SAINTS PERSPECTIVE, SCCC President Brad Bennett
Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing at Seward County Community College, after a kick-off weekend that brought Saints out into the community. At the Southwest Fiesta on Sept. 15, several athletic teams, clubs, and student groups showed up to brighten the parade and help with set-up and table staffing at the fiesta that followed. Traffic was brisk at the Adult Education booth, where students could enroll for the upcoming Session 2 classes in English and GED preparation. Our Hispanic American Leadership Organization students did exactly what their club name refers to: servant leadership. Those students learned even more at the annual "Encuentro" trip to K-State, where they met Hispanic-American leaders and fellow students in pursuit of excellence.
I’ve talked before about what it means to be a Hispanic Serving Institution, a designation by the federal government that acknowledges our student demographics. To put it simply, we want to show up for our students where they are, for whatever they need. Sometimes, it’s an acknowledgement that we see them, and that they matter to us. Other times, it’s making the effort to be sure communication is clear and helpful. A great example of this came up last week as we prepared for a new student support event on campus.
This month, the Financial Aid department at SCCC will kick off a seven-session series of ZOOM calls to help students and their families prepare for financing college. The process begins with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) but before that form can be filled out, each student must establish sign-in credentials known as their FSA ID number.
For those of us who live, work (and sometimes dream) in the world of Higher Education, filling out FAFSA-related paperwork is routine. Even the many acronyms like ELA, GED, FAFSA and so on are easy to say and decode.
But it is not that way for everyone, especially families that are new to the prospect of college. The paperwork — even if it is an online form — becomes a barrier, and the result is fewer opportunities for students and their extended families. Director of Financial Aid Amy Bridenstine and her team hope to extend a helping hand to families who are intimidated by the process. The sessions, “Create Your FSA ID” are simple, short, and friendly. They take less than an hour, and the financial aid office will offer them at different times on Thursdays over the next two months:
• Oct. 8 (Thursday) at 10-11:30 a.m.
• Oct. 24 (Thursday) at 12-1:30 p.m. and at 5-6:30 p.m.
• Nov. 7 (Thursday) at 12-1:30 p.m. and 5-6:30 p.m.
• Nov. 14 (Thursday) 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 4-5:30 p.m.
• Nov. 19 (Thursday) 5:30-7 p.m.
• As an FYI, you can sign up for any session by calling 620-417-1110.
So far, so good. Now, we needed to publicize the Zoom sessions, so that folks could call and sign up or email to obtain the link. Marketing thought the phrase, “Money doesn’t grow on trees” would be a great way to acknowledge the stress many families feel when they think about college. But when we translated the phrase into Spanish, it didn’t have the same zing.
How did we know? Alma Avalos, the scholarship coordinator in the Financial Aid office, gave feedback when she saw the poster. In her experience, she said, it’s more common for people to say, in Spanish, “Money doesn’t fall from the sky!” Her willingness to help us shift the message to make it more relevant was a great example of how we want to operate, with awareness and sensitivity. We finally decided to tweak the saying to "Money doesn't fall from trees," which we hope will get the idea across in a more colloquial way. It's a small change, but sometimes it is those little details that make all the difference.
Then there’s the universal language of food. We’ve had the traditional jalapeño-eating contest here on campus, and our Student Life Director Wade Lyon has served up a nacho bar for students, with sopapillas and churros planned for this Friday. We know the world of Hispanic/Latino food goes far beyond tacos and Mexican classics — but we also know nearly no one can say no to a crispy, sweet churro.
We’re also excited to welcome Judge Rachel Pickering, a high-achieving Latina lawyer and judge, to a campus forum on Oct. 8. Last year, Judge Pickering brought a panel of young professionals to discuss opportunities, goals, and the importance of dreaming big with our students. It was a lively, engaging conversation that inspired students, faculty and staff. That forum is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 8 in the Showcase Theater.
Throughout the month, Phil Lee of the marketing & PR department has been recording and posting personal interviews with faculty, staff, and students who have a personal connection to Hispanic Heritage Month. These videos can be viewed on Facebook and YouTube, and they are fascinating and fun. Learn more about our Saints family and countries from Brazil to Dominican Republic to Colombia to Mexico through their personal stories.
All too soon, Halloween will be here, and we’ll be welcoming kids to our annual Trunk or Treat event here on campus. Until then, enjoy the warm afternoons and cool evenings, as Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR — Brad Bennett is the president of Seward County Community College and a firm believer that if you’re going to have tortilla chips, you better get some queso blanco to go with them. Email him at
