Plans are underway for Kansas City Kansas Community College’s oldest tradition – the 98th-annual Candle Lighting Ceremony.
The 98th-Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony is at 11 a.m. Nov. 30 in the KCKCC Performing Arts Center, 7250 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
Faculty members have been asked to consider excusing students, so that they may attend the ceremony, as long as it can be done with minimal disruption to classroom instruction. In addition, faculty members have been asked to make allowances for students who may come to noon classes late as a result of attending the ceremony. Students will need to present a program as evidence of their attendance. The Candle Lighting Ceremony is free and open to the public and will also be livestreamed on the KCKCC Facebook and Vimeo accounts.
The ceremony will highlight students in the music and theater departments as well as KCKCC Foundation scholarship donors and recipients.
Among the groups performing will be the national award-winning KCKCC Jazz Band, The Standard Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the Blue Devil Funk Band. In addition, there will be a special video showcase recognizing foundation scholarship recipients and videos from the KCKCC Pioneer Career Center (PCC) and the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center (TEC).
This year’s keynote speaker will be Joseph Straws, a graduate of KCKCC.
“This year will mark the 98th anniversary for the KCKCC Candle Lighting program,” said Andrica Wilcoxen, director of student activities at KCKCC. “This is the longest tradition in the city, and the event showcases the many talents from past to present of our KCKCC alums and students at all our KCKCC locations. This event helps our community, staff, faculty and students to directly see the talent and why it is so important to give towards scholarships. Many students are affected in a positive way because of the monies given to help them develop their talents and education to the next level. We are so grateful for our current and future alum and donors.”
KCKCC faculty members started the Candle Lighting Ceremony in December 1924, the year after KCKCC was founded. It remains the oldest tradition at KCKCC and serves as an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. During that first year, a collection was taken to fund student scholarships. This tradition has continued and over the years, several thousands of dollars has been collected for student scholarships at KCKCC.
This year, the KCKCC Student Senate will continue their “from students to students” tradition by presenting a $500 check to the KCKCC Foundation for additional scholarships to current and future students.
“It is often said that KCKCC is a ‘hidden jewel’ in our area. Attending the event will show first-hand the talent and reason why it is important to become a donor and to see how their donations can benefit students,” Wilcoxen said.
KCKCC alumni and community members will be given the opportunity to give free will donations to support the KCKCC student scholarship fund. There are and have been many students who have benefited from the scholarship fund, which would not be possible without the community and alumni. Through the generosity of donors throughout the college community, the KCKCC Foundation Scholarship program awarded 647 scholarships in the 2021-22 academic year.
For more information about the 98th Candle Lighting Ceremony, contact Andrica Wilcoxen at (913) 288-7652 or [email protected].
- Information from Kelly Rogge, KCKCC public information manager