KBOR > News > 2004 > Release

February 18, 2004

BOARD PRESENTS INAUGURAL "AD ASTRA PER ASPERA" AWARD
Camille Kluge, Wichita Area Technical College President, Receives

Award(TOPEKA) – Yesterday the nine-member Board of Regents presented its first ever "Ad Astra Per Aspera" Award to Camille Kluge, President of Wichita Area Technical College (WATC). The award’s citation reads simply but significantly: "For Her Leadership in Advancing the Cause of Higher Education in Kansas In the Face of Great Challenges."

"It is always challenging to serve in a position of leadership in the world of higher education, but we also recognize that sometimes it is even more challenging than usual," noted Dick Bond, Chairman of the Board of Regents. "‘Challenging’ is certainly the word that accurately describes the situation that President Camille Kluge has been working in for more than a year."

Chairman Bond went to say that, "In that time she has worked with the Board of Regents and its staff to secure the enactment of Senate Bill 7 which restructured the governance of the state’s technical colleges. And, she has been a strong leader in working with key stakeholders in the Wichita area to address the very real and complex array of issues associated with making the Senate Bill 7-required governance changes for WATC. She has not, of course, been alone in that effort. Others have played key roles as well, but her dedication and steadfastness has been distinctive and merits special attention from the Kansas Board of Regents."

For more information contact
Kip Peterson, Director for Government Relations & Communications, at (785) 296-3421.
Visit the Kansas Board of Regents on the Web at www.kansasregents.org.