UHS Hosts Chamber Coffee - Honors Graduates

Pomp and circumstance will soon ring at Ulysses High School, and 22 of those receiving their diplomas will also receive their Associate Degrees from Seward County Community College in Liberal.

"I have guided these students since they were sophomores," explained Lori Barnes, Outreach Coordinator at UHS for SCCC. "In order to get an Associates Degree, you do have to have a minimum of 60 college credit hours. Most of your college credit hours are three  - some of the sciences are 5.  These kids have 60 plus. The total credits this senior class earned this year throughout their three years of college is 2,198 college credits - this is an increase of 407 from the previous year."

UHS hosted last week's Grant County Chamber of Commerce Coffee and celebrated these 22.

SCCC President Brad Bennett credited Barnes with her efforts in the program.

"This (program) is successful because of Mrs. Barnes, the staff you have here and the willingness to work on this," Bennett said. "Every year, we get bigger and bigger it's absolutely amazing to watch this grow."

Bennett said he realized what an opportunity the program was when he came to SCCC.

"When I arrived at Seward County in the fall of 2020, I saw an opportunity in our high schools to improve our students lives and improve our educational journey. We are blessed and honored to provide a small piece of that and we are looking to continue to grow that. I will be up there Monday morning to have a meeting about how we can increase our take options in this community. You are an hour away from us, but we still serve your county and we try to do everything we can to make sure we are partners."

Bennett expressed his pride in the UHS 22.

"We are extremely proud of you" he said. "You did something that is very difficult - being a full-time high school student and a full-time college students at the same time. You have saved your parents, your grandparents your debt money. I know you guys are going to go on and do great things."

Bennett left them with these parting remarks:

"I tell all of our graduates it is a burden that you carry with you that you are always a Saint," he said. "Everything you do in your life reflects our college. Thank you for letting us serve you - we are extremely proud."

UHS Principal Justin Coffey also spoke at the Coffee.

"One of the important tasks we are tasked with in the school system is to help students be prepared for their future," Coffey said. "We have a lot of students whose futures look a lot different. One of the things we know, is in order for them to live a good, productive, middle class/upper class life - it usually takes (number one) a high school diploma. We know the importance of that and we work really hard getting our students to attain their high school diplomas, but often it takes a second - I'll  call 'piece of paper' -  whether that be a certification, a bachelor's degree an associates degree... We know beyond high school it's important for them to continue their education so they can be successful with their dreams and go on to do what they want to do."

Coffey said SCCC has been UHS's "largest partner" in helping students be successful.

"We partner with them for lots of different things," Coffey said. "They play a very important role in helping our students be successful. To be honest, they started a scholarship a few years ago - this is the third year with the Saint's Ahead Scholarship, which has tremendously benefited the students at Ulysses High School. Through that scholarship, as long as they maintain their GPA, they have been able to take classes for $50 per class. Because of that, we have a large number."

Coffey also expressed his pride in the UHS 22.

"We are very proud of the group of students who will be earning their Associates Degree before they earn their high school diploma," he said. "We are very proud of them and of our partnership with Seward County Community College. The  Saints Ahead Scholarship is going to continue. SCCC has had to make a few changes through Board of Regents, legislation and things like that as well as us as a high school. That partnership has been hugely beneficial to us as a school.... More importantly to our students as they work their way towards education after high school."

UHS students receiving their Associates' Degrees and where they are going after high school graduation are:

Associate of Science

Aaliyah Figgins - Fort Hays State University,for  speech pathology.

Alexus Martinez (Rivas),  Fort Hays State University for radiology.

Anaee Rodriguez, Newman University, to study radiology. Rodriguez is also a Phi Theta Kappa inductee this year.

Adriana Rodriguez, Kansas University, for biology/pre-med. Phi Theta Kappa inductee.

Briana Guillen Wichita State University, dental hygiene,  Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Evelyn Balderrama,  Fort Hays State University, radiology

Jeymi Rosales, Fort Hays State University, sonograph, Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Joselynne Torres, Newman University,  nursing

Judith Alvarado, Fort Hays State University, radiology, Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Karla Pando, Fort Hays State University, business administration

Miranda Aragon, Fort Hays State University, radiology

Noeli Correa, Wichita State University, nursing, Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Rianna Wilken, Amarillo Dental Assistant School to become a dental assistant, Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Stephanie Garcia, Wichita State University, nursing, Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Yarelin Valadez, Wichita State University, dental hygiene

Yoselyn Lerma, Kansas State University, accounting and finance, Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Yuliana Gonzalez, Fort Hays State University, nursing, Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Associates of General Studies

Jeane Guzman, Wichita State University, business administration

Joelyn Dierking, Washburn University, family and human services, Phi Theta Kappa inductee

Raquel Delgado, Wichita State University, human resource management

Thalia Pauda will be going in to real estate

Marisol Guaderrama, who was not there for the Coffee, was on campus of SCCC doing her interview for the surgical tech program.

Eleven of the 22 honored were all inducted in to the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society for junior colleges.

"Students must have maintained a 3.5 or higher GPA in order to stay in this," Barnes said. "I know quite a few of them have 4.0 for college and high school. They deserve a huge round of applause."

Announcements

Grant County Chamber of Commerce Director Robin Leonard made the following  announcements at the Coffee:

A great member of our community is turning 80 years old - Marvin Meile is having a birthday party, Saturday, April 25, from 2-4 p.m., at the Civic Center Lawson room. They aren't taking gifts, but cards are welcome. Make sure you stop in and tell Mr. Meile happy birthday.

Senior Citizen Prom,  Saturday from 6-9 p.m., hosted by our junior leadership group. It will be at the senior center. There is going to be dancing, food and bingo. It's going to be a great time.

Father/daughter dance Saturday, 7:30-10 p.m., at the civic center. It will be $25 at the door for father and daughter. You don't have to preregister, just show up at the door. Daughters have to be at least 4 years old up to 12th grade.

Friends of Grant County Library Foundation meeting April 28, at the library at 5 p.m. If you are already a friend of the library or if you are interested in becoming a friend of the library show up there.

Looking for our Grant County Citizen of the Year. If you know someone who goes above and beyond for Grant County. Someone who gives their time, supports the community or helps make our county a great place to live - let us know. We are taking nominations by email, or in our office. Deadline is May 15.

Looking for our button artist for our home products dinner the theme this year is Harvesting America's Plains. We are accepting all media. Bring your entry to the chamber office or email it. Deadline is May 1

Pioneer Communications Braven Phelps said June 1, pld email is going away - strictly for security reasons. It's a third party platform that they don't manage. Their access to managing it has slowly dwindled to very minimal administrative rights. If you have questions give us a call.

USD214 is still looking for bus drivers the school is winding down, but they will still need bus drivers for next year. If you have any interest in that they offer competitive pay, flexible hours and training. Contact Andy Cole at the district

Friday, May 1 will be the next Chamber coffee it will be at Barb Dye Park, also known as Peach Tree Park and will be hosted by the City of Ulysses.