Graduates celebrated the ending of one journey and the beginning of another, as they received their degrees during Kansas State University’s fall commencement ceremonies and now prepare, as K-State alumni, to embark on their new careers.

 

K-State recognized more than 1,500 students as candidates for degrees during fall commencement ceremonies Dec. 8-9. The university awarded more than 1,300 bachelor’s degrees, 240 master’s degrees and nearly 50 doctorates. Around 170 of the degree candidates were distance education students.

 

“Today as you receive your degree, we are honored to recognize you and all you have accomplished,” K-State Alumni Association President and CEO Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86 told students during commencement. “I am pleased to be part of this special day and offer congratulations on behalf of the K-State Alumni Association representing over 250,000 graduates and friends who will be your lifelong K-State family.”

 

During the Graduate School commencement ceremony, K-State also presented an honorary doctorate to photographer Jim Richardson ’17. Growing up on a farm near Belleville, Kansas, Richardson developed a passion for photography at a young age, displaying his prize-winning photos at the county fair. As a student at K-State, his photos appeared in the Kansas State Collegian. Those experiences were the seeds that grew into a career as a photographer for National Geographic magazine and its sister publication, Traveler, giving Richardson an opportunity to travel across the globe and bring stories to life through the images he captured.

 

As he reflected on his career, Richardson spoke of the importance of continuing to grow and change, encouraging graduates to use their K-State education as a starting point to continue learning, innovating and exploring.

 

“When I look out and I see you, I see the signs of inner change,” he addressed the graduates. “All of you have somehow remade yourselves into something new. Please remember this: that having once remade yourselves, you can do it again and again.”

 

Alumni Association celebrates graduates

The K-State Alumni Association invited fall graduates to celebrate commencement at a special Grad Breakfast on Dec. 7. Graduates enjoyed a free breakfast served by members of the K-State administration, networked with other graduates and received a free T-shirt. They also had the opportunity to share messages of thanks through K-State’s #GradGratitude photo booth.

 

The K-State Alumni Association partners with the colleges to provide all new graduates with a complimentary one-year membership to the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association also presents undergraduates with a business card holder and graduate students with a lapel pin.

 

Do you know any K-Staters who will be graduating in May? Be sure to tell them to watch for more information on our spring commencement activities, such as Grad Expo, Grad Bash, Multicultural Graduation Celebration and International Graduation Celebration.

K-State Alumni Association members now have access to savings with brands nationwide as part of the new Wildcat Discounts program.

 

Members can register to receive goods and services in their specific area of the country as well as in the places they visit. This expanded program will allow K-State Alumni Association members to save hundreds of dollars on their favorite brands like Target, Kohl’s, Apple, Walgreens, Petco, Walt Disney World, Jiffy Lube, Budget, Thrifty, Olive Garden, Papa John’s, Chili’s, Dairy Queen, Burger King, 1-800-CONTACTS, Days Inn and many, many more!

 

Members will be able to access these new nationwide discounts through the K-State Alumni Link for Life app or on the K-State Alumni Association website.

 

Not a member of the K-State Alumni Association? Learn how you can join today to receive benefits like Wildcat Discounts, award-winning K-Stater magazine, two free consultations per year with K-State Alumni Association Career Services and more!

K-State football fans received an extra holiday gift this year — on Dec. 26, the Wildcats brought home the Cactus Bowl trophy, beating UCLA 35-17 in Phoenix.

 

K-State rushed for a team bowl record 344 yards, including a K-State individual bowl game high 158 from sophomore quarterback Alex Delton, and used 28 unanswered second half points to push past UCLA for the Cactus Bowl crown. Delton received the Cactus Bowl Offensive MVP Award, while sophomore defensive back Denzel Goolsby locked up Cactus Bowl Defensive MVP honors.

 

“Anytime you can lead a team to victory it builds confidence,” Delton said of K-State’s bowl win. “Anytime you can execute and perform at a high level against a good ball club you’re going to feel good about it, and you’re going to feel good about the work you put in. And we need to build off of it. Like coach was saying, last year the Texas Bowl we won and started the season off a little slow. And we just have to build off this in spring workouts, just starting off right in January. I think we have a great opportunity in front of us.”

 

K-State Head Coach Bill Snyder also thanked Wildcat fans for their support of the team during the Cactus Bowl and throughout the year.

 

“You see it in action,” he said. “They’re genuine, caring people. They truly care about Kansas State University, and they’re awfully special.”

 

View photos from the Cactus Bowl below, including a pregame event hosted by the K-State Alumni Association, K-State Athletics, the KSU Foundation and K-State’s Office of the President.

 

Would you like to stay informed on national and state governmental issues that could impact Kansas State University and higher education?  

 

The Wildcats for Higher Education program provides legislative news updates for alumni and friends, along with opportunities to be involved as advocates for K-State and higher education.

 

Wildcats for Higher Education updates are sent out periodically during the legislative session, alerting K-Staters to issues that could have a potential impact on higher education. K-Staters also may be encouraged to contact their legislators about these issues.

 

The K-State Alumni Association and Wildcats for Higher Education are committed to promoting the value of higher education and sharing the benefits K-State brings to the region. The program also raises awareness about the impact legislation can have on the university’s ability to carry out its land-grant mission.

 

In his recent State of the University address, K-State President Richard Myers ’65 affirmed the value of K-State’s land-grant tradition, which serves as an engine to drive economic development and improve quality of life. Students leave the university prepared to enter the workforce and make a difference in their communities. The groundbreaking research taking place at K-State also benefits both students’ learning experience in the classroom and members of the community at large.

 

“It empowers us to provide great value to our students, our state, our nation and, for that matter, the world,” Myers said. “We’re committed to providing all students a quality education that allows them, when they graduate, to participate in a vibrant democracy, providing talent to our country and the world.”

 

Want to get more involved? Here’s how you can help:

• Sign up for Wildcats for Higher Education e-newsletters.

• When the Kansas Legislature is in session, you can read regular updates from the K-State Office of Governmental Relations.

• Contact your legislators and let them know why supporting higher education is important to you. Find a list of Kansas legislators or find your U.S. Representatives or U.S. Senators.

Kansas State University has welcomed two new faces to campus: Bryan Samuel has been selected as K-State’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, and Karen Pedersen will join the university as the new dean of Global Campus.

 

Meet Bryan Samuel

Bryan Samuel has served as the director of the Office of Equity and Diversity at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, where he has been a leader in diversity and inclusion initiatives since 2009. In his new position at K-State, he will report to the university president and serve on the President’s Cabinet.

 

“Bryan Samuel’s leadership experiences and extensive professional qualifications give him the tools he will need to effectively lead Kansas State University toward greater diversity and inclusion,” said President Richard Myers ’65. “We hope to build on the momentum from our KSUnite efforts and become a model campus.”

 

Samuel will lead K-State in facilitating best practices and resources that will continue to strengthen the university’s culture of inclusion. He will focus on employee recruitment and retention; institutional equity; and faculty development and curriculum. In addition, he will partner with the university’s new associate vice president for student life, Adrian Rodriguez, to strengthen student recruitment and retention.

 

“It is a distinct privilege to serve as a member of the K-State community and I am excited to work with all campus constituents,” Samuel said. “Joining a nationally recognized institution with such an unswerving commitment to diversity and inclusion is indeed an honor. I look forward to working alongside President Myers and his cabinet as we move K-State forward in our ongoing efforts to meet the needs and interests of a global and diverse society.”

 

K-State also previously announced Adrian Rodriguez (pictured at right) as the university’s associate vice president for student life of diversity and multicultural student affairs. Read more about Rodriguez in the December issue of @K-State.

 

Meet Karen Pedersen

As the new dean of K-State’s Global Campus, Karen Pedersen will provide strategic vision, oversight, leadership and management in all aspects of Global Campus operations, including program development, workforce and professional development programming, faculty and staff development, and conferences.

 

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Pedersen as the next dean of Kansas State University’s Global Campus,” said April Mason, provost and senior vice president. “She brings significant experience leading distance and online learning initiatives that reflects a focus on global engagement and international outreach. Her experiences demonstrate innovative and visionary leadership, and she will help K-State continue and grow as a leader in Global Campus outreach.”

 

Pedersen is currently the chief knowledge officer for the Online Learning Consortium, a collaborative community of higher education leaders advancing quality digital teaching and learning experiences. She envisioned and leads the consortium’s work in five key areas: learning innovation; quality enhancement; community engagement and development; publications, research and policy; and product development leadership.

 

“I am so impressed by the dedication and commitment of the Global Campus team and am excited to be joining K-State,” Pedersen said. “I look forward to working with all stakeholders to further innovate and take Global Campus to new heights.”

If you haven’t yet experienced a K-State Alumni Association Traveling Wildcats trip, it just might be the perfect addition for your list of things to do. Traveling Wildcats trips take you to exciting places around the world, you experience the local culture, stay in beautiful accommodations — from luxurious to quaint — and meet fellow Wildcats. You also have the service of a travel company and experienced tour guides to handle the logistics and make sure everything goes smoothly.            

 

Here’s a slice of the adventure from a 2017 Traveling Wildcats trip to Switzerland, from traveler Linda Cook ’77, the K-State Alumni Association’s assistant vice president of communications.  

 

June 22

We converged in the baggage claim area of the Zurich airport. Familiar purple shirts with Powercats, suitcases sporting purple Traveling Wildcats straps, and a tour guide with a Traveling Wildcats sign. Our group was assembled, 17 in total coming from Plano and El Paso, Texas; Columbia, Missouri; and Overland Park, Lenexa and Manhattan, Kansas.            

 

We climbed aboard a chartered bus for a two-hour drive from the airport to Thun, Switzerland, where we checked into Hotel Freienhof, a charming hotel along a waterfront promenade in the center of town. The Bernese Alps, capped with snow, provided a majestic backdrop to this seemingly fairytale experience.  

 

Thun is a beautiful old town with many interesting sites, including a medieval castle built in the late 12th century. Near our hotel, a covered footbridge extended over a channel of water. Although the bridge was an attraction, it was a crowd of spectators looking over the water’s edge that really caught our attention. We soon discovered that Thun was also a surfer town. Several young and athletic Swiss were demonstrating their surfing talents by riding the waves of water pushing through the channel gates below the footbridge. It was awesome and not something you would expect to see in Switzerland.

 

The day ended with a “Welcome Dinner” at the hotel where we learned more about each other and the adventures ahead of us.    

 

June 23

We took the train from Thun to Kandersteg and then a cable car up to Lake Osechinen where we went mountain climbing (more like hiking for most of us). It was a clear, crisp day. For lunch, we sampled local specialties and, by accident, spotted one of Switzerland’s notable Olympic skiers — the local tour guides know everyone. Our guide also gave tips on the proper technique for mountain climbing, one of the most popular sports in Switzerland.        

        

June 24 

Today we rode the train from Thun to Bern, the Swiss capital. Our walking tour of the city included the government plaza, the Gothic Cathedral of Bern, one of Einstien’s homes, an outdoor market and beautiful views of the city. The prominent Clock Tower in the center of town drew large crowds as swirling wooden figures danced to the chimes at the top of each hour. In Bern we learned about Barry, a Saint Bernard and the country’s most famous avalanche rescue dog who, years ago, saved 40 people while working the Great Saint Bernard Pass.

 

At the end of the day, back at Hotel Freienhof, our guide hosted a Swiss wine tasting for our Traveling Wildcats group. Swiss wine? Who knew? In our travels, we soon learned that the Swiss countryside is dotted with well-manicured vineyards that could rival Napa Valley. Our guide told us that Swiss wine is pretty much consumed within the country’s borders. No wonder it’s a well-kept secret.

 

June 25 

Our excursion took us to the Bernese Mountains, where we rode a steam cog train up the Brienzer Rothorn, the highest point in the canton of Lucerne. Within an hour, we went from 80-degree Fahrenheit temperatures at the base of the mountain to less than 30 degrees Fahrenheit at the top. Along the way, we encountered a few soft snowflakes and some very large elk. After lunch in a rustic lodge, the only establishment at the top of the mountain, we rode the cog train back down the mountain. From there we literally walked across a highway, stepped onto a boat and cruised across Lake Brienz to Interlaken — a chic resort town that takes full advantage of the waterfront and mountainside views. The waterfalls cascading down the mountains were spectacular. 

 

June 26 

It was our last day in Thun. We started with a journey by train to Lauterbrunnen Valley where we hiked a fragrant flower trail to the village of Mürren. Along the trail, like many other trails we hiked in Switzerland, we shared the path with the local dairy cows who were friendly enough to let us pet them. Now having been raised on a dairy farm in central Kansas, it was fascinating for me to see the cows roam freely along the mountainside — no fences anywhere! The Swiss farmers keep track of their herds by listening for the iconic bells swaying from the cows’ necks. Little wooden cheese huts dotted the mountainside and were used for storing and aging the Alpine cheese. We learned it can only be called Alpine cheese if the cheese is actually made up in the mountains. During the winter months the cows move down the mountains to the farms in the valleys.   

 

From Mürren, we rode a cable car up Schilthorn mountain (2,970 metres/9,744 feet). The view from the restaurant terrace was breathtaking. In addition to its black diamond ski run, this mountain is also famous for appearing in the 1969 James Bond movie: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It’s the first and only Bond film starring George Lazenby. Two Australian tourists, also visiting Schilthorn, proudly claimed Lazenby as the only Australian to play James Bond — so far.    

 

From hiking with the cows to a James Bond mountain top rendezvous, it was quite a day.

 

June 27 

At the midway point of our trip, we moved from the German-speaking region of Switzerland to the French-speaking region. Time for specialty cheeses and chocolates. Our first stop was a dairy farm outside of Gruyères, where we watched cheese being made in a small factory. Eclectic little shops and sidewalk cafes were an attraction in the medieval town of Gruyères, as was an old castle filled with oil paintings and antique furnishings that told the story of aristocrats from long ago. Our next stop was a tour of the Cailler chocolate factory, which resembled a stately old mansion gracefully placed in the Swiss countryside. The tour was well done and lucky for us included a tasting room with unlimited samples of Cailler’s finest chocolates.           

 

At the end of the day, we arrived in Villars and checked into the Hotel du Golf & Spa, which was tucked away on the mountainside of this ski resort community. 

 

June 28 

We traveled by bus to the Edwardian town of Monteaux, where artists, musicians and literati have flocked for centuries. Charlie Chaplin. Ernest Hemingway. Even Freddie Mercury, who is immortalized in a statue along the waterfront of Lake Geneva. Following a brief walking tour of Monteaux, we cruised Lake Geneva to reach an 800-year-old castle, Chateau de Chillon, that inspired Lord Byron’s epic poem, “The Prisoner of Chillon.” The dungeon area of the castle was actually a prison at one time and was filled with shackles. From there, we went back to our hotel for a quiet evening.

 

June 29 

It was a big day as we journeyed to Zermatt, a picturesque resort village at the foot of the almighty Matterhorn. The day was chilly and damp, so I decided to stay in the village of Zermatt with a few others from our group. The more adventurous Traveling Wildcats took the cog railroad up the mountain to explore Gornergrat Ridge with its breathtaking vistas of the Matterhorn. In Zermatt, we explored the historic parts of the village, browsed through exclusive boutiques, and did lots of people watching. A quiet moment of reflection was spent strolling through Mountaineers Cemetery, a memorial for nearly 50 passionate climbers who lost their lives to the famous mountain, most dating back to the 19th century. Each headstone told a story, including that of a young New Yorker killed in 1975. Our fellow Wildcats returned from their trek up the mountain, exhilarated by the experience of being caught in a summer snowstorm. It was a quiet ride back to our hotel in Villars — all content with the day’s discoveries.

 

June 30 

It was the final day of our trip; we experienced two countries and a lake all in one day: Lausanne, Switzerland, Lake Geneva, and Evian, France. Lausanne is a cosmopolitan city, filled with universities, international businesses, a vibrant urban area and a medieval Old Town. Our guide wove bits of history into her stories as we walked through Old Town.

 

Next, we caught a boat to cross Lake Geneva (known as Lake Leman in France) for lunch and a walking tour of Evian. Evian’s elegant and historic Town Hall is the former home of the Lumière brothers, engineers and industrialists, who played a key role in the history of cinema and photography. In a museum area of Town Hall the furnishings were exquisite: original crystal chandelier, gold accents on ornate buffets, and a life-size bronze lion supporting the bannister of a grand oak-paneled staircase. 

 

A trip to Evian, France, would not be complete without a stop for the internationally acclaimed spring water. The city’s public water fountain was like a work of art sculpted into the side of a hill, adorned with pastel mosaic tiles, and surrounded by goddess-like statues, stately willow trees and abundant flower beds. We filled our traveling water bottles with the cold, crystal-clean water. At that moment, it occurred to me that the first bottled water I ever purchased was Evian water, introduced into the U.S. market in 1978 — about the time I graduated from K-State. There I was, nearly 40 years later, drinking Evian water for free from the side of a hill in France, albeit a very beautiful hill.      

     

Our day concluded at the hotel with a parting dinner to celebrate our travels, discoveries and new Wildcat friendships. And we were not disappointed for we finally experienced a traditional Swiss fondue dinner, complete with fondue pots right out of the 1960s. It was fun.    

 

The next morning, we said our goodbyes and departed from the Geneva Airport to our homes back in the states. Many were already talking about plans for another exciting Traveling Wildcats trip.     

 

Experience the world from a Wildcat perspective

If you’d like to join other K-Staters for a world-class traveling experience, the K-State Alumni Association offers a variety of exciting trips throughout the year as part of the Traveling Wildcats program. Learn more about several of our upcoming 2018 trips below, or view the full schedule.

 

As you get out your new 2018 calendar, don’t forget to save the date for some of these upcoming K-State Alumni Association events!

 

Whether it’s providing an opportunity to come home to your alma mater or bringing K-State to you through alumni club events, the Alumni Association is excited to help you connect with other Wildcats and share your purple pride in 2018. Check our calendar page throughout the year for upcoming events, and be sure to mark your calendar for some of the activities highlighted below.

 

Carl ’79 and Mary ’80, ’88 Ice, Westlake, Texas, have established two scholarship match funds through the K-State Family Scholarship Program to benefit students pursuing degrees in the colleges of Human Ecology and Engineering at Kansas State University.

 

The Ice Family Scholarship match funds support the creation of 30 new scholarships, 15 each for engineering and human ecology. These match funds act as seed money to grow the university’s pool of available scholarships to assist in recruiting and retaining students at K-State and to inspire new major gift donors.

 

“We asked leadership what the highest priority at K-State is, and they answered ‘student needs,’” Mary Ice said. “We believe in and give support to the university’s message, ‘you are welcome here.’”

 

Read more

 

Steve and Cathy Lacy help advance three K-State programs

Cathy ’79 and Steve ’76, ’77 Lacy of Des Moines, Iowa, have given $1 million to support three programs at K-State: The Department of Hospitality Management and the Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health in the college of Human Ecology and the Career Coach program in the College of Business Administration.

 

Cathy Lacy graduated from K-State in 1979 with a degree in dietetics. Steve Lacy received his bachelor’s in accounting in 1976 and his Master of Business Administration in 1977, both from K-State.

 

The Lacys serve on the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees, and Steve is currently the chair of the KSU Foundation Board of Directors. Steve is on the College of Business Administration’s Dean Advisory Council executive committee and serves as a mentor to business students. Both Cathy and Steve serve on the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign committee and on the campaign steering committees for the colleges of Human Ecology and Business Administration. Both have been commencement speakers for their colleges.

 

“We are pleased to continue supporting the students and faculty in the colleges of Human Ecology and Business Administration with new and enhanced programming to recruit exceptional students, advance the educational experience and help ensure career success,” Cathy and Steve Lacy said.

 

Read more