LIBERAL, Kan. — Seward County Community College will award its first-ever honorary degree as part of the 2026 Commencement ceremony in May, President Brad Bennett announced on behalf of the SCCC Board of Trustees.
“It’s hard to believe the College has not done this in the past, and we’re excited to begin with our 55th graduation,” Bennett said. “When you think about how closely aligned SCCC is with our community, this is a natural way to honor the people who contribute so much to us all.”
The honorary Associate of Arts degree is the highest academic recognition SCCC can bestow, and results from a careful selection process.
“Candidates will have shown in their life and in their work high standards of excellence, public service, and commitment to the development of SCCC and its core values of serving students and the community, competitiveness, collaboration, and commitment,” Bennett said. The honoree should also be closely connected to the seven-county service area of the College (Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Seward, Stevens, Morton, and Meade) or to SCCC via birth, residence, education, service, or notable achievement.
The nomination process will open immediately, with the nominations due by Feb. 13. Faculty, students, SCCC Foundation members, SCCC Board of Trustees members, and SCCC alumni are invited to submit nominations. Honorary degrees will not be awarded to candidates for political office or to elected officials currently in office or to faculty, staff, or administrators currently in service. Retired or former faculty members must meet the same high standards for nomination as all other honorary degree candidates.
“We have accelerated the selection process this year, but nominations will remain under consideration for a two-year period,” Bennett noted. “At that time, the SCCC Honorary Degree Committee can elect to vote to extend consideration of a nominee for one more year.
An online form for nominations is available here: https://forms.office.com/r/hE70C7TAbx?origin=lprLink
Those who would prefer to submit a nomination on paper may email to request one or stop at the President’s Office between 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, to pick up a copy of the form.
For more information, contact Lara Maxwell at the SCCC Office of the President, lara.maxwell@sccc.edu or by phone at 620-417-1011.