SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett
November at Seward County Community College means the start of basketball season, and our men’s and women’s teams will open their seasons this week. But, like in any large organization, the Saints are never only doing one thing. Women’s volleyball is closing out their season, and both men’s and women’s soccer began tournament competition following their final regular season games.
And that’s just the schedule for Saints Athletics. Across campus, we are prepared for a full slate of activities this month. On Nov. 1 alone, we supported the Friends of Dorothy club’s Dia de los Muertos fundraiser, with tamales and tres leches cake for sale in the One-Stop Shop; we encouraged literacy and peace of mind with the Saints Library’s Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day, including pizza, prizes, and permission to slow down and enjoy a good book; we celebrated the memories of loved ones and the Hispanic cultural tradition of “Day of the Dead” with face-painting and a 5K, both sponsored by the Wellness Center.
More is coming throughout the next few weeks.
Monday, Oct. 4., the annual College Planning Conference brings colleges from all over the region to the Green House gymnasium so that soon-to-graduate high school students can browse, dream, and plan ahead.
Tuesday, election day, our campus Inclusiveness & Civility Team will provide all-day shuttle service to the Seward County Event Center so that students can vote. We’re so proud of the civic engagement demonstrated by the student club Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) in helping more than 70 of their peers register to vote. Now we want to follow up by making it simple to get to the polls.
Then, on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, we invite all past and present members of the United States military branches to enjoy lunch on us. A sign-up sheet at the cafeteria will cover the cost of the meal. At 1 p.m., we are hosting a panel discussion about the connection between gratitude and patriotism, something relevant to our students and our veterans. The goal for this panel discussion is to apply awareness of the sacrifice of so many to how we view our own nation, and our place in it. Following the rocky and often dismaying mood of the election season, we think it’s time to focus on what’s working in our nation, and how we can all come together to make it better.
Later in the month, Nov. 19, we’ll be recognizing another type of excellence and leadership as we induct new, high-achieving students into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. in the Clifford and Irene Pepper Showcase Theater.
By the time Thanksgiving nears, I’m sure our students, faculty and staff will be glad for the holiday, and a moment to reflect. I know I will!
The importance of gratitude as a daily practice is well known. Every day, I tell my fellow employees at SCCC, I wake up excited to come to work. I truly love my job. I am thankful for the work I can do, the contributions we all make, and the students whose lives we hope to fortify and empower. I’m thankful for our wonderful community, which year over year amazes me with its generosity, its involvement in what we do at SCCC, and its determination to grow.
As we enter a month that is sure to be momentous, I encourage you to pause as well, and take stock of all the good things, the wins, and the opportunities to grow. We all have so much to be thankful for.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR — Brad Bennett is the president of Seward County Community College, and as the month opens, a road warrior to cheer on the Lady Saints Volleyball team. When he is on campus, he’d love to share a cup of coffee or just have a chat. You can reach him at
