Letter to the Editor

Letters to the editor

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Thanks to the community for inaugural success

Dear editor:

Cottey College inaugurated its 11th president last weekend. It was not only a glorious event for the College but was a wonderful shared experience with the Nevada community. The response from the community for all of the scheduled events was overwhelming. Members of the Cottey College Board of Trustees and I were so pleased to see such enthusiasm and high participation on the part of local residents.

The involvement on the part of area people began when the Inaugural Planning Team was formed to create this special weekend. We were fortunate to have community leaders who were not only willing to get involved, but excited about getting involved with Cottey's newest president and the inaugural event planning. And how fortunate Cottey was to have Kathi Wysong, the executive director of the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce, serve as the master of ceremonies for the inaugural ceremony. She was an excellent master of ceremonies and the perfect choice for this special event.

I was also pleased to see so many of the local high school students who are currently enrolled in Cottey's presidential leadership program serve as ushers for the keynote address on Friday evening. These young women are outstanding examples of the quality of the Nevada school system as well as the leadership program at the College. They were wonderful representatives of both institutions.

Local businesses also served vital roles in the weekend events. Many thanks to both Wal-Mart and Sutherlands for donating their plants to decorate Hinkhouse Center for the Inaugural Celebration on Saturday evening.

And many thanks as well to those businesses who provided salon services to our students on Saturday afternoon. Robin Erwin, Ashley Vance, Christen Diehl, Carla Shull, Noel Brockman, Mendy Neider, Stephanie Wolfe, and Joey Stevens came to campus and offered their services to Cottey students to help them look their best for the celebration that evening.

Thank you also to the wonderful people at Greenfield's Harvest House, K&K Catering, May's Floral, and Gragg's Flowers for the services they provided throughout the weekend.

Toasts at the luncheon by Dr. Ted Davis, superintendent of the Nevada R- 5 schools, and Tim Moore, mayor of Nevada, reiterated the strong relationship between Cottey and the City of Nevada. For more than 120 years, Cottey College and the community of Nevada have enjoyed a close partnership. The inaugural events of this past weekend marked the beginning of the next chapter in the history of this relationship.

Thank you once again to everyone who participated in and supported the inauguration of Dr. Judy Robinson Rogers, the eleventh president of Cottey College. The College continues to

extend a warm welcome to any member of the Nevada community who might wish to visit and is open to suggestions about ways in which our partnership can be strengthened and deepened.

Sincerely and with gratitude,

Helen Kirby

Chairman, Cottey College Board of Trustees

Cottey College Class of 1953