SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett
Can you believe it’s August already? Summer has gone by in a flash, and we’re feeling the “back to school” energy at Seward County Community College.
Students arrived on campus this week, ready to start conditioning and training for the second-ever Saints soccer season and women’s volleyball. We were thrilled to get them settled in. There was just one hitch: the 90 students living in the dorms needed to eat. And our campus cafeteria was still closed as we wrapped up renovation work.
By the time you read this column, I expect Great Western Dining will have started its regular operations, with more space to work and other kitchen improvements. For several days, however, SCCC had to get creative and put meals on the table for our student athletes.
This is where the Saints team set aside official job descriptions in order to get things done. And that’s exactly what happened during one of the hottest weeks on record for the summer. One day we served chicken grilled by yours truly; another day, executive assistant Karla Morales Escarcega whipped up a giant batch of Mexican lasagna or Italian enchiladas — no matter what you call it, the food was consumed with relish, as students went back for more. My wonderful wife signed up to chop veggies, butter bread, and keep the production line moving. And team members from across campus — housing, marketing, athletics and even security — chipped in to make it all work, whether it meant picking up sandwiches from local vendors or helping clean up after meals.
I am certain we all share my relief at seeing the cafeteria professionals back on campus. But despite the sweat, dishpan hands, and hard work, I call this week of kitchen adventures a big success. That’s because we did more than cheer and smile as these members of the Saints family arrived on campus. We actually showed up to make sure students had what they needed.
It’s a great example of Saints’ signature spirit — going the extra mile, bleeding green, following the Seward Way. Whatever you call it, this approach prioritizes people over programs, and asks the critical question, “Are we serving our students?”
Taking care of students is not just about food and shelter, of course. Faculty and staff all over campus have been busy this week as students test, enroll in classes, and fill out paperwork for work-study jobs. Many of these student-athletes traveled internationally to join us at SCCC, so they are adjusting to a different time zone, unfamiliar weather, and possibly a new language. It’s a lot.
I’m so proud of our team, which has welcomed the students with real enthusiasm. Campus was pretty quiet over the summer (unless you count the racket of construction workers tackling multiple projects). We missed the youthful enthusiasm the students bring to campus.
Looking ahead to the next three weeks, we expect a steady stream of students and increasing activity across the board. Early numbers show that our dorms are completely booked for the year, which is a great challenge to tackle. Enrollment is also increasing at a steady pace. We are on track to continue last year's trend of more students taking more classes.
In the next week, we will host the New Educators Breakfast and continue preparations for the new semester. Our SCCC professional development sessions begin Aug. 12. Student orientation begins Aug. 19. And classes start on Aug. 21!
Men’s and women’s soccer teams open their seasons at home with games scheduled for Aug. 23 and 25 at Redskin Field.
With everything that’s going on, we also welcome many new faces to campus. Our HR department has had a phenomenal year, making more than 100 new hires. Many of the new positions are due to the expansion of our Saints Anywhere online platform, which relies on adjunct instructors to deliver high-quality coursework to students all over the nation. We’ve also said goodbye to many career members of the Saints team as they retired after decades of service.
As we go through professional development training, it’s always a pleasure to tell our new, full-time faculty and staff that Liberal is a great place to call home. The community and the people are what draw employees to SCCC, and that’s why so many stay. We’re thankful for the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors a yearly welcome breakfast hosted right here on campus, and even more thankful to the people who make up this community.
Here’s to a great year, wherever it might take us: the kitchen, the athletic field, the classroom, and Kansas Ave. Go Saints!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR — Brad Bennett has packed away his apron and oven mitts for the time being, but he will get them back out to serve pancakes during finals week. Until then, you can find him in his office in the Hobble Building. Stop by or email him at
