In partnership with Women4Kansas, Barton Community College will welcome Miss Kansas 2024, Alexis Smith, as a special guest speaker at 7 p.m. on April 17 in the Fine Arts Auditorium; the event is free and open to the public.

Smith is a graduate of Newman University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her community service initiative, “Respect Reclaimed: Advocating for Healthy Relationships,” focuses on educating individuals about recognizing the signs of unhealthy and abusive relationships while promoting the values of respect, consent, and emotional wellness. As a spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline and a content provider for the One Love Foundation, Smith’s mission is to raise awareness and end intimate partner violence through education and empowerment.

Barton Title IX Coordinator Cheryl Brown said Smith brings a powerful message about dating violence and healthy relationships.

“We are honored to host Alexis and to provide our students and community members the opportunity to hear from someone who exemplifies leadership, compassion, and the power of using one’s voice for good,” she said. “The impact she is making throughout Kansas is inspiring.”

Smith currently serves as a cardiothoracic intensive care nurse and travels throughout the state, working with the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, the Kansas Department of Transportation, Lead for America, and the Wichita Family Crisis Center. Her viral on-stage response at the 2024 Miss Kansas competition propelled her into the national spotlight, earning an appearance on Good Morning America and articles in The New York Times and People Magazine, and her story was shared by many other major media outlets nationwide.

For more information, contact Brown at (620) 786-7441 or brownc@bartonccc.edu.