SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett
April is National Community College Month, which might equate to the largest annual celebration of amazing advancements in the United States. I think of it like this because the more than 1,000 community colleges in the country — 19 of them in Kansas — are possibly the strongest method of people to radically transform their lives for the better through education. As the national campaign says, community colleges are a gamechanger.
That is something we see every day at Seward County Community College. The students we serve are phenomenal players in the game of life. This is due to geography, politics, demographics, and what I think of as unmatchable grit.
Here in the most southwestern location for higher ed in the state of Kansas, we draw students from a seven-county area dotted with rural communities. But we also serve five states within driving distance. It’s a sparsely populated region and long-time residents tend to be fiercely independent and persistent: after all, they survived the Dust Bowl, radical changes in agriculture and ranching, endured the ups and downs of the gas and oil industry, and too often are dismissed as part of “flyover country.”
If you take a closer look at our students, you will find that they are often “first generation” college-goers. Plainly put, they are pioneers, the first person in their household and possibly their multigenerational family to enroll in any kind of schooling past high school. In state statistics, our region is sometimes referred to as “the least educated” part of Kansas. Being told you are the ‘least” of anything stings, no doubt about it. But I have a different point of view.
To me, those numbers reflect an enormous opportunity. Not only does SCCC have the privilege of being part of a profound transformation for our students, we are also honored to be part of changing the trajectory of entire families. In that sense, the word “gamechanger” doesn’t seem big enough.
But there is another layer to these stories. Many times we look at someone who’s going through life without a college degree or credential as disadvantaged. I think that sells folks short. Whatever the reason for how or why people don’t access higher education, they should be applauded for two things.
One, they’ve made life work despite lack of income or experience or support or whatever factors kept them from following a traditional “college-bound” path. If you haven’t traveled this route, you may not realize how much perseverance it requires. I am always amazed to hear what our students do to keep going, whether it’s working two jobs, learning to DIY repairs, or sacrificing short-term gratification for the good of their families. That’s something to be proud of.
Two, once these determined overcomers make it to our campus, they are incredibly brave. It takes courage for any of us to do anything new. Starting college requires a lot of nontraditional or first-generation students: filling out unfamiliar paperwork, mastering terminology that can be confusing, going into an alien environment, maybe even feeling like the only one who’s different. Despite all the discomfort, these brand-new Saints stay the course; our graduation rates are among the best in the state. We are with those future alumni very step of the way.
SCCC is constantly at work to do a better job of helping all our students, whatever their circumstances or background. We look for gaps in support: our campus pantry with food and school supplies, is open to all, our campus closet with interview-appropriate, gently used and new clothing, is ready to outfit job-seekers, and student health center provides mental and basic physical health care at no cost.
More than these material resources, we understand that students need to know we’re on their side, cheering them to the finish line. This takes place with regular grade checks, advising appointments, and the individual support that our quality, caring instructors provide to in-person and online students.
On an informal basis, student clubs and organizations also offer opportunities to connect with others. Being an accepted, valued part of a community and campus has a huge impact on the student experience. Our aim is to find those connection points and nourish them.
Before you conclude that I am cheering for my own college because I’m the president — that’s fair — remember the idea of what a gamechanger can mean for those who are on the sidelines or in the arena. When champions play – and win — everyone shows up for the parade. It’s human nature.
In the same way, helping students win the game is good for everyone. It’s not just the excitement of success, it’s the measurable effects a community college provides to its physical community and region. The impact of SCCC, over half a century, has been tremendous. In 2021-22, the most recent stats available, the college generated more than $78 million in regional economic impact. Factors include spending and wages paid out by the college itself, plus the increase in income earned by our graduates and the benefit they provide to employers, as well as the documented societal benefits of more well-educated citizens who reinvest their earnings as they work, raise families, and support the community’s tax base.
As gamechangers go, SCCC clearly deserves the compliment. Go Saints!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR — Brad Bennett is the chief gamechanger and president of Seward County Community College. He is currently defending his title against two fierce Saints fans in his household but is confident he will prevail against the 8- and 10-year-old Saints fans. You can reach him at
