November 14
Crusader
tennis coaching staff changes. — Page 1B
Year 46, No. 5
www.crusadernews.com
2014
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Liberal, KS Permit NO.114
Liberal, Kansas
SCCC students make All-Kansas academic team Tania Valenzuela Crusader staff Two Seward County Community College students have been selected for the AllKansas Academic Team. This academic team is a group of students made up of stutwo dents from Casie Yowell each community college in Kansas. Each academic division at SCCC was to able nominate two students that they believed fit Jake Jimenez the necessary qualities. The two SCCC winners are Casie Yowell and Jake Jimenez who were shocked to learn they had been selected. “I was in shock at first, but I had a great sense of accomplishment and felt very honored to be chosen,” Yowell said. Students were nominated based upon their GPA, academic rigor, involvement in their college, community service, leadership, goals, and their handling of challenges with obtaining a high-
er education. This a prestigious honor for the students because of all of the scholarship opportunities that are now available to them, and many possible doors are opened for them. “Being a member gives me surreal feeling because, to me, I am not only representing myself but my family as well, so I feel that I have made them proud and brought honor to them,” Jimenez said. This honor has brought high hopes for both students. Yowell plans to apply for the National Academic Team in hopes of receiving a scholarship. She plans to graduate in May and further her education through Newman University. Jimenez also hopes this opportunity will help him achieve his goal of becoming a General Practitioner. According to Phi Theta Kappa sponsor Debbie Stafford, now that the finalists have been selected, they will complete the application process to compete for scholarships and awards at the national and international level. They will also be honored at an awards ceremony banquet in Topeka in February. This event will include a tour of the state capital and meeting politicians. Additionally, the team members will receive $300 stipends, certificates and medallions. They will also be recognized at the International Convention, Phi Theta Kappa Nerd Nation, in April in San Antonio.
Crusader photo/Sachie Shiba
Angel Corral, a criminal justice major, aims at a target on the screen of the new Laser Shot Simulator.
Firearms simulator shoots for Dec. 2 grand opening Dallas Kelling Crusader staff A firearms simulator at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School will give the public an opportunity to sharpen marksmanship skills starting Dec. 2. The criminal justice department hopes people from the community and across campus will make appointments to practice on the simulator in Room TB104 at the Tech School. However, if college employees or students would like to use the simulator or see how it works, free simulator times will be available Nov. 18 and Nov. 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those wanting to participate need to call criminal justice instructor Cristy Mulanax to schedule a session. “College employees and students are welcome to schedule times in November to give the
criminal justice club, Sigma Chi Chi, practice with overseeing the simulator,” Mulanax said. The firearms simulator is for individuals 18 or older wanting to improve their marksmanship skills. Those younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The Laser Shot Simulator’s operating hours are by reservation only from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays through Dec. 18. After closing for semester break, the simulator will reopen Jan. 20. The price is $15 per half hour for up to four shooters, or $25 per hour. If the user purchases a five hour pass then the total will be $125, and for a 10-hour pass the total will be $225. Guaranteed reservations need to be made 24 hours in advance. To schedule simulator times, those interested can call Mulanax at 620-417-1362.
Crusader photo/Makiah Adams
Bert and Ruthie Luallen are pictured at the Veterans Day lunch on Tuesday. The event was organized by a Seward group to honor local veterans.
Dallas Kelling Crusader staff Ruthie and Bert met in 1978 at Camp Pendleton in California. Ruthie, a Marine, worked in retail at the military PX; Bert, serving in the Navy, worked in a dental clinic across the deck from the PX building. This Marine and Navy Corpsman found common ground and have now been married for 32 years. On Tuesday, they celebrated Veterans Day together with co-workers at Seward, where both are employees. Bert Luallen, head women’s volleyball coach, has lived in Liberal for nine and a half years, along with his wife Ruthie Luallen, assistant manager of the Saints Bookstore. Bert really likes that Liberal is a small community. “The community really supports all of the school systems, and it gives you a sense of a community,” he said. “Liberal is a small rural town, it’s like home,” Ruthie agreed. Not only did Bert and Ruthie serve in their respective branches of the military, but they continue to serve and work with others in their everyday lives at Seward County Community College. Both said they enjoy the time that they have available to spend with students. “I enjoy working with the young players and seeing them grow, develop, and move on,” Bert said of his coaching role. “I try to build the students up and look at everything as a challenge and not a problem,” Bert said. While Bert is part of the volleyball team effort, Ruthie finds herself as part of the team at the Saints Bookstore, where she says she enjoys interacting with students. Jerri Lynn Lyddon, director of Saints Bookstore, has known Ruthie since she started working at the bookstore in September of 2006. “Ruthie is a team player. She does what you ask of her, and she is genuine to the students and very concerned for them. Ruthie tries to take care of the students the best that she can,” Lyddon said. The Luallens have two daughters, Jessica, a student at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville studying international relations, and Victoria, a graduate
of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, N.M., who lives in Liberal and works at Trailers and Trails. The Luallens began their married life in 1982, after dating while they were in the service and after for four years. When it came to the decision of joining the Marines and the Navy there was no question that both Ruthie and Bert both wanted to join their desired branches. They both respected the lifestyles that they would soon be living. Ruthie chose the Marines because her big brother had served as a Marine. “I wanted to be like my big brother,” Ruthie said. Bert saw respect and pride as
years and 17 years in the reserves for a total of 25 years combined. Ruthie was living in Templeton, Calif., when she enlisted in the Marines. She served a total of 12 and half years, four and a half active and eight years in the reserves. Even though Bert and Ruthie left for boot camp at separate times and for different branches, the couple agreed that when they were leaving for boot camp they were scared. “Being away from home was a reality check,” Bert said, “Boot camp is very structured and for me it was really about getting to the next day.” Ruthie felt boot camp was more than that. “I wanted to be there, it wasn’t a matter of get-
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I was raised with respect of military and pride in serving. — Bert Luallen
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It’s important we never forget the sacrifice veterans have made.
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— Ruthie Luallen
factors. “I was raised with respect of military and pride in serving,” he said. Bert’s dad served in World War II and in the Pacific, which also had some impact on Bert’s decision to serve in the Navy. Bert was living in Emporia when he enlisted in the Navy in 1972. He served eight active
ting through it, it was a great opportunity,” Ruthie said. Both she and Bert were active when the Vietnam War was going on, but they never were called for duty in Vietnam. Looking back on memorable moments, Bert cites when he made Chief Petty Office. “It took a long time and a lot of hard work and sacrifice to earn
INSIDE STuDENTS PrESENT SwEET EScAPE. — Page 2
cOLLEgE fINALS cOmINg SOON. — Page 7
SAINTS VOLLEYBALL SEASON ENDS. — Pages 3B
SEDA SIgNS wITH uTEP. — Page 4B
the promotion,” he said. The highest award that Bert received was the Navy Achievement Medal. Also when he was enlisted, he was a Senior Supervisor and his unit was picked as Top Medical Unit of the Year in 1993. One of two most memorable moments for Ruthie was when she was awarded the Humanitarian Ribbon. “It’s from when we brought the Vietnamese over from the war,” Ruthie said. The other most memorable moment for Ruthie was “getting to go home and having my big brother see me in my uniform. He teased me about being a jarhead like him,” Ruthie said. Family has played a big role in the Luallens’ lives. While Bert was away he stayed in touch with his family by writing letters in the beginning and then later on phone calls. Ruthie also stayed in touch with her family that was back in Nebraska by phone calls, letters, and cards. “There were lots of phone bills,” Ruthie said. As for the food, “military food is great, almost too good,” Ruthie said. Bert felt that the food was good with a few exceptions. “Generally the food was good, I wasn’t very picky, but I didn’t care for runny or uncooked scrambled eggs,” Bert said. For entertainment Ruthie usually would run or work out, go to the PX, they went to the beach a lot, and sometimes shopping. Bert enjoyed participating in sports, such as golf and volleyball in his free time. The two each had 30 days of leave a year, and they both usually went home to visit when on leave. Bert did most of his traveling when he was in the reserves to such places as Hawaii, Portland, and Seattle. When he was in active duty he went to San Diego. Ruthie on the other hand only had orders to stay in Camp Pendleton. The day that Bert’s service ended, he left California to return to Kansas. “I was accepted into Emporia State in early January; on New Year’s Eve, Emporia had gotten 17 inches of snow,” Bert said. He faced quite a transition from sunny skies and nice warm n Continued on page 3