Hutchinson Community College Offers Free Back-to-School Services, Highlights Student Achievement
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College is hosting free back-to-school haircuts for area students while showcasing opportunities in sports broadcasting and celebrating academic excellence.
The college's Cosmetology and Barbering program will provide free haircuts Monday, July 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the HutchCC Cosmetology Building, 200 East 3rd St. The service is available to all Pre-K through 12th grade students living in Reno County on a first-come, first-served basis with no appointments necessary.
Licensed cosmetologists and barbers will staff the event, which aims to help families prepare for the upcoming school year while providing hands-on experience for HutchCC students.
Sports Broadcasting Opportunities
The college is also recruiting students for its Blue Dragon Sports Network, which produces live streams of athletic events. Students interested in sports broadcast production can work with ESPN on existing production crews for state and national tournament coverage.
The program offers enrollment at HutchCC for fall 2025, with travel included for most football and basketball games. Interested students should contact Brandon Sams at samsb@hutchcc.edu.
Student Recognition
HutchCC recently recognized Ryan Ruggiero of Newton as a Distinguished Dragon. The accounting student maintained a 4.0 GPA while participating in multiple programs including the Honors Program and serving as vice president of the Kappa Gamma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.
Ruggiero, who is both a musician and athlete, was named to the President's Honor Roll and received the Bryce Lutz Jazz Scholarship. He competed on the HutchCC baseball team and was named NJCAA Team Academic All-American while earning a Presidential Gold Scholarship.
The student has participated in summer baseball tournaments, including the Region VI tournament at Wichita State, and plans to continue his education focusing on jazz music performance.
The college continues its "Catch our summer series of student excellence" campaign highlighting outstanding students through its #DistinguishedDragons initiative.