The following is a press release from Mike Swan, Butler County Community College who coordinates the Jackie Engel Award.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Swan
April 7, 2020
KCM Jackie Engel Award Coordinator
(316)323-9049
mswan@butlercc.edu
Wichita South High adviser wins Jackie Engel Award
A long-time journalism adviser and teacher at Wichita South High School has won a prestigious journalism teaching award for 2020.
Jeffrey Welch is this year’s recipient of the Jackie Engel Award, sponsored by Kansas Collegiate Media (KCM) and named in honor of a former journalism teacher at McPherson High School. Engel helped bring national recognition to Kansas high school journalism and was the first recipient of the award in 1990. She died in 2005, but her legacy of excellence lives on in this award.
The award was created to honor the best high school journalism teacher in Kansas. Welch will receive a plaque and cash award.
Welch has advised the student magazine, “The Torch,” and yearbook, “Sceptre,” since 2007. Parents and students have said he tries hard to help students and be there for them. Many of his students have gone on to further their education.
Welch received an Associate of Science degree in 1993 from Butler Community College, a B.A. in Communications in 1996 from Wichita State, an M.S. in Communications from Kansas State in 1998 and an M.S. in Education in 2011 from Fort Hays State.
He is also an adjunct instructor at Butler Community College is Mass Communications and Public Speaking.