K-State football is going bowling this season!

Now that we're officially bowl eligible, here are four facts you need to know to get prepped for the big game. We hope to see you there cheering on the 'Cats! 

Note: A bowl announcement is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 5.

When Marcia Hornung ’00, ’08 began digging into demographic statistics about students in the K-State College of Business Administration about a year ago, she made an interesting discovery. 

Hornung, who is the Menard Family Director of the K-State Center for Principled Business, noticed that women made up just 37% of the college’s student population, while the university’s overall student population was at least 50% women.

“I was really surprised about that statistic,” Hornung said. “I wanted to address it in a meaningful way.”

She wanted to show young women the different career opportunities available to them, help them network with other students interested in business, and connect them with mentors.

This led to a recent career summit on the K-State campus, an event that also served as the launching point for a broader initiative at K-State called Women in Business. More than 400 people attended the Oct. 22 summit, including high schoolers and current college students.

Leanne Caret ’88, College of Business graduate and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, served as the keynote speaker. A longtime supporter of the college, Caret also sponsors a scholarship for women in business at K-State.

K-State Alumni Association staff and board members also contributed to the event. Alumni Association president and CEO Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86 gave the welcome address, and Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins ’96, CEO of PAI and current Alumni Association board chair, served as the emcee and facilitator. Candace Hart Duncan ’75, former managing partner of KPMG LLP and Alumni Association board chair-elect, also was involved in the organization of the event.

Hornung said the theme of the summit was “create your own path to success — whatever success looks like to you.” The event featured 26 different workshops hosted by faculty and staff from across campus, representing programs such as journalism, leadership and engineering — highlighting that “business” touches many different fields.

“I am most proud of the interdisciplinary nature of the event,” Hornung said. “We had an incredibly diverse turnout as well.”

The event also awarded $20,000 in scholarships. Hornung said the goal of these scholarships is to spark interest in both business and K-State.

"I was very pleased with the inaugural K-State Women in Business Summit," said Candace Hart Duncan. "The summit aimed to showcase the opportunities for women in business and encourage women pursuing business careers. I was excited to see so many high school students — future K-Staters attending the summit and having the opportunity to interact with K-State female alums as well as current students. Hopefully this will encourage more women to explore all of the opportunities open to them. I have personally benefitted from my Kansas State business education and look forward to continuing to help others reap the rewards."

What comes next?

The overarching goals of K-State’s Women in Business Initiative are 1) educating (reaching 50% women enrolled in the College of Business by 2030); 2) empowering (improving the current student experience through networking, travel opportunities and more); and 3) engaging (matching students with alumni mentors).

A K-State Women in Business event for high schoolers is being planned for February 2022, and stay tuned for more updates regarding future on-campus programming.

If you’d like to get involved in the initiative as a mentor, volunteer or donor, contact Hornung at hornung@k-state.edu or 785-532-2650.

“It’s another way we can invest in the overall success of K-State and ultimately make progress on gender equity in the workforce,” Hornung said.

Photos by Sammy Kopecky, current K-State student in marketing and finance

Although many students look back on their time in college as some of the best years of their lives, this does not mean that the university experience comes without challenges. 

Nearly one in five adults in the United States lives with a mental illness* (National Institute of Mental Health), and that can include students. 

Although dealing with a mental illness like anxiety, depression or an eating disorder can be an isolating experience, students don’t have to feel alone — and there is always hope.

Marcos Mendez ’09, ’13 helps students find a path to mental wellness through his work as a psychotherapist at K-State Lafene Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Lafene CAPS provides a safe place on campus for students to talk to therapists about their concerns, and then those therapists can connect them to other services, either on campus or in the community.

In addition to offering traditional therapy sessions for individuals or couples, Lafene CAPS also offers workshops each semester on topics such as depression, anxiety, relationships and self-esteem, as well as hosting a variety of therapy groups, limited to 8-10 students per group. CAPS also offers walk-in clinical consultations from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“If they feel the need to talk to somebody, they don’t have to schedule something — they just show up,” Mendez said.

K-State CAPS frequently collaborates with other organizations on campus — such as Powercat Financial, the Office of Student Life and the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center, among others — to discuss how they can direct the students they interact with to other beneficial services on campus.

Mendez says he has seen both an increase in student need for mental health services and a heightened awareness of the importance of mental health to student success. Lafene CAPS is projected to see more than 750 students this semester, compared to 650 students in 2019 and 2020.

Despite the availability of mental health services on campus, Mendez said there can still be barriers to accessing those services — barriers that aren’t always immediately visible.

Some students may not be aware of all the mental health programming offered by the university. Others may not be prepared or are unaware that they may need help and support. In addition, they may encounter challenges related to lingering societal stigmas against mental illness.

“They don’t think they have a problem or want to be seen as having a problem,” Mendez said. “They might recognize something’s going on, but they can’t quite put a finger on it.”

People may think that students with a mental illness can’t excel in the classroom or in the workplace, but neither of those statements are true. People with a mental illness may sometimes feel hopeless about their struggles, but with psychotherapy and/or medication and community support, mental illness can be managed successfully.

“It’s helpful to normalize it,” said Mendez, who was inspired to become a therapist by his own experiences with a sports psychologist/counselor. “It’s okay to seek additional support.”

Lafene CAPS sends representatives to speak to classes on campus, or has classes visit the office. They raise awareness about what mental health is and are partners with other offices that train students on how to be allies and start important conversations.

"I believe that students' mental wellness is important because being mentally well allows us to effectively handle challenges, build strong relationships and find joy in our day-to-day life," said Ellie Wells, K-State senior and vice president of THRIVE Navigators, a student organization dedicated to improving emotional well-being and mental health on campus. "It's vital that students have the tools to identify and navigate through mental hardships, as well as to know when to ask for help from friends and professionals. Life as a college student can be full of both fun and challenging experiences, and it's extremely important that all students know exactly where to go to find support."

Promoting student well-being on campus

K-State is committed to promoting all aspects of mental health and overall student well-being on campus, and alumni also are lending their support.

Charlie ’90 and Debbie Morrison have invested $10.2 million in student well-being initiatives at K-State.

Mental health and overall well-being are important to the Morrisons, and with this investment, they are creating the Morrison Center for Student Well-being. The new center will oversee all aspects of student well-being campuswide. LEARN MORE

Additionally, this year’s K-State Homecoming Philanthropy 5K Run/Walk benefitted Pawnee Mental Health Services.

Photo: K-State Counseling and Psychological Services staff (view more)

Words have power. 

We can use them to tell truths about ourselves. To pass down stories from generation to generation. To preserve the past and change the future. 

New, state-of-the-art technology offered through the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab at Kansas State University’s Hale Library is helping students, staff and alumni share their work in groundbreaking and easily accessible ways.

During the recent Black Alumni Reunion hosted by the K-State Alumni Association, alumni had an opportunity to record their stories, memories and thoughts using the One Button Plus Studio in the Innovation Lab.

The One Button Plus Studio is a simplified video recording setup that can be used without any previous video production experience. The studio offers lighting, a green screen, cameras, microphones, recording equipment and pre-loaded background options, allowing anyone to create high-quality, polished video projects without having to know anything about lights or cameras. The studio is ideal for recording presentations, lectures, storytelling, interviews and podcasts.

"The experience for alumni was cool," said Jessica Elmore '06, '15, associate director of diversity programs for the K-State Alumni Association. "For some of our alumni it was their first time back in Hale Library since the renovation, so many were in awe with the new modern design and the state-of-the-art technology. So many commented on how bright and open the space was. When alumni went into the studio they just couldn’t believe how easy it was to record and shared they looked forward to coming back to share more of their stories and encourage others to do so as well."

How it works

To use the One Button Plus Studio, users plug in a USB flash drive or portable hard drive and touch the touchscreen interface to activate the studio’s lighting, camera and confidence monitor. The user can then adjust lighting, change the background or simply start recording.

"This technology is second to none," said media coordinator JahVelle Rhone '10. "We have taken time out to really speak with leading industry experts, university professionals and students alike to create something we as a university can be proud of. We have seen a tremendous increase in traffic due to the nature of resources that are being provided to our K-State community."

Tara Coleman ’02, associate professor and Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab programing services coordinator, said that visitors always respond positively to the technology in the Innovation Lab, but they're usually extra excited by the One Button Plus Studio.

“At first, folks may be a bit intimidated by the technology, but that quickly turns into excitement," she said. "The studio is very easy to use and does not require any special knowledge or experience to make a great video. And a big plus is that the video is done right after you stop recording. All you need is a flash drive and a good story to share.”

Elmore said the K-State Libraries team is currently working on the process for archiving and coding videos like the ones filmed during the Black Alumni Reunion so they can be searchable. Interested people will be able to access the footage digitally.

"Alumni are the storytellers and creators of our wonderful alma mater," Elmore said. "Our students experience so many triumphs and challenges and then they go out into the world and make change. If we want future students to see the lineage they come from I believe they will be empowered to do even greater things. When I think about our multicultural and international alumni in particular I reflect on the rich stories that are not documented in our yearbooks and cannot be searched on someone’s timeline. We need those stories, we must capture those memories. There are many lessons to be learned and much inspiration to be shared and that is why I believe it is so important for us to record their thoughts and experiences."

More about the lab

Other planned features of the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab include an artificial intelligence lab; collaboration spaces; sound studio; video production studio; and more.

“The new technology we have in the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab is awesome,” Coleman said. “While there may be a minimal charge for consumables, such as 3D printer filament, we provide access to all of our resources for free and they are open to anyone. You don’t have to belong to a particular major or department to come into the lab and start using the equipment.”

Rhone said there has also been a positive reaction to the workshops hosted by the lab, ranging from topics such as 3D printing, building circuits, soldering, sewing, laser-cutting and even stories of espionage with a former FBI agent.

Coleman encourages alumni who haven’t visited Hale Library since the 2018 fire to stop by and see all the exciting changes taking place.

“We’re very proud of all the hard work we put into bringing it back to life post fire,” Coleman said. “Second, the fire gave us an opportunity to bring Hale Library into the 21st century. We’ve been able to reimagine the activities and needs that take place in a modern academic library. The Innovation Lab helps us and our patrons to look further ahead, preparing for and shaping what comes next.”

"We can provide users the ability to take their thoughts from just being an idea to manifesting an actual prototype," Rhone said. "...It's incredible the tools that our university is providing to K-State and the surrounding communities. This technology can be used to record the stories and legacy of Kansas State University alumni for years to come."

Alumni who are interested in using the One Button Plus Studio can book a time slot online or reach out to Coleman or another member of the K-State Libraries staff.

Jennifer Strong McConachie ’04 can describe, in vivid detail, about the time she found herself in the most ancient desert on our planet, preparing to climb a towering sand dune as part of a five-day race. By this point, she has already covered 108 miles, running for six, seven or even eight hours a day in sweltering 120-degree heat. 

The desert can be harsh and unforgiving, but as an endurance athlete, McConachie was ready to face this challenge that to others might have seemed nearly impossible.

"The sand is deep orange, ancient," she writes. "I run across the veld approaching the pile of massive dunes that must be summited before the race is complete. … A few months ago, I didn’t even know there was a country called Namibia. Today I am surrounded by its vastness. I am on the other side of the world somewhere in the back of beyond. I approach the sandy foothill and climb — fingers and feet swooshing deep into the ruddy sand. It is so steep that near the top, I crawl on all fours. I am one with the earth. I am connected with my body and my soul to nature in her most basic element. I tell myself this is what is means to be alive."

So begins McConachie’s new book, Go Far: How Endurance Sports Help You Win at Life. The book features her own personal adventures as a multisport endurance athlete competing in running, swimming, triathlons, adventure racing and paddling, and also serves as a guide on how to apply an endurance athlete’s mindset to help you in your personal and professional life.

“I was inspired to write Go Far to share with others what I have learned traveling the world and competing on a global scale as an average athlete from the Midwest,” said McConachie, who currently lives in Wichita, Kansas. “Go Far captures how you can use what you have around you and within you to be successful and that’s the story I wanted to share.”

McConachie is no stranger to pushing the limits of what the human body is capable of; she’s been an athlete since the age of 7, competing in running, swimming and triathlons as a child. Attending K-State allowed her to pursue both her passions — athletics and writing — while serving as a member of the K-State rowing team and also building a career in communications.

“The journalism school at K-State was excellent preparation for a career in public relations and communications,” she said. “I’ve worked in the industry for 15 plus years now, working with hundreds of clients locally, regionally and globally, and I have written for all types of mediums, so it was time to add an additional one to the list, in the form of book writing! I’m proud to be part of such an incredible university that continually invests in improvements and advancements of all kinds.”

Of course, writing a book about one’s own life is a different process than writing an article for a newspaper or writing copy for a company’s website. For McConachie, it was an opportunity to reflect on her journey as an athlete and everything she’s experienced so far. She’s been able to travel across the globe, raced an ultramarathon on five of the seven continents, swam the Hellespont from Europe to Asia, escaped Alcatraz, climbed several of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks of the seven continents), and ran across the Grand Canyon and then back again.

“I have always enjoyed writing, so it was fun for me to record some of my wild racing experiences from around the globe,” she said. “I also like categorizing things I have always done as part of my lifestyle and packaging those into three takeaway pillars that I share to help others go far.”

The book goes into more detail about those three pillars — 1) Develop an explorer’s mindset; 2) Use outlier tactics; and 3) Practice immersion theory; and also about her participation in sports.

“Discipline, goal setting and creative problem solving are lessons learned from endurance sports that have parlayed into all other areas of life,” she said.

Order the book