Butler 2021 Order of the Purple and Gold graduates recognized

On Friday, May 14, more than 170 Butler Community College graduating sophomores were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement at the annual Honors & Awards Recognition Ceremony, formerly called the Order of the Purple Ceremony.

During the ceremony, Order of the Purple candidates, Order of the Gold candidates, and several individual student and faculty awards were presented. Candidates for Order of the Gold must achieve a combined 4.0 grade point average (institutional and transfer) throughout their academic careers. Candidates for Order of the Purple must have a combined grade point average of 3.75 or above and a minimum of 30 credit hours attained at Butler at the time of graduation.

As the 2021 Master Teacher, Teubner served as the keynoted speaker. He addressed the honorees, acknowledging their outstanding academic achievement while also enduring a pandemic. Teubner, associate professor of English, was named the 2021 Master Teacher by the Butler Community College Education Association. Each year the BCCEA selects a faculty member who exemplifies teaching at its finest and awards that individual the prestigious title of Master Teacher. After earning his Master of Arts in English Literature at Wichita State University in 2012, Teubner began teaching at Butler, where he has remained ever since. Inside the classroom and online, Teubner works hard at developing ways to actively engage students.

“In addition to the content being extremely difficult, in addition to life being difficult, you have done this under one of the most stressful set of circumstances any college student in history has ever encountered,” said Teubner.

Following Teubner’s speech, individual awards were presented. 

The Huey award was established in 1989 in memory of Gregory A. “Huey” Bales of Yates Center. Greg, who was active in journalism, music, and theater, exemplified the highest standard of college students. Each year the Huey award is given to an Order of the Purple graduate who possesses the same high standards. This year’s recipient was Christian Watkins of Wichita.

The Helen Teter Zebold Science Award was established in 1984 in memory of Mrs. Zebold. Each year, it is awarded to a graduating sophomore majoring in science, math, or engineering. The student selected must be fully committed to continuing study in that major and completing a bachelor's degree. Kaylie Hansen of Wichita was named the recipient of this award.

The Frank H. Cron History Award is presented each year to a student graduating with a degree in History. Like former Senator Cron, the student should demonstrate high standards of civic pride and American patriotism, as well as a deep fascination and appreciation for history. Tia Tonn, on behalf of the Kansas Oil Museum and Butler County Historical Society, announced Zachary Grelinger of Derby as this year’s award winner. Grelinger receives a $500 scholarship, a medallion and his name placed on a plague in the museum.

Averie Nelson of the Butler Foundation and Junetta Everett, Distinguished Alumna recipient, awarded the Winnie Broers scholarship to Taylor Dieball of El Dorado. This honor is awarded annually to an eligible graduating sophomore. The recipient receives the scholarship for four semesters while attending either Kansas State University or the University of Kansas. Dieball was a participant on the nationally ranked Butler Livestock Judging Team. She is headed to K-State to continue her education in animal science with the long-term goal of becoming a veterinarian and studying bovine reproduction.  

The David and Shirley Longfellow BEST Scholarship supports one student who is dedicating their career to teaching by completing their degree in the BEST (Butler/Emporia Students to Teachers) Program. This scholarship was awarded to Jessie Nibarger of Towanda. Nibarger earned NJCAA All-Academic First Team honors in volleyball and is a Phi Beta Kappa All-State Academic Team Honor recipient. Nibarger looks forward to becoming an elementary school teacher.  

The Crossland Family Presidential Scholarship supports one student who is attending Pittsburg State University following their graduation from Butler. This year’s recipient is Tori Rhynard of Derby. Rhynard is a graduate of Butler’s Early College Academy Humanities pathway. She will continue her education at Pittsburg State University, majoring in Family and Consumer Science. 

Click here to view Honors and Awards Ceremony photo gallery

Listed below are Order of the Gold, Order of the Purple, and those faculty selected by their students to be honored as Outstanding Faculty. 

Order of the Gold Candidates by Hometown

*Denotes Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society membership

Adamstown, Md.

Gunner Crawford

Andover, Kan.

*Mariam Alky, Elaine Cook, *Caden McGill

Augusta, Kan.

*Adam Deewall, *Hannah Peacock, Noah Stevens

Bel Aire, Kan.

Amanda Murfin

Benton, Kan.

Kaidynce Hayworth

Burns, Kan.

Janet Busenitz

Clearwater, Kan.

*McKenzie Tripp

Coldwater, Kan.

*Addison Colter

Derby, Kan.

Kayla Balla, *Nyra Brown, Syrah Caughron, Merven Thomas, Madison Young

Douglass, Kan.

*David Arevalo, Dylan West

El Dorado, Kan.

Megan Dahna, Maria Manasses Valaski *Mara Stewart

Mulvane, Kan.

 *Hannah McIntosh, Sabrina Schmitz 

Newton, Kan.

*Jessica Martin, Thomas Hershberger

Perry, Ga.

John Martin

Rock, Kan.

*Amy Bruno

Rose Hill, Kan.

Christina Fernandez

Towanda, Kan.

*Jessie Nibarger, *Trinh Pham

Valley Center, Kan.

 *Mikaydon Thomas

Viola, Kan.

*Kayla Bennett 

Whitewater, Kan.

Marissa Welch

Wichita, Kan.

67205

Brooklyn DeForeest

67207

Hala Hamdeh, Duc Tran

67208

*Rachel Smith

67211

*Abraham Olvera, *Jordan Plowman, Chasity Winns

67213

Margeret O’Neal

67215

Jamie Cocklin

67218

*Amanda Moler

67226

Adisyn Cornali

67230

Isabelle Santonge

67235

Thai Vo

Williamsburg, Kan.

Brayden Singer

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Nhu Nguyen

Order of the Purple Candidates by Hometown

*Denotes Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society membership

Andover, Kan.

Nathan Anderson, Taylor Bessent, *Ashley Cichon, *Tim Franks, Amber Gonzalez, Amy Grether, Katelyn Hedger, Abigayle Jackson, *Whitney Mattern, Lauren McLaughlin, *Zachary Nibarger, Brock Scates, Denver Smith, Hannah Peniston

Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Kyler Vernon

Assaria, Kan.

Drake Bullock

Augusta, Kan.

Tiffany Hilton, Alexandra Partin, Lydia Peniston, *Michael Timberlake, Matthew Treto

Bel Aire, Kan.

Megan Castillo, Olivia Rozario

Benton, Kan.

Emily Smith, *Lillian Bailey, *Jennifer Bruendl

Broken Arrow, Okla.

Miranda Givens

Burden, Kan.

Clark Loewer

Carrollton, Texas.

Lan Dang

Cassville, Mo.

*Kaitlyn Stockton

Center Point, Ala.

 Caleb Tillman

Clearwater, Kan.

Caden Runnalls

Colwich, Kan.

*Anna Wusterbarth

Derby, Kan.

Jessica Alexander, Katelyn Boales, Raymond Clifton, Sara Davis, Callie Derenthal, *Zachary Grelinger, *Linnea Meade, Emma Pulaski, Tori Rhynard, Noah Yager

Douglass, Kan.

Naomi Christensen, *Savannah Edmonds,

El Dorado, Kan.

*Ricki Burks, *Si Qi Chen, Jillian Foes, *Dalton King, *Anna Kuestersteffen, Kele Laymon, Trisha Menadue, *Briana Salinas, *Joshua Shum, Zadie St Louis, *Joshua Staats, *Isabella Cocchi

Emporia, Kan.

Sophia Watkins

Eureka, Kan.

*Kennedy Johnson

Fair Grove, Mo.

Noah Argenta

Faribault, Minn.

*Cal Schultz

Garden City, Kan.

Elyssa Salazar

Greenville, Va.

Zachary McCall

Haven, Kan.

Ryan Williams

Hayfield, Minn.

*Martha Moenning

Haysville, Kan.

Wesley Ging

Hugoton, Kan.

Brionna Beard

Kingman, Ariz.

Grace Reich

Lake Quivira, Kan.

Thomas Tholen II

Lamberton, Minn.

Thomas Netzke

Leon, Kan.

*Paige Fisher

Lindsborg, Kan.

Addison Haiden

Maize, Kan.

*Jessica Lutgen

Manhattan, Kan.

Anthony Gorges

Marion, Kan.

Curtis Hill

McPherson, Kan.

Riley Hett

Mulvane, Kan.

Michael Wilson

Newton, Kan.

Thomas Hershberger, *Ryan McGuire, Paula Winegarner

North Newton, Kan.

Cassidy Entz

Page, Neb.

Jace Stagemeyer

Park City, Kan.

*Molly Jameson

Peabody, Kan.

Karen Wedd

Peck, Kan.

*Amanda Bilby

Platte, S.D.

*Sawyer Naasz

Potwin, Kan.

*Charles McQuiston

Rose Hill, Kan.

*Aislin Burnison, Natalie Eaton, Hope Ferrante, Ty Foster, Kaylee Hommertzheim

Shawnee, Kan.

Johnathan Contreras

Torrington, Wyo.

Paige Miller

Valley Center, Kan.

Jacob Minter, Madison Jennings

Wichita, Kan.

67203

Michaley Burns, Calvin Inthanon, James Jones, *Do Nhat Vi Pham 

67204

Victoria Grant, Eric Rodriguez

67205

Logan Paterson

67206

*Heath Huser, Leang Hy Kheng, *Raye Snowbarger

67207

Margaret Freeman, Katie Pham, Chau Tran

67208

Kimmie Duncan, *Mary Wadigasinghage,  Jason Wibowo

67209

Kaylie Hansen, Cherish Philbrick, Sophia Rattanavongsa

67210

*Louis Achoki, Jamie Lansang

67211

*Jennifer Tumbleston

67212

Raven Austin, *Laralyn Dickerson, Katie Dold, *Tara Herrington, Hannah Hurley, Ikechukwu  Iweha, *Daniel Jasinski, Madison Lipke, *Nathan Luke, *Ivette Martinez-Jimenez, Alajah Straughter, Christian Watkins

67213

*Daniel Albers, Jadyn Saunders

67215

Aubree Anna Delmar, Bradley Huslig

67216

*Rebecca Whittaker

67217

Jasmine Rattanathongxay, *Jessica Renteria

67218

Gerardo Delgado, Jacob Kresky, Lauren Stephens

67220

Lyn Parker

67226

Ibrahim Jesri

67230

*Brandon Cleveland, Macie Herndon, Maggie Koster, Madison Loyle, *Meri Abigail Vaughn

Outstanding Faculty  

as Nominated by Order of the Gold and Order of the Purple Candidates

•     Janice Akao
•     Danille Anthony
•     Richard Arthur
•     Connie Belden
•     Judith Bohrer
•     Robert Carlson
•     Beth Cunningham
•     Christopher Day
•     Dr. Mark Diskin
•     Monica Dobbins
•     Melissa Eliott
•     Kris Estes
•     Bruce Fiscus
•     Brian Foster
•     Dr. Shellie Gutierrez
•     Amanda Hash
•     Chad Ingram
•     Chadwick Isom
•     Joe Leibbrandt
•     Valerie Mack
•     Andrea McCaffree-Wallace
•     William McCarthy
•     Raven McIntosh
•     Mary McMackin
•     Jeffrey Meyer, M.D.
•     Dr. Ruth Meyer
•     Jennifer Montgomery
•     Dr. Tim Myers
•     Susan Shannon
•     Kelsey Teagle
•     Rhonda Thomas
•     Robert "Mac" Thompson
•     Dr. Mindy Trenary
•     Jeff Tymony
•     Mathew Udland
•     Dr. Tao Wu
•     Susan Forrest
•     Caroline El Chaar   
•     Dr. Kelsey Harper
•     Teri Rinkenbaugh
•     Darryl Runyan
•     Betty Taylor
•     Mitch Taylor