the Legislature how much money it will take to fund schools – and to fund them in a way that would satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court’s order.
Taylor’s full report and findings are due to the Legislature on March 15. The Kansas Supreme Court gave the legislature a deadline of April 30 this year to present a suitable school funding bill.
Last week on the House floor
Last week, the House worked and passed the following bills on the floor:
Sub HB 2332: This bill will amend the membership of and the frequency of required meetings for the Information Technology Executive Council (ITEC). Membership of ITEC would decrease from 17 members to 15 members.
Sub HB 2359: This bill creates the Kansas Cybersecurity Act.
Resources
My Legislative Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/PamCurtisKCK/
My Twitter Account, https://twitter.com/pcurtiskck
My Website, http://www.curtisforkck.com/?utm_campaign=2018ksleg7&utm_medium=email&utm_source=pamcurtis
Kansas Legislature Website, http://kslegislature.org/li/
Rep. Pam Curtis represents the 32nd District in Kansas City, Kansas.
The lone sophomore on this year’s KCKCC women’s basketball team, Alix Wilson played in every game in her two seasons at KCKCC including 25 starts this season. In her two seasons, the Blue Devils won 40 games while losing 24. (KCKCC photo)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
While youth and inexperience proved costly at times this season, it also gives hope to an optimistic future for Kansas City Kansas Community College women’s basketball.
Nearly 95 percent of this year’s offense returns next season to a team that finished 21-11 playing arguably the toughest schedule in NJCAA Division II.
Each of the 11 losses came as the hands of a team ranked in the Top 20 at point in the season including three teams out of Region VI – No. 3 Highland, No. 10 Labette and No. 11 Johnson County.
“Looking back, I think of those 11 losses we had a shot to win six, maybe seven,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We were in position to win more games but did not have the experience to come out on top. I think all but five games were decided by three possessions or less. We just didn’t do what’s necessary, didn’t get a stop defensively, turned the ball over, did not grab the key rebound. To win more games against top opponents, we have to do the things that don’t show up in the box score – block out on rebounds, set screens and make better decisions.
“On the other hand, I’m excited for our future. For this group to win 21 games and compete like they did all year with zero experience at this level says a lot about the talent and ability of this team. We know we left three or four wins out there so I think we’ll be able to take that as a motivation on to the off-season and looking ahead for next year.”
The Blue Devils lose just one sophomore, 5-9 guard Alix Wilson out of St. Joseph (Mo.) Lafayette, who started 25 games, averaged 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists and provided invaluable leadership. “I’m extremely grateful for her dedication and hard work the past two seasons,” McKinstry said. “She definitely represented our program on and off the court and was a true ambassador for what I want this program to be about.”
Heading the returnees will be a trio of forwards who averaged in double figures in scoring and ranked in the Top Five in Region VI statistics. Kisi Young led Region VI in shooting percentage (.601), finished fourth in scoring (14.3) and third in rebounding (8.1); Niji Collier led in rebounding (8.9) and was fifth in field goal percentage (.532) while averaging 10.9 points; and Lillie Moore was fifth in scoring (13.6) and rebounds (7.9). In addition, Caitlin Stewart was second in assists (4.1) and Gena Ojeda second in 3-point percentage (.408).
Miya Ford of Piper was fourth (7.4) and Ashley Daniels of F.L. Schlagle fifth (6.8) in scoring followed by Camryn Swanson, 5.5; Lizzie Stark, 4.3; Ojeda, 4.1; and Stewart, 3.4. As a team, the Blue Devils outscored opponents by nearly 10 points a game (77.3-67.4) and had 11½ more rebounds a game (45.1-33.8).
But the Blue Devils also averaged 21.3 turnovers a game, 24.1 in regional play.
“A huge, huge problem. We can’t win games with that many turnovers,” McKinstry said. “The first half in our playoff game at Highland we were down nine points and I was pretty happy. But we also had 18 shots and 19 turnovers. We have to get better ball-handling, decision-making, everything.”
The Blue Devils have two commitments for next season, a forward and a shooting guard, and the return of 5-10 guard Caroline Hoppock of Olathe East, who averaged 7.5 points in a handful of early games before being injured.
“Physically, we’ve got a lot coming back,” McKinstry said. “I think we had eight different girls leading us in scoring, It’s a great spot to be in at this level where there’s a lot of player turnover from year to year.”
