Mary Jo Williams Charitable Trust Funds Eight Projects at GCCC

[Garden City, KS] December 16, 2021 — The Mary Jo Williams Charitable Trust has chosen to fund eight grant requests from GCCC faculty and staff for a total of $89,559.09.

The 2021 recipients and projects are as follows:

1. Lorilynn Landgraf, Nursing Instructor, requested $16,464.20 for the purchase of eight (8) Alaris IV Pumps and modules plus 200 primary and secondary tubing sets for training use in the Nursing Department’s simulation lab.

2. Nicole Dick, Math Instructor, and Division Leader requested $4,167.71 to purchase 30 Texas Instruments 84 CE Calculator classroom bundles with storage case and charging station. The calculators will be used to establish a loaner program for students that cannot afford to purchase a graphing calculator.

3. Bret Haire, Automotive Technology Instructor, requested $4,878.33 to renovate the existing LS Engine Run stands with new equipment and technology and purchase 7 new Transmission Build Stations, an Eastwood Dual-Voltage Powder Coating Kit, and two (2) 24 rack commercial-grade stainless steel storage racks. These will allow our second-year Automotive Technology students to acquire additional skills that are currently not being taught due to the unavailability of the necessary equipment.

4. Seth Kristalyn, Communications, and English Instructor requested $14,500 to purchase a bookbinding machine with a storage cabinet and a 30lb bag of adhesive to be utilized by the Project 1919 literary magazine and the art programs at GCCC.

5. Mia Horn, Director of Cosmetology, requested $8,725.86 for the purchase of thirteen (13) classroom workstations (10 large and 3 small) to be utilized in the high school dual-
credit manicuring program.

6. Trent Smith, Library Director, and Janice Urie, Mary Jo Williams CLC Coordinator, requested $21,730 for the purchase of a new ADA – compliant circulation desk and
exchange worktables. This will create a front desk area that is designed to better utilize current technology and to sensitively accommodate patrons and students with physical
disabilities.

7. Dr. Clint Alexander, Professor, Animal and Food Science, requested $17,859.99 for the purchase of an Easy-Drop Hydraulic Lift, a Talsa sausage stuffer, a new printing scale, and a Patty-O-Matic Protégé Patty Machine for use in the teaching program and by Buster Red Meats.

8. Cody Cundiff, Collegiate Quiz Bowl Coach, and Social Science Instructor requested $1,233 for the purchase of a Quik Pro Deluxe Buzzer System Q616 and a Quik Pro Deluxe Buzzer System Q612. These items will be used for team practice and when GCCC annually hosts a quiz bowl tournament.

GCCC President, Dr. Ruda, shared his appreciation for this funding, “The Mary Jo Williams Charitable Trust continues to graciously support GCCC year after year. The approximately $90,000 this year will go towards various projects and departmental needs which help address continuous improvements at GCCC.” The Mary Jo Williams Charitable Trust was established in February of 1986. Mary Jo Williams passed away at the age of 64 and left this legacy for the community that she loved. She served many years as a secretary to the Garden City superintendent of schools and as a clerk of the school board. Ms. Williams was able to amass a small fortune which she left for the creation of a charitable trust. Garden City Community College Endowment Association was one of the first beneficiaries of the Mary Jo Williams Charitable Trust, and the Trust continues to provide assistance to enhance educational opportunities at Garden City Community College. The initial gifts were utilized to start the Mary Jo Williams Comprehensive Learning Center in the GCCC Library, and the Trust has continued to provide funding for a grant request project each year. Nearly every program on the GCCC campus has received a grant for the purchase of technology, educational materials, or equipment. The Mary Jo Williams Charitable Trust has
provided over $1.8 million in grant and scholarship funding to the GCCC Endowment Association. The grant requests are submitted by GCCC employees for up to $20,000 and are for educational equipment and materials, educational access and student success, promotion of the arts, or student services. The GCCC Endowment Association delivers the completed application to the Trust and handles the funding.

For more information on this initiative, contact Jeremy Gigot, Executive Director of the GCCC
Endowment Association, at jeremy.gigot@gcccks.edu.