Luty Legacy
Winter Jazz Music Festival
Sideline Safety
Student Athletic Trainers
Under One Direction New Coach Leads Spirit Squad
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MEET THE STAFF Shannon Emery
Jamey Lies
Hometown: Buhler
Hometown: Andale
Major: Art Plans: Ouachita Baptist University
Major: Undecided Plans: K-State
Kelsea McFarland
Joseph Griffin
Hometown: Hutchinson
Hometown: Inman
Major: Computer Support Plans: University of Kansas
Major: Visual Communications-Photography/ Journalism/ Broadcasting Plans: Undecided
Bobbie McCartney
Kristin Gecho
Hometown: Hutchinson
Hometown: Hutchinson Major: Animal Science Plans: K-State
Major: Visual Communications-Graphic Design/Web Technologies Plans: Undecided
Mykala Hedgepeth
Kayla Penner
Hometown: Derby
Hometown: Hutchinson
Major: Undecided Plans: Undecided
Major: Journalism Plans: Wichita State
Jordan Horsch
Tristan Potter
Hometown: Andale
Major: Visual CommunicationsGraphic Design/ Web Technologies Plans: Wichita State
Brittany Inskeep Hometown: Hutchinson Major: Undecided Plans: University of Kansas
Hometown: Hutchinson Major: Art Education Plans: Wichita State
The Dragon’s Tale is published three times a year by the Magazine Production class of Hutchinson Community College, 1300 North Plum, Hutchinson, KS 67501. When compiled, the three issues serve as an overview of the activities and the people of HCC during the school year. Staff
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 14 18 24 30 2 Facility Upgrades Campus master plan and improvements
18 Student Favs
Kelsea McFarland
6 Sideline Safety Brittany Inskeep
8 Random Fandoms 10 Authors on Campus
Staff
Breast Cancer awareness campus event
26 Under One Direction
Kayla Penner
HCC instructors showcase talents
Staff
Jazz honors Bryce Luty
24 Pink Out Jordan Horsch
Variety of fandoms around campus
14 Art Impressions
New coach leads spirit squad
Staff/Mykala Hedgepeth
30 Blue Dragon Basketball
Staff/Tristan Potter
16 Foreign Holiday International Students at HCC
Jamey Lies & Kristin Gecho
22 Winter Jazz Music Festival
Student athletic trainers
Expression through student art
What’s on the top list?
Women and men’s basketball
Joseph Griffin
36 Advertisements Shannon Emery
Bobbie McCartney
Table of Contents
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photos&story
Kelsea McFarland
What will be changed? What will be added? Who decides and how? HCC’s master plan is in full swing. Facility upgrades are being negotiated and drawn up to further advance the facilities on campus. “First we are going to finish the Fire Science building, the Jack Mull Family Football Complex, and the Bob and Lou Peel Weight Room,” Dr. Carter File, HCC President, said. “Once those are finished, I am going to work with the board to decide what is next.” Facility upgrades are debated and agreed upon by the HCC board of trustees, but there is a process to deciding what needs to be improved. Above: The old weight room facility will become locker room space. Below: The old fire science building was built in the 1940s. It was built originally as part of the Naval Base.
“First we look very close at how it impacts our students. For example, the Ade-Wifco RCIC center, we needed to expand that to allow more students into the welding program,” File said. “The second thing we look at is the idea of deferred maintenance. The idea is that you can put off maintenance for a long time then at some point you can no longer put it off. It becomes too expensive to maintain, something has to be done,” File said. The current upgrades are being finalized and prepared for students and faculty to start using them. The Bob and Lou Peel Weight Room was completed as part of the Jack Mull Family Football Complex. It is meant to improve the football facility and allow more players to participate in strength training. “I’m really thankful for it,” Head Football Coach Rion Rhoades said. “We feel like
Facility Upgrades
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this is another feather in our hat on the recruiting side of things.” The Bob and Lou Peel Weight Room is an added bonus for the football team. It will be an advantage for the future of the football team and a continuation of their current success. “We hope it will give us one more win,” Rhoades said. “I don’t see any reason why it won’t help us continue to build on the successes we have had.” The new weight room includes 15 stations as well as some auxiliary equipment. “It will allow us to have more guys lifting at one time,” Rhoades said. Now that the new weight room is finished, the old space is going to change which will eventually become a locker room. “The Bob and Lou Peel
Weight Room is the first phase of the Jack Mull Family Football Complex. This is phase one and we are working on putting phase two together. It will include some additional space and a micro-fit of our current building,” Rhoades said. As plans continue to unfold, the Jack Mull Family Football Complex will become more up-to-date and have more space for the football team to function. On another part of campus, the Fire Science program had many changes that fell into the master plan. A new fire science building was constructed because the old facility had limited space and resources. The new building held its first classes starting in the spring. “We have a two-year Fire Science degree; it is an Associates of Applied Science. It
The Bob and Lou Peel Weight Room is the first phase of the Jack Mull Family Football Complex. It included 15 stations that allowed more players to lift at one time.
Built specifically for educational purposes, the fire science building provides new opportunities with the Hutchinson Fire Department next door. Plans for this facility started in 2011 and finished in late 2014.
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is designed to bring someone with no prior knowledge of fire to a skill level that makes them a good entry-level fire fighter candidate,” Fire Science Coordinator Bobby White said. The fire science program has been functioning in a building that is just not what it used to be. “The old facility was originally a military building; it was built for the Navy base,” White said. As an original military building, it was difficult to modify and use as a learning facility. “The worst part about the old building is it was built in the early 40s, so it is 70 years old. It doesn’t have much insulation. The electrical needs - what they planned on when they built the building versus what
we have now with all the computers and everything. We are pushing the limits on the power supply coming into the building,” White said. “We have basically outgrown the building and the way it is laid out, but also the technology that was in place when the building was built.” Like a pair of shoes, the program outgrew it. A new building is a new beginning. “The new building is just
to improve upon what we are already doing and take advantage of the partnership of having Hutch Fire being right next door,” White said. A new building means some much-needed space for training activities. “The furnishings in the new building will be new but we are basically going to maintain what we have. We are building a new search and rescue maze because we
Finishing touches continue to be made to the Jack Mull Family Football Complex. Along with the new weight stations, the building included additional space and a micro-fit of the current building.
can’t transfer the old one,” White said. The new building will have everything the old building did but with a better set up for education. “It has five classrooms, what we call a multi-purpose room for more hands-on activities, the search and rescue area, our offices, and storage. It is roughly the same number of square feet, and we are getting a newer facility that was built specifically for education,” White said. “The new search maze is going to be great and it will give us a lot of training opportunity,” Jacob Omo, Wichita, said. One of the disadvantages of the old facility was having to drive all the way to south campus. Students were away from the dorms, places to eat, and other things on main campus and in Hutchinson. Students will no longer have that problem and it opens some doors to new learning experiences.
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“We are going to have some new opportunities being in town and I am hoping to do more not just for the traditional student but more seminars and training opportunities for people currently in the fire service,” White said. As well as having new opportunities, there may also be potential for growth in the program. “New and shiny is always a plus,” White said. Not only will the new facility help the students but the staff as well. It will be more convenient for students traveling in for weekend classes. “It will be interesting to see how all the new opportunities play out,” White said. The faculty doesn’t know for sure what the future holds, but a lot of time and planning went into the new building. “We started having meetings about a new building back in 2011. Then the design phase of the building and then finding a location. Determining what the best location is, then the process of securing the land and the bid process,” White said. “We sent bids out about a year ago, so once we pick a location and start building it is about a year from the time we awarded the contract to being able to get in the building.” For now these building upgrades are finished but the master plan continues to decide what the next step will be for campus improvements.
Jacob Omo,Wichita, practices putting on his fire equipment. Fire students were required to put all of their gear on in under 60 seconds. Fire I class learns how to put their equipment on for the first time. Their gear included hood, boots, pants, suspenders, coat, helmet, and gloves.
The Firefighter Fitness and Conditioning I class completes a series of exercises. They gripped fire hose bundles while doing lunges to increase strength. Facility Upgrades
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ideline afety Athletes depend on athletic trainers to keep them on the playing field photos&story
Brittany Inskeep
Often times when a person thinks of athletics they don’t think of all the primary work that goes into the games that most spectators have the privilege of watching. Athletic trainers play a big part in the success of HCC athletics. “For years I think the athletic trainer has largely served their position as a ‘behind-the-scenes’ person, someone outside of the media limelight just doing their job,” Athletic Trainer Terry Winkle said. However, there are a few common misconceptions when it comes to the actual job of an athletic trainer. Winkle and co-worker, Ryan Hilty, agree most people tend to think the trainers
help with the fitness part of athletics, which isn’t the actual case. “They sometimes get us confused with strength and conditioning people that would get someone ready for competition, where we are the care and prevention and rehabilitation of athletic injuries,” Winkle said. Winkle always had a goal of becoming an athletic trainer, while Hilty started out as a history professor. However, Hector Amado, student from Hutchinson, first realized his passion for athletic training after several high school injuries. “When I was in high school, I got injured a couple times and I saw what our trainer did and I thought that would be a pretty cool career path, so I went with it,” Amado said.
Similar to any other profession, athletic trainers have to put in the time to get where they want to be. The time students commit to making athletic training their career proves their dedication to the future. “There is a significant amount of time just as there is a time for an athlete to train for their sport. Athletic trainers are there before that practice, after that practice, during that practice. So time is significant,” Winkle said. A typical week for Amado, starts with class from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. From there, he goes to the training room for clinical hours from 1 to 6:30 p.m. After his long school week, Amado spends his weekends working in the training room from noon to 10 p.m. One thing most people
may be unaware of is the extensive paperwork that comes with being an athletic trainer. Amado said that every injury has to be evaluated and accompanied by a report. “Whenever someone gets injured you have to do an evaluation. Every time you do an evaluation you have to write down every step you did on a sheet of paper and then you have to enter it into an online database,” Amado said. Although there is some personal time sacrificed, the reward seemed to outweigh the lost time. Hilty said the most satisfying part of the job is being able to watch an athlete come back from injury with a high rate of success. Someone might wonder if it’s worth it to put in the time with the difficulty that comes with finding a job after graduating from college. Hilty said there are too many uncertainties with the way the organization is going to determine an accurate job outlook. Although, if you’re good at what you do, employers are likely to hire you. “There’s always going to be a job for the good athletic trainer. If you become an ordinary athletic trainer, you may find it difficult to find a job,” Winkle said. In the past, athletic trainers didn’t get much attention, and even still some colleges don’t have an athletic training program, but the field as a whole across the United States is
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Morgan Godinet, Manhattan, watches while Ahren Mahoney, Hutchinson, tapes her ankle in preparation for basketball practice. Mahoney planned for a career in sports medicine. Shakira Harding, Houma, Fla., places her leg in a whirlpool in the athletic training room. The hot water helped in the rehabilitation process to get athletes back on the court faster.
expanding rapidly. “There’s a greater emphasis now to show that there are healthcare workers taking care of the physically active population and understanding the physically active’s injuries and how to assist them in getting better,” Winkle said. Through blood, sweat, and tears, athletic trainers are there for it all. The objective is to keep athletes in tiptop, working condition and with the current program at HCC, students learn from hands-on experience.
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Everybody is a fan of something, but what is the one fandom to rule them all? photos&story
Jordan Horsch
For some people, movies, television, and books are a pastime. For others, it is a lifestyle. Some see it as a good bonding experience between friends or co-workers, while others take it a little further. “I think we all find something that we like and relate to and just pull ourselves into it,” Tracy Chadwick, computer drafting instructor, said. “We just did whatever we could to reenact things that we saw in the movie ‘Return of the Jedi.’” What is a fandom and how does someone know if they’re a part of it? If they understand references about a certain TV show, movie, or book that most others would not, they may be part of that fandom. Of course, if they obsess over the show, movie, or book, they are definitely a fanatic, which makes them part of the fandom. The word fandom consists of the two words fanatic and kingdom
combined, therefore, they are part of a kingdom that they are a fanatic about. Chadwick has been a Star Wars fan his whole life, and though he loves Star Wars, he also sees it as a bonding experience with his wife and two daughters. Visiting the Tulsa Comic Con in November provided for him and his daughters a little bonding time. “That’s a blast! My girls like to dress up like superheroes. My five-year-old was Harley Quinn from ‘Batman’, and my eight-year-old was Gamora from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’” Comic conventions are one of the many ways that fandoms are able to get together and discuss their interests and see the different people that share common interests. “It’s like a safe environment for people to dress up and like the things they like and not be made fun of for it,” Chadwick said. “I think that you can go to Arrowhead Stadium on any Sunday and see 20 to 30
thousand people dressed up as their favorite people too, it just happens to be a football jersey and not a ‘Star Wars’ costume. I think it’s all the same. I think we all geek out about different things.” Fandoms vary greatly around Hutchinson Community College as well as all around the world. An online poll taken by students had them vote for the fandoms
that they most fit in to. The top 10 fandoms from around the world were placed as their choices. They were to place a check mark on all the fandoms they considered themselves a part of. Their choices were; Firefly, My Little Pony, The Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, Twilight, Dr. Who, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Other. Most students put their
Anime fan Kasondra Edwards, Longmont, Colo., works on her digital imagery project. She created a vector artwork character of herself for the final project.
Random Fandoms
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fan·dom:
noun \fan-dem\
The fans of a particular person, team, fictional series, etc., regarded collectively as a community or subculture. mark in the ‘Other’ box, meaning that most students prefer a fandom that differs from the choices provided. Potterheads were the highest rated actual fandom group, while Tributes (The Hunger Games) came in close second. Although these fandoms are the most popular, many people have more than one show, movie, or book that they are crazy about.
Random Fandoms
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HCC instructors bring talent from behind the podium to store bookshelves Kansas has many great authors. Three happen to be here at Hutchinson Community College. Bill Sheldon, Dr. Tom Percy, and Dan Pohl, HCC instructors, have written books that hit different writing and reading styles. Bill Sheldon Bill Sheldon, English instructor, describes his passion in writing as poetry. He has three books: “Retrieving Old Bones,” “Into the Distant Grass,” and “Rain Comes Writing.” Poetry has been a passion of his since his early childhood. “I’ve been interested in writing since a young age. My father was a journalist and an English professor.
photos&story
Kay la Pen ner
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My folks read to me all the time. I used to read Rudyard Kipling, Huck Finn, and many others. Writing has always been something my whole family has enjoyed,” Sheldon said. Authors like T.S. Elliot and Wallace Stevens have inspired Sheldon in his poetry career. “In college, I really enjoyed the writing of T.S. Elliot, Wallace Stevens, Denise Low, and I think I was trying to write like them,” Sheldon said. “I wanted to be a good poet like them.” HCC has also been an influence in his poetry career and the staff has supported him in his writing pursuits. “Steven Hines, who taught here for a number of years, and is the author of four really good poetry examples, he was a huge influence in my writing. His writing is probably the best poetry I’ve read about Kansas,” Sheldon said. “My students and other staff members support me in my writing, which is great. I’m always thinking
about writing, and want my students to understand poetry as well.” Sheldon is originally from Fort Collins, Colo., but also lived in Montana and California before settling in Kansas. He lived in Dodge City for several years and eventually moved to attend Emporia State University. Family has been a supporter in Sheldon’s writing career that includes his wife, a son and daughter. His son, Tyler, is also a published writer attending Emporia State University. His daughter, Kate, also writes and enjoys graphic design. Sheldon has four different manuscripts in the works as well as a larger piece of fiction. Writing is important to Sheldon and he wants his students to be able to enjoy writing and express their own opinion. “I want to make sure students write like themselves. Don’t try to write like someone else, because listening to your own voice is the best kind of writing,” Sheldon said.
Bill Sheldon has a passion for poetry. He wants others to see poetry as art and to learn from it. Dr. Tom Percy Tom Percy, social science/history instructor, wrote a book on the state fair that peaks the interest of history buffs and locals together. His book, “Kansas State Fair,” shows historic pictures of the fair that demonstrate how the culture of the fair has changed throughout history. When Percy first moved to Kansas, he was immediately fascinated by the fair and its history in Hutchinson. “I had written my doctor visitation on it. My wife mentioned me writing about the fair. I was always intrigued with it and decided to write about it,” Percy said. “The process in writing the book was figuring out how to organize it. Intro, summary, captions, chapter-bychapter were something that took time to organize,” Percy said. “Ninety recent of the pictures were from the fair itself, some were from the Kansas Museum of History, and then others were from just pure research. It took me about a year to publish the book. It was a lot of work to create the book, but it was a fun process.” Percy has had different influences that persuaded his decision in writing. “I’ve had some excel-
Bill Sheldon discusses poetry with his creative writing class. The students wrote poems and reviewed with their peers.
Dr. Tom Percy talks to his students during his American History 1865-Present class.The students discussed the book “Amusing the Million” by John F. Kasson.
lent history professors. My professors in Canada and Kansas University have been a great influence on me,” Percy said. HCC has also affected his writing career in positive ways. “Flexibility and allowing me to arrange my schedule has been something that I’m grateful HCC does for me. It allows me to have time to do writing when I’m not teaching,” Percy said. Originally from Toronto, Canada, he attended Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, receiving his bachelor’s degree. He then went on to Midwestern State University in Texas for his masters, and eventually received his doctorate at Kansas University. The support he receives from his immediate family has been a strong influence in his passion for writing. “Most of my family are in Canada, so my wife and kids are a huge supporter in my writing,” Percy said. “The encouragement they
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give me helps my motivation in this career.” As well as writing for Arcadia Publishing, Percy also writes reviews for other history books. He has written reviews for “Kansas History,” “Teaching History: A Journal of Methods,” and “The Canadian Journal of History.” “I want them to appreciate the local institutions. History can be local. The fair is very historic, and I want everyone to learn more about its history here in Hutchinson,” Percy said. Dan Pohl Dan Pohl, English composition instructor, wrote the book titled, “Autochthonous: Found in Place,” which hits the interest of anyone that is fond of poetry.
“Poetry is something I’ve always been interested in. Family stories have had a huge impact on my writing,” Pohl said. “I remember one day, my daughters were coloring on the floor, letting them color their imaginations. Seeing them color made me think it would be really cool to write about what they’re doing. Little moments that are kind of quirky are the best to write about. I decided to write a poem about my daughters coloring, and realized that I really enjoyed writing poetry.” He later joined a poetry group organized by Bill Sheldon. “We would meet once a month and suggest and critique each others poetry. It
was fun, and drew me into creating the creative writing club here at HCC, called the Tugley Woods,” Pohl said. He wants students, as well as staff to get interested in poetry. Pohl’s poetry has been featured in numerous contests throughout Kansas, as well as Ireland. His book won the Nelson Poetry Book Award in 2014. He has also had poems published in “Whispering Prairie Press,” “Skylight 47,” and “North Dakota Quarterly.” He enjoys sending his work out to organizations and shares what he loves to do with other poetry enthusiasts. “The hardest part of sending poetry out to publishers is that sometimes you win, other times you don’t, but it’s a process, and you have to make sure what you want to send out to publishers is the best decision,” Pohl said. Influences in Pohl’s writing helped him achieve his success in poetry. “The writing group was a huge influence in my writing. Poets like Kim Stafford, William Stafford, Ted Cusher, Annie Porter, Robert Bly, Robert Frost have inspired me, have been people that I’ve looked up to in the poetry world,” Pohl said. “One of the books I’ve read that inspired me is ‘Good Poems’ by Garrison Kellior. It’s a wonderful book that has taught me a lot about poetry.” Dan Pohl talks to his English Composition II class. The class went to Lockman Hall to work on their assignment.
Pohl lives in Moundridge but was born in Kingman. He moved around to different towns in his childhood, including Leavenworth, Ellis, Russell, and Stafford. Later, he studied at Emporia State University and got masters in English education. HCC and off-campus support have encouraged him in his poetry. His family has been very supportive, as well as his wife and daughter who took part in his book. His wife created the cover photos and his daughter illustrated the pictures. More poetry is in development for Pohl. He recently finished his second book titled “Anarchy and Pancakes.” Pohl is also recording poetry with three other Kansas poets including, Ronda Miller, Roy Bechmeyer, and Duane Johnson. The upcoming CD is called, “View from Smokey Hills.” He keeps developing more poetry and is excited for others to see his work. One thing Pohl wants is for students to learn proper English that will benefit them later in life. “In this culture, students need every chance of success in writing well. If they’re not able to write well, they won’t get the good positions in jobs that they want to pursue. I want students to succeed and learn everything they need for the future,” Pohl said. Poetry is important to Pohl. He wants people to see it as a learning experience and to have fun.
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Bill Sheldon English Instructor
Teaches: • English Composition II • Directed Studies in Education • Introduction to Creative Writing
Author Bio
Hometown:
Fort Collins, Colo.
Books He Wrote: Retrieving Old Bone Into the Distant Grass Rain Comes Writing Where to Find it: Metropolitan Coffee, Amazon.com, & Mammoth Publications
Author Bio Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Books He Wrote: Kansas State Fair Where to Find it: Walgreens, Hastings amazon.com, Smith’s Market, Arcadia Publishing.com, Carriage Crossings Gift Shop, Bluebird Books, HCC Bookstore, & Bookends
Dr. Tom Percy Social Science/History Instructor
Teaches: • American History 14921865 • American History 1865-Present • World History Since 1600
Author Bio Hometown:
Dan Pohl
English Instructor
Teaches: • English Composition • Elementary German
Kingman, KS
Books He Wrote: Autochthonous: Found in Place CD:
View from Smokey Hills
Where to Find it: amazon.com & Woodley Memorial Press
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r T A
Impressions students express themselves through studio projects
story
Staff & Tristan Potter
design
Staff
Art is everywhere people look. It can be found on busses and buildings, on trains and things. Art is in nature and can be found within. People just have to know where to look. At Hutchinson Community College in the Stringer Fine Arts Building, art is being created all the time. People are painting, people are drawing, and people are sculpting. Classrooms are occupied with students enrolled in classes such as drawing, painting, ceramics, and printmaking. “I was always interested in Art - making, viewing and doing,” Scott Brown, fine arts instructor, said. “I
have always believed that a person should follow their passion.” Not all students who practice these skills will go on in the art field. For the moment, art gives these students a creative outlet to all the stress they may accumulate during the day. “It gives me something else to think about,” Kasondra Edwards, Longmont, Colo., said. For some students, art is
a foundation for their chosen degree. Ashley Burgess, Arlington, said, “I can’t do math or science so I am into art. Raw necessity of art before animation.” With changes to required curriculum in elementary and secondary education, there are many opinions on the importance of art in education. “That depends on what you believe the purpose of an
education is,” Brown said. “If an education is intended to foster critical thinking, problem solving, cultural, social and self awareness, then it becomes hugely important.” “[Art is] important for development of children’s creativity and imagination,” Abby Ausherman, Haven, said. Besides contributing to growth and development, students have a favorite
As she gradually works, Carol Long, ceramic artist and guest teacher, molds clay while teaching students about her process. The fine arts department brought in Long as part of the Artist Teacher Workshop in November. Photo by Tristan Potter Art Expressions
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thing about art. “[Art is] a way to express yourself without having to say words,” Manzi said. “Very important simple fact people need to be able to have an outlet,” Kim Allen, Hutchinson, said. The fine arts instructors bring in guest teachers to broaden the student’s awareness of art out in the world. Carol Long, ceramic artist from St. John, presented during the Artist Teacher Workshop in November. According to Long, ceramic art is centered around problemsolving. “[Art] enhances quality of life,” Long said. “Art influences everything.” Whether it’s a stressreliever, creative outlet, or career choice, art is present everywhere.
Art Instructor Scott Brown talks to Ashley Burgess, Arlington, about her finished product in printmaking class. Students sketched their ideas on paper and transferred the idea to a plate that was etched and then used to make prints. Photo by Kelsea McFarland Paying attention to the fine details, Brian Seemann, Hutchinson, carefully etches out the material on his plate for printmaking. Seemann took the class in preparation to be an architect engineer. Photo by Kelsea McFarland
Spring Fine Art Class Printmaking I & II Introduction to printmaking dealing with intaglio, lino-cut and wood-block techniques.
3-D Design Examines three-dimensional and structural concepts such as volume, mass and form related to the discipline of product design, package design and fine art sculptural fundamentals; exploration of composition in plaster, paper and wood; investigation of expressive and organizational possibilities of abstract forms.
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H photos&story
Shannon Emery
Jonah Biensch, Marsden, Canada, talks with his advisor, BenWilliams, agriculture instructor and livestock judging coach. Biensch competed on the livestock judging team at HCC but returned home to visit during long school breaks. Photo courtesy of Ryley Noble
oliday vacations provide a mental break for many students and some much-needed time at home with family. For some international students, they don’t have the option to travel home. Instead, they get to experience many of the American traditions. International students at HCC have that opportunity during their college years abroad. Students come from many different countries like Canada, Croatia, Egypt, and many more. Along with the study abroad experience, the majority of international students are here for sports and agriculture. “A good half of them [international students] are here for athletics, or the livestock judging team. It’s generally the same, give or take a couple, each semester,” Erin Ellis, advisor for international students, said. “Okay so this semester, we have 26 international students, and 21 out of 26 are here for athletics or the livestock judging team.” Petra Silic, Zagreb, Croatia, said, “I wanted to try something new, wanted a new experience in life. I wanted to go to college in the USA on a sports scholarship and Coach Hall was one of the first coaches to offer me one, and I accepted it because I like the college, programs it offers and especially, the volleyball and athletic program in general.” Many students are looking for a new experience outside of their home coun-
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try and want to continue doing what they excel at, which in many cases are sports. Silic said her major is general studies. “Next semester, I’ll be taking sports medicine as my major,” Silic said. During college breaks, international students have many different options. If they are staying with a host family, like Silic, they are able to stay in the U.S. for Christmas. “Since I’m staying with a host family, and not in the dorms, I will spend it with them,” Silic said. “We will probably go to my host mum’s family in Nebraska for Christmas.” For some students who don’t stay with a host family, they must find other things to do during breaks. Jonah Biensch, Marsden, Canada, said, “My plans for Christmas break are to go home and just relax, but most likely will be working on the farm, which is relaxing because you know you’re home.” Students take the college breaks to focus on friends, family, and hobbies.
“I really enjoy being with my family now that I don’t get to see them often. I’m really excited to go snowboarding; it’s one of my favorite winter sports, besides hockey,” Biensch said. “As well I really like to go snow-mobiling. In addition I also hope to go watch all three of my brothers play hockey.” Silic also enjoys spending time with family while participating in family traditions. “My definitely favorite thing on Christmas break is Christmas itself. It is a day that I spend with only my family, starting with opening presents on Christmas mor ning and watching Christmas cartoons, and ending with a big family dinner in the evening,” Silic said. “Christmas is my holiday just because of that family tradition.” Whether it means spending time with family, enjoying some fun activities, or getting caught up on some much-needed rest, students from across the country and world enjoy holiday breaks.
Petra Silic, Zagreb, Croatia, skypes with her sister who is still back in Croatia. Silic liked to skype with her family a couple times a month to ease homesickness. Photo by Shannon Emery
International Students
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TOP Student surveys show favorites across campus story
Jamey Lies
layout/design
Kristin Gecho
of the
List
What makes the top of a list? How does a person determine what a favorite is? Are people influenced by what surrounds them?
What is the student body drawn to? A student poll can identify many answers across campus. The answers might come in the form of yes’s or no’s, or maybe a percentage. So what do students find at the top of their lists? Every student has some time to spare throughout the day, whether it’s between classes or after school. For some, they use the time to read and others catch up on social media. Outside of required textbook reading, students chose mystery, thriller and suspense books over other options. Facebook was at the top of the list for the most-used social media app. There is fear that social media consumes student’s lives. “I spend about an hour and a half on social media every day and I don’t use it in class so it doesn’t affect my class life,” Tyler Terrell, Compton, Calif., said. Music is something most people don’t go a day without listening to, students across campus agree.
“Music is life,” Rashaun Owens, Overland Park, said. While walking around campus, ear buds jammed into ears is a common sight. “I use it to get pumped and it gets me excited,” Blake Price, Dodge City, said. It doesn’t just happen on the walk to and from class. Playing music is also a favorite pastime during a normal evening in the dorms. Country music topped the charts for HCC students. For some it is just an enjoyment but for others it helps to relieve stress. “Music is a stress reliever to me,” Brianna Cushinberry, Hutchinson, said. Studies show that music can help students study and remember things when the tests come around. Food is not only a necessity but is on the mind of every student throughout the day. In November, the dorm students were involved in the first annual Iron Dragon Cook Off where teams competed to cook a master meal with limited food supplies and only a microwave. They had six
Student Favorites
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Daryl Shamlee Jr., Columbis, S.C., uses his phone to look at his social media accounts. He used it daily to keep updated about life back home. Photo by Jamey Lies
Student Favorites
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teams of two compete to win the judges’ approval to claim the victory. “My favorite part of the cook-off was watching Zach Martin judge,” Judge Niles Lindenmuth, Rockwall, Texas, said. “He tried to impersonate Simon Cowell and really just brought a big comedian act to the whole event while keeping a straight face.” During the competition the teams had to make a meal that fit each category: breakfast, snack, and dessert. At the end of each round a team was eliminated. In the end Darriell Rhodes, St. Louis,Mo. and DCanequa Cooley, New Orleans,La, won the contest. In the there aren’t many ways to cook meals. Easy microwave meals are the
most common go-to food for late night snacks. Ramen noodles ranked highest on microwavable meal category. If they aren’t cooking their own meals, students rely on other options like the cafeteria or the grill. According to the survey, students’ top pizza proved to be Papa John’s. Nathan Bush, Great Western Dining employee, said HCC uses Papa John’s to provide students an alternative to cafeteria food because of the location and the price agreement. On a daily basis, the grill sells 24 pizzas on campus. Whether it’s books, music, social media, or food, students find their own favorites away from home.
Keanu Pinder, Perth, Western Australia, listens to his music between classes. He also used music to get pumped up before the games. Photo by Jamey Lies
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The finished product of the winning dessert round of the Iron Dragon Cookoff is pictured. Darriell Rhodes, St. Louis, Mo., and Canequa Cooley, New Orleans, La., claimed the win. Photo by Kelsea McFarland
What you need:
1 cup boiling water 1 ( 3 ounce) package any flavor ramen noodles
Rhodes and Cooley create their dessert for the final round of the Iron Dragon Cookoff. Rhodes and Cooley won the dessert round. Photo by Kelsea McFarland
1 ( 3 ounce) can chicken drained (tuna can be substituted) 2 slices American cheese Directions: 1. Pour water into a microwave safe bowl, and cook in microwave until very hot, about 2 minutes at high heat. Add ramen noddles, and microwave 2 minutes more to cook. 2. Drain and discard water from noodles, stir in seasoning packet, chicken and American cheese. Place back into microwave for 1 to 2 minutes more, and cook until hot, Stir before serving.
Student Favorites
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The 40th Anniversary of the Jazz Festival honors the achievements and legacy of former HCC Jazz Director Bryce Luty... story design
Brittany Inskeep Jordan Horsch
Bryce Luty, former Jazz Director, poses with his trumpet. Luty taught at HCC from 1975-1998. Photo courtesy of HCC Marketing Nick Shroeder, HCC Jazz Instructor, plays for the audience while the alumni band accompanies him. Shroeder led the jazz musicians at HCC for the last four semesters. Photo by Kelsea McFarland
Luty Legacy
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I
t began with a packed house. Hutchinson Community College’s Jazz Lab band kick started the evening with a slower song than one would have expected. Nick Schroeder, HCC Jazz Instructor, said that normally a concert would start with a more upbeat song, but they wanted to push the envelope a bit. From that moment forward, the audience knew
they were in for a treat, watching not only the impressive works of HCC’s jazz bands, but also the showmanship Schroeder brought to the stage. HCC hosted a nearly sold-out 40th annual Winter Jazz Festival in Bryce Luty’s honor on January 29th. Luty was the former HCC Jazz Director who taught from 1975-1998 and was the founder of jazz activities on campus.
“We all believe music speaks louder than words,” Schroeder said. “Bryce had the showbiz, Nick Schroeder is kind of a Bryce,” Daryl Batchelor, former HCC Jazz Instructor, said. After finishing a more upbeat selection, students traded high fives and Schroeder shared a reassuring nod and a thumbs-up with drummer Casey Brashler, Baker, Ore. The camaraderie on stage was clear. The way the musicians work together can either make or break a performance and, quite obviously, made this one. “I’m extremely proud of them. We go through a lot of things along with this whole introduction into adulthood, Playing the trombone, Josh Hermes, Hutchinson, concentrates on his solo. Different musicians had the opporunity to play a solo throughout the performance. Photo by Kelsea McFarland
Luty Legacy
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and being at community college but consistently no matter what issues we have leading up to the performance or concert, they always show up, and they’re well dressed, and they’re prepared,” Schroeder said. Anyone could tell a performance like that would require quite a bit of preparation time. Not only hours of practice, but according to Andrew Hiatt, Nickerson, it takes a little bit of mental preparation as well. Obviously being a part of the jazz band is a time commitment, just like any other thing a student at HCC might want to get involved in but those passionate about it don’t necessarily see it that way. “It’s honestly like a lifestyle. Drumming becomes a part of my daily thing, you know, I practice every day,” Brashler said. Continued on page 38
Glenda Hill, HCC alumnus, sings while the jazz band plays behind her. Hill returned to perform and honor Bryce Luty. Photo by Kelsea McFarland
2/5/15 12:53 PM
The HCC cheer team wear their Pink Out shirts and pink hair ribbons in support of cancer awareness. The team worked together to get the crowd excited. Photo by Jamey Lies “This is an opportunity for HCC to host an event that creates an awareness of what CCRC does for individuals who are facing the challenges of cancer and to know that the funds raised stay in Reno County. Thank you to all of the Blue Dragon Family and Fans who helped to make this a success.”
-Cindy Keast,
Endowment Director
What participants said about the blue dragon fight “Everyone know s somebody who su ffered from cancer so th is just really shows the amount of t-shirts we giv e away and all the suppor t.”
-Grace Suter, esome “It’s pretty aw money and because all the es for goes everything it go cause, we towards a good lp with canalways need he it’s great” cer research so
Hutchinson
, -Cordell Neely Topeka
“I feel like it’s a good cause and its just a good way to get the community and students together.”
-Alyssa Baker, Salina
Assistant Women Basketball Coaches Phil Anderson, Travis Kirk, and Head Coach John Ontjes sported pink ties in support of the Pink Out night. They walked out of the locker room back onto the court after half time. Photo by Jamey Lies Pink Out
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During the men’s basketball game, two spectators participated in the media time out game called Dragon Tale.They raced to unravel the streamers and the winner took home a prize which included either free meal coupons or HCC apparel. Photo by Jamey Lies
Blue Dragons Fight for the Cancer Council of Reno County
It’s not just an ordinary night watching Blue Dragon basketball. Fans, players, coaches, and students came
to support the 4th Annual Pink Out Night on Jan. 24 at the Sports Arena. This year’s event was sponsored by Midwest Superstore Ford/Toyota of Hutchinson and Fincher’s Findings. Over 1,400 people participated by wearing the Pink Out shirts during the basketball games. Approximately $6,000 was raised with all proceeds staying in Reno County. A new addition this year, cards were handed out for participants to write the name of someone who faced the challenges of cancer. Before the national anthem, the cards were held up in a moment of support and encouragement. HCC Ambassadors hand out Pink Out shirts to students and spectators. Almost 1,400 shirts were handed out with a suggested donation of $5 each. Photo by Jamey Lies
Pink Out
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ONE Direction Under
New Coach Takes On Responsibility Of Two Teams
story
Staff & Mykala Hedgepeth
It takes a lot of teamwork, communication, and above all, dedication to be a member of Hutchinson Community College’s biggest athletic supporters. It also takes someone with those same qualities to be called a coach. In the 9 years of coaching, nothing could have prepared Shalayne Richmond for the position at HCC. It was a year of transition. The new coach took on the responsibility of coaching not only the cheer squad but also leading the Dragon Dolls dance team. “They decided to combine the two programs and create one full-time position for a coach sometime last spring,” Richmond said. Most people would have declined the position because of all the extra work that must be put in but not Richmond, she had a different outlook. “The Spirit Squads have been very successful. Cheerleading and dance are not even close to the same activity,” Richmond said. “Luckily, I have solid knowledge in both.” As a student, Richmond
cheered at Wichita State University and was head cheer coach for Coffeyville Community College, which is a nationally recognized program. She was also on Universal Cheerleaders Association Staff for six years. On the dance side, she has 15 years of technical training in ballet, jazz and tap. “This job is a challenge as a whole because everyday is filled with a new problem and new solutions. We have our bad days and our good just like any sport,” Richmond said. “I believe
in the impact, in which our students make on the sidelines and the crowd atmosphere.” Richmond considers both teams to be ambassadors for the college. “Games are not only games, they are entertainment events. People pay to go see movies at the theater, people pay to attend sporting events. We are all in the entertainment industry,” Richmond said. “By having one head coach over both programs the communication is not challenged. The overall appearance and
The Dragon Dolls perform at halftime of a home football game. The dance team practiced around seven hours a week to prepare for their routines. Photo courtesy of the Spirit Squad
presence from both teams is synchronized.” “The best part of being on Dragon Dolls is that there is so much history behind it and it has been around for 45 years,” Brenna Skinner, Hutchinson, said. “They just continue the history of the program and they’ve always been strict, they want lots of girls on
Spirit Squad
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the team and they want a big team and they want to fill up the court.” The previous Dragon Dolls coach, Bonnie Neville, developed the majority of the dance team’s history. Skinner said it was everything to her and that she was happy to be a part of that. “Sometimes it can be stressful having one coach for both the cheer and dance teams. That is why it is so helpful to have our assistant coaches. I know that Mandy
The HCC cheer squad leads the red and blue color sideline battle. The team used this cheer during timeouts to get the crowd pumped up. Photo by Mykala Hedgepeth Sydney Childs, Hutchinson, cheers on the basketball court during her first year as a HCC cheerleader. Childs usually cheered on the floor closer to the crowd. Photo by Kelsea McFarland
Spirit Squad
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Head Coach Shalayne Richmond helps Amanda Lange, Lyons, work on her standing back tucks that she did during game time outs.This skill is needed if athletes want to cheer for a Division I school and Lange is only one of eight athletes on the cheer team that can do this move. Photo by Mykala Hedgepeth
helps out a lot with cheer when Shay is with dance, but I think Shay does a really good job at balancing the time spent with cheer and dance,” Mackenzie Justice, Hutchinson, said. “I think it can be hard sometimes because anytime you get a bigger team
together you have personality conflicts but I think that like anything you come together and work things out as a team,” Zachary Martin, Manhattan, said. “I think that we’ve done a really good job and our coaches have done a really good job of helping us out through
those situations.” “We are reshaping the Spirit Squad by continuing with old traditions as well as implementing new traditions,” Richmond said. “I am excited for the future reputation of the Spirit Squad.
Spirit Squad
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HCC Spirit Squad 12 24 6 7 Number of Dragon Doll Dancers Number of Cheerleaders
Cheerleaders
hours
hours
Time spent practicing every week
Dragon Dolls
The cheerleaders perform a 2-2-1 pyramid during a home football game. When every athlete was in position, the routine was two and a half levels high. Photo courtesy of the Spirit Squad Dragon Dolls practice in preparation for their halftime routine. By the end of the year, the team worked on 12-15 different routines. Most routines were choreographed by sophomores, Assistant Dance Coach Bethany Smith, or Richmond. Photo by Kelsea McFarland
Spirit Squad
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DRIVEN
Page Topic
30
Clemence LeFebrve, St. Martin, France, stretches for a lose ball during the first half of play against State Fair College on Nov. 21. LeFebrve had 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks in a 83-64 victory.
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toWIN H
utchinson Community College Head Women’s Basketball Coach John Ontjes and his team seem to only have one thing on their minds as this season comes to its midway point, winning. The team has been a dominating force to be reckoned with throughout the season, as they have repeatedly pounded conference foes. Their 20-0 (as of 1-21-15) record backs that up. But this year hasn’t been their only year of dominance, as Ontjes and past teams have amassed an incredible 99-11 conference record in the last eight seasons. Of those eight seasons, HCC has won the Jayhawk West Conference four times - twice unbeaten in league play. Ontjes, who came to HCC in 2007, is now the college’s leader in wins for women’s basketball and has built an impressive 221-25 record while coaching the Lady Dragons. The Blue Dragons have averaged a victory margin of 45 points in wins over archrival Butler, Dodge City, Garden City, Barton and Colby. Those victories are just a few of the more impressive ones, as early season victories
photos&story
Joseph Griffin
design
Staff
Women’s basketball team rises to the top of the NJCAA poll. proved quickly that this Lady Dragon team means business. Coming off an unprecedented season last year (36-1, NJCAA Tournament runner-up), the Lady Dragons look to match that feat this year as returning players: Kalani Purcell, Hamilton, New Zealand; Sydney Benoit, Smith Center; Shakira Harding, Houma, Fla.; and Jessica Daughhetee, Kiowa. Purcell, a promising prospect who gained the undivided attention of multiple four-year programs across the nation, signed with Brigham Young University in November. Purcell, who averaged 18.2 points and 10.6 rebounds on the season made striking improvements in comparison to last year when she averaged an already impressive 13.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per outing. Her teammates, Cynthia Petke, Yaounde, Cameroon, averaged 16.4 points and 11.1 rebounds; Clemence Lefebvre, St. Martin, France, averaged 13.8 points and 5.21 rebounds. Both athletes help round out the top
Kalani Purcell, Hamilton, New Zealand, looks for an outlet after she secures a rebound during the first half of the 83-64 victory over State Fair College. Purcell returned to play from last year’s NJCAA runner-up team, she scored 17 points and 13 rebounds throughout the game.
Women’s Basketball
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Parfitt McNair, Manhattan, looks for an open teammate as she drives past a Hesston defender on Nov. 8. McNair, a dual-sport student athlete, also played soccer for the Lady Dragons.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
three scorers this season. Though these three players may make up a large chunk of the scoring, many others contribute in many other ways. The team shot just under 50 percent while also taking away 10.9 steals per game and dishing out an NJCAA best 22.4 assists per game. These impressive numbers from the Lady Dragons aren’t what made this team a force to be reckoned with. Their attitude and apparent eagerness to return to the championship game made this string of players something to fear.
Date
Opponent Result
Nov. 7
Labette
Nov. 8
Hesston College W 102-53
W 84-46
Nov. 14 Midland College W 76-50 Nov. 15 S. Plains College W 74-36 Nov. 21 State Fair
W 83-64
Nov. 22 Coffeyville
W 78-66
Nov. 28 Kansas City
W 83-55
Nov. 29 Neosho Co.
W 92-52
Dec. 5
Ctrl Methodist U. JV W 94-39
Dec. 6
Allen
W 95-48
Dec. 12 NEO
W 67-47
Dec. 13 Northwest Tech W 93-51 Dec. 28 Salt Lake
W 55-46
Dec. 29 College of E. Utah W 90-64 Jan. 5
Garden City
W 96-43
Jan. 7
Butler
W 75-39
Jan. 12
Dodge City
W 108-60
Jan. 14
Barton
W 91-31
Date
Opponent Result
Jan. 17
Colby
W 91-31
Jan. 21
Pratt
W 85-34
Jan. 24
Cloud County
W 104-46
Jan. 28
Seward Co.
W 62-61
Jan. 31
Dodge City
W 92-57
Feb. 4
Garden City
W 67-39
Feb. 7
Butler
Feb. 11
Barton
Feb. 15
Colby
Feb. 18
Pratt
Feb. 21
Cloud County
Feb. 25
Seward County
Feb. 28
Region VI Opening Round
Mar. 4-7 Region VI Tournament Mar. 16-21 NJCAA Tournament
24-0 10-0 Season Record
Conference Record
Results as of Feb. 5
Head Coach John Ontjes watches closely as his team performs an offensive set. Ontjes took the title of all-time leader of HCC Women’s Basketball coaching wins with 234 as of Jan. 10.
Women’s Basketball
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F
After three straight losses, the Blue Dragons face each opponent in hopes to climb back up in the NJCAA poll. photos&story
Joseph Griffin
T
he Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball team, lead by Head Coach Steve Eck, was picked to win the Jayhawk West in 2015. But slow starts, bad deals and down-right bad luck seem to have plagued some parts of the season. As the
nationally-ranked Blue Dragons fell from the top-ten, into the midteens, following an impressive 13-1 non-conference start, many wondered what was happening to the preseason favorites to win the Jayhawk West. Following that notable start, and a close win over Garden City, the then 14-1 Blue Dragons welcomed the Butler Grizzlies to the Sports Arena. They were dealt a heartbreaking loss on their home court.
FIGHTING BACK 33
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Blue Dragon woes didn’t start there, as the team was dealt significant blows from many directions, primarily from one of nature’s toughest competitors, influenza. “After the first [conference] game, we had like, four guys on the team with the flu. We were short-handed and kind of sluggish,” Eck said. This bug took the team from a steady top-ten, to the mid-teen placement in the matter of two weeks. But sickness wasn’t the only factor, as mother-nature sought to derail what was deemed to be a steady conference schedule. “We played Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, cause of the snow day. That didn’t help any at all, we had some guys that were run down and
Akbar Hoffman, Newark, N.J., goes up hard against two Labette defenders on Nov. 1. Hoffman averaged 9.8 points a game as of Jan. 10.
Quick Facts Men’s Basketball
•
•
•
5
players in double-digits, average pointsper-game
2
Number of Jayhawk West Player of the Week honors for Bashier Ahmed
801
career victories for Coach Steve Eck
women’s Basketball
•
•
•
•
•
113
Wins in a row at Sports Arena
27
Wins in a row in Jayhawk West
241
wins for Coach John Ontjes at HCC
#1
- Ranking in NJCAA for assists per game - 22.3
#1
- Ranking in NJCAA for shooting percentage - 50.1
Jaylen Robertson, Clinton, N.C., drives to the basket against North Eastern Oklahoma on Nov. 8. Robertson, a freshman guard, scored 8 points in the 105-67 win.
Men’s Basketball
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
sluggish and didn’t play as well as we should have,” Eck said. “But guys are healthy now and we’re playing a lot better.” This impressive play came after their trifling 1-3 conference start. The 17-4 Blue Dragons won three in a row and hold a 4-3 record in the Jayhawk West and a tie with Dodge City for third place. Eck looked at this team and saw that it is finally coming together, and the outlook was good. “Hopefully we can keep it going, guys are practicing hard, and they’re not going to give up,” Eck said. In a conference as strong as the Jayhawk West, teams must bring their A-game to every game, as anything less isn’t going to get the win. “Thing is, the conference is the best it’s been in fifteen years. If you have an average night, you’re going to lose,” Eck said. “Can’t have average night in this league this year, last year you could have an average night and still win, but not this year.” Average nights don’t seem to come far too often for the Blue Dragons, who rank seventh in the conference with their 47.5% field-goal percentage and fifth in points per game with 84.1. Those numbers alone won’t win ball games, but instead, great players do. The Jayhawk Confer ence is one of the best in the nation, with four of its teams in the top-25 poll as of Jan. 28. To play against this level of talent, teams had to bring some extra talent to the court with them. “I’ve got 5, 6, 7, guys that can score. So, just kind of depends on which guy is
Date
Opponent Result
Date
Opponent Result
Oct. 31 Trinidad State
W 81-64
Jan. 17
Colby
W 101-70
Nov. 1
Labette
L 77-87
Jan. 21
Pratt
W 103-90
Nov. 7
Hesston College W 94-85
Jan. 24
Cloud County
W 77-74
Nov. 8
NEO
W 105-67
Jan. 28
Seward County
W 75-65
Nov. 14 Hesston College W 79-73
Jan. 31
Dodge City
W 79-62
Nov. 21 Western Texas
W 75-61
Feb. 4
Garden City
W 80-68
Nov. 22 Central Nebraska W 89-51
Feb. 7
Butler
Nov. 24 Lamar
W 90-62
Feb. 11
Barton
Nov. 28 El Centro
W 96-77
Feb. 15
Colby
Nov. 29 Frank Philips Coll. W 70-59
Feb. 18
Pratt
Dec. 5
NW Tech.
W 70-56
Feb. 21
Cloud County
Dec. 6
Allen
W 82-67
Feb. 25
Seward County
Dec. 12 NE Nebraska
W 96-92
Feb. 28
Region VI Opening Round
Dec. 13 N Lake Coll.
W 76-62
Mar. 5-7 Region VI Tournament
Jan. 5
Garden City
W 69-60
Mar. 16-21 NJCAA Tournament
Jan. 7
Butler
L 62-72
Jan. 12
Dodge City
L 82-86
Jan. 14
Barton
L 93-105
open and which has the mismatch,” Eck said. Those mismatches are a big key to victory this year as multiple games have ultimately come down to who has the advantage. Bashier Ahmed, Bronx, N.Y., was one of those players. Ahmed had been a key contributor in conference play, averaging 19.0 points on 46.2 percent shooting, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per outing during conference play. But as Coach Eck pointed out, he has more than just one great player; he has a bench full. The bench was filled with contributors like Che Bob, Charlotte, N.C.; Keanu
20-4 7-3
Season Record
Conference Record
Results as of Feb. 5
Head Coach Steve Eck reacts to a the play on the court on Nov. 1. Eck coached his sixth season at HCC and led the Blue Dragons to a record of 149-34 as of Jan. 10.
Continued on page 36 Men’s Basketball
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Men’s Basketball Continued from page 35 Pinder, Perth, Australia; and Akbar Hoffman, Newark N.J. These athletes even had starting spots at one time or another. Bob, Pinder, and Hoffman
may be bench players, but they certainly don’t play like it. Bob averages 22.2 points per forty minutes and Pinder has 13.9, and Hoffman dropped 17.1. One of the highest productive benches in the Jawhawk West gave a fighting chance at grabbing a conference title. The Blue Dragons seem poised to do their part as the season boils down. As the conference schedule came to a mid point, and teams started to focus on what needed to be done to get that next win, some were looking to reflect on the time they’d spent with their peers and coaches at HCC. Coach Eck only hopes
that his players will leave with a tough demeanor and respectful attitude. “I want them to take with them self-discipline and what self-discipline is all about,” Eck said. “Make sure they work on their character so that they have good character, and a little respect for their peers.” Practice means perfecting skills. For these Blue Dragon athletes, they As the season continued, the Blue Dragons had the honor of playing for a coach that had over 800 career victories and was voted as one of Kansas’ best coaches in history. It was a great feat for one coach and a great honor for his athletes.
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Luty Legacy Continued from page 23 With smiles plastered across the faces of the musicians after completing each song, it was clear Schroeder wasn’t the only proud one on stage. “When we get to perform and after we’re done and the audience is applauding us and we get to feel like we’re appreciated for doing something, it’s a good feeling,” Hiatt said. Musicians old and new alike, all performed on stage that evening, and all felt the same way, happy to be celebrating the life of Bryce Luty. The audience even got the privilege of hearing Glennda Hill, former HCC student, and the Bryce
Luty All-Star Alumni Band perform. “As far as HCC goes, that alumni band was 20 people of all the students he had a profound impact on at HCC,” Schroeder said. Many professional musicians blossomed under the influence of Luty at HCC. “This alumni band is really a testament to how many, no we don’t know how many, but a testament to the amount of professional musicians that came out of HCC,” Schroeder said. During the final song before the encore, audience members began to clap along with the beat which proved the impact on stage was just as profound in the theatre seats.
“I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know how big my potential audience could be, but I was positive in the fact that because it was a celebration of Bryce’s life, we probably got as much of our jazz public as possible for that,” Schroeder said. According to Schroeder, the concert had potential to sell out and Radio Kansas made an agreement to stream the concert online for any that might have potentially been turned away because of the soldout show. Many people on stage as well as many in the audience were all touched in a specific way by Luty. According to Schroeder, Luty could see the potential in someone
and would practically yank it out of them. “People would say no to Bryce but he wouldn’t hear it,” Schroeder said. Schroeder referred to Luty as almost a father figure to most of his musicians. With such endearing traits, he was able to lure in the finest talents of Kansas. Having a jazz band in high schools and colleges wasn’t near as common as it is now. “He really began jazz in an academic setting in Kansas,” Schroeder said. Even with the passing of a beloved member of the jazz movement, Luty’s legacy lives on through the HCC jazz program he so marvelously built from the ground up.
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