SSC Educational Foundation’s Annual Spring Banquet Draws Large Crowd

Josh Hutton
Pictured, Seminole State College President Lana Reynolds (left) and SSC Educational Foundation Chair Mark Schell (right) present the Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Brad Walck during the SSC Educational Foundation’s 30th Annual Spring Recognition Banquet on May 1. Walck was honored for his 22 years of service at SSC, where he held several roles including Vice President for Student Affairs and Head Women’s Basketball Coach.
Seminole State College President Lana Reynolds (left) and SSC Educational Foundation Chair Mark Schell (right) present the Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Brad Walck during the SSC Educational Foundation’s 30th Annual Spring Recognition Banquet on May 1. Walck was honored for his 22 years of service at SSC, where he held several roles including Vice President for Student Affairs and Head Women’s Basketball Coach.

The Seminole State College Educational Foundation hosted its 30th Annual Spring Recognition Banquet on Thursday, May 1 in the Utterback Ballroom of the Enoch Kelly Haney Center. A crowd of 450 guests filled the venue, and the event raised just over $60,000—making it the most successful banquet in the event’s history.

The banquet serves as a major fundraiser and recognition event, honoring alumni, employees and students. This year, Phil Johnson and Karen Romine were inducted into the SSC Alumni Hall of Fame. The Distinguished Service Award was presented to longtime SSC administrator Dr. Brad Walck.

SSC Alumni Hall of Fame

Pictured are, Karen Romine (left) and Phil Johnson (right) who were inducted into the Seminole State College Alumni Hall at the event. Romine is a Clinical Educator at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Shawnee. Johnson serves as State Director of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution System.
Karen Romine (left) and Phil Johnson (right) were inducted into the Seminole State College Alumni Hall at the event. Romine is a Clinical Educator at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Shawnee. Johnson serves as State Director of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution System.

Phil Johnson, who finished his time at SSC in 1989, currently serves as the State Director of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution System. Over the course of his career, he has overseen conflict resolution services in all 77 counties in Oklahoma and mediated more than 3,000 cases.

Karen Romine, a 1999 graduate, has served as the Clinical Educator at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Shawnee since 2008. She has worked in emergency, outpatient and acute care settings, and previously taught nursing at SSC.

Dr. Brad Walck, who retired from SSC in 2013 after 22 years of service, received the Distinguished Service Award. He held several roles at the College, including Vice President for Student Affairs and Head Women’s Basketball Coach.

Outstanding Students of the Year

In this photo, SSC President Lana Reynolds interviews this year’s Outstanding Student honorees during the Spring Recognition Banquet. Pictured (left to right) are: President Reynolds, Cednei Hulbutta of Wewoka, Caitlin Nuttall of Midwest City, Caden Pothorst of Prague, Troy Edwards of Davenport, and Bailey Galleciez of Seminole.
SSC President Lana Reynolds interviews this year’s Outstanding Student honorees during the Spring Recognition Banquet. Pictured (left to right) are: President Reynolds, Cednei Hulbutta of Wewoka, Caitlin Nuttall of Midwest City, Caden Pothorst of Prague, Troy Edwards of Davenport, and Bailey Galleciez of Seminole.

Five students were recognized as Outstanding Students of the Year by their academic divisions: Cednei Hulbutta of Wewoka, Business and Education Division; Caitlin Nuttall of Midwest City, Health Sciences Division; Caden Pothorst of Prague, Language Arts and Humanities Division; Troy Edwards of Davenport, Social Sciences Division; and Bailey Galleciez of Seminole, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Division.

Campus Organizational Leaders

Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Deanna Miles, Faculty Senate President; Melinda Sims, Professional Staff Council Chair; Tisha Simon, Classified Staff Association President; and Adisen Williamson, Student Government Association President.
Seminole State College recognized campus organizational leaders during the event. Pictured from left to right are: Dr. Deanna Miles, Faculty Senate President; Melinda Sims, Professional Staff Council Chair; Tisha Simon, Classified Staff Association President; and Adisen Williamson, Student Government Association President.

Campus organizational leaders were also recognized, including Faculty Senate President Dr. Deanna Miles, Professional Staff Council Chair Melinda Sims, Classified Staff Association President Tisha Simon and Student Government Association President Adisen Williamson.

Employee Milestones

Pictured left to right are: Rita Story-Schell, Head Coach of Women’s Basketball and HPER Instructor, recognized for 25 years; Evan Lee, Campus Police Officer, recognized for 20 years; Tammy Kasterke, Assistant Professor and Division Chair of Business and Education, recognized for 20 years.
Three employees were honored for their years of service during the SSC Spring Recognition Banquet. Pictured left to right are: Rita Story-Schell, Head Coach of Women’s Basketball and HPER Instructor, recognized for 25 years; Evan Lee, Campus Police Officer, recognized for 20 years; Tammy Kasterke, Assistant Professor and Division Chair of Business and Education, recognized for 20 years.

Employees honored for milestone service included Rita Story-Schell, Head Women’s Basketball Coach and HPER Division Director (25 years); Evan Lee, Campus Police Officer (20 years); and Tammy Kasterke, Business and Education Division Chair and Assistant Professor of Business (20 years).

Retirees

Pictured (left to right): Katy Hall, Kitchen Staff and Banquet Coordinator; Mark Spencer, Custodian; and Mindy Stufflebeam, Financial Aid Specialist.
The following SSC employees were honored for their retirement during the event, pictured (left to right): Katy Hall, Kitchen Staff and Banquet Coordinator; Mark Spencer, Custodian; and Mindy Stufflebeam, Financial Aid Specialist. Not pictured, but also recognized for his upcoming retirement is Sam Rivera, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice.

Retirees recognized at the event included Katy Hall, Kitchen Staff and Banquet Coordinator; Mindy Stufflebeam, Financial Aid Specialist; Sam Rivera, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences Division Chair; and Mark Spencer, Custodian.

The SSC Educational Foundation, established in 1972, plays a vital role in supporting scholarships, faculty initiatives and campus development. For more information or to make a contribution, visit sscok.edu/foundation.