Chosen as the 2005 Benefactor of the Year for Region VII of the Council for Resource Development, Ryan was honored by Barton locally in September in anticipation of the national recognition banquet, which took place at the Council for Resource Development Conference in Washington.

Individuals and companies from Massachusetts to California were recognized for their financial support of community and technical colleges. Their financial support is “transforming lives and communities,” said Jim Chitwood, president of the Council for Resource Development in Washington.

The benefactors were honored at the awards banquet held at the Hyatt Regency, Capitol Hill. More than 500 community college development officers, presidents and friends were in attendance. The 10 honored donors have given gifts totaling more than $40 million to 11 community colleges in the United States.
Ryan, who now resides in Mission, Texas, was escorted to the stage during the gala by Barton Interim President Dr. Steve Maier. Also representing Barton at the national recognition event were BCCC Foundation Board Chair Rob Dove, past Foundation Board Chair Nancy Peschka, Barton’s Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Darnell Holopirek and Director of Admissions and Marketing Todd Moore. Ryan’s husband, Jim, also attended the festivities.

Ryan has given support to Barton County Community College since 1989 when she and her previous husband, Jerry Alban, now deceased, began making annual donations of $500 to the Annual Enrichment Fund Campaign. In 1994 they established the G.E. and Lois Alban Endowed Scholarship. From that point on, annual donations from the sale of stock have ranged from $4,000 and $10,000, and the endowment now stands at more than $100,000. Ryan also has indicated that she has made provisions to include Barton County Community College in her estate planning.

“From annual gifts of $500 toward a growing scholarship endowment at Barton County Community College in Kansas to $30 million to build a new campus for Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, these contributions are transforming lives and communities served by the colleges,” Chitwood said. “These are profound donations, not because of their amount, but because of the impact and change they make happen.”

Other community colleges represented by CRD Benefactor Award recipients for 2005 included Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Mass.; Jamestown Community College in Olean, N.Y.; Carroll Community College in Westminster, Md.; Seminole Community College in Sanford, Fla.; Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio; Victoria College and Wharton County Junior College in Coastal Bend Region, Texas; Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, Utah; Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

CRD, an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges, represents almost 1,600 members at more than 800 two-year colleges. The Council for Resource Development supports professionals and develops leaders engaged in community college resource development through education, advocacy and mentoring.