Burnell has been one of the great ambassadors of Cloud County Community College and its athletic programs since the founding of the school in 1965. He served eight years as the school’s first athletic director. Ukens also served as intramural director and was instrumental in the founding of CCCC’s first athletic booster organization. He started the tennis program at Cloud in 1971 and coached the Thunderbirds to the Prairie Junior College Conference Championship in 1973. Ukens served as statistician for the PJCC the entire time Cloud County was a member. He also served one year as assistant track coach and from 1979-1983 was assistant baseball coach. To this day, Burnell remains a loyal and true friend of Cloud County Community College and its athletics and activities.