Ingram's Magazine recently listed Colby Community College President Dr. Seth Carter among its 50 Kansans You Should Know.

The Kansas City business magazine's March issue tells readers, "Here are 50 people who, if you don't know them, you should know about because, in many ways, they are touching your life today."

In the article, Carter said the community of Colby makes an effort to improve the lives of others. "I believe this is evident in local businesses and permeates the community, making for an outstanding quality of life."

He became president of the college in 2015. His administrations have brought the most abundant capital improvements since the campus was built in the 1960s and early 70s. Under his leadership, the institution expanded its approach to promoting student success and the student experience through numerous facilities improvements, technology enhancements, and beautification projects. Some undertakings include new recreation and training areas like the Steve Lampe Athletic Center and the Colby Tennis Center. The college also added a new advising center and an agriculture building scheduled to open in late 2023. Additionally, students have benefited from renovations to the dining hall and all student housing buildings.

In the middle of other improvements, President Carter and the Board of Trustees collaborated with the City of Colby to sell 23 acres on the corner of campus for $1. The site was used to build the Colby Event Center, which opened in 2021.

Now with more than 2,000 students, the college is flourishing. Enrollment has improved, evidenced by Colby claiming the second-highest percentage of student headcount growth over the last five years. The institution consistently ranks in the upper echelon among its 18 Kansas community college peers, holding the highest graduation rate in the last two years and five of the last eight.

"We are so grateful to our community, alumni, and the students we serve," Carter said. "An organization cannot have the college's sustained success and initiate projects without the support of many people."

Classroom achievement is not the only area of emphasis. Students and employees collectively volunteer thousands of hours in the community each year.

"This is what drew my family to Colby," Carter told Ingram's. "We wanted to be part of something much larger than ourselves."