Students at Southeast Community College in Beatrice will be graduating on Wednesday, June 12, at 7 p.m. in the Truman Center and the guest speaker will someone who has witnessed the college’s growth over several decades, former bookstore manager Maxine Ward. Ward was the Southeast Community College Book-store Manager from 1972 until 2005.

When Ward started, the college had only around 300 students and the bookstore was nothing more than a closet in the original junior college building in Fairbury. Since then, she expanded the bookstore to include school supplies, as well as jackets, shirts, mugs, bags and other items that promote SCC.

Ward not only helped to expand the bookstore on campus, she was a member of the Mid-states Association of College stores for more than 25 years, serving as an officer, committee member and liaison to the Organization’s National Council.

Her primary focus, though, was always on students and the campus way of life. She sponsored cheerleading and spirit clubs for many years, helping to raise funds for school activities so that the groups could buy uniforms and other equipment.

She also helped organize many bus trips so that the cheerleaders and other boosters could support the SCC team at home as well is on the road. She has helped plan sporting banquets, Christmas parties, Halloween parties, pep rallies, family fun nights, in-service days, helped judge Ag competitions and assisted in making floats for parades. In 1997, she received the President’s Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding service to the college and its students.

And in 2008, Ward received the Outstanding Alumni Award.

She received her Associates degree from Fairbury Junior College in May of 1958, and a month later was married to her husband, and current Fairbury mayor, Homer Ward.

Ward returned to college classes in 1986 studying part-time and graduated from Peru State College in 1988 with degrees in Business Administration and Psychology/ Sociology.

She has been involved in many community activities over the years and served as secretary of the ESU #5 board for 20 years.

In her spare time, Max enjoys playing dominoes, scrap booking, reading, playing the bridge, going out with friends and especially getting together with her children and grandchildren and other family members.