Month: May 2019

Saint Luke’s to sponsor T-Bones

Saint Luke’s Health System was named the premier and title sponsor for the T-Bones, according to an announcement Thursday.

Saint Luke’s will be presenting sponsor of T-Bones opening day championship T-shirt giveaway on Friday, May 17.

The box office at T-Bones Stadium is being renamed the Saint Luke’s Box Office at T-Bones Stadium.

The terms of the multi-year partnership between the T-Bones and Saint Luke’s were not disclosed, according to a spokesman.

The multi-year partnership will be supported by signs, advertising and marketing components, according to the spokesman.

Also, Saint Luke’s and the T-Bones are launching a new program during one home game a month where all kids 17 and under get in free, courtesy of Saint Luke’s.

Tickets may be purchased online by going to Tbonesbaseball.com, clicking on ticket specials and entering the special offer code, FREEKIDS. The program dates include Friday, May 31; Tuesday, June 18; Sunday, July 21; and Friday, Aug. 23.

“This partnership has something for everyone. Fans will see the Saint Luke’s name all over the park and also wear it on their opening night championship T-Shirts. Our young fans will get to enjoy free baseball courtesy of Saint Luke’s,” said Scott Steckly, vice president of corporate sponsorships of the Kansas City T-Bones. “Saint Luke’s is a leader in providing excellence in health care and the T-Bones are leaders in providing #FunWellDone for the entire family. It is a perfect partnership of shared excellence in our community.”

“Saint Luke’s is proud to announce our sponsorship and partnership with the Kansas City T-Bones,” said Julie Quirin, chief operating officer and senior vice president of Saint Luke’s Health System. “The T-Bones are a wonderful asset to the Kansas City community and a great way for families to spend time together and create lasting memories. The organization and its leadership are known for excellence and we are proud to have the opportunity to partner with them.”

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages as well as mini plans are on sale online or by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale. Opening day for the T-Bones is set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, at T-Bones Stadium when the T-Bones play host to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to open the 2019 season.

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Seven Wyandotte County students on honor rolls at MidAmerica Nazarene University

Seven Wyandotte County students have been named to the honor rolls for the spring 2019 semester at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, Kansas.

Students on the Dean’s List had a GPA of 3.5 to 3.99 for the semester, while students on the Honor Roll had a GPA of 3.2 to 3.49 for the semester. The students were taking at least 12 semester hours.

On the honor rolls from Wyandotte County:

From Bonner Springs, Kansas:

Isabella Cavanaugh, Dean’s List
Gracie Myers, Dean’s List

From Kansas City, Kansas:

Emilee Brotherton, Honor Roll
Jesse Calderon, Honor Roll
Araceli Hernandez Guerrero, Dean’s List
Lily Ledesma, Honor Roll
Rebecca Viens, Dean’s List

All-American Nija Collier to see another national title

NJCAA Player of Year chooses NCAA DII power Central Missouri over DI non-contenders

With head coach Joe McKinstry and assistant coach Timeka O’Neal as her witnesses, KCKCC All-American Nija Collier officially makes her commitment to play basketball at the University of Central Missouri this coming fall. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

By nature, Nija Collier is not a greedy person – until it comes to national championships.

Leading Kansas City Kansas Community College to the 2019 NJCAA DII national basketball championship was not enough for the 6-foot sophomore who was named NJCAA DII National Player of the Year.

Turning down several offers from NCAA Division I colleges and universities, Collier committed to the University of Central Missouri (UCM) “to be in position to win a national championship again at a top Division II school rather than a lower Division I school.”

Few if any DII schools offer a better opportunity to win on a consistent basis than the Jennies of UCM. In the 36 years of women’s basketball, Central Missouri has had only two losing seasons. The 2018 national champions, the Jennies also won the national title in 1984 and have been to the national tournament nine times. Huge fan favorites in Warrensburg, the Jennies had one of their worst seasons (14-14) in 2006-2007 and still ranked 10th in the nation in attendance.

Central Missouri also made it possible for Collier to play immediately – something the Division I schools could not do.

“UCM really helped me out; they were the only one to do that,” Collier said. “Otherwise I would have had to come back to KCKCC to finish my credits. All I need is to take a science class. That was a blessing; they were waiting for me.”

In Collier, Central Missouri is getting the national and Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year plus her teammate, 5-9 guard Camryn Swanson.

“Everyone was super nice,” Collier said of their visit. “It was such a nice atmosphere. Everyone was smiling and happy to see us. It made us feel like we were already at home.”

The team leader in scoring (17.3), rebounds (9.7) and blocked shots, Collier shot 58.5 percent from the field.

The fact that Swanson, is also going to UCM was yet another factor in Collier’s decision.

“I’m real happy; she’s my best friend,” Collier said. “She has the same goal as I have, win a national championship.”

Their timing is also excellent. The Jennies graduate both of their top 3-point shooters, All-American Paige Redmond and Sydney Crockett, and both Collier and Swanson are outstanding in that department.

Collier was a 40 percent shooter from 3-point this season while Swanson’s 87 threes are an all-time KCKCC best. Ranked 23rd nationally this past season, UCM finished 27-5 after being eliminated from the DII tournament on a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining.

Her ability to shoot from distance made Collier especially attractive during her visit to UCM.

“They had me playing the 4 and 5 positions when we started but there were people stronger than me so I think I’ll play the 3 or 4 because I can shoot and I can drive, not just one thing,” Collier said.

A vicious rebounder, Collier goes after missed shots with a vengeance.

“Sometimes I go up too soft but the second time I go up stronger and rip the ball down,” she said.

Collier’s goal coming out of high school was to play DI and she had her chances. Three DI schools right out of her back yard of the Detroit area offered – Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan along with Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State and Delaware State.

“I got a lot of DI looks and could have gone D1 but when I stepped back I think this (UCM) is the best for me,” Collier said. “I know a lot of people were disappointed by my family and friends support me and that really matters. It means a lot.”