By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Three record-setting Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball players have earned second team All-Jayhawk East Conference recognition for their play in 2009-10.

Sophomore Derick Denny and freshman Dennis Tinnon were named to the Jayhawk East men’s second team while freshman Alyssa Rushton was named to the women’s All-East unit.

A 6-4 sophomore guard from Green Bay, Wis., Denny finished his two-year career as the all-time leader in three-point goals (227) and three-point shooting percentage (.454) and second in free throw percentage (.844) and three-point goals in a single season (119).

The Jayhawk leader in three-point goals both as a freshman and sophomore, he also led the conference in three-point percentage and was ninth in scoring (16.2).

A 6-7 forward also from Green Bay, Tinnon led the Jayhawk Conference in field goal accuracy (.640) and finished third in rebounding (10.65). Averaging a double-double with 13.8 points and 10.65 rebounds, his 14 double-doubles are believed to be the most ever at KCKCC.

He also ranks second in rebounds for a single game (21), third in field goal percentage and sixth in rebounds for a single season.

A 5-10 guard from Rochester, Minn., Rushton led the Jayhawk Conference in free throw percentage (.850), was second in three-point percentage (.404) and tied for eighth in three-point field goals with 65.

The Lady Blue Devils leading scorer at 13.3, her .403 three-point percentage is second all-time and her .850 free throw percentage is second only to teammate Michelle Selbe (.902).

Satoria Bell of Labette was named the East’s Most Valuable Player with Johnson County’s Ben Conrad Coach of the Year and Taylor Bird Freshman of the Year. Bell was joined on the All-East first team by Sadie Webb, Independence; Kellindra Zackery, Labette; Bjonee Reaves, Neosho; Gianna Woods, Cowley; and Melissa Nelson, Johnson County.

Antione Lundy of Neosho was voted Most Valuable men’s player; Tommy DeSalme of Cowley Coach of the Year; and Tyrus McGee of Cowley, Freshman of the Year. Lundy and McGee were joined on the first team by Andra Bailey, Allen County; Jarmar Gulley, Highland; and David Luster, Johnson County.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Three record-setting Kansas City Kansas Community College basketball players have earned second team All-Jayhawk East Conference recognition for their play in 2009-10.

Sophomore Derick Denny and freshman Dennis Tinnon were named to the Jayhawk East men’s second team while freshman Alyssa Rushton was named to the women’s All-East unit.

A 6-4 sophomore guard from Green Bay, Wis., Denny finished his two-year career as the all-time leader in three-point goals (227) and three-point shooting percentage (.454) and second in free throw percentage (.844) and three-point goals in a single season (119).

The Jayhawk leader in three-point goals both as a freshman and sophomore, he also led the conference in three-point percentage and was ninth in scoring (16.2).

A 6-7 forward also from Green Bay, Tinnon led the Jayhawk Conference in field goal accuracy (.640) and finished third in rebounding (10.65).

Averaging a double-double with 13.8 points and 10.65 rebounds, his 14 double-doubles are believed to be the most ever at KCKCC. He also ranks second in rebounds for a single game (21), third in field goal percentage and sixth in rebounds for a single season.

A 5-10 guard from Rochester, Minn., Rushton led the Jayhawk Conference in free throw percentage (.850), was second in three-point percentage (.404) and tied for eighth in three-point field goals with 65.

The Lady Blue Devils leading scorer at 13.3, her .403 three-point percentage is second all-time and her .850 free throw percentage is second only to teammate Michelle Selbe (.902).

Satoria Bell of Labette was named the East’s Most Valuable Player with Johnson County’s Ben Conrad Coach of the Year and Taylor Bird Freshman of the Year. Bell was joined on the All-East first team by Sadie Webb, Independence; Kellindra Zackery, Labette; Bjonee Reaves, Neosho; Gianna Woods, Cowley; and Melissa Nelson, Johnson County.

Antione Lundy of Neosho was voted Most Valuable men’s player; Tommy DeSalme of Cowley Coach of the Year; and Tyrus McGee of Cowley, Freshman of the Year. Lundy and McGee were joined on the first team by Andra Bailey, Allen County; Jarmar Gulley, Highland; and David Luster, Johnson County.

Basketball clinics for both boys and girls in the third through sixth grades will be held at Kansas City Kansas Community College Monday, March 29, and Wednesday, March 31.

Instruction will be provided by the KCKCC women’s coaching and members of the Blue Devil team. All areas of instruction will be provided in the clinics, which will be held from 4-6 p.m. in the KCKCC Field House on the campus at 7250 State Avenue.

Cost is $10 per session and boys and girls can pre-register by contacting assistant coach Alicia Roth at 913-288-7461 or aroth@kckcc.edu.
 

Story and photo by ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

The biology faculty at Kansas City Kansas Community College is reaching out help to the students.       

Each day, a “Biology Corner” manned by a biology instructor can be found in the lounge area adjacent to the Engineering, Science and Math Division on the lower level of the Science Building.

The concept was introduced by instructor Deb Taylor after attending a Community College Leadership in Learning Institute sponsored by Iowa State University and Johnson County Community College on the JCCC campus.

“Dr. Kay McClenney of the University of Texas-Austin was speaking on student retention and the importance of connecting with the faculty and emphasized the importance of putting the faculty where students could find them, that students are much more likely to approach a faculty member in an open area than trying to track them down in an office,” said Taylor.

Patterned after a similar program Dr. McClenney said had been successful at a community college in San Antonio, Tex., Taylor said all nine member of the biology division are taking turns in manning the Biology Corner.

They include Dr. Michael Ballentine, Elisabeth Kasckow, Ernie May, Dr. Doris Daniels, Todd Gordon, Curtis Smith, Lorraine Green, Jim Lisle and Taylor.

“We’re giving it a trial run and keeping numbers on how many students are using it,” said Taylor. “We picked the lounge area because we see a lot of science students studying in that area. And they don’t have to ask biology questions. We’re there to help in anyway we can.”

PHOTO: Kansas City Kansas Community College biology instructors Deb Taylor (pictured above), Dr. Michael Ballentine and Elisabeth Kaskcow are among nine KCKCC biology teachers who make themselves available to students in an open lounge area rather than having students tracking them down in their offices.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

An intricate, time-traveling comic thriller that delighted audiences in London and New York, “Communicating Doors,” will be performed at Kansas City Kansas Community College Thursday through Sunday, April 1-4.

Directed by Sean Taylor of the KCKCC Department of Theatre, the play will be presented at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue. 

The comic thriller by Alan Ayckbourn evolves around a London sex specialist from the future named Poopay and played by Brandy Hoover of Bonner Springs.

By happenstance, Poopay stumbles into a murder plot that sends her, compliments of a unique set of hotel doors, traveling back in time.

She and two women who were murdered, Ashley Gerni of SM Northwest and Skye Reid of Baldwin, race back and forth in time trying to re-write history and prevent their own violent ends.

The frantic race begins when Poopay is hired for an evening at the Regal Hotel by an old man played by Brett Baker of Newton who eschews a fling in favor of confessing his role in the demise of his wives.

The old man’s sinister business associate is played by Jonathan Humphrey of Shawnee Mission Christian while Topeka grad Brandon Durkes plays the detective who is called in to help solve the thriller in which Poopay becomes a target and flees into the vestibule and somehow triggers the time machine.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens and are available at the door at each performance.

PHOTO: Bonner Springs graduate Brandy Hoover (foreground) plays the lead role in the Kansas City Kansas Community College comic thriller “Communicating Doors” that will also feature (from left) Brandon Durkes, Ashley Gerni, Brett Baker, Skye Reid and Jonathan Humphrey in performances April 1-4. (KCKCC Photo by Dr. Charles Leader)

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

Up to 10 free health screenings will be available at Health Fair 10’ at Kansas City Kansas Community College Thursday, April 15.

Open to the community, the Health Fair will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the upper level Jewell Building on the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue.

In addition to the free screenings and health education, a cholesterol blood chemistry will be available for $28 and a 20 chemistry test with lipid profile and complete blood count for $35.  Both tests require a 12-hour fast from food and drink with the exception of water although persons with diabetes should not fast and prescription medicine should not be interrupted. 

A PSA blood test for men will be offered for $25 and a TSH test for thyroid will be available for $27.

The areas of free screenings include blood pressure, height and weight, HIV/STD testing, blood sugar level, vision, percent of body fat, hearing, grip strength, spinal flexibility, oral hygiene/cancer, and chiropractic analysis.

Physicians, registered nurses, and dietitians will be on hand to answer any health questions in such diverse areas as diabetes, smoking cessation, alcohol and drug abuse, heart disease, stress, sexually transmitted diseases, breast and testicular self exams, and fitness and wellness.

This event is sponsored by Student Health Services, Nursing and Allied Health programs, and the Wellness and Fitness Center at KCKCC.  There will be drawings for door prizes.
 

Kansas City Kansas Community College will host the 2010 Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival on Saturday, April 24.

The event will be held at the college's field house, located at 7250 State Avenue, from 11:30 a.m.  – 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the general public. Parking is also free.

"The mission of the Wyandotte County Ethnic Festival is to foster a climate of inclusiveness, promote relationships and contact between people, and educate each other about our common humanity," a press release about the festival states. "We want to meet our neighbors who live, work, attend schools or colleges here, or have ties to Wyandotte County."

All ethnic groups or affiliate organizations can apply for two free tables.

For more information about registering for the event, contact Curtis V. Smith at cvsmith@kckcc.edu. The deadline is April 1.

The Books and Bric a Brac sale will be held at the Kansas City Kansas Community College's Conference Center this week.

The sale will benefit the Shepherd's Center of Kansas City, Kan., an interfaith organization that helps older adults in Wyandotte County.

The two-day event will be held on Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

KCKCC is located at 7250 State Avenue. The conference center is located by the lake.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

A series of five programs will celebrate Women’s History Month on the Kansas City Kansas Community College campus during the month of March.

Free and open to the public, the programs are co-hosted by Campus Forum, Intercultural Center, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts and the Community Outreach Counseling Program/Women’s Resource Center.

The schedule:

Women’s History Panels, Thursday, March 4, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Intercultural Center. Historian Jane McClain will discuss the Women’s History Panels on display in the lower Jewell Center.

Women’s History Read-In. Facilitated by Humanities instructor Polly Hawk, the Read-In will be held Wednesday, March 10, from noon-1 p.m. in the Intercultural Center.

Feminist Writer’s Workshops. Scheduled from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Thursday, March 11, and Tuesday, March 30, the workshops are for those interested in exploring through writing stories of their mothers, grandmothers or others.  Entitled “Telling the Untold Tales: A Writing Workshop Celebrating Women’s History,” the workshops will be facilitated by Humanities instructor Tasha Haas in the Intercultural Center

Write Women into History. To be held Wednesday, March 24, from noon-1 p.m., in Room 2325, Dr. Angela Hubler, Director of Women’s Studies at Kansas State, will argue that historical fiction may be a more useful resource for empowering young women in a program entitled “Write Off Girl Power, Write Women into History and Write a New Script for Adolescent Girls.”

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

While no longer in the public eye as it once was, the fight against substance abuse continues to be waged.

“The hardest part is the general acceptance that marijuana, for instance, is all natural and the common perception is that people need it to relax. What we must teach is what they’re doing is not natural, that its health impairing and can have life long consequences,” says Carla Green, newly named Director of the Wyandotte County Regional Prevention Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Elevated to Director in January, Green joined the Center as a Prevention Specialist in June, just in time to evaluate a survey of students and their needs during Red Ribbon Week.

“I see a need,” says Green. “While many of the students are on track academically, they haven’t been taught to make wise choices and how they’ll have to suffer the consequences. That’s the gap where I see us coming in.

“We’ve researched everything we do and have data on what the needs are. We’re not just dealing with students, we’re looking at the environment as a whole. We need to bring about environmental changes. For example, we know there are over the counter meds that are used in making meth. We need to deter that.”

Green said the focus of the Regional Prevention Center is on reducing or hopefully eliminating substance abuse, especially that used by the youth.

“We need to decrease future usage and change unhealthy beliefs towards substance abuse,” she says. “Here on campus, outside of academics, I see our role as helping round out their education and really ready them for the real world and make them better for healthy jobs.”

Towards those goals Green said the Prevention Center will continue to work closely with two community coalitions already in place, “Connect the Dottes” and “Grassroots Leadership.”

“My goal for those two coalitions is to give them the tools they need to go out and mobilize in the community,” says Green. “Our staff can’t do it alone. But I also hope to get them involved on campus, not necessarily with new programs or clubs but by building on the programs we already have. We need to add a new aspect to enhance the programs that already exist.”

“Carla Green brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position,” said Dean of Student Services Richard T. Lee.  “Her involvement in the community and work with the youth as well as with some of our senior citizens gives her the appropriate background and experience. In addition, her experience in finance and grant acquisition will be an asset in the development and procurement of additional grants and other resources to support the mission of the Regional Prevention Center as well as the citizens of Wyandotte County. She’s a well organized individual who works well under pressure, is an excellent manager of people and a support of students in both publics and KCKCC.”

A 1983 graduate of Sumner Academy, Green earned a BS in Social Sciences from Kansas State and a Masters of Arts in Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution from Baker University.

She came to the Regional Prevention Center from the Kansas City Kansas Public School District, where she worked eight years in various capacities, the most recent as coordinator of the district’s short term suspension alternative program.

Working mostly with middle school students, Green coordinated a program in which rather than send students in trouble home on suspension, they were kept in school where their home work could be monitored and students given the social skills to be successful when they returned to the classroom.

Prior to joining the KCK public school district, Green worked nearly 10 years in Human Resources with Kemper Financial Services.

Green and her husband, Bill, who works for International Paper, live in Piper and she has three children, Victoria Hicks, a student in KCKCC’s Nursing Program; Victor Hicks, a senior at Leavenworth  High School; and Aaric Hicks, a junior at Piper.

“I’m excited working here on campus,” said Green, whose first job as director was filling three vacant staff positions. “I feel we’ve got a real captive audience and I’m hoping to work with the students, staff and faculty in any way I can.” 

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

High school students from Turner, Tonganoxie, J.C. Harmon and Sumner Academy will join Kansas City Kansas Community College choirs in performing Faure’s “Requiem” Sunday, March 7.

A High School Invitational Master Works Concert, it will be performed at 4 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 94th and State Avenue. Open to the public, there is no charge.

The concert is being directed by Dale Shetler, retiring Director of Vocal Music at KCKCC, in conjunction with high school directors Becky Thomas, Sumner Academy; Juli Hossain, J.C. Harmon; and Tom Gifford, Tonganoxie.

"They love having their singers participate in this event,” said Shelter. “Their students learn a tremendous amount during the five Saturday rehearsals on our campus and bring those skills back to their program and influence their choirs with tremendous enthusiasm and excitement.”

Solos by soprano Bailey Wetta, baritone Michael Burnworth and tenor Shaun Lindsey will highlight the performance of Faure’s “Requiem.”

In addition, the KCKCC Chamber Choir will perform Ned Rorem’s “Three Prayers” and the Kyrie from William Byrd’s “Mass for Four Voices” while the KCKCC Jazz Choir will perform Vijay Singh’s arrangement of “I Wish You Love,” a Dave Cross arrangement of “Wee Dot;” and Phil Mattson’s “If I Love You” featuring soloist Amy Olbert.

Michael Young and Gabe Harris will be scatting on “Wee Dot” with well-known Kansas City jazz artist Mike Ning on jazz piano.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

More than 200 students from a dozen area high schools were able to experience hands-on training at the annual 2nd HOT Career Days at the Technical Education Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

An acronym for Hands-On Training, HOT provided the students an opportunity to actually get their hands on a project in most of the 20 technical programs offered at the KCKCC-TEC.

Nearly 100 students from Basehor-Linwood, Bonner Springs, Lansing, Leavenworth, Piper and Tonganoxie took part in the day-long activities on January  27 with another 110 students from J.C. Harmon, Turner, F.L. Schlagle, Washington and Wyandotte participating on Jan. 28.

A joint effort of the Career Pathways Consortium of Wyandotte and Leavenworth Counties and the KCKCC Technical Education Center, students were transported from their respective high schools to the TEC campus at 59th and Parallel to participate in hands-on activities, tour the educational center, and network with industry technicians.

Students visited two different technical programs to participate in hands-on projects. In addition, they heard from current students about their educational experience and gathered information about the education and training required for a variety of technical fields. 

Technical programs visited ranged from nursing, cosmetology, early childhood, multimedia/video production and professional cooking to construction, welding, electrical, automotive technology, and auto collision repair.

A new activity, “Career Jumping,” was added to this year’s agenda. In order to best provide students exposure to various careers, “Career Jumping” followed the format of a “speed dating session” in which at the ring of the bell, groups of students rotated to a new table with a different career professional.    

Several of the career professionals represented non-traditional occupations for their gender such as a female police officer, a female firefighter, a female welder, and a female construction contractor. 

Students were also given a tour of the TEC which allowed students to see all other programs offered at the center.

The students responded with countless positive comments and feed back. 

Comments included: “Discovered I’m interested in many careers.  Helped me decide what I want to do.  It made me excited about nursing and the culinary field. I want to start a heating and air conditioning business. It made me more confident about being a female mechanic. It gave me a lot of good options. It made me want to pursue my interest more. Becoming an electrician is a good path for me. It showed me what a college class would be like.”

The best comment of all came from a young man who had just come to start the enrollment process for next year as a post secondary student.  He said that after attending HOT Careers Day he knew this was the field and training program for him.

PHOTO: An opportunity to learn some of the basics in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning program at the KCKCC-Technical Education Center were offered as part of the 2nd Annual HOT (Hands-On Training) Days attended by more than 200 students. (KCKCC Photo by Mary Kobe-Peterson)

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Friday afternoon.

The retreat will last from 3–7 p.m.

The meeting will be held in the College Board Meeting at KCKCC.

By ALAN HOSKINS, Kansan Contributor

A pickup truck with 357,000 miles stole some of the thunder from America’s sleekest new vehicles at this year’s World of Wheels at Bartle Hall.

“We took two pickups and built one truck,” said Richard Gravelle, the Auto Collision Repair instructor at the Technical Education Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College who directed the two-year project.

“About three years ago, Gordon Energy and Drainage of Olathe donated two pickups to us, a 1991 Chevrolet and a 1995 Chevrolet. When we got it, the 1991 pickup had 357,000 miles on it. Mechanically it was in great shape but the body was destroyed.”

During the next two years, the auto collision repair program on the high school side used parts from the 1995 to help rebuild the 1991 model. In addition, Gravelle said approximately $4,500 in various parts were donated to the project.

“The high school side did about 90 percent of the body repair work and the post-secondary side finished the body work and painted it,” said Gravelle, the program’s instructor for the past five years. “It’s pretty amazing. It’s not perfect but it shows character and what our students can do.”

Since then the pickup has been a “Show Truck” used to promote the TEC’s Auto Collision Repair program and has been displayed at various car shows and businesses in Leavenworth and the Greater Kansas City area including the World of Wheels where it was parked along side a KCKCC-TEC trailer that showed a video of how student molded the renovated vehicle.

“I heard several favorable comments on the original condition of the truck and its present condition as shown on the video,” said Gravelle.

In addition to showing off the new truck, the TEC students heard guest speakers from various automotive businesses including local “hotrod shop” owners as part of Career Day. They were also given the opportunity to see the other cars and exhibits at the annual show.

“Talking to promoters, vocational schools will be invited back next year and we’ll have an even better and more eye-catching display,” promised Gravelle.

PHOTOS: Students in the high school side of the Auto Collision Repair program at the KCKCC-Technical Education Center began the two-year job of making a donated 1991 Chevrolet pickup and a 1995 Chevrolet into the new “Show Truck” the TEC had on display at this year’s World of Wheels along with a video that showed the rebuilding of the vehicle. (KCKCC Photos by Richard Gravelle)

Dr. Chan Tung, an associate professor in Computer Information Systems, donned a Chinese lion’s mask for the Fifth Annual Chinese New Year celebration for children in the Campus Child Care Center at Kansas City Kansas Community College. “It’s these types of activities that make the Child Care Center the best in the Midwest,” said Richard Lee, Dean of Student Services, of the Child Care Center which serves approximately 100 children of students, staff and faculty. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)

A Chinese lantern captured the attention of children in the Campus Child Care Center attending the 5th annual Chinese New Year celebration at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Looking on at the lantern displayed by speaker Dr. Chan Tung are (from left) Charity Riggins, DaMiya Richards, Isaaq Mohamed and Vesuvius Huston. The children also heard from Danielle Perica, who spent two years as a teacher in China. Doris Holleman, Child Care Center Director, was the program’s facilitator. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)