While the 2017 Alumni Fellows may have pursued different areas of study during their time at Kansas State University and followed different career paths, they all share two important traits: a passion for their alma mater and a desire to help the next generation of K-Staters succeed in their careers and in life.

 

The 12 accomplished alumni selected as 2017 Alumni Fellows will return to campus April 19-21 to visit with students and faculty. They will discuss current business and industry trends and share how their time at K-State helped prepare them for their careers.

 

“The Fellows were chosen based on their high levels of professional accomplishment and distinguished service in their respective careers,” said Andrea Bryant Gladin ’02, K-State Alumni Association director of alumni programs and organizer of the Alumni Fellows program.

 

The Alumni Fellows program is sponsored by the K-State Alumni Association, the Office of the President and the Deans Council.

 

Get to know the 2017 Alumni Fellows below:

 

To mark the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I, Kansas State University will formally dedicate World War I Memorial Stadium.

 

Memorial Stadium was constructed in phases in the 1920s as a memorial to 48 K-Staters who sacrificed their lives during World War I. The stadium was never fully completed based on the original design, and after recent research, it was discovered that World War I Memorial Stadium was never dedicated.

 

The public is invited to attend a formal dedication ceremony at 2:30 p.m. April 21 at the stadium on campus. Speakers will include K-State President Richard B. Myers ’65; Brigadier General Patrick D. Frank, deputy commanding general of Fort Riley’s 1st Infantry Division; and Matthew C. Naylor, president and CEO of the National World War I Museum and Memorial located in Kansas City, Missouri.

 

During the ceremony, K-State will recognize the 48 fallen and unveil the new World War I Memorial Stadium signage. One of the fallen, Kansas State Agricultural College graduate Captain Willis Comfort, posthumous recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, will be formally entered into the Legion of Valor with a wreath-laying ceremony. 

 

The event is being held in conjunction with the national U.S. World War I Centennial as a way to commemorate and recognize American sacrifices during the war. More than four million American families sent their sons and daughters to serve in uniform during what is known as “the Great War.” A total of 116,516 U.S. soldiers gave their lives in combat, and another 200,000 were wounded, a casualty rate even greater than in World War II. (Source: www.worldwar1centennial.org)

 

The national ceremony, In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace: Centennial Commemoration of the U.S. Entry in World War I, will be held on April 6 at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, featuring dignitaries and descendants of significant American World War I figures.

 

As part of K-State’s events, the K-State Alumni Association will create a display of World War I Memorial Stadium memorabilia and photos for the Memorabilia Room at the Alumni Center.

 

History of Memorial Stadium

Plans for Memorial Stadium began in 1922, when university leaders wanted to build an architectural shrine to honor the veterans who died. They decided a stadium was a dignified structure that would be useful to the college and community. The west wing was completed in 1922, followed by the east wing in 1924. The enclosing walls were added in 1928, and the locker rooms and offices were built in 1938.

 

University football games were moved from Memorial Stadium to the then KSU Stadium in 1967. Today, the stadium is used for marching band practice, club soccer and rugby. West Stadium is home to the Purple Masque Theatre, and East Stadium now houses the Berney Family Welcome Center. Identical plaques commemorating veterans are located on the south ends of both West Stadium and East Stadium.

The K-State Alumni Association is announcing two exciting new member benefits: a discount at the K-State Campus Store and a discount on tickets to Country Stampede.

 

The K-State Campus Store is the official university bookstore and offers a wide selection of K-State apparel and gifts. As the official merchandise partner of the K-State Alumni Association, the K-State Campus Store will now offer a 10 percent discount to members. Show your membership card at the store’s locations on the Manhattan and Polytechnic campuses to receive a discount on apparel and gift items only. Online shopping will be available soon.

 

The K-State Campus Store also will serve as a sponsor of the Alumni Association’s graduation and orientation events, such as the annual Grad Bash and Grad Breakfast.

 

Country Stampede

Alumni Association members also will receive a discount to the Kicker Country Stampede, a popular three-day country music and camping festival June 22-24 at Tuttle Creek State Park in Manhattan, Kansas. The 2017 lineup includes Chris Stapleton, Alan Jackson, Big & Rich, Thomas Rhett and many more artists.

 

The K-State Alumni Association member discount is a $20 savings on each general admission ticket and a $40 savings on each VIP ticket. Learn more about Country Stampede ticket packages and the Alumni Association member benefit. Alumni Association members will receive the discount when ordering tickets and entering a special promo code between April 16-30. The member promo code will be available on the Alumni Association website beginning April 14.

 

Not an Alumni Association member? Why not join today to receive the K-State Campus Store merchandise discount, Country Stampede discount code and other benefits throughout the year, such as the K-Stater magazine, annual wall calendar, McCain Performance Series discounts and more.

Kansas State University alumni and friends are invited to attend the inauguration of the university’s 14th president, Richard B. Myers ’65, at 10 a.m. Friday, April 28, in McCain Auditorium. A reception will immediately follow on Anderson lawn.

 

Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers returned to his home state and alma mater to serve as K-State’s interim president in April 2016 and was officially named the university’s 14th president in November 2016. He graduated from K-State in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and joined the Air Force through K-State’s ROTC program.

 

The native Kansan from Merriam loyally served his country and retired as a four-star general. From 2001-05, he served as the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the principal military adviser to the U.S. president, secretary of defense and the National Security Council.

 

Throughout Myers’ active duty and world travels, he continued relationships with his friends back home. He has provided instruction, insight and inspiration to current students and the K-State community. In 2000, he presented the 118th Landon Lecture, where he spoke about the military’s role in international relations. K-State named the military science building, home of the Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC programs, Gen. Richard B. Myers Hall, in honor of his service and dedication. He and his wife, Mary Jo Rupp Myers ’64, serve as co-chairs of the Kansas State University Innovation and Inspiration Campaign to raise $1 billion.

 

“We are very proud to have such a distinguished graduate of Kansas State University selected to serve as our 14th president,” Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association, said after Myers’ announcement in November. “President Myers is an incredible individual who readily shares how his education at K-State helped shape who he is today. His warm, sincere personality resonates with members of our Wildcat community, and people really appreciate how he willingly embraces our Midwest values. We are also fortunate to have his wonderful partner, Mary Jo, a past member of the alumni board, serving as first lady of our university.”

 

Watch for more information on the inauguration.

Kansas State University is inviting alumni and friends to share their memories and experiences in Memorial Stadium on the K-State campus in Manhattan. Your stories and ideas will help the K-State Community Development Workshop, a class in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional and Community Planning, in preserving the history of the stadium while also stimulating ideas to help make it a vibrant and active facility on campus for generations to come.       

 

Constructed in phases in the 1920s, Memorial Stadium was built as a memorial to the 48 K-Staters who lost their lives in World War I. Over the past nine decades the stadium has experienced a rich and diverse history, evolving from the university’s football stadium and hosting track and field events, to serving as temporary dorms for students, space for classrooms and home to the Purple Masque Theatre and various performing arts groups.   

 

In 2002, the K-State Alumni Association made its home in a new building constructed on the south side of the field, in the space that would have been the horseshoe connecting the east and west sides of the stadium had it been completed according to the original design.

 

With the arrival of the Alumni Center, new life came to Memorial Stadium as more alumni visited the area. The field was restored and is now active year-round with intramural sports. It also serves as the practice field for K-State’s marching band. More recently, the interior of the east side of the stadium was converted to the beautiful new Berney Family Welcome Center for the campus and nearly half of the interior on the west side of the stadium was converted to the Purple Masque Theatre.   

   

K-State’s collection of your memories of Memorial Stadium will help augment a historical documentation of the stadium commissioned by K-State’s Office of Military Affairs. K-State’s historical account of Memorial Stadium coincides with the national observance of the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I in 1917. 

 

K-State also is interested in your ideas for how the remaining space in the west side of the stadium might be used. Please think about the history and the campus today and what you think might be a fitting use of the space for students, faculty, alumni and the community. 

 

Use this form to submit your ideas. If you have photos to share, we would be interested in photos as well. If you prefer, we can call you to collect your memories and stories over the phone; you may leave your phone number where indicated on the form.     

 

You are also welcome to share memories that have been passed down from prior generations of your family — your parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents. We will archive these memories for future uses, including historical articles for university and Alumni Association publications. Some memories may help inform our ideas for future use and enjoyment of the stadium space. 

 

Have fun with it — don’t hold back! Please share your fond memories of our Memorial Stadium. 

The K-State Alumni Association’s Multicultural Alumni Council will host a multiracial panel discussion titled “Multiracial in America: Proud, Diverse and Growing.”

 

The panel will take place from 10:30-11:30 a.m. April 27 in the K-State Student Union’s Big 12 Room.

 

Panelists for the discussion include Mako Miller ’04, post-secondary coach, Kauffman Scholars; Robert Page, executive director of inclusion and engagement, Metropolitan Community College; and Kennedy Felice, senior in kinesiology and member of the K-State rowing team.

 

Jessica Elmore ’06, ’15, associate director of diversity programs for the Alumni Association, said the panel is part of a yearlong exploration of various aspects of multiculturalism called the Multiracial Education Series. Future events covered by the series include supporting multiracial families (fall 2017); multiracialism and data (spring 2018); and multiracial alumni engagement (summer 2018).

 

The Multicultural Alumni Council is an advisory council within the K-State Alumni Association. This council serves as a diversity liaison in three areas: students, alumni and university. The council is a pipeline for multicultural alumni who want to get involved with the university.

 

Learn more about the council and their work on campus and in the community.  

The K-State Alumni Association invites Wildcats of all ages to join them for food, fun and purple pride during the annual summer Alumni Club and Catbacker Tour, with some exciting new changes to the Catbacker events that will provide even more fun for the entire family.

 

Catbacker and Alumni Club events take place in a variety of cities and provide opportunities for connecting with other K-Staters, listening to updates about the university and athletics, and supporting the next generation of students.

 

Catbacker Clubs

Catbacker Clubs are co-sponsored by K-State Athletics and the K-State Alumni Association and help increase awareness of and support for K-State Athletics programs. Wildcat fans are invited to an event with affordable family fun and a chance to interact with your favorite coaches, student-athletes and Willie the Wildcat. New in 2017 will be inflatable games and T-shirts for all kids in attendance, unique ticket packages and exclusive auction items and giveaways.

 

Although traditionally the annual summer Catbacker events have included an evening dinner, this year the Alumni Association is excited to announce lunchtime events in select cities.

 

“We understand how busy families get with evening activities during the summer,” said Gavin Hargrave ’08, ’10, associate director of alumni programs. “This will allow them to attend the K-State event without conflicting with those busy evening schedules.”

 

K-Staters are encouraged to bring their whole family to these Catbacker gatherings.

 

The 2017 tour kicks off May 15 in Dodge City. Find out if the tour is coming to a city near you.

 

Alumni Clubs

Alumni Clubs are generally established in areas with more than 200 alumni within a 50-mile radius. They bring K-State alumni and friends together for social outings, promote K-State and connect alumni to their alma mater.

 

Many clubs host a summer gathering that includes special guests from the university leadership, dinner, presentations by the K-State Student Ambassadors and scholarships to help students attend K-State.

 

Locate an Alumni Club near you or find an upcoming event.

Kansas State University strives to offer the best possible environment for students to study and socialize during their time on campus. The university and several of its facilities recently were recognized on a state and national level.

 

CollegeRank.net has ranked the top 25 student unions in the country, and K-State has the best student union in Kansas and the second best in the Big 12 Conference. The organization provides information about student life at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. For this ranking, it selected the 25 best student unions in the nation based on four criteria: aesthetic design and architecture; student offerings in campus life; events and traditions; and proximity to other campus features.

 

The K-State Student Union’s inclusion on the top 25 list of student unions in the nation comes during a time of transition as the Union is undergoing a $32 million renovation. Construction started in September 2015 and is expected to be complete in fall 2017. The renovation is providing increased visibility; updated designs and larger spaces for several organizations and offerings; and additional dining venues. A renovation celebration is scheduled for Oct. 13.

 

Bill Smriga, Union executive director, said the Union's design and architecture create a welcoming first impression that synergizes with Bosco Student Plaza and the new Berney Family Welcome Center to convey the message that K-State is a vibrant academic place.

 

“The Union is the place where the K-State family meets to enjoy the various facilities, study in a quiet spot or just have fun,” he said.

 

Welcome Center, Engineering Hall win building awards contest

The Berney Family Welcome Center and Engineering Hall are the Judges Choice winner and runner-up, respectively, for state building awards by the Associated General Contractors of Kansas Inc.

 

Completed in 2016, the Berney Family Welcome Center uses the east side of the historic Memorial Stadium in a modern way. It is one of the first facilities in the U.S. to provide a central location for new and prospective students and their families to connect with key student services. Designed by Ebert Mayo Design Group and constructed by Hutton Construction, the Welcome Center, at 37,000 square feet, houses New Student Services, the Career Center, campus tour services, an information center, 25 interview rooms, energy-efficient features, an interactive digital wall and a living green roof that replaced a majority of the seats where fans once cheered the Wildcats.

 

Engineering Hall, phase IV of the College of Engineering expansion, provides 108,000 square feet of space for a new reception center, a 250-seat auditorium and a large student collaboration suite in addition to expanded teaching, research, conference room and office areas. Designed by Perkins + Will and constructed by McCownGordon Construction, the expansion connects Durland, Rathbone and Fiedler halls to encourage collaboration, discovery and innovation in a flexible and dynamic facility. The expansion also is helping the college grow from 2,900 to nearly 4,000 undergraduate students and reach a goal set by the state Legislature to increase the annual number of Kansas engineering graduates from 865 to 1,365 by 2023.

 

K-State named most beautiful campus in Kansas

Which college is the fairest of them all? According to Travel + Leisure, K-State is the most beautiful college in Kansas.

 

The resource provides travel tips, ideas, videos and rankings from around the world. For this list, it selected the most beautiful college in each state based on several criteria: setting and scenery; building design; and upkeep of campus grounds. K-State was selected because of its extensive green space — more than 2,000 acres — and limestone buildings.

 

K-State also was recognized as a Tree Campus USA for the third year in a row. Tree Campus USA is a nationwide Arbor Day Foundation program that honors colleges and universities for promoting healthy trees and engaging students in conservation.

 

On Aug. 21, the United States will experience a rare celestial event — a total eclipse of the sun. The moon will completely block out the sun, turning daylight to twilight, and revealing the sun’s shimmering corona.

 

The K-State Alumni Association is partnering with other organizations to plan several events in conjunction with the 2017 Great American Total Solar Eclipse.

 

The Alumni Association and the K-State Department of Physics are hosting an astrophotography workshop and a public lecture on the eclipse, April 11 at 101 Cardwell Hall on campus. Retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak or “Mr. Eclipse” will lead a workshop at 3 p.m. on how to use your camera (even cellphones!) to take the best pictures of the eclipse this summer. The event is open to both amateur and professional photographers.

 

The workshop will be followed by refreshments at 4 p.m. and a James R. Neff Public Lecture about the eclipse at 4:30 p.m., also featuring Fred Espenak.

 

The K-State Alumni Association also will host an Astronomy in Color brown bag lunch and learn from noon to 1 p.m. April 24 at the Staley School of Leadership Studies McVay Family Town Hall. The event will explore the contributions and cultural impact that astronomy has in Black, Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, covering cultural and spiritual connections with astronomy and highlighting individuals who have made contributions to the field. The Association previously hosted an Astronomy in Color lunch and learn on Hispanic and Indigenous Peoples’ cultures.

 

The Alumni Association is currently planning a Star Watch Party in St. Joseph, Missouri, the day of the eclipse. Visibility of the eclipse varies based on location, and St. Joseph, Missouri, is an ideal spot to view the celestial phenomenon. The eclipse process will begin at 11:40 a.m. and end at 1:08 p.m. Stay tuned for more details.

 

View more information about the eclipse, and find other local eclipse-related events at the Flint Hills Discovery Center.

Once again, Kansas State University’s Black Student Union has been named the best in the Big 12 Conference — a prestigious honor that reflects the passion of the students and advisers and their commitment to making a difference on campus and in the community.

 

For the ninth time in 12 years, the university’s Black Student Union, or BSU, was awarded the Clarence Wine Award for Outstanding Big 12 Council of the Year at the 40th annual Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government at the University of Texas, Austin.

 

“I could not be prouder of the hard work and dedication that our BSU continues to demonstrate year after year,” said Brandon Clark ’09, program coordinator in the university’s Office of Diversity. “Our BSU works to advance academic stability, political action and leadership of black students while promoting black culture across all aspects of life.”

 

Clark said K-State’s Black Student Union continues to stand out for several reasons: maintaining, promoting and growing annual traditions, including the Welcome Back Barbecue in August for more than 20 years; connecting freshmen and new students with upperclassmen through the Black Student Union’s mentorship program; consistently inviting keynote speakers for Black History Month events in February; and presenting these accomplishments and more in a clear and enthusiastic way at each year’s conference.

 

Zelia Wiley, interim associate provost for the Office of Diversity, said the Black Student Union’s achievements show its commitment to welcoming and retaining diverse students at the university.

 

“I’m so pleased with the student leaders in our BSU,” Wiley said. “The Office of Diversity stands behind the BSU and all our multicultural student organizations.”

 

In addition to the Clarence Wine Award, members of the university’s Black Student Union received other recognition at the conference.

 

Bryan Davis, president of K-State’s Black Student Union, was elected as the 2017-18 chair of the Big 12 Council on Black Student Government. Currently a junior majoring in management information systems with a minor in leadership studies, Davis has been involved in BSU since freshman year. He said he is honored the K-State BSU is again the best in the Big 12.

 

“This award definitely highlights the work students do on campus,” he said. “I’m proud of this award. The Black Student Union has created a safe space for students to come in and learn about black culture. Being in BSU has definitely given me the leadership skills to go out and make a change in our community.”

 

The Freshman Action Team received the Most Outstanding Freshman Action Team of the Year Award, and Alexis Cushshon — freshman in architectural engineering and president of the Black Student Union’s Freshman Action Team — was honored with the Mickey Leland Award for Outstanding Community Service.

 

Cushshon said she was excited to win the award and help raise awareness about the importance of volunteering in the community.

 

“It definitely is a humbling experience,” she said. “Just giving back — some people don’t have the things I take for granted. To be able to give back is definitely great.”

 

She also is thankful for the support provided by BSU, especially as a new student on campus.

 

“That became my community,” she said. “I’ve definitely found a family in BSU.”

The Sunderland Foundation of Overland Park, Kansas, has given a gift of $200,000 to the College of Engineering at Kansas State University.

 

This gift supports the college’s Academic Success Center and provides for the Sunderland Foundation Faculty Advisor Office Suite in the newly renovated engineering complex.

 

“The Sunderland Foundation recognizes the outstanding work being done by Kansas State University in the field of engineering,” said Kent Sunderland, president of the Sunderland Foundation. “By supporting the Academic Success Center, we hope to support those students who have chosen engineering as their career and help them reach their goals as students at K-State.”

 

Darren Dawson, dean of the College of Engineering, expressed his thanks for the Sunderland Foundation’s continued support. “The Sunderland Foundation has a long history of support for higher education at K-State,” he said. “Their most recent gift to the college in support of our Academic Success Center is one more example of their generosity and belief in putting forth the best educational experience possible for our future graduates in engineering and computer and construction sciences.”

 

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Textron Aviation helps to elevate education at K-State

Textron Aviation has pledged $100,000 to support the College of Engineering at Kansas State University.

 

With the philanthropic gift, the company has bestowed its name upon the Textron Aviation Women in Engineering Conference Room, which will elevate engineering education initiatives that help broaden the field to all future innovators.

 

“Textron Aviation is committed to developing the next generation of STEM professionals,” said Michael Thacker, senior vice president of engineering at Textron Aviation. “We are proud to partner with K-State in diversifying and strengthening the pipeline of engineering professionals.”

 

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