Engel serves on SCCC Foundation as well
New 2020 calendars listing Liberal area Men and Women of Distinction include a longtime supporter of Seward County Community College — John Engel. The honor is well-earned, as SCCC President, Dr. Ken Trzaska noted.
“John and I share the advantage of early involvement with the Boy Scouts of America, and he epitomizes those ideals of service and patriotism,“ Trzaska said. “We are honored to be affiliated with him through our college and Foundation boards.“
Engel, born and raised in Liberal, continues a family tradition of civil involvement that dates back to 1911. A 1965 graduate of Liberal High School, he went on to earn a bachelor of science degree from Fort Hays State University before a six-year stint in the United States Navy. Engel served as Sonar Tech and gun mount projectile man during tours in Viet Nam and the Indian Ocean.
Back in Liberal, he served as owner and president of Engel Inc., a family-owned Conoco Fuel Distributorship, from 1981 to 2007; he also operated C-Stores and wholesale energy ventures in the region. Civic involvement included membership in the First United Methodist Church and its trustee board, Rotary Club of Liberal, U.S. Navy golf competitions, Kansas Honor Flights, Leadership Liberal, and the Seward County United Way.
Engel has been elected to two four-year terms on the SCCC Board of Trustees, and has served for 20 years on the SCCC Foundation Board. During that time, the college completed multiple major projects, including the recently-opened, $4.2 million Colvin Center for Allied Health and $2 million Sharp Family Champions Center. A reliable and enthusiastic supporter of major events on campus, Engel frequently represents both boards at ribbon-cuttings, celebrations, and athletic and academic events.
“The community is fortunate to count John as a faithful member and servant,“ Trzaska said. “We at the college certainly owe him our gratitude for all his work, and his continuing commitment.”
Categories: Board of Trustees, Our Community
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