The Sterling College Criminal Justice program will host Jeff Hooper, chief of police for the City of Hutchinson, for its keynote lecture on Thursday, November 11, 2021. The College will host Hooper at 7 p.m. in Heritage Hall in Cooper Hall. The public is invited to attend this free event.

“Chief Hooper has an engaging speaking style that really connects with students. Chief Hooper has an infectious passion for criminal justice and we are thrilled he will be joining us for our keynote address this fall,” said Dr. Mark Tremaine, associate professor of criminal justice. 

The 2021-22 Sterling College Debate & Forensics team faced the challenge of having graduated considerably talented and experienced team members, yet the current team, led by senior Paige Sherraden of Plainville, Kan., has stepped forward and continued the legacy of success. The team competed in the 2nd annual T-Town Tournament hosted by Northeastern State University & Tulsa Community College on October 22-23. 

Sterling College recognized its latest class of Marketplace Excellence Awards Winners during its 2021 Homecoming Weekend. 

Sterling College recognized its Alumni Award winners for 2021 who were awarded at Homecoming on Oct. 14-16. The Distinguished Service Award was awarded to Marty (Montgomery) Behrendt ’68, the Spirit of Sterling Alumni Award was awarded to Jane (Milligan) Davidson ’71, and the Young Alumni Award was given to Luke T. Orr ’07 and Joel M. Orr ’09.

Sterling College recognized its three Arts Hall of Fame inductees for 2020 who were awarded at Homecoming on Oct. 14-16. The 2020 induction was postponed until Homecoming 2021 due to the pandemic. Two members of Sterling College’s Class of 2001 are being inducted: Rachel (Prochaska) Downs ’01, theatrical scenic artist from Wichita, and Jodi Lightner ’01, art professor at Montana State University in Billings, Mont. Also being inducted is Hays High School music director Alex Underwood ’08.

Beginning on Thursday, Oct. 14, alumni will travel back to Sterling College to experience the Homecoming 2021 festivities, many of which the community is invited to attend. On Thursday, Check-in and Registration will open at 9 a.m. in the Alumni Center. The Freeman Lecture Series featuring speaker Jonathan Evans begins at 1 p.m. Sterling College will present the opening of Disney’s “Newsies” in Culbertson Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Registration, tickets and additional information for all Homecoming events can be found at sterling.edu/homecoming.