2025 Legislative Champions

MEDIA ADVISORY: KICA Announces 2025 Legislative Champions

For Immediate Release: Topeka, Wichita, and Winfield, KS. September 24, 2025: The Kansas Independent College Association (KICA) develops and enhances the competitive standing of its 21 member colleges by coordinating efforts including professional development and collaboration, governmental advocacy, and public engagement collectively aimed at supporting students and their success. Our experience has shown us that Kansas elected representatives often act as a strong voice for the power of student choice in Kansas Higher Education. Their voices stand parallel with academic leadership and dedicated private partners to promote Kansas Independent Higher Ed success. Foresight across all sectors brings outcomes such as, according to a 2022 impact study, a statewide impact of $1.1 billion.

This month, KICA honored those elected voices with our Legislative Champion Awards. Ceremonies were held to announce and honor our 2025 winners:

1. 2025 Legislative Champion of the Year Senator Larry Alley (Winfield, KS)

2. 2025 Legislative Champion of the Year Representative Tom Sawyer (Wichita, KS)

KICA President, Matt Lindsey, shares, “Students at Kansas independent colleges are truly fortunate to have great, bipartisan champions in the Kansas Legislature.  Leadership from Sen. Alley and Rep. Sawyer in the statehouse has helped create a better environment for postsecondary success for all Kansans and in so doing, strengthened our communities and our state.”