Category: KCKCC

KCKCC Endowment’s gala fundraiser receives sponsorship from AT&T

Mike Scott, president of AT&T Kansas, and Chris Carroll, AT&T regional director of external and legislative affairs, presented a $17,500 check for its presenting sponsorship of the 2015 4.0 Gala and Scholarship Scramble Golf Tournament Wednesday. Patrick McCartney, executive director of the KCKCC Endowment, and Susan Lindahl, KCKCC chief financial officer, were on hand to accept the check. (Photo from KCKCC)
Mike Scott, president of AT&T Kansas, and Chris Carroll, AT&T regional director of external and legislative affairs, presented a $17,500 check for its presenting sponsorship of the 2015 4.0 Gala and Scholarship Scramble Golf Tournament Wednesday. Patrick McCartney, executive director of the KCKCC Endowment, and Susan Lindahl, KCKCC chief financial officer, were on hand to accept the check. (Photo from KCKCC)

by Kelly Rogge

With only a few days into the new year, AT&T Kansas is already looking toward its sponsorship of the Kansas City Kansas Community College Endowment Association’s 2015 4.0 Gala.

Mike Scott, president of AT&T Kansas, and Chris Carroll, AT&T regional director of external and legislative affairs, presented a $17,500 check for its presenting sponsorship of the 2015 4.0 Gala and Scholarship Scramble Golf Tournament Wednesday.

Patrick McCartney, executive director of the KCKCC Endowment, and Susan Lindahl, KCKCC chief financial officer, were on hand to accept the check.

More than 300 people attended the first-ever 4.0 Gala, also presented by AT&T, Oct. 25 at Lake Quivira. In addition to a reception and dinner, there was a silent and live auction, presented by the Nigro Brothers as well as the presentation of two awards.

These were the Wyandotte Countian of the Year, given to former Mayor of the Unified Government Joe Reardon and the KCKCC Distinguished Alumni Award, given to Karen Orr, chief nursing officer for Providence Medical Center. In total, the gala raised more than $70,000 for the KCKCC Endowment Association.

AT&T was the presenting sponsor of the 4.0 Gala. In addition, Capitol Federal and Bank of Blue Valley signed on as major sponsors of the event.

For more information on the KCKCC Endowment Association or on the 2015 4.0 Gala, call 913-288-7675.

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.

KCKCC volleyball All-American Russell to Missouri Western

With head coach Mary Bruno looking on, Kansas City Kansas Community College All-American Blair Russell put the final touches on her transfer to Western Missouri State University where she’ll continue her volleyball career beginning next week. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
With head coach Mary Bruno looking on, Kansas City Kansas Community College All-American Blair Russell put the final touches on her transfer to Western Missouri State University where she’ll continue her volleyball career beginning next week. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kanas Community College All-American Blair Russell will continue her volleyball career at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo.

An All-Jayhawk and All-District first team selection in helping lead the Lady Blue Devils to the consolation championship of the NJCAA Division II national tournament, Russell is KCKCC’s first player to be named to the NJCAA First All-America team.

A December graduate at KCKCC, Russell will transfer immediately and begin classes at MWSU next week.

“I talked to quite a few MIAA schools and had decided to wait until the spring to decide because I had had no time to go visit,” Russell said. “But I took a visit to MWSU because it was so close and just loved it – and they had the program I wanted to major in.”

“The entire Blue Devil coaching staff is so proud of Blair’s achievements both on the court and in the classroom,” said KCKCC head coach Mary Bruno. “Her work last spring was the turning point. She worked so hard and it showed by the All-American honors. A leader and great team player, she has the potential to make a major impact at Missouri Western. I just can’t wait to see what the next two years hold for her.”

Russell, who earned an associate’s degree at KCKCC with a major in journalism, will major in convergent media at MWSU.

“I really like photography and video editing,” Russell said. By transferring now, her goal is to graduate in December of 2017.

At Missouri Western, Russell will fill the same role she played at KCKCC, outside hitter where she was fifth in the nation in kills (516) and eighth in kills (3.94) per game.

“I was recruited to fill the spot of their outside hitter who graduated,” said Russell, who was recruited by head coach Marian Carbin and assistant Signe Mueller. “They really seemed to care about their players and program and think I’ll fit right in.” Russell is one of two Jayhawk Conference standouts joining the NWMU program this spring. “The setter from Fort Scott also signed,” Russell said.

The location of MWSU is a great fit for Russell. Her older sister and a former KCKCC player, Riley, is a nurse in the Kansas City area while her parents now live in Omaha.

A graduate of Marysville (Kan.) High School where she was a three-sport standout, Russell almost gave up competitive volleyball after injuring her shoulder her freshman year at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. However, once in contact with Bruno, Russell decided to continue at KCKCC, a decision she calls one of the best of her life.

“I had a really good time and am going to miss it,” Russell said.

Nominations open for 19th annual KCKCC’s Mid-America Education Hall of Fame

by Kelly Rogge

There is still time to submit nominations for induction into the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame, presented by the Kansas City Kansas Community College Endowment Association.

The event is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 23 at the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center.

The Mid-America Education Hall of Fame was started in 1996 by the KCKCC Endowment Association as a way to recognize individuals, organizations and corporate supporters in the community who have made notable contributions to education.

Hall of Fame inductees are selected based on a demonstrated commitment to education, their effort to improve the quality of life in the community through a commitment to education, increasing educational opportunities for others and supporting significant changes that have improved the quality of education.

Nominees will be screened according to the set criteria by the selection committee. In addition, nominations must include a biography or program description and at least three letters of recommendation.

Nomination forms are available at www.kckcc.edu/endowment-association. Forms can be submitted via mail or email. No video or audio tapes will be considered. Nominations are due by Feb. 2, 2015.

Last year’s list of honorees included Bob Van Maren, long-time superintendent of the Bonner Springs School District; Harry McDonald, a 30-year teaching veteran in the Blue Valley School District; Dr. Howard Shaw, a physician and hospital administrator who was named the Outstanding Community College Student in Kansas during his time at KCKCC in the 1980s; Greg Graves, chairman and CEO of Kansas City-based Burns and McDonnell; AT&T, a company that has made a five-year commitment worth $250 million to address high school success as well as college and career readiness for students deemed at-risk and the 2nd Chance Scholarship Foundation, an organization founded by Matt and Jessica Brandmeyer that provides scholarships to high school graduates who have experienced adversity.

For more information on the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame or to submit a nomination, contact Dawanna Fangohr or Patrick McCartney at 913-288-7675. Information is also available by email at dfangohr@kckcc.edu.

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.