Butler honors Meritrust Credit Union, Deann Smith with Diversity Awards

Butler Community College presented Meritrust Credit Union and Deann Smith, executive director, United Methodist Open Door, with their 2017 Excellence in Diversity Awards at the Excellence in Diversity Awards breakfast. More than 130 people attended today’s event at the Abode Venue in downtown Wichita.

Meritrust was honored for their consistent demonstration of caring for people. They are making a difference in our communities through extensive community involvement, including Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters, Tour de Cure – American Diabetes Association, Habitat for Humanity and financial literacy education for students.

Smith was chosen for taking care of some of Wichita’s most vulnerable citizens through her work at United Methodist Open Door. She is dedicated to making sure the community’s homeless, struggling families and others who are facing difficult times find open doors and caring hearts. Smith was a member of the inaugural Advance Kanas class in 2008 and has served on the Advance Kansas advisory committee for seven years.

Now in its sixth year, Butler Community College’s Excellence in Diversity Awards Breakfast is held annually to recognize excellence in diversity and inclusion, increase awareness of the value of supporting efforts to address diversity challenges and opportunities in workplaces and in the community, and to raise awareness of Advance Kansas.

“The Advance Kansas class I think allows us safe space to stretch ourselves, to think outside of our boxes, to get out of our comfort zones and think of ways in which we can include people in our workplaces and in our community in a more inclusive way,” Smith said.

The event was sponsored by long-time supporter Spirit AeroSystems as the presenting sponsor and gold sponsors TECT Aerospace and Hutton Construction.