Be a part of 150 years of alumni history with a K-State Alumni Center paver

Posted May 31, 2024

Pavers

While a student’s time on the K-State campus may be relatively short, once you become a K-Stater, you’re a K-Stater forever. And as a K-Stater, you’ll always have a home away from home at the K-State Alumni Center whenever you return to Manhattan, Kansas. 

Although the K-State Alumni Center was built in 2002, the K-State Alumni Association’s history stretches back much further. In 2024, we’re celebrating 150 years of connecting Wildcats, sharing alumni stories, and preserving traditions.

One of the ways our K-State Alumni Center helps share these stories and traditions is through the Paver program. Over the years, K-Staters have had opportunities to honor a special occasion or pay tribute to a loved one through these dark gray slate pavers lining the Alumni Center. 

Each paver symbolizes a lasting tribute to a K-State legacy — and only a few slots remain. 

For Katy Fatula ’98, purchasing a paver was a way for her to express how much K-State meant to herself, her husband and her daughters. 

“It was about the time that the Alumni Center was being built," she recalls. "It was a beautiful new structure, and we were now alumni and parents. My husband was turning 40, and I just decided that was a good way to honor him at that birthday, and a place that was so dear and special to us — where we met and where we repeatedly visited. A paver means to me leaving a little mark on a place that left a big mark on us.”

As we reflect on our 150th anniversary, here are some of the other stories we’ve collected from alumni about what their pavers mean to them: 

“K-State has been home to members of our family who attended campus for over 70 years,” said Connie Pelton Kays ’81, ’84, ’88, who decided to use pavers as a special way to commemorate the graduation of sons Reagan ’15 and Garrett ’16. “It has always felt like home, even when we are miles away. Purchasing a paver at the Alumni Center seemed to be one of the best ways to remember our great experiences at Kansas State.”

“My husband Larry and I have been avid fans of Kansas State University ever since we graduated in 1965,” said Valerie Warren Goodpaster ’65. A stone paver provided a way for her to express her love for her late husband, Larry ’65, ’66, and honor their memories at K-State. “Larry was a high school football coach in San Diego for many years, and in that role he recommended players to K-State. When the opportunity was offered to purchase a paver, I thought that would be a fitting tribute to him. I will continue to be a loyal alumna and carry on the tradition of being a supporter of Kansas State University.”

"My wife Tracey ’82 and I feel like the pavers are an excellent way to not only support the Alumni Association but also give future generations a permanent place to remember our legacy at K-State," says Link Evans ’82, Alumni Association board of directors member. "Our kids are fourth-generation K-State grads and it is special to have their names beside their great-grandparent’s paver."

"Having a paver at the K-State Alumni Center was a decision I made because of the great experience I not only had during my undergrad time at K-State, but after graduation with staying engaged with K-State through the Dallas and Phoenix alumni clubs," says Brian Bednar '83, who has served on the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees. “I make visits back to the campus a couple times of the year and always enjoy touring campus and seeing the amazing changes and improvements to the campus. I also have set up an engineering scholarship for a student/s enrolling in the K-State Engineering program. I truly enjoy staying engaged with K-State and continue to wear my purple pride attire!”

"I love K-State and my year as student body president in 1987 was very special," says Kent R. Bradley '88, MD. "Entering on the west side it is fun to see all the names of past student body presidents and SGA members who purchased pavers. They were service oriented as students and it's no surprise they continue to support the purple. The Alumni Center AND its staff are treasures worth supporting and this was just one more 'concrete' way to help."

"Kansas State University and my leadership experience as a student is a fundamental part of my foundation," agrees Jackie McClaskey ’93, ’14, another past student body president. "So it seemed more than appropriate to give back to the Alumni Center's foundation to recognize what the university has given to me."

Learn how you can be a part of the Paver Program