Seward County Community College
Growing up in Rolla as the daughter of schoolteachers Neill and Lila Hays, Becki (Hays) Richardson soaked up a love of education and the love her parents lavished on her. But she rejected the notion of being a “spoiled” youngest child. Her four older brothers quickly learned the label did not apply to their little sister, who was determined to keep up and prove her worth.
Decades later, Richardson retains a cheerful determination to work hard for what matters. She does it, she says, in the same spirit her parents brought to making a positive impact on their students, community, and the region. It’s the main reason she applied for the job of Development Officer at Seward County Community College, where she also directs the SCCC Foundation.
“I like to sink my heart and soul into where I work,” she said. “Returning to SCCC seems almost like it was meant to be, working to serve students like me, who grew up loved and supported and protected by their communities.”
A lifelong Kansas resident, Richardson graduated from Rolla High School and immediately enrolled at SCCC. Richardson played for the Lady Saints basketball team, joined the student business club DECA, and worked in SCCC President Dr. Ted Wischropp’s office. She gained leadership and professional skills while relishing the college environment.
“One of my favorite memories was being part of the DECA team led by Marcia Hatcher that advanced to national competition in Florida. I don’t seem to remember much about the conference, but the day we spent at Disney World was sure fun! I truly loved every aspect of my college experience,” Richardson said. “I personally experienced the care and sense of belonging the institution offers.”
In the years that followed, Richardson transferred to Oklahoma State Panhandle University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing. She married her high school sweetheart, Rex Richardson, and the couple raised three daughters. Except for a short stint in the Tulsa, Okla. area, where Rex completed additional credentials for his career in teaching and education administration, the Richardsons have spent their professional lives in Southwest Kansas. They lived in Elkhart, Hugoton, and now Sublette, where Rex serves as superintendent of schools and head coach for the boys basketball team.
As for Richardson herself, she applied her business and marketing degree to a wide array of ventures, from event-planning and interior decoration entrepreneurship to economic development with EPICTOUCH in the private sector in Morton County. Over the past seven years, she worked for EPICTOUCH broadband in Liberal, where she focused on community engagement, sales and marketing campaigns, and project coordinator for infrastructure builds. The variety of skills and experience she collected match well with her duties as Development Officer.
Richardson arrives at an opportune time in the SCCC Foundation’s history; the nonprofit entity established to support student scholarships and college programs recently completed an upgrade of its financial and record-keeping systems. Its board recently voted to refresh the schedule of major fundraising events and is poised to turn its attention from completed capital campaign projects – the Colvin Family Center for Allied Health and the Sharp Family Champions Center – to the college’s next 50-year vision.
The Foundation Auction, held for more than 30 years in the fall, will now become a spring event. The next party auction fundraiser will take place a full year from now, in February 2027. Meanwhile, the President’s Gala, a more formal event featuring guest speakers and plated dinner, is slated to recur in October this year, with exact dates to be announced at a later time. The Foundation’s popular Donor Dinner, designed to connect scholarship recipients with the benefactors who established the funds to help students, will remain a fall semester event. Richardson is excited to infuse intentionality and elegance into the popular and long-standing traditions, she said.
She’ll be able to start with two upcoming events:
• As SCCC celebrates Homecoming Week Feb. 23-28, the Foundation will host an Alumni & Friends Social after the Saturday evening games. The social is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Billy’s Ayr Lanes. Complimentary appetizers will be served, and guests 21 and older can obtain drink vouchers at the door.
• In March, the Foundation’s Annual Meeting & Luncheon will welcome donors to campus for a recap of the year’s highlights, financial overview, and a glimpse at what’s planned for 2026-27. The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., Wed., March 25. Invitations will be mailed in two weeks, and those planning to attend are asked to RSVP so the event planners can order the catered meal.
“My focus is centered on strengthening relationships, expanding donor engagement, and building sustainable support that directly impacts student success,” Richardson said. “This year, my priorities include enhancing our Foundation events to deepen community connection, advancing key institutional initiatives, including the completion of our West Campus project and the launch of a comprehensive campaign for our new softball complex. Something else I want to do is help revitalize and re-engage our alumni network. With our last comprehensive alumni list developed several years ago, we have a meaningful opportunity to reconnect, rebuild, and grow this important alumni community. By strengthening alumni engagement, we are investing in long-term philanthropic growth, mentorship opportunities and deeper advocacy for SCCC.”
President Brad Bennett said he’s looking forward to a fresh season of philanthropy and support from the Foundation.
“We’re just so excited to welcome Becki to SCCC,” Bennett said. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and regional awareness, and most importantly, her enthusiasm and professionalism.”
And Richardson is ready to get started.
“What excites me most about SCCC is the deep and lasting impact it has on our students and the communities we serve,” Richardson said. “The college doesn’t just provide education, it creates opportunity, strengthens the workforce, and supports economic growth throughout our region.”
For information about the SCCC Foundation and its many events and campaigns, call the office at 620-417-1130, email foundation@sccc.edu, or visit the Foundation on the sccc.edu Web site, by clicking on the “Alumni” tab in the upper right corner.
