Notable Female Alumni and Influential Figures at Hutchinson Community College

Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) has a rich history of fostering talent and contributing to the success of individuals across various fields. This article highlights some of the notable female alumni and influential figures associated with the college, showcasing their achievements and impact on their respective communities.

Introduction

Hutchinson Community College has played a significant role in shaping the lives and careers of numerous individuals. This article focuses on female alumni and other influential figures who have made remarkable contributions in diverse fields, from healthcare and entertainment to education and athletics.

Alumni Spotlights

Dr. Annabel Mancillas, MD

Dr. Annabel Mancillas began her journey at Hutchinson Community College in the Fall of 2001. As a Hutchinson native, she chose to stay close to home knowing that HutchCC was an affordable place to continue her education.“My favorite memories from HCC were all of the early hospital experience that was offered through all the clinical experience I gained while becoming an RN through the ADN program. My dream was always to go to medical school and become a physician. For me, the path to obtain that dream was to get my undergraduate degree in nursing. After graduation in 2004, Mancillas continued her education at Wichita State University and then on to Kansas University School of Medicine in 2011.“HCC prepared me by setting me up for success. I was able to use what I learned as I furthered my studies and refined my study habits. Today, Dr. Annabel Mancillas, MD is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist specialist serving the women in the greater Kansas City area. She is married to her husband and HCC Alumni, David Gajewski, and has 2 sons, Gabriel and Isaac. They also have two Labrador Retrievers, Coqui and Chica. She is currently working on a Master’s in Public Health through Kansas University.

Sheila (Miller) Meggers

In 1993 Sheila (Miller) Meggers began her college journey at Hutchinson Community College majoring in Education. Meggers grew up in the Medora area and attended Buhler schools. Being the first in her family to attend college, she knew scholarships were essential and was one of the first recipients of the Presidential Scholarship Program. This program allowed her to come to school and be able to prepare for her future educational endeavors. While at HutchCC, Sheila was a Presidential Scholar, sang in the concert choir, and played in the pep band.“One of my favorite memories of HCC was playing in the pep band at basketball games the year the Blue Dragons won the national championship. Meggers began her career as a music teacher for Morgan Elementary in Hutchinson and was a stay-at-home mom for a number of years. She has taught math classes and served as the Math Department Chair at Hutchinson High School. She is also on the writing committee for the current Kansas Math Standards. Along with serving Hutchinson and the surrounding communities, she has been recognized as the USD 308 Teacher of the Year (2016) and the Davis Foundation Educator of the Year (2013). Sheila has been an Assistant Principal at Hutchinson High School and the Wellness Coordinator at USD 308. Currently, she is the Principal at Garden Plain Elementary School. Sheila has been married to HutchCC Alumni, Scott Meggers, for 26 years. They have three daughters. Meggers states, “Hutchinson Community College gave me a solid foundation for continuing my education.

Mrs. Ebet Roberts

Throughout her career, Mrs. Ebet Roberts has seen her fair share of legendary musicians, but her work as a photographer over the past four decades has made her a rock star. David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Prince, and the Rolling Stones are just a few of the big names she's photographed.

Shannon Cowles Latham

Shannon Cowles Latham is the founder and owner of Little English, a specialty children’s clothing line.

Laurie Stanton

For 50 years, Laurie Stanton shared her joy of learning with others at Hutchison as a teacher, and then as a school administrator. But before that she was a student here too.

Ellen Gannaway Lail

When Ellen Gannaway Lail meets with a Fortune 100 client, chances are she will be the only woman in the room. As Regional Sales Director at Pure Storage, a data storage company, Lail has managed to succeed in a competitive, male-dominated industry.

Kimberly Glankler Holley

Kimberly Glankler Holley remembers watching a canine certification test at the Tennessee Task Force One (TNTF-1) training center: “I crawled up on the rubble, and I watched the dogs work and I said, ‘Yup. This is what I want to do.’ ” After years working in corporate marketing, Holley became a certified K9 Search Specialist and responds to disaster areas near and far.

Keisha Perry Walker

Keisha Perry Walker is the innovative principal behind The Perry Law Group, LLC (PLG), a corporate, entertainment, and real estate law firm based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Captain Trimble

Captain Trimble always knew she wanted to be a fighter pilot. It was the more challenging path, but she knew that it would bring the most joy. These days she flies F-16s in the United States Air Force.

Dr. Susan Emmett

Dr. Susan Emmett is working to change disparities for those experiencing hearing loss in areas where there is limited access to ear and hearing care. Together with colleagues from around the world, they are striving to create equity in hearing care.

Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold

Dr. Kelly Rodney Arnold is the medical director and founder of Clínica Médicos, a medical clinic modeled after global mission hospitals, which makes quality healthcare accessible to the underserved Latino community in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Colonel Huygen

After graduating from Harvard and getting a law degree, Colonel Huygen followed her dreams of traveling the world as an Air Force Judge Advocate.

Paramore

Haven’s line of outstanding multi-sport female athletes is impressive. For four years, Paramore - who comes from one of the outstanding families in the area - developed into one of the state’s marquee basketball players. She’s like Magic Johnson, in that she could play all five positions and play them well. She can beat you in a smorgasbord of ways too. Back off her? She’ll drop in a Steph Curry 3-pointer. Get in her face 30 feet from the basket? She’ll drive by you like you’re a flagpole. Always focused with a determined look like she wanted to take the ball, your heart, your soul and your lunch money*, Paramore deservedly will get the chance to play Division 1 basketball at Oral Roberts. But again, this is a multi-sport athlete.

Other Influential Figures

Kim Blackim

For more than two decades, collegiate summer baseball was void at Hobart-Detter Field. Which is odd, because summer baseball has a long and storied history in Hutchinson, with the likes of Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens playing here. The Monarchs came to Hutchinson in 2009, and then the Blackims bought the team soon after. Marc doubles as the franchise’s general manager, while Kim takes care of a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff. She truthfully misses most of the games because she’s working around the stadium on game days. The Monarchs have become a community staple, playing in front of several hundred fans most nights, and the annual Cancer Awareness Night normally draws in excess of 500 fans. The Monarchs have also helped revive local interest in youth baseball and softball. The Monarchs are truly Hutchinson’s team.

Brenna Eller

I recall when Brenna Eller, the former Editor In Chief of The Hutchinson Collegian, interviewed Hilst and wrote a story on Hilst’s upcoming retirement from broadcasting. Brenna returned from the interview with a smile, saying Hilst was “just a gentleman.”

Johnson

Have you noticed the surging numbers in area youth volleyball? That’s mainly thanks to Johnson, who came to Hutchinson after a long and successful run at Hoisington. Not only was she successful at the high school, where she took the Salthawks to state (an unfathomable concept not long before her arrival) but she began helping build the youth program. Sooooo many little girls are playing club volleyball and rec volleyball now. Plus, her work as a hurdles coach at Hutchinson hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Amy Preston/Conkling

Few families are more into sports than the Preston/Conkling family. Amy’s father, Jim, is a longtime area baseball and basketball coach and something of a legend (no really … he IS a legend). Her brother, Andy, is a high school basketball and baseball coach. Her husband, Jack, has coached basketball for years. And there’s Amy, who has worked tirelessly revamping the local fitness scene, as she has helped develop many local races and events. Events like the Firecracker 5K, Smallville 5K and Run for the Rocks Half Marathon all are now mainstream and popular races, locally and regionally.

Emel

Emel built a powerhouse in Nickerson, even taking home two state trophies by finishing third in Class 4A Division 2 in 2016 and second the next year. Nickerson, showing it wasn’t the benefactor of a split 4A, reached state again last year and was unlucky not advance out of pool play by going 1-2. All three matches went three sets. Emel will now take her coaching across Reno County to Buhler, a program that has shown improvement but hasn’t been on the same level of Nickerson.

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