Community comes together for barbecue and live music, supporting the SCC Foundation
“It was great to see so many from the community come out to support our students and
the scholarships which enable so many to complete their education,” said John McGuire,
president of SCC. “We are just thrilled with the turnout, and so thankful to all who
made this event possible.”
Guests enjoyed barbecued ribs and drinks, rocked out to “That ‘80s Band” and “Smash
Band” throughout the evening and heard dueling pianos from the St. Peters Jive & Wail
as they arrived. The police were the winners of the first annual St. Charles County
rib-eating contest among participating local mayors, police and firefighters.
“The SCC Foundation awards nearly 65 scholarships each year and supports several education
programs for the college,” said Kasey McKee, executive director of the SCC Foundation.
“We are amazed and humbled to have so many people from the community get involved
with our mission through Rhythm and Ribs.”
Ribs for the event were prepared by Ethyl's Smokehouse and Saloon in O'Fallon and
Mannino's Market in Cottleville. Quintessential Catering served up chick-on-a-stick
and other treats, Krey Distributing Company provided Budweiser products and a wine
bar was donated by Terra Firma USA. Guests also enjoyed Freckled Lemonade donated
by Red Robin, water and soda compliments of Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa and a
photo booth by Images by Betsy.
“We are so thankful to all of our food and drink sponsors who really supported us
and believed in the event from the beginning,” said Brenda Lowder, event co-chair,
SCC Foundation president-elect and broker/associate at Coldwell Banker Commercial.
“We also want to thank more than 130 volunteers who helped with the set up, clean
up and everything in between, like serving ribs and helping with registration. We
really couldn't have done it without them.”
In addition to Lowder, the Rhythm and Ribs event co-chairs were Jan Dunham, vice president
of U.S. Bank Private Client Group, Cindy Elking, owner of Quintessential Catering,
and Julie Zust, finance manager for Boeing Research and Technology.
The “Main Stage” sponsors were AmerenUE, Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital/Progress
West HealthCare Center, SSM St. Joseph Health Center/SSM St. Joseph Hospital West
and Krey Distributing Company. “Rock Star” sponsors were Acropolis Investment Management
LLC, Commerce Bank, FastLane Convenience Stores, Mueller Prost PC, NHC HealthCare
and Rehabilitation and THF Realty. “Ribster” sponsors were Cuivre River Electric Cooperative
and First State Bank. “Groupie” sponsors were Baue Funeral Homes and Ceridian.
Rib-eating contest participants included St. Charles County mayors, police and firefighters.
Mayors: St. Charles Mayor Patti York, Cottleville Mayor Don Yarber, St. Peters Mayor
Len Pagano, Dardenne Prairie Mayor Pam Fogarty, St. Paul Mayor Lloyd Reeves and Wentzville
Mayor Paul Lambi. Police: St. Charles County Sheriff Tom Neer, Cottleville Police
Chief Scott Lewis, Eastern Missouri Police Academy Director Ron Neubauer and SCC Chief
of Police Bob Ronkoski. Firefighters: Matt Kempker and Todd Schmutz from the Cottleville
Fire Protection District, and Andrew Dodd, captain/paramedic from the Old Monroe Fire
Protection District.
The vision of the St. Charles Community College Foundation is to transform lives and
strengthen communities. The independent, 501(c)3, not-for-profit corporation was formed
to support student scholarships and educational purposes of the college. For more
information, visit the Foundation website at www.stchas.edu/foundation.
St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college
with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and
career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal
and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities.
For more information, visit www.stchas.edu.