By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In a Barton Community College Board of Trustees meeting that lasted just over an hour, Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman nearly made it out without anyone mentioning that this was his final meeting before his retirement.
Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons popped up just before adjournment to thank Heilman for the past 18 years serving as the president.
"Eighteen years of service...that's a long time," said Simmons. "You've learned an awful lot about each of us. You've brought new ideas. You've brought direction and redirection. You've lived with us through the achievements and the challenges...the cheers and the tears."
Last September, Heilman announced his retirement plans at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Serving out his final week at Barton, Heilman arrived to the Great Bend campus in 2006 after working at Lincoln Trail College in Illinois.
"We thank you for your service Dr. Heilman," added Simmons. "Your legacy will live with this institution, and we wish you only the best."
This past January, the Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Dr. Marcus Garstecki to become the sixth president in the college’s history. Garstecki has served as chief enrollment management officer at Northern State University in South Dakota. The former Dodge City Community College football coach will begin his role at Barton on Monday, July 1.
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