CC tours Wineteer

Col. Ricky Rupp, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, and Charolette Rupp, his wife, visit a classroom during a tour of Wineteer Elementary School Jan. 17, 2012, Wichita, Kan. With approximately 70 percent of the students having a military tie, Rupp viewed how McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., affects the school. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jose L. Leon)

CC tours Wineteer

Clint Corby, Wineteer Elementary School principal, speaks with Col. Ricky Rupp, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, about the benefit of having McConnell’s volunteers during a tour of his school Jan. 17, 2012, Wineteer Elementary School, Wichita, Kan. Corby and Rupp discussed the impact of having positive role models volunteering out of McConnell Air Force Base has on Wineteer Elementary School and how the school educates and accommodates military children. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jose L. Leon)

CC tours Wineteer

Published Jan. 19, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- McConnell children attend many of the community schools, but one school stands out with more than 70 percent of the students having a military connection.

The "Thunderbirds" of Wineteer Elementary School, Derby, Kan., are located next to McConnell's base housing.

Col. Ricky N. Rupp, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, toured the school Jan. 17, 2012.

"It is important to have open channels of communication so that we can support one another in meeting the needs of our mobile military children," said Angela Edwards, 22nd Force Support Squadron school liaison officer. "We have a history of a great partnership with Wineteer. Having Colonel and Mrs. Rupp visit the school is important in continuing to grow our relationship and partnership."

Clint Corby, Wineteer's principal, and Rupp, a former Thunderbird student, discussed how the school and base interrelate.

"One of great things about our relationship with the base is the amount of volunteers McConnell provides," said Corby. "However, we could always use more."

Leadership discussed how McConnell's Airmen could become more involved with Wineteer's lunch, reading programs and field day events. To volunteer Airmen may contact Edwards at (316) 759-6020 or the Wineteer main office at (316) 684-9373.

The tour finished with classroom visits and a hope to continue building their relationships, said Corby.

"Wineteer directly supports our mission because of the great education and programs they provide to our children," said Rupp. "When an Airman is deployed, they need to have assurance that their children's education is well taken care of, and Wineteer excels at that."