Category: KCKCC

Nominations open for KCKCC’s Mid-America Education Hall of Fame

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

Nominations are being accepted for the Kansas City Kansas Community College Foundation’s Mid-America Education Hall of Fame Awards and Scholarship event.

The awards recognize someone who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to education.

The Mid America Education Hall of Fame started in 1996 as a way to recognize individuals, organizations, corporations and foundations in the community who have made notable contributions to educational and student success, community development and/or philanthropy. The 2019 inductees are listed at https://www.kckcc.edu/foundation/events/hall-of-fame/2019-inductees.html.

Class of 2020 inductees will be recognized at a formal induction ceremony at this year’s event on April 25 at the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center.

Criteria used to select the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame inductees include:

• Demonstrates a commitment to education or Kansas City Kansas Community College, or both;
• Works to improve the quality of life in the community through their passion for education;
• Strives to increase educational opportunities for others;
• Supports significant changes that have improved the quality of education;
• Can be an individual, organization, or company from the Mid-America region.

Submit the following nomination materials by email to Audrey Alexander at [email protected] or by mail to the KCKCC Foundation, 7250 State Ave., Suite 3500, Kansas City, Kansas 66112. The deadline is Jan. 28.
Nomination materials include:
• Nomination Form at
https://www.kckcc.edu/foundation/documents/hall-of-fame/hof-2020-nomination-and-sponsor-forms.pdf.
• Biography of the person, organization or company being nominated including a brief history and synopsis of activities related to the nomination criteria.
• At least two letters of recommendation (no more than three) in support of the nomination written by separate entities.

The Mid-America Education Hall of Fame is online at https://www.kckcc.edu/foundation/events/hall-of-fame/index.html.


For more information on the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame or to submit a nomination, contact Audrey Alexander at 913-288-7584 or by email at [email protected].

Big second half lifts North Central Missouri past KCKCC, 100-86

KCKCC sophomore Sevon Witt took aim on claiming one of his 10 rebounds in the Blue Devils’ 100-86 loss to North Central Missouri Saturday. Witt also had 26 points for his fifth double-double as teammates Calvin Slaughter (0) and Ezekiel Lopes (3) looked on. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

North Central Missouri broke open a tight game to start the second half and turned back all Kansas City Kansas Community College challenges in a 100-86 win in the Keith Lindsey Classic Saturday.

The loss left the Blue Devils 1-5 as they head back on the road for four more games starting Wednesday against Metropolitan Community College on the Penn Valley campus. The KCKCC women open the doubleheader at 5 p.m. with the men colliding at 7 p.m.

North Central ran its record to 6-1 by shooting 54.5 percent (36-of-66). The Pirates are one of four KCKCC opponents with two or less losses this season and the five losses are to teams with a combined record of 27-8.

“We’ve got to worry more about us than our opponents,” KCKCC coach Brandon Burgette said. “We have a tough schedule, a tough opponent every night. We have a lot that needs to be fixed.”

Led by 6-8 Sevon Witt, KCKCC led by as many as seven points midway through the first half. Witt scored the Blue Devils’ first 10 points (18 the first half) as the Blue Devils opened a 30-23 lead on a Calvin Slaughter 3-pointer with 8:49 left in the half.

There were three ties and six lead changes before North Central eked out a 50-45 halftime lead – and then took command to start the second with an 11-2 run that expanded the Pirates’ lead to 61-47.

“They made a run and we struggled to battle back,” Burgette said. “They got the layups when they wanted and made us work hard for us.”

Witt finished with game highs of 26 points and 10 rebounds, his third straight double-double and fifth in six games. Cody Dortch added 16 points of 6-of-7 shooting including 3-for-3 from 3-point.

Jermaine Yarbough chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds; Ezekiel Lopes nine points and six rebounds; and Slaughter nine points. DeAngelo Bell led in assists with five while Robert Rhodes had six rebounds in helping KCKCC win the board battle 45-40.

However, the Blue Devils could not match the Pirates’ deadly shooting, 19-of-32 for 59.4 percent the first half and 17-of-34 the second. The Blue Devils had 11 more shots but were 31-of-77 for 40.3 percent. KCKCC also lost the turnover battle 20-12 with North Central turning the 20 turnovers into 26 points.

Veteran guard Calvin Slaughter went up for two of his nine points in KCKCC’s 100-86 loss to North Central Missouri Saturday as teammate Robert Rhodes (11) awaited a possible rebound. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

KCKCC women rebound from worst start with most complete game

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s No. 4 ranked Lady Blue Devils survived arguably their worst start in the last four years Saturday.

Trailing by as many as eight points in the second quarter, the Blue Devils used long-range shooting to bolt to a 33-31 halftime lead and then pulled away for a 77-65 win over North Central Missouri (4-3) in the annual Keith Lindsey Classic.

The win boosted the Blue Devils’ record to 7-1 heading into a men’s-women’s doubleheader Wednesday at Metropolitan Community College. The women will tip off at 5 p.m., the men at 7 p.m. in the twin bill on the Penn Valley campus.

The Blue Devils dug themselves a deep hole early with sub-par shooting against a North Central Missouri team that had played No. 1 ranked Johnson County to an 80-72 decision early in the season.

The Blue Devils managed only 2 of 17 first-quarter shots (11.8 percent), 1-of-8 three-pointers (.125) and 5-of-10 free throws. Add five turnovers and they were fortunate to trail only 13-9 after a falling behind 9-2.

The Pirates built a 19-11 lead with 7½ minutes left in the first half before KCKCC went long distance to get back into contention.

After a layup by Mercer Roberts, Diamond Williams and Roberts drained back-to-back threes and Tiaira Earnest hit a pair to pull KCKCC into its first of seven ties 25-25. Two Jada Mayberry layups gave KCKCC its first lead 33-31 at halftime and set up a decisive third quarter.

Camryn Estell, who had 11 points on 5-of-shooting in the period, put the Blue Devils ahead to stay 37-35 with 8:20 left. Roberts added six points and Earnest five in a quarter in which KCKCC was 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) and had a 58-47 lead they would not surrender.

“Last night, we had an 11-point lead going into the fourth quarter and needed a shot to win at the horn,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “Tonight I challenged them not to put themselves in position to do that again; that we did not need a miracle and they did that just great. As far as getting a lead and holding it, I thought this was our most complete game of the year.”

Estell led KCKCC with her third straight double-double and the fourth of the season, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Earnest, who was 3-of-5 from 3-point, chipped in with 15 points and Roberts added 11 points, six rebounds and three assists. KCKCC had 21 assists on 29 field goals led by Adoreya Williams with a career-high seven and Brodi Byrd five.

“I thought Mercer really gave us a boost in the third quarter and did a great job,” McKinstry said. “We were severely outsized with only Kamryn and Mercer able to compete with their length and size. Kamryn is capable of being an absolute force. Tiaira Earnest also gave us a big boost in the second half and while Adoreya Williams didn’t shoot well, she had six points, five rebounds and seven assists which shows what impact a point guard can have without scoring a lot.”