Category: KCKCC

KCKCC Art Gallery to hold two events in October for Hispanic Heritage Month

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Art Gallery is preparing for two events in October to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

The first event is a part of the college’s historical mural program to further educate the community on local history. The event will be from 11 a.m. to Noon Oct. 12 in the Lower Jewell student area. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The speaker is Gene T. Chávez, a renowned historian, author and community leader, who will be sharing information from his book “Mexican American Baseball in Kansas City.”

Chávez’s historic work has brought a spotlight on the rich history of Kansas City. He also led the Hispanic history featured in the KCKCC and Wyandotte County Historical Mural and has two other exhibitions in the Kansas City area – the Smithsonian Institution Traveling exhibit “In the Barrios and the Big Leagues,” on display at the Kansas City Museum and “Connection Communities across State Lines: Mexican American Fast Pitch Softball Leagues” exhibition, on display at the Wyandotte County Historical Museum.

The first 30 people to register will receive a free taco to support the Hispanic Scholars Fundraiser. In addition, two signed books will be given away at the event. Registration is at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Bm3EI-PF40K4SHY-uwLmrdWn1X0UJGlDumSuiVQiu_lUNDNCVEJLTTUxUlVXWUdDSVpGV0Y1Q09FRy4u.

The second event relates to the “Cultura” exhibition, which celebrates Hispanic artists in the Kansas City region. “Cultura” is currently on display in the KCKCC Art Gallery, Room 2346, until Oct. 21. The exhibition can be viewed from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday or by appointment.

Curator Vania Soto is well known for her intricate and colorful murals, which can be seen throughout the Kansas City area. The KCKCC art collection features three of Soto’s original murals.

The group of artists featured in “Cultura” includes Baldemar Rivas, Chico Sierra, Emily Alvarez, Kristie-Lynn McGathy, Luis Merlo, Naomi Apodaca, Nicolas Ortega and Ysabel Santacruz. The exhibit’s closing reception will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 14, and the artists will be present to discuss their works.

For more information on either event, the KCKCC Art Gallery or to schedule a private appointment, contact gallery coordinator Shai Perry at [email protected].

KCKCC Theatre to present ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

A modern Broadway classic is headed to the Kansas City Kansas Community College stage.

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” directed by Cinnamon Paulette, is at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 to 9. There is also a matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 10. All performances are in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC Main Campus, 7250 State Ave.

No one will be seated in the first two rows, and all audience members will be required to wear a mask. Tickets are limited to half of the performing arts center’s capacity, allowing for groups to be socially distanced in the theater.

Tickets are $12 for adults; $7 for non-KCKCC students, children or seniors and $5 for KCKCC students, staff and faculty. Two virtual streams will also be presented – 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 and 9. Tickets are $12, and attendees will receive a link one hour before the scheduled event. All tickets can be purchased online at www.kckcctheatre.com.

“I always start out talking with Cinnamon Paulette, the performance professor and the director of the show, to see what she might want direct. We also consider the students we have and are aware of that will be around. This is often a long shot because we do try to select our show about a year in advance,” said Gary Mosby, associate professor and theatre coordinator. “We work as a production team and together we usually select good work for our students, college and our community.”

Based on the characters of cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, the musical follows Charlie Brown and his friends as they struggle with homework, sing, celebrate their friendship and discuss life while playing a game of baseball.

The cast includes Christian Anderson, Charlie Brown; Kailey Green, Sally Brown; Samuel Burleson, Linus Van Pelt; Alena Riley, Lucy Van Pelt; Kaitlyn Kreutzjans, Snoopy; Zachary Stoddard, Schroeder and Kyn Johnson, Blanket.

“I think we need some simple innocent entertainment right now, and I want our audience to come back. With such a family friendly and iconic piece, I think it will draw a larger audience base,” Paulette said of the musical. “This is also a unique musical. It is structure quite different than others as it is frame by frame, like a comic strip feel to it. There are some very short moments that are often somewhat related from moment to moment. Much like a child’s mind.”

For more information, visit the KCKCC Theatre Department website at www.kckcctheatre.com.

16th-ranked KCKCC women’s soccer will be Jayhawk target

Inexperienced Blue Devils to meet Neosho County Wednesday, Cowley Saturday

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Coach Shawn Uhlenhake (KCKCC photo)

For the first time in history, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women’s soccer team will enter a new season as the defending Jayhawk Conference champion and nationally ranked. But also will come with a big bullseye for Jayhawk rivals.

“Anytime you start a season with a national ranking, there will always be a target on your back,” said sixth year head coach Shawn Uhlenhake of his 16th nationally ranked Blue Devils. “We’ve had a lot of success against conference teams the last two seasons so they’ll be coming very hard at us. If you want to be a nationally ranked team, you have to beat a nationally ranked team and that’s us.”

The Blue Devils open the season Wednesday when they’ll play host to Neosho County at 5 p.m. and then entertain Cowley College Saturday at 2 p.m. in a collision of last year’s East and West champions.

The last two seasons, the Blue Devils won 25 games, more wins than KCKCC had won in its first seven seasons. The 2019 team finished 13-4 (most wins ever); the 2020-21 team 12-4-1 and earned an at-large berth in the NJCAA DI national tournament along with the Jayhawk championship.

However, graduation took eight starters from those two teams, leaving Uhlenhake with only six returnees around whom to build.

“We’ll be leaning a lot on our sophomores,” Uhlenhake said. “Although there’s only a handful, we think they’ll be up to the challenge and the freshmen will follow the lead. It’s hard to explain to the freshmen what they’re getting into. With so many newcomers, they have to see it to believe it.”

Heading the list of returnees is 5-5 midfielder Katharina Oelschlager, a COVID freshman from Germany. The Jayhawk Player of the Year last spring, Oelschlager scored 13 goals and had nine assists. Also returning to the starting lineup will be midfielder Kaylee Shaw of Leavenworth, defender Grace Runyan of Blue Valley and goaltender Suzie Lopez of Turner, who has moved to a forward spot this spring. Also returning are midfielder Piper Newell of Wichita and defender Samantha Wojahn of Park Hill,

Uhlenhake’s biggest concern is at forward where he has no returnees.

“It’s really critical because it’s an unknown position and you have to score goals to win,” he said. Lopez, who played one game at forward last spring and scored a goal, will be joined by freshmen Gabby Lopez of Platte County, Rand Tabb of Ruskin of Ruskin and Addison Leonard of Park Hill South on the front line.

Strength will be at the midfield position where Oelschlager, Shaw and Newell all return.

“They’re good leaders and organizers; we’ll need their experience,” Uhlenhake said. Freshmen Lena Bauer of Germany, Jasmine Alcantara of Raytown South, Aislann Harrison of Staley, Samantha Calderon of Sumner Academy and Rosana Kasemier of the Netherlands make for a deep and talented midfield corps.

Runyan is the only returning defensive starter although Wojahn saw playing time and William Penn transfer Zoe Ganley has playing experience.

“Runyan is a great leader and that’s huge,” Uhlenhake said. Freshmen defenders vying for starting berths include Kate Erpelding of Eudora, Kayleigh Sumier of Belton and Ellie Heimann of Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel,

Leah Williams, a 5-9 freshman from Eudora, will be in goal.

“She’s got length we haven’t had before, is a good shot stopper and will challenge and take team’s best shots,” said Uhlenhanke, who is again being assisted by Jefferson Roblee.

The Blue Devils will play a 13-game schedule with all games against Jayhawk Conference rivals. Also, all games will be played either on a Wednesday or Saturday. Butler County at No. 11 is the only other Jayhawk Conference team ranked nationally. Butler and KCKCC will collide in the Blue Devils first road game Sept. 8 and then Butler will be at KCKCC Oct. 12.

Kansas City Kansas Community College

2021 Women’s Soccer Schedule

Sept. 1 – Neosho County, 5 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Cowley College, 2 p.m.
Sept. 8 – At Butler County, 6 p.m.
Sept. 11 – at Dodge City, noon
Sept. 15 – Johnson County, 5 p.m.
Sept. 18 – at Garden City, noon
Sept. 25 – Barton County, 2 p.m.
Sept. 29 – at Coffeyville, 5 p.m.
Oct. 6 – at Neosho County, 5 p.m.
Oct. 9 – at Hutchinson, 2 p.m.
Oct. 13 – Butler County, 6 p.m.
Oct.16 – at Johnson County, 5 p.m.
Oct. 23 – Coffeyville, 5 p.m.
All Jayhawk Conference game