[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 37 (Thursday, February 29, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S1074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DR. KIM KRULL

 Mr. MARSHALL. Madam President, I rise today to thank Dr. Kim 
Krull for her many years of service to the State of Kansas and Butler 
Community College--BCC--as well as honor her for all she accomplished 
throughout her career.
  A passionate educator dedicated to serving Kansans, Dr. Krull began 
her professional career teaching math, biology, and chemistry at 
Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture--UNL-NCTA. Following 18 years 
of service to UNL-NCTA, Dr. Krull decided to head south across the 
Nebraska-Kansas State line to Cloud County Community College, where she 
served as vice president of academic affairs for 8 years.
  In 2013, Dr. Krull finally made the jump to my alma mater, Butler 
Community College, where she took over one of Kansas's largest 
community colleges as president. Dr. Krull hit the ground running, 
expanding BCC's online course catalog and prudently cutting programs no 
longer cost-effective. These two decisions, made early in Dr. Krull's 
tenure, remade BCC as a premier junior college destination in the State 
of Kansas, setting the stage for her and the school's subsequent 
successes.
  In the years following, BCC accomplished much under Dr. Krull's 
guidance. In terms of campus restoration, Dr. Krull was able to 
fundraise $3.3 million to renovate the student union and was pivotal in 
expanding college operations in nearby Andover. Thanks to Dr. Krull's 
efforts, BCC remodeled its building within the Andover school district 
to be more accommodating to students, as well as opened the Redler 
Institute of Culinary Arts, a $6.2 million facility dedicated to 
providing for the next generation of BCC culinary and hospitality 
graduates.
  But Dr. Krull's signature accomplishments during her time at BCC 
center around her support of the student body. While president, Dr. 
Krull added programs in Diesel Technology, Construction Technology, and 
expanded online offerings in partnerships with various Kansas colleges 
and universities. Doing this and increasing BCC student retention 
rates, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, is a testament to Dr. 
Krull's work ethic and service to her student body.
  For her efforts, Dr. Krull was the recipient of many awards, both for 
herself and on behalf of BCC. In 2021, the Wichita Business Journal 
named Dr. Krull an Executive of the Year, and in the year following, 
BCC was named an Aspen Top 150 institution. After these and many more 
successes, the Higher Learning Commission designated BCC in 2023 as a 
highly mature institution, one of the highest functioning colleges 
related to teaching and student assessment.
  It was on this high note that Dr. Krull announced her retirement, and 
she will officially step down from Butler Community College on June 30, 
2024, after decades of service in higher education. I now ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing the distinguished career of Dr. 
Kim Krull, as well as thank her for all her work on behalf of the State 
of Kansas and my alma mater, Butler Community College. `'Go 
Grizzlies!''

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