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Community honors JCCC’s retiring president with endowed scholarship

June 19, 2020

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Dr. Joe Sopcich retires from Johnson County Community College this month. To honor Dr. Sopcich and his wife, Stacy, generous donations from community members have allowed the JCCC Foundation to establish the Joe and Stacy Sopcich Scholarship Endowment.

According to Jon Stewart, current member of the JCCC Foundation Board of Directors and former JCCC Trustee, the new scholarship is a wonderful way to recognize the Sopcichs’ support of JCCC and the community for nearly 28 years.

“I couldn’t think of a better way to acknowledge our thanks to Joe and Stacy than with an endowed scholarship fund to help students attend JCCC and achieve success for years to come,” Stewart said.

Dr. Sopcich joined JCCC in 1992 as Executive Director of the JCCC Foundation. He led the non-profit arm of the College — with additional oversight of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, the Carlsen Center Presents performing arts series and government affairs — for 17 years before being named JCCC’s Executive Vice President of Administrative Services in 2009. Dr. Sopcich became the fifth president of JCCC in 2013.

During Dr. Sopcich’s tenure at JCCC, he led a successful capital campaign as head of the JCCC Foundation that raised $20.2 million to help fund the Healthcare Simulation Center, the Regnier Center and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.

As head of Administrative Services with duties in facilities and financial operations, he navigated the fiscal responsibilities of the College during the Great Recession that swept the nation.

Dr. Sopcich has the distinction of being the only JCCC President to have taught in the classroom while serving as President. During his seven years in this role, he’s guided the College’s priorities to be student-focused. This includes the transformational, comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, the largest in the history of the College, that meets the shifting needs of traditional-aged students and adult learners.

Nearly $35,000 has been raised for the Joe and Stacy Sopcich Scholarship Endowment in the past two weeks. To honor the Sopcichs with a donation to this fund, visit jccc.edu/donate. In the “Make a Donation” form at the bottom of the web page, select the scholarship name under “Where should this gift be directed.”

For more information about the new scholarship, contact the JCCC Foundation at foundation.dept@jccc.edu or 913-469-3835.

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