Courtesy Photo/Image Dr. Michael Chipps, at left, presents the award to Jon Burkey.

Former school superintendent and college administrator Jon Burkey of McCook is Mid-Plains Community College’s 2009 Alumni of the Year.

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Burkey was recognized during ceremonies conducted at the Nebraska Community College Association’s Legislative Summit last week in Lincoln.

Burkey spent 33 years in K-12 public education. For 20 of those years, he was superintendent of the Grant Public Schools and McCook Public Schools.

After retiring from that work, he served as Director of Physical Resources at McCook Community College for more than seven years.

At MCC, Mr. Burkey headed restoration projects in every building on the campus. Major projects included a complete renovation of Tipton Hall, including Weeth Theater and Music departments, classrooms and office space in the Hormel Technology Center in McMillen Hall, a complete remodeling of the snack bar and the design and creation of MCC’s new Center for Applied Science and Technology.

Burkey and his staff recently renovated the lower floor of von Riesen Library to create offices and study sites for a student success and retention center.

In the presentation, MPCC President Dr. Michael Chipps told the audience. Burkey was the unanimous choice of the MPCC College board of governors.

Burkey is a native of Red Willow County and a graduate of Bartley High School. In 1969, he earned an Associate of Arts Degree from McCook Junior College.

He transferred his credits to Kearney State College where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, followed by a Master’s Degree in Speech Communications from Kearney State College and a Specialist in Education Degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

“I have been, and always will be, thankful of the education I received from Mid-Plains and specifically McCook Community College, Burkey said when he was presented the award. “It was key to not only a successful and rewarding college education, but I truly believe it was instrumental in the success that I have enjoyed throughout my career in education. This honor is even more meaningful and special because I was given the opportunity to able to ‘come back’ so to speak and ‘give something back’ to Mid-Plains over the last seven-plus years.”

Burkey has been a member of Rotary International for 27 years and currently attends the McCook Rotary Club. He has been a Lector for his church for 34 years and currently serves as chairman of the Stewardship Committee of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in McCook.

Burkey has been married 41 years to his high school sweetheart Pat, who also attended McCook Junior College. They have three children – David, a chemistry professor at Gannon University in Erie, Penn.; Lisa, a clinical nurse in Newton, Kan.; and Brenda, a finance account executive in Kansas City. They have seven grandchildren.

Mr. Burkey recently retired from his position at McCook Community College.