FSCC hosts reception for instructor

Kevin Swope

After 25 years of service to Fort Scott Community College instructor, Kevin Swope will celebrate his retirement at a reception from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, May 12, in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.

Family, friends and FSCC employees are expected to attend.

Swope graduated from Frontenac High School in 1968 and then attended FSCC from 1968-69 as a student athlete. After playing for the 'Hounds, he received a football scholarship to the University of Louisville and played for Lee Corso. Swope earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville in 1972 and went on to receive his master's degree from Western Kentucky in 1975.

Swope's teaching career started in Kentucky where he stayed for five years, then moving on to Nevada High School were he taught for nine years.

In 1986, Swope began his first year teaching at Fort Scott Community College. On top of his instructional duties, he coached two sports.

From 1986-1991, he was the women's basketball coach, and from 1986-1989, he was the volleyball coach. During his tenure, he coached five Academic All-Americans. He was inducted into the Nevada Wall of Fame in 2002 and the FSCC Hall of Fame in 2005.

Swope has supported FSCC in many ways including being a member of FSCC's Alumni and Friends organization and having both of his children attended FSCC.

"I am thankful to have such a supportive family, my wife of 33 years, Patricia; daughter Samantha Peterson and her husband, Matt; son Andrew Swope and his wife, Erin; and three grandchildren Isaac, Ivy and Isla (with whom) I will be able to spend more time with during my retirement," Swope said in a news release.

"I have always enjoyed my time at FSCC, first as a student-athlete then as an instructor. The teachers here are great. When I first made my transition from student to teacher, the instructors were very helpful, because they already knew me. Those teachers were my mentors."

"I am looking forward to retirement, I want to enjoy the grandkids and spend more time traveling."