By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/collin-binkley">COLLIN BINKLEY</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign students enrolled at U.S. colleges in strong numbers this fall despite fears that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-visas-trump-uk-dubai-6fd432398ce4c87f49a89c9c39421dec">Trump administration crackdown</a>&nbsp;would trigger a nosedive, yet there are signs of turbulence as fewer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-student-enrollment-visa-trump-ebece1b2ba81dd512aca161fd794a3b6">new, first-time students</a>&nbsp;arrived from other countries, according to a new report.

Overall, U.S. campuses saw a 1% decrease in international enrollment this fall compared with last year, according to a survey from the Institute of International Education. But that figure is propped up by large numbers of students who stayed in the U.S. for temporary work after graduating. The number of new students entering the United States for the first time fell by 17%, the sharpest decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some universities are seeing backslides that have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-f1-student-visa-trump-college-3f10a430b4ee48342ecb62d47c53cfbc">punched big holes</a>&nbsp;in tuition revenue, but overall the falloff is less severe than some industry groups had forecast. Researchers credit colleges for helping students navigate visa issues through the summer.

“I think colleges and universities did absolutely everything in their power to advocate to get these students to the United States,” said Mirka Martel, head of research, evaluation and learning for the institute.

At DePaul University, a Catholic university in Chicago, the number of international graduate students fell by almost 62% this fall, a driving factor in recent spending cuts. The university president blamed student visa troubles and declining interest to study in the U.S., calling it a “massive” disruption.

Overall, nearly 60% of colleges reported a decrease in new foreign students this fall, the survey found, while 30% saw increases and others held even. More than 800 schools responded to the survey, which offers an early look at trends before full data is released next year.

Trump administration has pressed for reductions in foreign enrollment

The Trump administration has sought to reduce America’s reliance on foreign students. The White House is pushing colleges to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-trump-deal-00eef5dca9f003e593d2cb151f5cce17">cap enrollment of foreign students</a>&nbsp;and enroll more from the U.S. In June, the State Department began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-visas-trump-social-media-6632a2c585245edcd6a63594345dd8c7">screening visa applications more closely</a>&nbsp;after temporarily halting all interviews.

Visa processing has continued to lag in some countries, including India, the largest source of America’s foreign students. Education firms have reported that future college students are now showing decreased interest in the U.S. and more in Europe and Asia. While international enrollment remained relatively steady, there are concerns about its sustainability.

“There are warning signs for future years, and I’m really concerned about what this portends for fall ’26 and ’27,” said Clay Harmon, the executive director of AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management, which represents colleges and recruitment agencies.

Foreign students make up about 6% of America’s college students but they play an outsize role in campus budgets. Most pay higher tuition rates and don’t get financial aid, effectively subsidizing U.S. students. Their numbers are far higher at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-harvard-columbia-ivy-league-cb330dbf66d4b035e66ea160e4ede856">elite campuses</a>, often making up a quarter or more of the student body.

International students at the graduate level saw the biggest backslide this fall, with a 12% drop. That was mostly offset by rising numbers of students participating in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/opt-international-student-visa-f1-h1b-77095c8abefe0e03a4d26673becbd85b">Optional Practical Training</a>, which allows students to stay in the U.S. for temporary work after graduating. Undergraduate numbers ticked up slightly.

Graduate students make up the biggest share of foreign students in the U.S., often coming for science, math and business programs. Numbers had already started leveling off last year after a post-pandemic surge, but the recent turmoil appears to have accelerated the downturn. In the survey, colleges that saw decreases cite factors including visa issues and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-ban-trump-college-international-students-2b23373c85cafbdcfc7a2498d66cb83d">travel restrictions</a>.

Drops lead to budget cuts at some colleges

Many smaller and regional colleges have reported downswings, especially among master’s and doctoral students.

In a recent campus address, the president of the University at Albany said a decrease in foreign graduate students was having a “disproportionate impact” on the school’s budget. At Kent State University in Ohio, falling international numbers required an additional $4 million in cuts to balance the budget, the president wrote in an October update.

Even the biggest public universities weren’t immune. The University of Illinois’ flagship campus saw its international numbers dip, fueled by a 6% drop in graduate students. At the University of Michigan, foreign graduate enrollment fell by a similar share. Arizona State University, which has more foreign students than any other public campus, saw its overall numbers fall by 3%.

Universities are offering wider flexibility to students who couldn’t make it to campus this fall, according to the survey. Almost three-quarters are allowing foreign students to defer their enrollment to the spring term, and more than half are allowing deferrals until fall 2026.

Colleges in other countries, meanwhile, have sought to capitalize on the disruption, said Joann Ng Hartmann, senior impact officer at NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education. In Germany, Canada and some other countries, colleges are ramping up efforts to recruit students who might be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/trumps-reshaping-of-higher-education-tests-americas-appeal-for-international-students/" target="_blank">rethinking college in the U.S.</a>

“They have friendlier policies, and students realize that,” she said. “They have friendlier messaging for students that welcomes them.”

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761050707809.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/collin-binkley">COLLIN BINKLEY</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign students enrolled at U.S. colleges in strong numbers this fall despite fears that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-visas-trump-uk-dubai-6fd432398ce4c87f49a89c9c39421dec">Trump administration crackdown</a>&nbsp;would trigger a nosedive, yet there are signs of turbulence as fewer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-student-enrollment-visa-trump-ebece1b2ba81dd512aca161fd794a3b6">new, first-time students</a>&nbsp;arrived from other countries, according to a new report.Overall, U.S. campuses saw a 1% decrease in international enrollment this fall compared with last year, according to a survey from the Institute of International Education. But that figure is propped up by large numbers of students who stayed in the U.S. for temporary work after graduating. The number of new students entering the United States for the first time fell by 17%, the sharpest decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic.Some universities are seeing backslides that have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-f1-student-visa-trump-college-3f10a430b4ee48342ecb62d47c53cfbc">punched big holes</a>&nbsp;in tuition revenue, but overall the falloff is less severe than some industry groups had forecast. Researchers credit colleges for helping students navigate visa issues through the summer.“I think colleges and universities did absolutely everything in their power to advocate to get these students to the United States,” said Mirka Martel, head of research, evaluation and learning for the institute.At DePaul University, a Catholic university in Chicago, the number of international graduate students fell by almost 62% this fall, a driving factor in recent spending cuts. The university president blamed student visa troubles and declining interest to study in the U.S., calling it a “massive” disruption.Overall, nearly 60% of colleges reported a decrease in new foreign students this fall, the survey found, while 30% saw increases and others held even. More than 800 schools responded to the survey, which offers an early look at trends before full data is released next year.<h2>Trump administration has pressed for reductions in foreign enrollment</h2>The Trump administration has sought to reduce America’s reliance on foreign students. The White House is pushing colleges to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-trump-deal-00eef5dca9f003e593d2cb151f5cce17">cap enrollment of foreign students</a>&nbsp;and enroll more from the U.S. In June, the State Department began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-visas-trump-social-media-6632a2c585245edcd6a63594345dd8c7">screening visa applications more closely</a>&nbsp;after temporarily halting all interviews.Visa processing has continued to lag in some countries, including India, the largest source of America’s foreign students. Education firms have reported that future college students are now showing decreased interest in the U.S. and more in Europe and Asia. While international enrollment remained relatively steady, there are concerns about its sustainability.“There are warning signs for future years, and I’m really concerned about what this portends for fall ’26 and ’27,” said Clay Harmon, the executive director of AIRC: The Association of International Enrollment Management, which represents colleges and recruitment agencies.Foreign students make up about 6% of America’s college students but they play an outsize role in campus budgets. Most pay higher tuition rates and don’t get financial aid, effectively subsidizing U.S. students. Their numbers are far higher at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-harvard-columbia-ivy-league-cb330dbf66d4b035e66ea160e4ede856">elite campuses</a>, often making up a quarter or more of the student body.International students at the graduate level saw the biggest backslide this fall, with a 12% drop. That was mostly offset by rising numbers of students participating in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/opt-international-student-visa-f1-h1b-77095c8abefe0e03a4d26673becbd85b">Optional Practical Training</a>, which allows students to stay in the U.S. for temporary work after graduating. Undergraduate numbers ticked up slightly.Graduate students make up the biggest share of foreign students in the U.S., often coming for science, math and business programs. Numbers had already started leveling off last year after a post-pandemic surge, but the recent turmoil appears to have accelerated the downturn. In the survey, colleges that saw decreases cite factors including visa issues and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-ban-trump-college-international-students-2b23373c85cafbdcfc7a2498d66cb83d">travel restrictions</a>.<h2>Drops lead to budget cuts at some colleges</h2>Many smaller and regional colleges have reported downswings, especially among master’s and doctoral students.In a recent campus address, the president of the University at Albany said a decrease in foreign graduate students was having a “disproportionate impact” on the school’s budget. At Kent State University in Ohio, falling international numbers required an additional $4 million in cuts to balance the budget, the president wrote in an October update.Even the biggest public universities weren’t immune. The University of Illinois’ flagship campus saw its international numbers dip, fueled by a 6% drop in graduate students. At the University of Michigan, foreign graduate enrollment fell by a similar share. Arizona State University, which has more foreign students than any other public campus, saw its overall numbers fall by 3%.Universities are offering wider flexibility to students who couldn’t make it to campus this fall, according to the survey. Almost three-quarters are allowing foreign students to defer their enrollment to the spring term, and more than half are allowing deferrals until fall 2026.Colleges in other countries, meanwhile, have sought to capitalize on the disruption, said Joann Ng Hartmann, senior impact officer at NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education. In Germany, Canada and some other countries, colleges are ramping up efforts to recruit students who might be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/trumps-reshaping-of-higher-education-tests-americas-appeal-for-international-students/" target="_blank">rethinking college in the U.S.</a>“They have friendlier policies, and students realize that,” she said. “They have friendlier messaging for students that welcomes them.”___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Foreign enrollment at US colleges holds steady despite Trump's visa crackdown

Robert Dean Yunker, 83, passed away at the Medical Lodges in Goddard, KS.  Robert was born on Wednesday, October 28, 1942 in Salina, Kansas to Lydia (Staab) and Martin Yunker. 

Bob began his education at Sacred Heart Grade School in Salina, continuing at Jefferson when the family moved back to Hays in the early 1950’s.  He graduated from Hays High School in 1960 where his activities included band and football. Known for his work ethic, Bob became the first of the largest group of brothers (six) to deliver the Hays Daily News.  Employed at the Hays Creamery during his last two years of high school and his first year of college, Bob spent a year in Denver installing carpet before joining the US Navy. 

His military service included graduating from the Navy’s Electronic Technician (Radar) school at Treasure Island, CA followed by assignments onboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 5) and USS Thomaston (LSD 28).  It is believed Bob contracted Parkinson’s disease through exposure to Agent Orange while serving onboard the Thomaston during numerous Marine Corps landings and&nbsp;&nbsp;operations in Vietnam and its inland waterways.

  His military awards included the Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. 

  After his Honorable Discharge, Bob returned to Fort Hays State University earning a Masters in Business and Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. Throughout college he worked at his uncle’s tavern, the Blue Moon, followed by a number of years at Travenol, prior to accepting the position as Business Manager and later as Superintendent of the Kansas Soldiers Home at Fort Dodge. After returning to Hays, he was employed by the US Postal Service until he retired.

 Bob married Kathy L. Smith of Agra, KS in 1969.  They later divorced remaining friends until her passing in 2019.  His interests included managing his investments and real estate properties, all Fort Hays State University and Kansas City sports, antique and special interest vehicles, and raised pigeons for years.  He was a Life Member of American Legion Post 173 in Hays, and served as the Commander and Adjutant of Post 107 at Ft. Dodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Martin Jr., David, and Thomas, nephew Matthew Yunker, former wife Kathy Yunker, and brother-in-law David Weed. 

Bob is survived by sons Rob (Aaron) of Wichita, James (Kelli) and Jason of Hays, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Brothers Charles of Tecumseh, KS, James (Shirley) of Hays, KS, Daniel (Joan) of Andover, KS; sisters Mary Alice Weed of Salina, KS, Janice Koshiol of Hays, KS; sisters-in-law Karen Yunker Fountain, CO and Lois Yunker of Munjor, KS, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

A celebration of life will be planned for the spring of 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763829357837.jpeg" alt="Robert Dean Yunker" />
 <figcaption>Robert Dean Yunker</figcaption>
 </figure>Robert Dean Yunker, 83, passed away at the Medical Lodges in Goddard, KS. Robert was born on Wednesday, October 28, 1942 in Salina, Kansas to Lydia (Staab) and Martin Yunker. Bob began his education at Sacred Heart Grade School in Salina, continuing at Jefferson when the family moved back to Hays in the early 1950’s. He graduated from Hays High School in 1960 where his activities included band and football. Known for his work ethic, Bob became the first of the largest group of brothers (six) to deliver the Hays Daily News. Employed at the Hays Creamery during his last two years of high school and his first year of college, Bob spent a year in Denver installing carpet before joining the US Navy. His military service included graduating from the Navy’s Electronic Technician (Radar) school at Treasure Island, CA followed by assignments onboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 5) and USS Thomaston (LSD 28). It is believed Bob contracted Parkinson’s disease through exposure to Agent Orange while serving onboard the Thomaston during numerous Marine Corps landings and&nbsp;&nbsp;operations in Vietnam and its inland waterways. His military awards included the Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. After his Honorable Discharge, Bob returned to Fort Hays State University earning a Masters in Business and Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. Throughout college he worked at his uncle’s tavern, the Blue Moon, followed by a number of years at Travenol, prior to accepting the position as Business Manager and later as Superintendent of the Kansas Soldiers Home at Fort Dodge. After returning to Hays, he was employed by the US Postal Service until he retired. Bob married Kathy L. Smith of Agra, KS in 1969. They later divorced remaining friends until her passing in 2019. His interests included managing his investments and real estate properties, all Fort Hays State University and Kansas City sports, antique and special interest vehicles, and raised pigeons for years. He was a Life Member of American Legion Post 173 in Hays, and served as the Commander and Adjutant of Post 107 at Ft. Dodge.He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Martin Jr., David, and Thomas, nephew Matthew Yunker, former wife Kathy Yunker, and brother-in-law David Weed. Bob is survived by sons Rob (Aaron) of Wichita, James (Kelli) and Jason of Hays, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Brothers Charles of Tecumseh, KS, James (Shirley) of Hays, KS, Daniel (Joan) of Andover, KS; sisters Mary Alice Weed of Salina, KS, Janice Koshiol of Hays, KS; sisters-in-law Karen Yunker Fountain, CO and Lois Yunker of Munjor, KS, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. A celebration of life will be planned for the spring of 2026.

Robert Dean Yunker

Norman George Anschutz, 86, of
Russell, Kansas, died on Monday, November 17, 2025, at the Via Christi Saint
Francis Hospital in Wichita.

Norman was born on October 15,
1939, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Louis and Vivian (Thielen) Anschutz.&nbsp; He grew up in Dorrance, Kansas, and graduated
from Dorrance High School in the class of 1958. He attended Kansas State
University, graduating with an Architecture degree in 1963, and spending most
of his early professional career with Shaver &amp; Company in Salina, Kansas.
During a temporary project assignment in California, he met and fell in love
with Barbara Jean Dito. The couple was united in marriage on May 31, 1969, in
San Francisco, California. Norman and Barbara began their new life together in
San Jose, California and were blessed with two children: Cheryl and Michael. In
1976, the family moved back to Kansas, making their home in Russell.&nbsp; Norman worked part-time as an architect while
maintaining the family farm he had dearly missed while in California. Though
having moved away, Norman ensured the family traveled back to San Francisco
frequently to stay connected to Barbara’s Italian family, while enjoying the
amazing food and taking in all the sights and traditions.&nbsp; He was a longtime member of St. Mary Queen of
Angels Catholic Church in Russell.&nbsp;
Norman was a dedicated member of the Russell COOP coffee group where he
enjoyed spending his morning visiting with friends. Norm and Barb loved
traveling to Colorado, and other scenic locations as he loved the outdoors. A
tender heart for animals, Norman found great joy caring for the farm cats and
the many dogs in his life over the years. He was also an avid collector of
scale model John Deere equipment and Model T Cars, and a lifelong history buff.
After discovering the wonders of the iPad, he would spend countless hours
learning everything he could about history and listening to his beloved music.
Most of all, Norman enjoyed spending time working the family farm with his son,
and spending time with his family and friends.

Surviving family include wife of
56 years, Barbara Anschutz of the home, daughter, Cheryl T. Brock (Travis) of
Wichita, Kansas and son Michael N. Anschutz (Mendi) of Hays, Kansas; sisters
Ellen Spaulding (Mark) of Andover, Kansas and Eileen Keenan (Dennis) of
Overland Park, Kansas; and grandchildren Hannah, Leah, Luke, Jared, Shelby, and
Easton.

He was preceded in death by his
parents and sister Joyce Cobb-Barker.

A Funeral Mass will be held at
10:30 AM, Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic
Church of Russell. Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM to 5:00
PM, Monday, November 24, 2025, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. Vigil and
Rosary will be held at 7:00 PM, Monday November 24 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels
Catholic Church.&nbsp; A memorial has been
established with Russell Senior Center.&nbsp;
Memorial contributions and condolences may be sent to
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who will oversee these arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763674476415.jpeg" alt="Norman George Anschutz" />
 <figcaption>Norman George Anschutz</figcaption>
 </figure>Norman George Anschutz, 86, of
Russell, Kansas, died on Monday, November 17, 2025, at the Via Christi Saint
Francis Hospital in Wichita.Norman was born on October 15,
1939, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Louis and Vivian (Thielen) Anschutz.&nbsp; He grew up in Dorrance, Kansas, and graduated
from Dorrance High School in the class of 1958. He attended Kansas State
University, graduating with an Architecture degree in 1963, and spending most
of his early professional career with Shaver &amp; Company in Salina, Kansas.
During a temporary project assignment in California, he met and fell in love
with Barbara Jean Dito. The couple was united in marriage on May 31, 1969, in
San Francisco, California. Norman and Barbara began their new life together in
San Jose, California and were blessed with two children: Cheryl and Michael. In
1976, the family moved back to Kansas, making their home in Russell.&nbsp; Norman worked part-time as an architect while
maintaining the family farm he had dearly missed while in California. Though
having moved away, Norman ensured the family traveled back to San Francisco
frequently to stay connected to Barbara’s Italian family, while enjoying the
amazing food and taking in all the sights and traditions.&nbsp; He was a longtime member of St. Mary Queen of
Angels Catholic Church in Russell.&nbsp;
Norman was a dedicated member of the Russell COOP coffee group where he
enjoyed spending his morning visiting with friends. Norm and Barb loved
traveling to Colorado, and other scenic locations as he loved the outdoors. A
tender heart for animals, Norman found great joy caring for the farm cats and
the many dogs in his life over the years. He was also an avid collector of
scale model John Deere equipment and Model T Cars, and a lifelong history buff.
After discovering the wonders of the iPad, he would spend countless hours
learning everything he could about history and listening to his beloved music.
Most of all, Norman enjoyed spending time working the family farm with his son,
and spending time with his family and friends.Surviving family include wife of
56 years, Barbara Anschutz of the home, daughter, Cheryl T. Brock (Travis) of
Wichita, Kansas and son Michael N. Anschutz (Mendi) of Hays, Kansas; sisters
Ellen Spaulding (Mark) of Andover, Kansas and Eileen Keenan (Dennis) of
Overland Park, Kansas; and grandchildren Hannah, Leah, Luke, Jared, Shelby, and
Easton.He was preceded in death by his
parents and sister Joyce Cobb-Barker.A Funeral Mass will be held at
10:30 AM, Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic
Church of Russell. Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.&nbsp; Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM to 5:00
PM, Monday, November 24, 2025, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. Vigil and
Rosary will be held at 7:00 PM, Monday November 24 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels
Catholic Church.&nbsp; A memorial has been
established with Russell Senior Center.&nbsp;
Memorial contributions and condolences may be sent to
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who will oversee these arrangements.

Norman George Anschutz

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-peace-plan-europe-witkoff-33545b140c5bfbbc5e9061a739802e54">28-point draft proposal</a>&nbsp;to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;has been presented in Kyiv.

Washington and Moscow worked together on the draft, and it offers terms more favorable to Russia by calling for Ukraine to cede territory, avoid joining NATO and more. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the draft proposal Thursday.

1. Ukraine’s sovereignty will be confirmed.

2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled.

3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further.

4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development.

5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees.

6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel.

7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future.

8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.

9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland.

— The U.S. will receive compensation for the guarantee;

— If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee;

— If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked;

— If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid.

11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered.

12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to:

— The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence.

— The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernize, and operate Ukraine’s gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.

— Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernization of cities and residential areas.

— Extraction of minerals and natural resources.

— The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts.

13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy:

— The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis.

— The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities.

— Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8.

14. Frozen funds will be used as follows:

— $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine;

— The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict.

15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement.

16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine.

17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty.

18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

19. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine — 50:50.

20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice:

— Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities.

— Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education.

— All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited.

— Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States.

— Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact.

— Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions.

— Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone.

22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment.

23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea.

24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues:

— All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an ‘all for all’ basis.

— All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children.

— A family reunification program will be implemented.

— Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict.

25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days.

26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future.

27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations.

28. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's plan for ending the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Kyiv's military, according to a draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-plan-92b2c89b62f4326ff67abc5613c9b59e">The proposal,</a>&nbsp;originating from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, appeared decidedly favorable to Russia, which started the war nearly four years ago by invading its neighbor. If past is prologue, it would seem untenable for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has opposed Trump's previous calls for territorial concessions.

There has also been resistance from European leaders, who are likely to decry the U.S. peace push as rewarding Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggression, leaving him emboldened rather than defeated.

For example, the proposal would not only bar Ukraine from joining NATO but would also prevent the alliance's future expansion. Such a step would be a significant victory for Moscow, which views NATO as a threat.

Putin would also gain ground he has been unable to win on the battlefield. Under the draft, Moscow would hold all the eastern Donbas region, even though approximately 14% still remains in Ukrainian hands. Ukraine's military, currently at roughly 880,000 troops, would be reduced to 600,000.

The proposal opens the door to lifting sanctions on Russia and returning it to what was formerly known as the Group of Eight, which includes many of the world’s biggest economies. Russia was suspended from the annual gathering in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, a strategically important peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea that is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.

The U.S. team began drawing up the plan soon after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that Umerov agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelenskyy.

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was also in Kyiv on Thursday and discussed the latest draft with Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official. Zelenskyy offered a measured statement on social media about it but did not directly speak to the substance of the proposal.

“Our teams — of Ukraine and the United States — will work on the provisions of the plan to end the war. We are ready for constructive, honest and swift work,” he wrote.

Under the proposal, Russia would commit to making no future attacks, something the White House views as a concession. In addition, $100 billion in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine.

However, handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine. It also would be illegal under Ukraine’s constitution. Zelenskyy has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-land-swap-trump-summit-e8e869d5d5ec672fee3e86022b20d11a">repeatedly ruled out</a>&nbsp;such a possibility.

Russia would also be allowed to keep half of the power generated by Europe’s largest nuclear power plant,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-nuclear-zaporizhzhia-a0273ea4558a7b26cf232edd620942cc">Zaporizhzhia</a>, which it captured from Ukraine early during the war.

The draft calls for a “Peace Council” that Trump will oversee. The council is an idea that Trump snatched from his lengthy peace plan aimed at bringing about a permanent end to war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

If either Ukraine or Russia violated the truce once enacted, it would face sanctions.

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., an Air Force veteran, rejected the emerging plan. “Unacceptable,” he posted on social media. “It is a 1938 Munich,” referring to a diplomatic agreement aimed at securing peace with Nazi Germany but widely viewed as paving the way for World War II.

European diplomats urge wider consultations

Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-witkoff-special-envoy-russia-ukraine-mideast-d26c80c87a57fd3a811e4b0aa0eda58e">Witkoff</a>&nbsp;have been quietly working on the peace plan for a month, receiving input from both Ukrainians and Russians on terms that are acceptable to each side, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Putin, have been key to drafting the proposal.

As reports about the draft emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted.

European leaders have already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-europe-sidelined-ukraine-gaza-51d8929e55b921c02de063908fe2a8a2">been alarmed</a>&nbsp;this year by indications that Trump’s administration might be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ukraine-russia-war-putin-zelenskyy-europe-7940f9c5828fc46431928bc073170bc2">sidelining them</a>&nbsp;and Zelenskyy in its push to stop the fighting. Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-ukraine-putin-comments-2b977a12e445817fffd6ef9f8df9aa38">at-times conciliatory approach</a>&nbsp;to Putin has fueled those concerns, but Trump adopted a tougher line last month when he announced heavy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-sanctions-oil-trump-war-ukraine-4fa911a41494f56c29cb76a7f70f73d0">sanctions on Russia’s vital oil sector</a>&nbsp;that come into force Friday.

“For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board,” European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting in Brussels of the 27-nation bloc’s foreign ministers. She also suggested that the draft would be too favorable toward Moscow.

“We haven’t heard of any concessions on the Russian side," Kallas said.

German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul said he talked by phone Thursday with Witkoff and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss “our various current efforts to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and thus finally put an end to the immeasurable human suffering.”

Ukraine’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn told the U.N. Security Council that Kyiv has officially received Trump’s draft peace plan and is ready “to work constructively,” but she stressed Ukraine’s “red lines.”

“There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian,” she said. “Our land is not for sale.”

“Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join,” Hayovyshyn added.

It was not clear whether European foreign ministers had seen the peace plan, which was first reported by Axios.

Although they appeared caught by surprise, some elements of the plan were not new. Trump said last month that the Donbas region&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-gas-strikes-energy-50826ce7b96814ad943d8721c1a2915c">should be “cut up,”</a>&nbsp;leaving most of it in Russian hands.

However, the administration's previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-ukraine-not-happy-weapons-pause-51b774fc94f9835c7aae4707da444291">diplomatic efforts</a>&nbsp;this year to stop the fighting have so far come to nothing. A summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska did not result in a breakthrough over the summer, and plans for them to meet again in Budapest, Hungary, did not come to fruition.

Trump frequently complained that the negotiations involving Ukraine were taking longer than other conflicts where he helped mediate.

“I thought that was going to be my easy one because I have a good relationship with President Putin,” he said this week. “But I’m a little disappointed in President Putin right now.”

Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press journalists Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Sam McNeil in Brussels, Samya Kullab in Kyiv and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760736061957.png" alt="President Trump welcomes President Zelensky to the White House in October-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Trump welcomes President Zelensky to the White House in October-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-peace-plan-europe-witkoff-33545b140c5bfbbc5e9061a739802e54">28-point draft proposal</a>&nbsp;to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;has been presented in Kyiv.Washington and Moscow worked together on the draft, and it offers terms more favorable to Russia by calling for Ukraine to cede territory, avoid joining NATO and more. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the draft proposal Thursday.Here is Trump’s proposal, verbatim:1. Ukraine’s sovereignty will be confirmed.2. A comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled.3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further.4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development.5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees.6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel.7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future.8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine.9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland.10. The U.S. guarantee:— The U.S. will receive compensation for the guarantee;— If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee;— If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked;— If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid.11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered.12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to:— The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence.— The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernize, and operate Ukraine’s gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.— Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernization of cities and residential areas.— Infrastructure development.— Extraction of minerals and natural resources.— The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts.13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy:— The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis.— The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities.— Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8.14. Frozen funds will be used as follows:— $100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine;— The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict.15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement.16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine.17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty.18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.19. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine — 50:50.20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice:— Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities.— Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education.— All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited.21. Territories:— Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States.— Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact.— Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions.— Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone.22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment.23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea.24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues:— All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an ‘all for all’ basis.— All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children.— A family reunification program will be implemented.— Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict.25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days.26. All parties involved in this conflict will receive full amnesty for their actions during the war and agree not to make any claims or consider any complaints in the future.27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by the Peace Council, headed by President Donald J. Trump. Sanctions will be imposed for violations.28. Once all parties agree to this memorandum, the ceasefire will take effect immediately after both sides retreat to agreed points to begin implementation of the agreement.-------------------WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's plan for ending the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;would cede land to Russia and limit the size of Kyiv's military, according to a draft obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-plan-92b2c89b62f4326ff67abc5613c9b59e">The proposal,</a>&nbsp;originating from negotiations between Washington and Moscow, appeared decidedly favorable to Russia, which started the war nearly four years ago by invading its neighbor. If past is prologue, it would seem untenable for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has opposed Trump's previous calls for territorial concessions.There has also been resistance from European leaders, who are likely to decry the U.S. peace push as rewarding Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggression, leaving him emboldened rather than defeated.For example, the proposal would not only bar Ukraine from joining NATO but would also prevent the alliance's future expansion. Such a step would be a significant victory for Moscow, which views NATO as a threat.Putin would also gain ground he has been unable to win on the battlefield. Under the draft, Moscow would hold all the eastern Donbas region, even though approximately 14% still remains in Ukrainian hands. Ukraine's military, currently at roughly 880,000 troops, would be reduced to 600,000.The proposal opens the door to lifting sanctions on Russia and returning it to what was formerly known as the Group of Eight, which includes many of the world’s biggest economies. Russia was suspended from the annual gathering in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, a strategically important peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea that is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.<h2>Proposal increases pressure on Zelenskyy</h2>The U.S. team began drawing up the plan soon after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that Umerov agreed to the majority of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelenskyy.U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was also in Kyiv on Thursday and discussed the latest draft with Zelenskyy, according to a senior administration official. Zelenskyy offered a measured statement on social media about it but did not directly speak to the substance of the proposal.“Our teams — of Ukraine and the United States — will work on the provisions of the plan to end the war. We are ready for constructive, honest and swift work,” he wrote.Under the proposal, Russia would commit to making no future attacks, something the White House views as a concession. In addition, $100 billion in frozen Russian assets would be dedicated to rebuilding Ukraine.However, handing over territory to Russia would be deeply unpopular in Ukraine. It also would be illegal under Ukraine’s constitution. Zelenskyy has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-land-swap-trump-summit-e8e869d5d5ec672fee3e86022b20d11a">repeatedly ruled out</a>&nbsp;such a possibility.Russia would also be allowed to keep half of the power generated by Europe’s largest nuclear power plant,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-nuclear-zaporizhzhia-a0273ea4558a7b26cf232edd620942cc">Zaporizhzhia</a>, which it captured from Ukraine early during the war.The draft calls for a “Peace Council” that Trump will oversee. The council is an idea that Trump snatched from his lengthy peace plan aimed at bringing about a permanent end to war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.If either Ukraine or Russia violated the truce once enacted, it would face sanctions.U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., an Air Force veteran, rejected the emerging plan. “Unacceptable,” he posted on social media. “It is a 1938 Munich,” referring to a diplomatic agreement aimed at securing peace with Nazi Germany but widely viewed as paving the way for World War II.<h2>European diplomats urge wider consultations</h2>Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-witkoff-special-envoy-russia-ukraine-mideast-d26c80c87a57fd3a811e4b0aa0eda58e">Witkoff</a>&nbsp;have been quietly working on the peace plan for a month, receiving input from both Ukrainians and Russians on terms that are acceptable to each side, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday. Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Putin, have been key to drafting the proposal.As reports about the draft emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted.European leaders have already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-europe-sidelined-ukraine-gaza-51d8929e55b921c02de063908fe2a8a2">been alarmed</a>&nbsp;this year by indications that Trump’s administration might be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ukraine-russia-war-putin-zelenskyy-europe-7940f9c5828fc46431928bc073170bc2">sidelining them</a>&nbsp;and Zelenskyy in its push to stop the fighting. Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-ukraine-putin-comments-2b977a12e445817fffd6ef9f8df9aa38">at-times conciliatory approach</a>&nbsp;to Putin has fueled those concerns, but Trump adopted a tougher line last month when he announced heavy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-sanctions-oil-trump-war-ukraine-4fa911a41494f56c29cb76a7f70f73d0">sanctions on Russia’s vital oil sector</a>&nbsp;that come into force Friday.“For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board,” European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting in Brussels of the 27-nation bloc’s foreign ministers. She also suggested that the draft would be too favorable toward Moscow.“We haven’t heard of any concessions on the Russian side," Kallas said.German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul said he talked by phone Thursday with Witkoff and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss “our various current efforts to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and thus finally put an end to the immeasurable human suffering.”Ukraine’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn told the U.N. Security Council that Kyiv has officially received Trump’s draft peace plan and is ready “to work constructively,” but she stressed Ukraine’s “red lines.”“There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian,” she said. “Our land is not for sale.”“Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces, nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join,” Hayovyshyn added.<h2>Trump has long pushed for end to war</h2>It was not clear whether European foreign ministers had seen the peace plan, which was first reported by Axios.Although they appeared caught by surprise, some elements of the plan were not new. Trump said last month that the Donbas region&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-gas-strikes-energy-50826ce7b96814ad943d8721c1a2915c">should be “cut up,”</a>&nbsp;leaving most of it in Russian hands.However, the administration's previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-ukraine-not-happy-weapons-pause-51b774fc94f9835c7aae4707da444291">diplomatic efforts</a>&nbsp;this year to stop the fighting have so far come to nothing. A summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska did not result in a breakthrough over the summer, and plans for them to meet again in Budapest, Hungary, did not come to fruition.Trump frequently complained that the negotiations involving Ukraine were taking longer than other conflicts where he helped mediate.“I thought that was going to be my easy one because I have a good relationship with President Putin,” he said this week. “But I’m a little disappointed in President Putin right now.”___Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press journalists Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Sam McNeil in Brussels, Samya Kullab in Kyiv and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.

Read President Trump's full 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan

Kellie
Dillon Leiker, age 64 of Hays, KS passed away at KU Medical center October
26th, 2025 with her family by her side.&nbsp;

Kellie
was born July 11, 1961 to Sharron Dillon and the late Loren E Dillon in Hays,
Ks. During her younger years her&nbsp;fathers work with&nbsp;Halliburton took
the family overseas where she had great experiences living in Kuwait,&nbsp;Saudi
Arabia, Singapore and traveled to Europe, the Far East and Hawaii. &nbsp;

In
middle school the family relocated back to the United States residing in
Gillette and Casper, Wyoming then returning to their hometown of Hays after
Kellie graduated from Kelly Walsh&nbsp;High School in 1979. &nbsp;

Kellie
worked as an oil field secretary for Great Guns and ELI where she still
remained friends with many of her coworkers. &nbsp;She also earned her Nail
Technician&nbsp;license holding her Cosmetology Senior Status&nbsp;License when
she passed away.&nbsp;

In
April of 1983 Kellie married Larry Dean Leiker, of Hays. They built their life
on Leiker family land&nbsp;enjoying having property so they could raise their
own beef and chickens. Kellie loved the many trips she and Larry took on the
Harley going to Sturgis. Kellie also loved beach trips with her mother, sister
&amp; aunt.

Kellie
is survived by her loving husband Larry of 42 years; son Bradley (Ashley)
Leiker;&nbsp;daughter
BreAnne (Freddy) Kruger; 2 granddaughters Kimber and Everly Leiker; 2 grandsons
Conner and Brayden Kruger. &nbsp;Mother, Sharron Dillon and sister Kimberly
(Glenn) Loibl. Niece, Brandi Wise; nephews Brandt (Stephanie) Wise and Jeff (the late Katherine) Leiker. Brothers in Law; Ron Leiker (Lori) and Mark (Carla) Leiker. 3 great-nieces and 4 great-nephews.

Kellie
was known for her beautiful smile and her warm, kind heart and&nbsp;will always
be loved and cherished by all of her family and friends.

A celebration of Kellie’s life will be planned for the
Spring of 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761760234576.jpeg" alt="Kellie Dillon Leiker" />
 <figcaption>Kellie Dillon Leiker</figcaption>
 </figure>Kellie
Dillon Leiker, age 64 of Hays, KS passed away at KU Medical center October
26th, 2025 with her family by her side.&nbsp;Kellie
was born July 11, 1961 to Sharron Dillon and the late Loren E Dillon in Hays,
Ks. During her younger years her&nbsp;fathers work with&nbsp;Halliburton took
the family overseas where she had great experiences living in Kuwait,&nbsp;Saudi
Arabia, Singapore and traveled to Europe, the Far East and Hawaii. &nbsp;In
middle school the family relocated back to the United States residing in
Gillette and Casper, Wyoming then returning to their hometown of Hays after
Kellie graduated from Kelly Walsh&nbsp;High School in 1979. &nbsp;Kellie
worked as an oil field secretary for Great Guns and ELI where she still
remained friends with many of her coworkers. &nbsp;She also earned her Nail
Technician&nbsp;license holding her Cosmetology Senior Status&nbsp;License when
she passed away.&nbsp;In
April of 1983 Kellie married Larry Dean Leiker, of Hays. They built their life
on Leiker family land&nbsp;enjoying having property so they could raise their
own beef and chickens. Kellie loved the many trips she and Larry took on the
Harley going to Sturgis. Kellie also loved beach trips with her mother, sister
&amp; aunt.Kellie
is survived by her loving husband Larry of 42 years; son Bradley (Ashley)
Leiker;&nbsp;daughter
BreAnne (Freddy) Kruger; 2 granddaughters Kimber and Everly Leiker; 2 grandsons
Conner and Brayden Kruger. &nbsp;Mother, Sharron Dillon and sister Kimberly
(Glenn) Loibl. Niece, Brandi Wise; nephews Brandt (Stephanie) Wise and Jeff (the late Katherine) Leiker. Brothers in Law; Ron Leiker (Lori) and Mark (Carla) Leiker. 3 great-nieces and 4 great-nephews.Kellie
was known for her beautiful smile and her warm, kind heart and&nbsp;will always
be loved and cherished by all of her family and friends.A celebration of Kellie’s life will be planned for the
Spring of 2026.

Kellie Dillon Leiker

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, was in Hays Monday campaigning for governor in 2026.

Holscher stopped by the Eagle Media Center for an interview with Hays Post.

Holscher recounted a story of her 12-year-old daughter spotting her teacher working a weekend shift at Target during the “Brownback experiment.”

"I explained to her that we were in the midst of the 'Brownback crisis' and that her teacher probably wasn't making enough money to pay her bills. My daughter looked at me and said, 'You go fix that,'" Holscher said.

Holscher describes herself as a public school product and said fully funding general and special education remains one of her top priorities.

"We put a lot of demands on our school and teachers with pretty high expectations," Holscher said. "But the fact of the matter is, we often do not provide the funding for those expectations."

Holscher said that although general education has been adequately funded in recent years, with room for improvement, special education still falls short, forcing districts to shift money and limiting the best curriculum schools can offer.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ddb7029-9e09-4f6a-8c1f-c0c5f03f27ed">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 proposes mill levy increase; sees special ed costs rise</a>

She also pointed to her own advocacy efforts, noting that she marched to protest school underfunding before joining the Legislature and later earned a substitute teaching license after the COVID-19 pandemic to help cover staffing shortages.

Another priority for Holscher is making Kansas more affordable, which she said depends on improving access to housing, child care, health care and education.

On housing, Holscher said Kansas faces a statewide crisis in urban and rural areas. She said even newly built apartments remain out of reach for many residents.

"My team and I are looking at what's working in other states and putting together plans in that regard. If people can't pay their bills or afford housing, that's going to hurt our economy," she said.

Holscher said water preservation has been a concern since her youth, recalling that her first high school speech and debate topic focused on the looming depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer.

"My first year in the Legislature, I was actually assigned to the water committee. We put together a great plan to address water issues that was under Brownback, and it didn't get funded. Here we are still trying to figure out what to do," she said.

After speaking with farmers and agricultural experts, she highlights possibly shifting to low-water-use crops and upgrading irrigation equipment as possible steps.

Holscher said she was not familiar with the R9 Ranch project in any real depth.

Holscher said affordable, accessible health care is central to her affordability agenda and criticized the privatization of the KanCare program.

"That essentially inserted a middleman into the process that now takes millions of dollars. That's money that's going to an entity versus actually helping our people in terms of health care," Holscher said.

Holscher said federal policies have also strained the health care system, and about 26 hospitals statewide are at risk of closing. She said expanding Medicaid would help keep those hospitals open and reduce long-term emergency and transport costs, especially in rural Kansas.

"A lot of times, I hear legislators from the rural areas who say, 'Well, people choose to live here. They knew what it was going to be like.' I don't think people anticipated that we'd be facing this type of health care crisis," she said.

She added Medicaid expansion would also improve access to mental health services.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7fca52b8-e7e6-4d85-b43f-2016ae4336d4">Gov. Laura Kelly stopped in Hays during her Kansas Budget tour in October, warning that the state could face a $700 million deficit by fiscal year 2029 if current trends continue.</a>

Holscher said her experience managing budgets larger than the state’s during her time at Sprint Corp. made her uneasy with the Legislature’s approach to budgeting. This past year marked her first on the Senate Budget Committee.

To avoid future deficits, she proposed new revenue sources rather than cuts, including Medicaid expansion and legalizing medicinal cannabis.

"[Medicinal cannabis is] a huge revenue stream that we have not tapped into. All the states around us are, and we are losing money to other states," she said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f5d35a9a-1874-4311-9ccb-7147a97b8a39">Kelly formally endorsed state Sen. Ethan Corson’s gubernatorial campaign on Monday, saying she believes he can appeal to Republicans, Democrats and independents in 2026.</a>

Holscher said Kelly is “another voter” who can support whoever she wants, adding endorsements do not determine election outcomes.

"What makes the big difference is your policies," she said. "I'm the only Democrat in this field that wins in red areas. ... I'm the only Democrat in this race and the entire Legislature that wins in red districts and has actually defeated Republican incumbents. That's the toughest thing to do."

Holscher added she has received more than 135 endorsements from leaders across Kansas.

She also highlighted her work on affordability legislation, statute-of-limitations reform for sexual violence victims, the introduction of the purple alert system, and her co-founding of the Women’s Bipartisan Caucus as key accomplishments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763414678318.jpeg" alt="Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostSen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, was in Hays Monday campaigning for governor in 2026.Holscher stopped by the Eagle Media Center for an interview with Hays Post.Holscher recounted a story of her 12-year-old daughter spotting her teacher working a weekend shift at Target during the “Brownback experiment.”"I explained to her that we were in the midst of the 'Brownback crisis' and that her teacher probably wasn't making enough money to pay her bills. My daughter looked at me and said, 'You go fix that,'" Holscher said.Holscher describes herself as a public school product and said fully funding general and special education remains one of her top priorities."We put a lot of demands on our school and teachers with pretty high expectations," Holscher said. "But the fact of the matter is, we often do not provide the funding for those expectations."Holscher said that although general education has been adequately funded in recent years, with room for improvement, special education still falls short, forcing districts to shift money and limiting the best curriculum schools can offer.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ddb7029-9e09-4f6a-8c1f-c0c5f03f27ed">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 proposes mill levy increase; sees special ed costs rise</a>She also pointed to her own advocacy efforts, noting that she marched to protest school underfunding before joining the Legislature and later earned a substitute teaching license after the COVID-19 pandemic to help cover staffing shortages.Affordability and housingAnother priority for Holscher is making Kansas more affordable, which she said depends on improving access to housing, child care, health care and education.On housing, Holscher said Kansas faces a statewide crisis in urban and rural areas. She said even newly built apartments remain out of reach for many residents."My team and I are looking at what's working in other states and putting together plans in that regard. If people can't pay their bills or afford housing, that's going to hurt our economy," she said.WaterHolscher said water preservation has been a concern since her youth, recalling that her first high school speech and debate topic focused on the looming depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer."My first year in the Legislature, I was actually assigned to the water committee. We put together a great plan to address water issues that was under Brownback, and it didn't get funded. Here we are still trying to figure out what to do," she said.After speaking with farmers and agricultural experts, she highlights possibly shifting to low-water-use crops and upgrading irrigation equipment as possible steps.Holscher said she was not familiar with the R9 Ranch project in any real depth.Health care and mental healthHolscher said affordable, accessible health care is central to her affordability agenda and criticized the privatization of the KanCare program."That essentially inserted a middleman into the process that now takes millions of dollars. That's money that's going to an entity versus actually helping our people in terms of health care," Holscher said.Holscher said federal policies have also strained the health care system, and about 26 hospitals statewide are at risk of closing. She said expanding Medicaid would help keep those hospitals open and reduce long-term emergency and transport costs, especially in rural Kansas."A lot of times, I hear legislators from the rural areas who say, 'Well, people choose to live here. They knew what it was going to be like.' I don't think people anticipated that we'd be facing this type of health care crisis," she said.She added Medicaid expansion would also improve access to mental health services.State budget<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7fca52b8-e7e6-4d85-b43f-2016ae4336d4">Gov. Laura Kelly stopped in Hays during her Kansas Budget tour in October, warning that the state could face a $700 million deficit by fiscal year 2029 if current trends continue.</a>Holscher said her experience managing budgets larger than the state’s during her time at Sprint Corp. made her uneasy with the Legislature’s approach to budgeting. This past year marked her first on the Senate Budget Committee.To avoid future deficits, she proposed new revenue sources rather than cuts, including Medicaid expansion and legalizing medicinal cannabis."[Medicinal cannabis is] a huge revenue stream that we have not tapped into. All the states around us are, and we are losing money to other states," she said.Gov. Kelly's endorsement&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f5d35a9a-1874-4311-9ccb-7147a97b8a39">Kelly formally endorsed state Sen. Ethan Corson’s gubernatorial campaign on Monday, saying she believes he can appeal to Republicans, Democrats and independents in 2026.</a>Holscher said Kelly is “another voter” who can support whoever she wants, adding endorsements do not determine election outcomes."What makes the big difference is your policies," she said. "I'm the only Democrat in this field that wins in red areas. ... I'm the only Democrat in this race and the entire Legislature that wins in red districts and has actually defeated Republican incumbents. That's the toughest thing to do."Holscher added she has received more than 135 endorsements from leaders across Kansas.She also highlighted her work on affordability legislation, statute-of-limitations reform for sexual violence victims, the introduction of the purple alert system, and her co-founding of the Women’s Bipartisan Caucus as key accomplishments.

Gubernatorial candidate Cindy Holscher seeks to fully fund education

COLBY — The 2025 Colby Community College Hall of Fame class has been announced and includes All-American distance runner Wesley Banguria Kiptoo, former instructor and administrator Gracemary Melvin, and former livestock judging coach Dr. Don Woodburn.

A reception will be held in their honor beginning at about 5:30 p.m. at the conclusion of the men's basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Colby Event Center. A brief ceremony is also scheduled at halftime of the men's game.

The CCC Hall of Fame was established in 2012. In June each year, a committee selects individuals or couples who have made substantial contributions to the college through their personal time, effort, and interest, or have significantly impacted the lives of others after being part of Colby Community College.&nbsp;Previous inductees are listed at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.colbycc.edu/hof">www.colbycc.edu/hof</a>.

One of the most decorated CCC athletes ever, Kiptoo has continued to shine on the national stage, building on an unprecedented distance running career that began with the Trojans in 2018.

During his two seasons in Colby, the Eldoret, Kenya, native was named the U.S. Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Male Athlete of the Year after winning every race of the 2019 season, including the NJCAA Division I National Championship, where his 22:55 finish made him just the fourth runner in NJCAA history to break 23 minutes. He also captured individual titles at the Region VI Championships, the Fort Hays State Tiger Open, the Emporia State Invitational, and the Colorado College Invitational.

Kiptoo earned four USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors, the most ever by a Colby athlete, and set an 8K course record of 23:11.8 at Fort Hays State. His accomplishments helped elevate CCC’s cross-country program to consistent national prominence.

Following Colby, Kiptoo transferred to Iowa State University and became one of the most accomplished runners in program history. He won the 2021 NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter national championship, earned seven All-America honors, and captured seven Big 12 Conference titles across cross country and track events. Kiptoo also finished second overall at the 2021 NCAA Cross-Country Championships and helped Iowa State to a runner-up team finish, its best in nearly three decades. 

Twice named the Big 12 Men’s Cross-Country Runner of the Year, he graduated in 2021 holding school records in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters, as well as the outdoor 10,000 meters and steeplechase.

That same year, he launched his professional career by signing with HOKA NAZ Elite in Flagstaff, Ariz. Since joining the team, he has captured several major road-race titles, including three consecutive Pittsburgh Half Marathon crowns, victories at the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, and the Philadelphia Distance Run. Along the way, he has recorded personal bests of 1:00:34 for the half-marathon and 2:08:54 for the full marathon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In October 2025, Kiptoo distinguished himself as the second American finisher at the Chicago Marathon.

Melvin began her career at CCC in the summer of 1970 as an instructor in the business department. Over the next two decades, she became a respected member of the faculty known for her professionalism, compassion, and dedication to students.

In 1991, she was appointed dean of instruction, a position she held until her retirement in 2005. During her tenure, the college expanded healthcare offerings and added academic programs, including dental hygiene, and oversaw a period of enhanced classroom technology. She played a significant role when CCC joined five other western Kansas community colleges to cost-share and form EduKan, one of the nation's first consortia to offer online education.

“I loved working at CCC as an instructor and the academic dean,” Melvin said. “The people I worked with were great. The students were wholesome, for lack of a better word, and the town was very supportive.”

In recognition of her outstanding service to the College and the community, Melvin was awarded the&nbsp;Colby Community College Honorary Associate Degree in 2011.

A native of the Midwest, Melvin earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Fort Hays State University. Outside of education, she was co-owner of a Hallmark store in the early 1970s and later The Golf Shop in the late 1980s.

 She has also been a licensed real estate professional since 1983. She continues her career with Coldwell Banker Executive Realty, where she is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Kansas Association of Realtors, and Western Kansas Association of Realtors, and serves as chair of the Professional Standards Committee.

Deeply involved in her community, Melvin participates in several groups within St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church and continues to contribute to professional and civic organizations in western Kansas.

Family remains the cornerstone of her life. She is the mother of three sons, Lonnie, Lucas (and his wife Angela), and Len, and the proud grandmother of eleven. Her family now includes four great-grandchildren, with another expected soon. “I could talk about them forever,” she said, “so I will leave it at that.”

Arriving at Colby Community College in 1972 as an instructor of agriculture and coach of the livestock judging team, Woodburn led CCC students to national prominence during his six-year tenure.

Under his leadership, Colby teams participated in approximately 10 regional and national shows per year, winning first place in 28 contests over a six-year period.

“I had the opportunity when I was at Colby to work with the finest young livestock people in the world,” Woodburn said. “I was the coach, but they were the judges.”

After leaving Colby in 1978, Woodburn’s career spanned more than four decades across higher education and the livestock industry. He served as an animal science instructor and judging coach at Auburn University (1978-79) and Colorado State University (1979-81). After relocating to California, he was dean of agriculture at Los Angeles Pierce College (1981-83); vice president of Lassen Community College (1983-89); and professor of animal science at California State University, Fresno (1989-91).

Woodburn also led the California Pork Company as chief executive officer from 1991 to 1995, before returning to academia as dean of the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (1995-2004). 

He later served as president of Coffeyville Community College (2004-2011) and Dodge City Community College (2011-2016). During his presidential tenures, he raised and contributed millions of dollars for institutional growth and student success. In recognition of his impact at Dodge City, the Student Union was renamed the Don Woodburn Student Union.

A native of Roswell, N.M., Woodburn’s early passion for agriculture was evident long before his professional success. In eighth grade, he was named the outstanding history student and exhibited the grand champion steer at the New Mexico State Fair. As a high school student, he won the state FFA public speaking contest, was named the outstanding chapter member, and served as a student Rotarian.

While attending community college, he exhibited four champion steers at national shows, including the Arizona National, Cow Palace, Great Western, and San Antonio Livestock Show. He continued his education at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he participated in football and livestock judging, earning top individual honors at several national competitions. Notably, he achieved high individual honors in cattle, sheep, and oral reasons at the Houston competition, and a top-10 individual finish at the National Finals in Chicago.

Throughout his career, Woodburn judged livestock shows for close to 20 years at regional and national levels and served as president of the National Community and Junior College Livestock Judging Coaches Association, where he authored the organization’s bylaws. He was also part of a research team at Colorado State University that contributed to changes in USDA feeder cattle grading standards.

His honors include the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Exemplary Service Award, Garden City Community College Outstanding Student Service Award, and recognition for his leadership in higher education and community development. A longtime member of Rotary International and multiple chambers of commerce, Woodburn also served as president of the South Platte Chamber of Commerce.

Woodburn and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 55 years and are the proud parents of four children, 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763549457638.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Colby Community CollegeCOLBY — The 2025 Colby Community College Hall of Fame class has been announced and includes All-American distance runner Wesley Banguria Kiptoo, former instructor and administrator Gracemary Melvin, and former livestock judging coach Dr. Don Woodburn.A reception will be held in their honor beginning at about 5:30 p.m. at the conclusion of the men's basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Colby Event Center. A brief ceremony is also scheduled at halftime of the men's game.The CCC Hall of Fame was established in 2012. In June each year, a committee selects individuals or couples who have made substantial contributions to the college through their personal time, effort, and interest, or have significantly impacted the lives of others after being part of Colby Community College.&nbsp;Previous inductees are listed at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.colbycc.edu/hof">www.colbycc.edu/hof</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763549199752.jpeg" alt="Wesley Banguria Kiptoo. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Wesley Banguria Kiptoo. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Wesley Banguria KiptooOne of the most decorated CCC athletes ever, Kiptoo has continued to shine on the national stage, building on an unprecedented distance running career that began with the Trojans in 2018.During his two seasons in Colby, the Eldoret, Kenya, native was named the U.S. Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Male Athlete of the Year after winning every race of the 2019 season, including the NJCAA Division I National Championship, where his 22:55 finish made him just the fourth runner in NJCAA history to break 23 minutes. He also captured individual titles at the Region VI Championships, the Fort Hays State Tiger Open, the Emporia State Invitational, and the Colorado College Invitational.Kiptoo earned four USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors, the most ever by a Colby athlete, and set an 8K course record of 23:11.8 at Fort Hays State. His accomplishments helped elevate CCC’s cross-country program to consistent national prominence.Following Colby, Kiptoo transferred to Iowa State University and became one of the most accomplished runners in program history. He won the 2021 NCAA Indoor 5,000-meter national championship, earned seven All-America honors, and captured seven Big 12 Conference titles across cross country and track events. Kiptoo also finished second overall at the 2021 NCAA Cross-Country Championships and helped Iowa State to a runner-up team finish, its best in nearly three decades. Twice named the Big 12 Men’s Cross-Country Runner of the Year, he graduated in 2021 holding school records in the indoor 3,000 and 5,000 meters, as well as the outdoor 10,000 meters and steeplechase.That same year, he launched his professional career by signing with HOKA NAZ Elite in Flagstaff, Ariz. Since joining the team, he has captured several major road-race titles, including three consecutive Pittsburgh Half Marathon crowns, victories at the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, and the Philadelphia Distance Run. Along the way, he has recorded personal bests of 1:00:34 for the half-marathon and 2:08:54 for the full marathon.&nbsp;&nbsp;In October 2025, Kiptoo distinguished himself as the second American finisher at the Chicago Marathon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763549261408.jpeg" alt="Gracemary Melvin. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Gracemary Melvin. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Gracemary MelvinMelvin began her career at CCC in the summer of 1970 as an instructor in the business department. Over the next two decades, she became a respected member of the faculty known for her professionalism, compassion, and dedication to students.In 1991, she was appointed dean of instruction, a position she held until her retirement in 2005. During her tenure, the college expanded healthcare offerings and added academic programs, including dental hygiene, and oversaw a period of enhanced classroom technology. She played a significant role when CCC joined five other western Kansas community colleges to cost-share and form EduKan, one of the nation's first consortia to offer online education.“I loved working at CCC as an instructor and the academic dean,” Melvin said. “The people I worked with were great. The students were wholesome, for lack of a better word, and the town was very supportive.”In recognition of her outstanding service to the College and the community, Melvin was awarded the&nbsp;Colby Community College Honorary Associate Degree in 2011.A native of the Midwest, Melvin earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Fort Hays State University. Outside of education, she was co-owner of a Hallmark store in the early 1970s and later The Golf Shop in the late 1980s. She has also been a licensed real estate professional since 1983. She continues her career with Coldwell Banker Executive Realty, where she is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Kansas Association of Realtors, and Western Kansas Association of Realtors, and serves as chair of the Professional Standards Committee.Deeply involved in her community, Melvin participates in several groups within St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church and continues to contribute to professional and civic organizations in western Kansas.Family remains the cornerstone of her life. She is the mother of three sons, Lonnie, Lucas (and his wife Angela), and Len, and the proud grandmother of eleven. Her family now includes four great-grandchildren, with another expected soon. “I could talk about them forever,” she said, “so I will leave it at that.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763549327440.jpeg" alt="Cathy and Don Woodburn. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Cathy and Don Woodburn. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Don WoodburnArriving at Colby Community College in 1972 as an instructor of agriculture and coach of the livestock judging team, Woodburn led CCC students to national prominence during his six-year tenure.Under his leadership, Colby teams participated in approximately 10 regional and national shows per year, winning first place in 28 contests over a six-year period.“I had the opportunity when I was at Colby to work with the finest young livestock people in the world,” Woodburn said. “I was the coach, but they were the judges.”After leaving Colby in 1978, Woodburn’s career spanned more than four decades across higher education and the livestock industry. He served as an animal science instructor and judging coach at Auburn University (1978-79) and Colorado State University (1979-81). After relocating to California, he was dean of agriculture at Los Angeles Pierce College (1981-83); vice president of Lassen Community College (1983-89); and professor of animal science at California State University, Fresno (1989-91).Woodburn also led the California Pork Company as chief executive officer from 1991 to 1995, before returning to academia as dean of the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (1995-2004). He later served as president of Coffeyville Community College (2004-2011) and Dodge City Community College (2011-2016). During his presidential tenures, he raised and contributed millions of dollars for institutional growth and student success. In recognition of his impact at Dodge City, the Student Union was renamed the Don Woodburn Student Union.A native of Roswell, N.M., Woodburn’s early passion for agriculture was evident long before his professional success. In eighth grade, he was named the outstanding history student and exhibited the grand champion steer at the New Mexico State Fair. As a high school student, he won the state FFA public speaking contest, was named the outstanding chapter member, and served as a student Rotarian.While attending community college, he exhibited four champion steers at national shows, including the Arizona National, Cow Palace, Great Western, and San Antonio Livestock Show. He continued his education at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he participated in football and livestock judging, earning top individual honors at several national competitions. Notably, he achieved high individual honors in cattle, sheep, and oral reasons at the Houston competition, and a top-10 individual finish at the National Finals in Chicago.Throughout his career, Woodburn judged livestock shows for close to 20 years at regional and national levels and served as president of the National Community and Junior College Livestock Judging Coaches Association, where he authored the organization’s bylaws. He was also part of a research team at Colorado State University that contributed to changes in USDA feeder cattle grading standards.His honors include the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Exemplary Service Award, Garden City Community College Outstanding Student Service Award, and recognition for his leadership in higher education and community development. A longtime member of Rotary International and multiple chambers of commerce, Woodburn also served as president of the South Platte Chamber of Commerce.Woodburn and his wife, Cathy, have been married for 55 years and are the proud parents of four children, 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.