Students at Hutchinson Community College took home several top honors at the SkillsUSA Kansas State Championships held in April in Hutchinson.

In all, HutchCC had four first-place finishers.  The first-place finishers in each event will advance to the National SkillsUSA Championships, to be held in June 23-27 in Atlanta, Georgia.

In Mechatronics, the team of Edgar Morales (Hutchinson) and Josh Burdett (Hutchinson) won the competition, while the team of Kevin Rodriguez (Hutchinson) and Kohen Starnes (Hutchinson) placed second. For the national competition, Starnes will be competing in place of Burdett, who is unable to attend.

Zion Hayes (Hutchinson) qualified by earning a gold in Welding Sculpture, while Ella Mackey (Florence) earned a silver medal. 

Ellie Hardgrave (McPherson) also qualified for nationals in Cosmetology while Alex Romero (McPherson) and Dani Hacking (Haysville) earned a silver and bronze, respectively, in Cosmetology.

Also placing at the state contest were Ryan Goss (Hutchinson) with a silver medal in Technical Drafting, Nick Hoffman (Hutchinson) with a silver medal in Industrial Motor Controls, Dalton Johnson (Hutchinson) with a silver medal in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration and Lucas Garcia (Abbyville) with a bronze medal in Industrial Motor Controls.

For a full list of Skills USA results, please visit www.skillsusakansas.org.  For more information on Hutchinson Community College, visit the college website at www.hutchcc.edu.

Hutchinson Community College will celebrate its annual commencement ceremony this Friday, May 9 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

The ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm and will recognize students graduating with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of General Studies, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Applied Science and/or Certificates of Technical Education.

“The academic accomplishments of our students merit meaningful recognition and celebration,” said HutchCC President Dr. Tricia Paramore. “We are pleased to join our graduates, along with their families and friends, in honoring their dedication and success.”

For those unable to attend in-person, the ceremony will be available on the College’s YouTube channel. For more information on Hutchinson Community College’s commencement and for links to the ceremonies, visit www.hutchcc.edu/graduation.

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Hutchinson Community College has announced that Maggy Adolf and Julen Wannamaker have been selected as the 2024-2025 Wes Christopher Ambassadors of the Year.

Maggy is a graduate of Moundridge High School and a proud alumna of the HutchCC Cosmetology program. Currently, she is working toward a degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship, driven by her ambition to one day open her own salon. In addition to her role as a Student Ambassador, Maggy is a Leadership Scholar and is an active member of CrossPoint Challenge, contributes to the Dance Club as a board member, and supports fellow students through her role in the Student Success Center.

Julen is a graduate of Trinity Catholic High School in Hutchinson. In addition to serving as a Student Ambassador, Julen served as a student worker in the athletic department assisting in a variety of roles. After graduation from HutchCC, he plans to attend Wichita State University to study accounting.

The Ambassador group, comprised of HutchCC students from all areas of the college, assists the Admissions Office with recruitment activities. They provide campus tours to prospective students and their families, help with on-campus recruitment events, and contact future students to provide information about the College. The Ambassadors are led by HutchCC Admissions Office staff members Lynnette Hilty, Assistant Director of Admissions, and BreAnne Edwards, Admissions Processor.

The Wes Christopher Ambassador of the Year Award is named in honor of Wes Christopher, a 2002 graduate of HutchCC and former Ambassador who passed away in 2005 as the result of a motorcycle accident.

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

Two outstanding Hutchinson Community College students were recognized as the 2025 Young Kansan Award winners at a ceremony on campus on April 29. The students will also be honored during the College’s commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 9.

Maggy Adolf (Moundridge) and Key’ahn Taylor (Junction City) were selected from a field of students nominated for the honor.  The Young Kansan award recognizes two outstanding graduates each year at Hutchinson Community College and is chosen by a vote of the faculty and administration at the college.

The award is sponsored by RCB Bank.  Each winner received a plaque and a cash honorarium in recognition of their achievements.

Maggy is a graduate of Moundridge High School and a proud alumna of the HutchCC Cosmetology program. Currently, she is working toward a degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship, driven by her ambition to one day open her own salon.

Maggy holds the distinction of being a Leadership Scholar and serves as a Student Ambassador for the Admissions Department. She is an active member of CrossPoint Challenge, contributes to the Dance Club as a board member, and supports fellow students through her role in the Student Success Center.

Key’ahn is a graduate of Junction City High School and is completing the HutchCC Fire Science program. In addition, he serves as a Resident Assistant in the Residence Halls and actively participates in several student organizations, including the Student Firefighter Association, Student Government, and Dance Club.

For more information on the honor and award programs at Hutchinson Community College, visit the college’s website at www.hutchcc.edu.