Get to know our 2023 K-State Student Ambassadors: Ethan Brown and Elle Eilert
By definition, an “ambassador” is a person who represents, speaks for or advertises
a particular organization or group of people. However, for Ethan Brown and Elle Eilert,
their new role as K-State Student Ambassadors runs much deeper than that simple definition.
For them, purple pride is a way of life. They love K-State, and they want prospective
students to fall in love with this university too. They represent all the best things
that K-State is known for: community, camaraderie and a can-do attitude.
When their names were announced as the 2023 K-State Student Ambassador winners on
the field at the Homecoming football game Oct. 29, they joined a proud tradition of
Student Ambassadors dating back to 1977, when the K-State Alumni Association established
the program.
“When I walked onto the field at halftime, I was honored just to have been a candidate,”
says Brown, a junior in marketing from Salina, Kansas. “I was shocked when I heard
my name announced as the 2023 Student Ambassador, but that quickly gave way to the
greatest feeling. Even now, it means so much to me that the student body put their
trust in me. I am both honored and humbled. The theme for Homecoming week was Wildcat
Dreams, and hearing my name that day was the realization of mine.”
“When my name was announced, I definitely did a double-take,” echoes Eilert, a junior
in mathematics and secondary education from Beloit, Kansas. “I was just so pumped.
I immediately looked at my dad who was on the field with me. He was extremely excited
for me and it was really special to share that experience with family and friends.
Being ambassador is such an honor, I am still shocked whenever I think about it.”
About the program
So, what exactly is involved in a Student Ambassador’s duties?
- Visiting with prospective students and alumni
- Attending Student Alumni Board meetings and activities
- Assisting with programming on campus such as the Alumni Fellows program, All-University Homecoming Committee and other special events
- Assisting the K-State President's Office as needed
Ambassadors are elected during Homecoming week by a student vote from a group of semifinalists.
They serve a one-year term, and each receives the Kirk Family Student Ambassador Scholarship
of $2,500, clothing from Manhattan clothing store Borck Brothers and an official K-State
ring from Balfour and the Alumni Association.
About the 2023 Ambassadors
Brown and Eilert were already familiar faces on campus before becoming Student Ambassadors.
Brown is a member of Delta Chi fraternity. He also serves as campus access director
for the Student Governing Association and as vice president of allocations for Student
Foundation. In his free time, his interests include western sports (especially bull
riding) and researching Professional Bull Riders (PBR) stats for CBS Sports’ play-by-play
announcer.
Brown said he ran for Student Ambassador with the goal of spreading the message that
K-State will do whatever it takes to help students overcome possible barriers and
help them thrive in their education. He believes K-State is a place for everyone.
“Throughout my life, I have been challenged in terms of accessibility,” he said. “K-State
has always cleared a path for me to take advantage of the opportunities both in the
classroom and in organizations I’m involved with: Student Foundation (student philanthropy),
Student Government and my fraternity.”
He’s ready to help prospective students come to know the university the same way he
does.
“As a Student Ambassador, I want to impart my enthusiasm for our university into every
community in Kansas and beyond, help build the future group of the Wildcat family
through recruitment, and share in the remembrances of various alumni of their experiences
at Kansas State,” Brown said. “I am most looking forward to making connections and
talking about the amazing things that make K-State great.”
Eilert is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Additionally, she serves on the Student
Opportunity Awards Committee for Student Foundation. Her interests include spending
time with friends, enjoying a good cup of tea and going for jogs around town.
“I have always loved Kansas State — the ‘Alma Mater’ was practically a lullaby around
my house growing up,” Eilert said. “Family is the building block of society and K-State
captured this culture in a bottle. Just like a loving family, K-State offers the safety
to learn, grow and fail so its students are marked by resilience, empathy and greatness.
K-State is more than a university; it’s a home that I dearly love.”
She’s excited to share that love for K-State with prospective students.
“I have loved my time at Kansas State, specifically the community and experiences
it has given me,” she said. “There is nowhere like it, with opportunities of a large
university but the experiences of a tight-knit community. I truly believe there is
something for everyone here, and I can’t help but want to share that with those that
I encounter.”