December 17, 2025
Story by Joe Vinduska
Barton Community College celebrated the induction of three Fine & Performing Arts Hall of Fame members during its Holiday Concert on Dec. 4, recognizing their decades of dedication and impact on students and the community.
The Fine and Performing Arts Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the ongoing success, quality, and public reputation of the Fine and Performing Arts at Barton Community College.
Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator and Fine and Performing Arts Hall of Fame Committee Member Danika Bielek said the nomination and selection process was a rewarding experience.
“The Fine and Performing Arts Hall of Fame committee requested nominations online and in-person from Barton’s Great Bend campus, and the surrounding community,” she said. “We received many nominations for deserving individuals. Our committee’s decision was guided by the number of nominations each person received and the evidence of their contributions to the arts at Barton Community College and within the region. Thank you to all who nominated deserving faculty, staff, alumni, supportive administrators, and artists connected with Barton Community College.”
This year’s committee members included Bielek as well as Dr. Eric Foley, Mark Freeman, Linda McCaffery, Amy Wheeler, and Denise Williams. In its second year, the 2025 Hall of Fame honored three past and current Barton employees who have influenced many students during their tenure. Those inductees were Bill Forst, Vern Fryberger, and Leon Sobba.
Bill Forst
Bill Forst served as an Arts Instructor at Barton from 1999 to 2023. A ceramic studio artist and nationally certified art appraiser, Forst taught Ceramics, 2D Design, Art History, and Art Appreciation, directed the L.E. Gus and Eva Shafer Memorial Art Gallery, and chaired the Fine and Performing Arts Department. He also collaborated statewide to develop art course competencies across Kansas colleges and received the Barton Difference Award in 2023.
Vern Fryberger
Vern Fryberger taught music education at Barton from 1995 to 2017, directing the Concert Choir and Hilltop Singers. He led more than 50 college and community musicals, founded the Central Kansas Community Choir, and helped establish the Instrumental and Vocal Music Endowment. Fryberger earned multiple teaching awards and continues to support music education as an adjudicator and online faculty member.
Leon Sobba
Leon Sobba joined Barton as an adjunct instructor in 1982 and later served as Technical Director of the Fine Arts Auditorium. A science educator with a passion for the arts, Sobba designed and managed lighting and sound for countless theatre, music, and dance productions at Barton and in the community, modernizing the college’s theatre facilities and enhancing the performing arts experience for generations of students and audiences.
The Holiday Concert featured festive performances in dance, vocal, and instrumental music, celebrating both the season and the achievements of these outstanding Hall of Fame members.