Saying goodbye
Students, faculty and staff attend reception to celebrate Tom Bryant's presidency
Krystel Pakitsos
Issue date: 5/7/09 Section: Front Page
Students, faculty and staff said their goodbyes to President Tom Bryant and wife, Koeta, at his farewell reception on Thursday, April 30. Bryant and his wife received awards expressing thanks for their contributions to the university from the Student Government Association, Classified Senate and Faculty Senate and a certificate of recognition from the state of Kansas.
During the ceremony, students, faculty and staff were served refreshments while they mingled and said their personal goodbyes to Bryant.
Howard Smith, assistant to the president, spoke on behalf of the university and listed some of Bryant's accomplishments during his time at PSU, including a rise in enrollment, receiving numerous accreditations and an increased number of endowed scholarships.
Some of the renovations under Bryant's presidency were Carnie Smith Stadium, Willard Hall, Russ Hall, McCray Hall and Porter Hall. New constructions included the Family and Consumer Sciences building, the Student Recreation Center and Pittsburg Armory, Veterans Memorial, Tyler Research Center and the nearly finished Student Health Center.
"Certainly his commitment, his work ethic and his desire for this university to be the best has certainly paid off," Smith said. "More students have the opportunity to attend college today because of his leadership."
Anna Nimz, graduate assistant for women's basketball, attended the ceremony to show appreciation for Bryant's support of women's basketball.
"Dr. Bryant was someone that I will not forget," Nimz said. "He was such a great supporter of the women's basketball team and every team at PSU. We could not begin to say thank you enough for everything he has done."
Bryant said that announcing his resignation was one of the most difficult things he had to do during his presidency.
"I couldn't believe I couldn't handle it," Bryant said. "I've handled many things as president of Pitt State, but that one I really struggled with. I never expected to be the president and now those ten years are coming to an end. There will be a lot of things I'll miss from that standpoint."
Bryant explained that saying goodbye to the people he surrounds himself with every day is going to be the most difficult part of stepping down.
"That's who I am, that's who I care about," Bryant said. "That makes it tough. The truth of it is, if you don't care, it's not so hard and if you care it's really, really hard. But it's worth it."
During the ceremony, students, faculty and staff were served refreshments while they mingled and said their personal goodbyes to Bryant.
Howard Smith, assistant to the president, spoke on behalf of the university and listed some of Bryant's accomplishments during his time at PSU, including a rise in enrollment, receiving numerous accreditations and an increased number of endowed scholarships.
Some of the renovations under Bryant's presidency were Carnie Smith Stadium, Willard Hall, Russ Hall, McCray Hall and Porter Hall. New constructions included the Family and Consumer Sciences building, the Student Recreation Center and Pittsburg Armory, Veterans Memorial, Tyler Research Center and the nearly finished Student Health Center.
"Certainly his commitment, his work ethic and his desire for this university to be the best has certainly paid off," Smith said. "More students have the opportunity to attend college today because of his leadership."
Anna Nimz, graduate assistant for women's basketball, attended the ceremony to show appreciation for Bryant's support of women's basketball.
"Dr. Bryant was someone that I will not forget," Nimz said. "He was such a great supporter of the women's basketball team and every team at PSU. We could not begin to say thank you enough for everything he has done."
Bryant said that announcing his resignation was one of the most difficult things he had to do during his presidency.
"I couldn't believe I couldn't handle it," Bryant said. "I've handled many things as president of Pitt State, but that one I really struggled with. I never expected to be the president and now those ten years are coming to an end. There will be a lot of things I'll miss from that standpoint."
Bryant explained that saying goodbye to the people he surrounds himself with every day is going to be the most difficult part of stepping down.
"That's who I am, that's who I care about," Bryant said. "That makes it tough. The truth of it is, if you don't care, it's not so hard and if you care it's really, really hard. But it's worth it."
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