My View from KASFAA...

It seems like we were in Omaha just last week. Back in Kansas, we had a great Fall conference in Wichita the latter part of October. We just completed our annual statewide high school counselor training and we are looking forward to College Goal Sunday on February 13, 2005.

In April of 2005, Myra Pfannenstiel of Friends University will take over as President of KASFAA and Elaine Henri of Emporia State University will take over as President Elect. Gail Palmer of Washburn University will serve as Vice President, Debbie Brewer of Johnson County Community College will serve as Secretary, and Linda Grother of Flint Hills Technical College will continue as Treasurer.

I try always to be optimistic. At the same time, I think we must all be very diligent in the next year to try and protect the concepts of access and choice for our lower and middle class students. I believe the war in Iraq will continue to have the attention of legislators and policy makers. Yogi Berra and John Fogerty in commenting about the future and the war, respectively, said it all for me: “it’s like déjà vu all over again.” I hate to think that a time might be coming when only the very wealthy can afford to go to college.

From Dodge City, I want to wish all of you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous new year. (Its hard not to be religious this time of year, isn’t it?)