Hutchinson Community College Cosmetology will be hosting its annual Back to School Haircut Day August 12 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at the school’s center at 200 E. 3rd Ave., Hutchinson.

Children in pre-k through grade 12 are eligible for a free haircut to be performed by HutchCC cosmetology students and volunteer cosmetologists and barbers. No appointment is necessary; haircuts will be done on a first come, first served basis.

“This day is a highlight of the year for us and our students,” stated Alex Hass, HutchCC’s Cosmetology Program Coordinator. “We look forward to offering this each year and are excited to help those in our community prepare for the upcoming school year.”

For more information, or if you are a cosmetologist or barber interested in volunteering, contact Alex Hass at 620-669-4575 or email at hassa@hutchcc.edu.

Hutchinson, Kan. –The Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees took action on several items during its July meeting, the first for new President Dr. Tricia Paramore.

Dr. Paramore provided the Board with an update on the College’s Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and Strategic Planning efforts.

Vice President of Workforce Development Bryce McFarland shared several recent successes including this summer’s FastTrack industry trainings, boot camps and the CDL training program, which successfully trained 206 individuals the past year.

Julie Blanton, Vice President of Finance and Operations, presented the College’s budget proposal at the hearing. The next step in the process will be a public hearing on September 12 with likely final action to follow.

The budget includes a mill levy set at 21.829, which is consistent with the year prior. This is made possible by an expected increase in county valuations. Tuition and fees are each slated to increase by $2.00 per credit hour. The $10.00 per credit hour reduction for Reno County residents remains in place.

The Board also approved the Master Agreement with the Hutchinson National Faculty Association for the 2023-24 year. The agreement includes a 4% increase on base salary and $38 per month increase for Board Benefits. A salary increase based on performance, market value and scope of responsibility, with the average increase not to exceed 4% and a $38 per month increase in the Board Benefit, was also approved for classified and administrative staff.

The next meeting of the board will be on Thursday, August 8.  The meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. in the Shears Technology Center Justice Theater.  The public is invited to attend. Board meeting agendas and meeting information can be found at www.hutchcc.edu/boardmeetings.

The Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees held its final meeting of the fiscal year Thursday evening.

The Board conducted several items of routine business including approval of the final bills to be paid for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

In addition, the Board approved a contract for a new text alert system that will enhance its communication capabilities with students, faculty and staff.

The next meeting of the board will be on Wednesday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Shears Technology Center Justice Theater.  The public is invited to attend.

For more information on Hutchinson Community College, visit the college website at www.hutchcc.edu.

The Dillon Lecture Series has announced its remaining speakers for the 2024 season. In addition to the previously announced Steven Ford (actor and son of former President Gerald Ford) on September 17, the 2024 Series has added Jerome Tang, head men’s basketball coach of Kansas State University on October 8.

Coach Tang, who was selected as the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to a 26-win season and its 13th trip to the Elite Eight in his inaugural season, recently completed his second season as the 25th head men's basketball head coach at Kansas State.

Tang is just the third coach in the program's history to be selected National Coach of the Year, joining Fred "Tex" Winter (who presented a 2003 Dillon Lecture) in 1958 and Jack Hartman in 1980, while he is the fourth head coach from a Big 12 institution to earn the honor from the Naismith Trophy. He was a candidate for nearly every other National Coach of the Year honor in 2022-23, including finishing as the runner-up for The Associated Press award. In addition, he was the consensus Big 12 Coach of the Year, earning the honor from both the league coaches and the AP.

Tickets for both lectures are available now at www.hutchcc.edu/dls or will be available at the Sports Arena beginning at 9:45 am the day of each lecture.

2024 is the 43rd season for the Dillon Lecture Series on the Hutchinson Community College campus.  For more information on the Dillon Lecture Series, or for information on how to become a patron, call Becky Rogers at 620-665-3505 or visit the website at www.hutchcc.edu/dls.