Who's Who at this year's Dinner...
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Lonnie Scott—Scholarship Dinner Chair
Mr. Scott has served on the Donnelly College Board of Trustees since 2007, contributing a dynamic spirit and valued guidance to the College. Lonnie has a great passion for his alma mater and has stated that Donnelly gave him a great start and introduction to the real world. He worked at AT&T for years, brightening the day of many clients with his infectious smile.
Supporting Donnelly is important to Lonnie because of his passion for the College’s steadfast mission of serving those that would not otherwise be served. He also recognizes the vital need for education in the urban core and knows Donnelly is an essential anchor in the community. As Chair, he hopes proceeds from this year’s Dinner will exceed the record-breaking proceeds donated last year. Help us get there by donating to the Scholarship Dinner.
In addition to his support of Donnelly, Lonnie has helped catapult the profile of the MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council – an organization that was established to enhance the growth and development of minority owned business enterprises (MBEs) in the area.
Bill & Kathy Page Reardon—Scholarship Dinner Honorary Chairs
These two Donnelly alums have an overflowing archive of fascinating stories about Donnelly and its community! Bill and his wife Kathy have been friends, neighbors, students and supporters of Donnelly their entire lives. Both Bill and Kathy grew up on the same block of Donnelly College’s original site at 12th and Sandusky. The Reardon’s are steadfast supporters of Wyandotte County and have both led the community through various civic duties.
After attending Bishop Ward High School, he received an Associate of Arts from Donnelly College and a Bachelor of Arts from Rockhurst College. Bill taught high-school government and social studies at Bishop Miege High School for 40 years.
Reardon served 15 consecutive terms in the Kansas State House of Representatives, only the second state legislator to do so in the history of Kansas. An advocate for education, fair labor practices, social services and opposition to the death penalty and capital punishment, he is known for his wisdom, storytelling and quick sense of humor. Bill has been married to Kathy for more than 40 years, and they have three grown daughters.
Check out what Bill had to say about his first memories of Donnelly College in last year’s 60th anniversary video.
Jason Banks--Scholarship Dinner Emcee
Our newest friend to Donnelly is Mr. Jason Banks. Banks is young, energetic and serves as the Manager of Supplier Diversity and Small Business Affairs for the Unified Government. His role is to increase the Unified Government's contribution to the economic development of minority and women-owned businesses. Banks captured more than $50 million in contract awards to minority and women-owned construction and supply firms in the Village West business district. In addition, he drafted the Unified Government's first Supplier Diversity Ordinance which was approved unanimously by the Board of Commissioners.
In 2006, he received the Top 30 Under 30 Young Minority Award, and was nominated for the "Top 40 Under 40" list for Ingram's magazine. In 2008, he received the Leadership Award from the Wyandotte County NAACP.
Mr. Banks is a KCK supporter all the way, graduating from Sumner Academy in 1999 and obtaining an associate degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Kansas. He is currently working on his MBA.
His advice for today's students is to believe in your ability to be successful. Jason believes Donnelly is a great place for students to find not only confidence in themselves, but the skills they need to be successful.