Endowment luncheon brings donors, students together
A culture of support has grown at Allen Community College over the past 90 years, and hundreds gathered to show their thanks to those who have contributed. REAGAN Vigola, 19, is a first-year student at ACC who received the Gary and Barbara McIntosh Scholarship. She came to Iola after graduating from Topeka High School to play soccer. She has a twin sister, Jordan, who is also studying at the college. FOR MASON Coons, ACC gave him the opportunity to explore his options before taking the next step. THE INTIMATE atmosphere is something that drew Morgan Miller, 18, to ACC from Olathe this year. FOLLOWING the luncheon, former Kansas City Chief Walter White gave an impromptu address in the absence of J.T. Elliott, who was out with the flu. White played for the Chiefs 1975-79 and is now a vice president at Commerce Bank in Kansas City.
The ACC Endowment Association Scholarship Luncheon brought a full crowd to the red barn to celebrate ACC’s 90th year Tuesday morning. The college was founded in 1923.
“It’s a great chance to sit across from the students and meet them face-to-face,” Endowment Association President Jim Bauer said. “It’s refreshing to see these young minds.”
Students were seated next to their contributing scholarship donors at the banquet, and had the chance to thank their supporters in person — or at least put a face with a name.
Her coach Jeremy McGinnis, moved to Iola as well from Topeka, and convinced her to continue her education at the college. It was a move she was not expecting.
“It’s a little different, but I like it,” she said of her move from a big city to a rural area.
Vigola said she hasn’t quite decided what avenue she will take next, but is excited about the opportunities ahead. She took the time to thank McIntosh from across the table — he also came to ACC on a scholarship in his younger years.
“I appreciate it,” Vigola said. “I think everyone appreciates it.”
A 2013 graduate of Iola High, Coons decided to come to ACC to play baseball this year.
“It was kind of last minute,” he said of his decision. He received the Steven Paul and Susan D. Traw Scholarship. Currently, he is on a pre-med path and is looking toward possibly specializing in a certain area of medicine at Pittsburg State University or Kansas State University.
For now, Coons is eager to play some baseball as a Red Devil.
“I’m looking forward to this year a lot,” he said. “It’ll be a good year.”
Attending a community college has given Coons the chance to take his time on his studies, and not make a hasty decision on which step to take next. And, not to mention, it saves him some money.
“It definitely takes some pressure off,” he said.
She attended a college clinic in Shawnee Mission, and she liked what she saw from what ACC had to offer.
“It’s more one-on-one than anything,” she said of the learning environment. Miller is attending ACC with the assistance of the Caryn Beth George Memorial Scholarship.
She is currently working toward becoming a veterinarian. A bonus is her considerable work experience as a kennel assistant at Hawthorn Veterinary Clinic in Leawood. After she receives her associate’s degree from Allen, Miller hopes to work as a veterinary technician before attending K-State for her degree.
Moving to Iola has been a significant adjustment for her, though. She has roommates from Gardner and Olathe — she didn’t know either prior to moving to Iola — and she said it has helped to get to know people in the same situation.
“It makes it a lot easier,” she said.
“We’re all in this together, we are here to make a difference,” he said in a short address. He jokingly compared the college’s success to that of the Chiefs’ turnaround this season.
“All it takes is a change in attitude,” he said.
Following White, Bauer gave a few words on the state of the scholarship program and announced its new campaign to raise $500,000 over the next five years. Currently, the endowment association has $4.7 million in assets and 176 active scholarships.
“You are the heart and soul of this institution,” he said to the students and alumni gathered in the room.
ACC President John Masterson concluded the keynote ceremonies with a profound thanks to the donors, and pointed out the struggles the college is facing.
“It’s (the scholarship program) becoming more important all the time,” Masterson said. He said the state has cut 12.5 percent in funding since 2006, all while ACC attempts to keep mill levies and tuition costs at among the lowest in the state.
“It has changed the way that we have to look at things,” he said.
The gathering ended on a high note, as Director of Development Cindy Adams gave a financial report, and announced the first major contribution toward the college’s campaign: $25,000 per year for five years from Iola Pharmarcy.
“Together we can take this college 90 years into the future,” she said.
