HutchCC News

It’s next-to-last meeting of the fiscal year was fairly routine for the Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees.

The Board approved proceeding with two campus enhancement projects involving the courtyard entrance to the Parker Student Union and the tennis court area. The renovation of the tennis court area is anticipated to begin this fall while the courtyard renovation will commence following the 2022-23 academic year.

The Board also conducted several items of routine business. In addition, the Board acknowledged the resignation of Trustee Marla Eriksen who will be relocating outside of Reno County. Her last meeting will be on June 23.

The next meeting of the board will be on Thursday, June 23.  The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Shears Technology Center Justice Theater.  The public is invited to attend.

For more information on Hutchinson Community College, visit the college website at www.hutchcc.edu.

Hutchinson Community College has announced that Jennifer Wiens, Professor of Chemistry, has been selected as the 2021-22 Dragon Educator of the Year.

Wiens was selected from nominees from all academic areas by the HutchCC Student Government Association (SGA) for the honor. The instructors are nominated by Hutchinson Community College students, and then complete a selection and personal interview process conducted by SGA.  Wiens received her honor at the College’s commencement on May 6.

Wiens teaches General Chemistry lectures and labs as well as Ecology of Environmental Problems, along with serving as an academic advisor.

Wiens received her Bachelors of Science in Fisheries & Wildlife Biology-Fisheries Biology from Kansas State University in 1994 and earned her Masters in Biology from Kansas State in 1996.

For more information on Hutchinson Community College, visit the college website at www.hutchcc.edu.

Two outstanding Hutchinson Community College students were recognized as the 2022 Young Kansan Award winners at a ceremony on campus on April 27. The students will also be honored during the College’s commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 6.

Kaitlyn Seiwert (Murdock) and Andrew Bergmeier (Hutchinson) were selected from a field of students nominated for the honor.  The Young Kansan award recognizes the outstanding male and female graduate each year at Hutchinson Community College, and is chosen by a vote of the faculty and administration at the college.

The award is sponsored by RCB Bank.  Each winner received a plaque and a cash honorarium in recognition of their achievements.

Kaitlyn is from Murdock and attended Kingman High School. She is graduating with an Associate of Science degree. During her time at HutchCC, she was the editor of the Dragon’s Tale Magazine and was selected to represent Student Publications in the 2022 Winter Homecoming Court. In addition, she is an Honors Students and has been listed on the Vice President’s Honor Roll. She works in the Student Success Center on campus. After graduation, Kaitlyn plans to attend Kansas State University and pursue a degree in Agriculture Communications and Journalism.

Bergmeier is from Hutchinson and is a graduate of Trinity Catholic High School. He will be graduating with an Associate of Science degree. During his time at HutchCC, he has served as an Ambassador in the Admissions department, has been a Leadership Scholar, worked in the Athletic department and has been involved with the Ping Pong Club. Academically he is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and has been on the President’s or Vice President’s Honor Roll every semester. After graduation, Andrew plans to attend Kansas State University majoring in Education.

For more information on the honor and award programs at Hutchinson Community College, visit the college’s website at www.hutchcc.edu.

Hutchinson Community College’s two student publications - The Hutchinson Collegian newspaper and Dragon’s Tale magazine - fared well in the annual Kansas Collegiate Media contest held April 10-11 in Wichita.

Overall, the publications combined for 102 individual awards in writing, photography, creative design and social media. Among those 102 awards included 25 first-place awards.

Brooke Greene, a Hutchinson High graduate and The Collegian’s Editor-in-Chief, was named Two-Year College Journalist of the Year. Greene picked up three other awards, including a first-place win in Features Writing for a story she wrote on the accident and recovery of alumnus Clayton Evans, aided by his wife and HutchCC alumna Melissa (Maldonado) Evans, and the support from the community.

A complete list of winners can be found below.

The Dragon’s Tale staff at HutchCC is led by advisor Amber Brawner, Professor of Visual Media Design, while The Collegian staff advisor is Brad Hallier, Assistant Professor of Journalism.

2021-2022 KCM Conference Winners