Distinguished Alumnus Citations

1963 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 Robert Abbott Civic Leader Roy Schoen Agriculture Jarrell McCracken Religion James Simmons Art William Gamble, Ph.D. Engineering Clair Conard, M.D Community College Education 1967 Alfred F. Steimel Community College Education 1968 Gordon D. Grunke Theatre Arts 1969 William W. Burney, Ph.D Mental Health 1970 Buddy Piper Performing Arts 1971 Joseph E. Spradlin, Ph.D Mental Health 1972 Lawrence Brown, Jr Athletics 1973 Thomas Lollar Engineering 1974 Rex Reynolds Education 1975 William D. Hoadley, M.D. Medicine 1976 Jack H. Henderson Military Music 1977 Eleanor Fry Journalism 1978 John B. Littlejohn Community Service 1979 Sam Griffith Chemical Engineering 1980 Jesse M. Luera Community Service 1981 Ellen L. Boyd, M.D. Medicine 1982 John P. Husar Journalism 1983 Thomas Griffith Biochemistry Research 1984 Eugene Robert Faurot Community Service and Education 1985 Wanda Hunt Standley Community Health 1986 Dr. David S. Torbett Family Counseling 1987 Dr. Eddie Dean Estes Community Service and Education 1988 Dr. Gary A. Livingston Education 1989 Gene B. Penland Community Service 1990 Patricia A. Falcon Nursing 1991 Larry E. Soice Community Service 1992 Steve Tasker Athletic Achievement 1993 David J. Rebein Law 1994 Robert Pipkin Education 1995 Sandra Zink, Ph.D Biology 1996 Ethel Marie Peterson Education 1997 Mary Spurgeon Art 1998 Kathy Ramsour Education 1999 Dr. Jerry Vincent Science 2000 David A. Winford Higher Education 2001 W.R. Bill Robbins Banking and Community Service 2002 Edward L. King Innovation in Business 2003 Leon Liebl Broadcasting 2004 Duane G. Naccarato Retail Marketing 2005 Brett Akagi Photo Journalism 2006 Gary Patterson Athletics 2007 Kelly T. Locke, M.D. Medicine 2008 Elizabeth Rogers Law 2009 Byron C. Hill Education 2010 Marc L. Anduss, M.D. Medicine 2012 Ross Bjork Sports Administration 2013 Nola Ochs Education

Dodge City Community College

Distinguished Alumnus Luncheon

Saturday, May Fourth Two Thousand and Thirteen 12:00 p.m. Dodge City Community College Student Union Ballroom

Merrill Conant, M.D., Chairperson Shane Bangerter, Vice-chairperson Floris Jean Hampton Jason Joy, D.C. Morris Reeves, Ed.D. Don Webb

Board of Trustees

Program
Introductions............................................................................Michael Ahern
Executive Vice President for College Affairs & Learning

Welcome................................................................ Don A. Woodburn, Ph.D.

President

Administration
Don A. Woodburn, Ph.D.
President

Invocation................................................................................Anthony Lyons

Vice President of Community & Industry Relations

Michael Ahern
Executive Vice President for College Affairs & Learning

- Lunch Introduction and Recognition of Distinguished Alumnus.................................. Kelly Russell Distinguished Alumnus Remarks.................................................Nola Ochs Presentation of Distinguished Alumnus Plaque.......................... Don A. Woodburn, Ph.D. Closing Remarks................................................... Don A. Woodburn, Ph.D.

Vice President of Community & Industry Relations

Anthony Lyons Danny Gillum Vada Hermon

Vice President of Innovation & Workforce Development Vice President of Operations & Finance

Beverly Temaat
Dean of Students

Dean of Technology & Distance Education Dean of Enrollment Management

Thad Russell Kelly Russell

I enrolled in an Introduction to Computers class taught by Professor Paul Yaroslaski. My ability to use a computer was imperative, when I decided, in the fall of 2006, at age 94, to attend Fort Hays State University, to fulfill my desire to graduate from a 4-year college. My granddaughter, Alexandra, was a student at FHSU and was excited to have me join her as another student. She helped me find an apartment at Wooster Place on campus. Both of us enrolled in a History of the Old Testament class. We had a good time --- worked like the monks of old! Everyone in the class had a good time, and when they learned about my birthday in November, they planned a little party in the classroom. That party shaped my life from that time on! They invited a reporter from the Hays newspaper, who put the article he wrote, on Associated Press, and it was read world wide. I will comment that I admire the ASP for liking a nice clean little story, and I admire the people for reading it --no crime, no scandal, just a nice clean little story: Nola Ochs, age 95, returns to college. I chose always to study History. God created the earth and populated it, and history tells me what the people did. When asked what I planed to do after graduation, I often jokingly commented that I would seek employment as a story teller on a cruise ship. I was honored when Princess Cruise Lines gave me, and Alexandra, a cruise to the Caribbean Islands. And Jay Leno graciously invited me to be his guest on the Tonight Show! Many people have told me that they saw my picture on the Billboards installed on city streets and in airports. It seems to have been an inspiration to live life, and, for some, to continue their education. I graduated from FHSU in May of 2007 with a Bachelors Degree, majoring in History. At our graduation, Alexandra walked beside me. It was a special honor for Kathleen Sebelius, the Governor of Kansas, to present my diploma to me. In May of 2010, I received a Masters Degree, also majoring in History. As a postgraduate student, I was honored when I was chosen to work as an assistant to a History Professor. I was employed by the college! My graduation from Fort Hays State University was another great celebration! Graduation was always a heart-warming, exciting, event for me. My family, and several relatives from California, Colorado, and Frankfurt, Germany, attended, wearing Nola T-shirts, and waving American flags. Immediately, I realized I had one more ambition! I wanted to be a student at FHSU when I became a hundred years old, --- in November of 2011. My ego soared when President Hammond celebrated my 100th birthday at half-time at a Basket Ball game. He served birthday cake to the entire audience! At the end of the semester, December 2011, having fulfilled my college related goals, I returned to my home on the farm. I enjoyed my life as a wife and mother, followed by many years as a student here at DCCC, at St. Mary of the Plains, and FHSU. Now I am enjoying my life as a mother and grandmother, 101 years old, at my home on the farm. I have one more goal to reach. The Bible tells me to Study to show thyself approved. That sounds like another comprehensive exam! So I am studying by writing Book Reviews of Genesis and several New Testament books. Like Michelangelo of old, I am still learning! ~ Nola Ochs. 15 March 2013. Nola Ochs and her quest for a Masters Degree at 100 is an unbelievable journey of faith, family and friends. Dodge City Community College congratulates Ms. Nola Ochs on her accomplishments and is proud to have been to have been a seed that grew into a bountiful harvest of learning and education for Nola Ochs.

I enrolled in an Introduction to Computers class taught by Professor Paul Yaroslaski. My ability to use a computer was imperative, when I decided, in the fall of 2006, at age 94, to attend Fort Hays State University, to fulfill my desire to graduate from a 4-year college. My granddaughter, Alexandra, was a student at FHSU and was excited to have me join her as another student. She helped me find an apartment at Wooster Place on campus. Both of us enrolled in a History of the Old Testament class. We had a good time --- worked like the monks of old! Everyone in the class had a good time, and when they learned about my birthday in November, they planned a little party in the classroom. That party shaped my life from that time on! They invited a reporter from the Hays newspaper, who put the article he wrote, on Associated Press, and it was read world wide. I will comment that I admire the ASP for liking a nice clean little story, and I admire the people for reading it --no crime, no scandal, just a nice clean little story: Nola Ochs, age 95, returns to college. I chose always to study History. God created the earth and populated it, and history tells me what the people did. When asked what I planed to do after graduation, I often jokingly commented that I would seek employment as a story teller on a cruise ship. I was honored when Princess Cruise Lines gave me, and Alexandra, a cruise to the Caribbean Islands. And Jay Leno graciously invited me to be his guest on the Tonight Show! Many people have told me that they saw my picture on the Billboards installed on city streets and in airports. It seems to have been an inspiration to live life, and, for some, to continue their education. I graduated from FHSU in May of 2007 with a Bachelors Degree, majoring in History. At our graduation, Alexandra walked beside me. It was a special honor for Kathleen Sebelius, the Governor of Kansas, to present my diploma to me. In May of 2010, I received a Masters Degree, also majoring in History. As a postgraduate student, I was honored when I was chosen to work as an assistant to a History Professor. I was employed by the college! My graduation from Fort Hays State University was another great celebration! Graduation was always a heart-warming, exciting, event for me. My family, and several relatives from California, Colorado, and Frankfurt, Germany, attended, wearing Nola T-shirts, and waving American flags. Immediately, I realized I had one more ambition! I wanted to be a student at FHSU when I became a hundred years old, --- in November of 2011. My ego soared when President Hammond celebrated my 100th birthday at half-time at a Basket Ball game. He served birthday cake to the entire audience! At the end of the semester, December 2011, having fulfilled my college related goals, I returned to my home on the farm. I enjoyed my life as a wife and mother, followed by many years as a student here at DCCC, at St. Mary of the Plains, and FHSU. Now I am enjoying my life as a mother and grandmother, 101 years old, at my home on the farm. I have one more goal to reach. The Bible tells me to Study to show thyself approved. That sounds like another comprehensive exam! So I am studying by writing Book Reviews of Genesis and several New Testament books. Like Michelangelo of old, I am still learning! ~ Nola Ochs. 15 March 2013. Nola Ochs and her quest for a Masters Degree at 100 is unbelievable journey of faith, family and friends. Dodge City Community College congratulates Ms. Nola Ochs on her accomplishments and is proud to have been to have been a seed that grew into a bountiful harvest of learning and education for Nola Ochs.

Nola Ochs Distinguished Alumnus Achievement in Education

Nola Ochs Distinguished Alumnus Achievement in Education

ola Ochs, Distinguished Alumnus for Achievement in Education Excepts taken from the DCCC Alumni Luncheon, 4 May, 2013. I was born on a small farm in central Illinois, 22 November 1911. I like to add before Illinois kept good records of births. When Social Security became available and I wanted to sign up for it, I wrote to Springfield, Illinois for my birth certificate, and was told We have no record of your birth. I know that my fathers grandmother and one of her daughters, were mid-wives, and they lived only a mile away from my parents home. The doctor was fourteen miles away and traveled by horse and buggy. So I have concluded that either my great grandmother, or her daughter, delivered me and either she failed to report my birth to the local doctor, or the local doctor failed to report it to Springfield, so I had no birth certificate. But Springfield provided a delayed birth certificate which allowed me to receive Social Security. And I give thanks, surely! God Bless America, land that I love! My decision to go back to school in the summer of 1978 was prompted by a desire for fun and entertainment off the farm. When the Dodge City Community College advertised a six-weeks tennis class in the summer of 1978, I enrolled --- for fun and entertainment off the farm! I was pleased to be accepted as just another student by those students on the tennis court, although I was 66 years old. That fall I enrolled in an Agri-Business Marketing class. For the next ten years I enrolled, as a part-time DCCC student, in whatever classes were of interest to me --- Composition, Public Speaking, Photography, Journalism, American History and other History classes, Western Civilization, Geology, and often a Bible Study class. I had no thought of graduating until Professor John Husband informed me that if Id take College Algebra, I could graduate. So now, ten years after I took the tennis class, I graduated in the spring of 1988, with a degree in General Subjects. My family all came to watch me walk across the stage in the Civic Center to receive my diploma from Dodge City Jr. College, as it was called then. It was a high-point in my life! In the fall of 1991, I enrolled as a full-time student at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, but my ambition to graduate from a four-year college was foiled when St. Marys closed the following summer. One of my classes at St. Marys was a Sociology class taught by Professor Pelgy Vaz from India. She introduced the idea that the world resembles a village in many ways. Today, I see my story traveling to many places world-wide, resembling a news story told and retold in a village.

ola Ochs, Distinguished Alumnus for Achievement in Education Excepts taken from the DCCC Alumni Luncheon, 4 May, 2013. I was born on a small farm in central Illinois, 22 November 1911. I like to add before Illinois kept good records of births. When Social Security became available and I wanted to sign up for it, I wrote to Springfield, Illinois for my birth certificate, and was told We have no record of your birth. I know that my fathers grandmother and one of her daughters, were mid-wives, and they lived only a mile away from my parents home. The doctor was fourteen miles away and traveled by horse and buggy. So I have concluded that either my great grandmother, or her daughter, delivered me and either she failed to report my birth to the local doctor, or the local doctor failed to report it to Springfield, so I had no birth certificate. But Springfield provided a delayed birth certificate which allowed me to receive Social Security. And I give thanks, surely! God Bless America, land that I love! My decision to go back to school in the summer of 1978 was prompted by a desire for fun and entertainment off the farm. When the Dodge City Community College advertised a six-weeks tennis class in the summer of 1978, I enrolled --- for fun and entertainment off the farm! I was pleased to be accepted as just another student by those students on the tennis court, although I was 66 years old. That fall I enrolled in an Agri-Business Marketing class. For the next ten years I enrolled, as a part-time DCCC student, in whatever classes were of interest to me --- Composition, Public Speaking, Photography, Journalism, American History and other History classes, Western Civilization, Geology, and often a Bible Study class. I had no thought of graduating until Professor John Husband informed me that if Id take College Algebra, I could graduate. So now, ten years after I took the tennis class, I graduated in the spring of 1988, with a degree in General Subjects. My family all came to watch me walk across the stage in the Civic Center to receive my diploma from Dodge City Jr. College, as it was called then. It was a high-point in my life! In the fall of 1991, I enrolled as a full-time student at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, but my ambition to graduate from a four-year college was foiled when St. Marys closed the following summer. One of my classes at St. Marys was a Sociology class taught by Professor Pelgy Vaz from India. She introduced the idea that the world resembles a village in many ways. Today, I see my story traveling to many places worldwide, resembling a news story told and retold in a village.

Continued on Reverse Side

Continued on Reverse Side