Dr. Charley Cull ’12, ’14, ’16 isn’t afraid of a challenge. 

During his time at Kansas State University, he became the first student to complete concurrent D.V.M. and Ph.D. degrees through the dual-degree scholarship program in the College of Veterinary Medicine. His doctoral research was focused on epidemiology and food safety. 

“The dual degree program is rigorous and demanding, requiring candidates to be not only exceptional students in the classroom and laboratory but skilled in time management,” said Dr. Bonnie Rush, interim dean and professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Cull is now a veterinarian and clinical research associate and director of stocker and grazing cattle operations for Midwest Veterinary Services and Central States Research Centre of Oakland, Nebraska, and the satellite facility, Veterinary Biomedical Research Center of Manhattan, Kansas. His research provides key data to support FDA and USDA approval of animal health products to enhance the health of food animals and ensure a safe food supply.

In recognition of his work, Cull is being honored with the K-State Alumni Association Student Alumni Board’s 2019 Distinguished Young Alumni Award. (Fellow 2019 DYA Award recipient Kale Monk ’10, ’13 was featured in the February issue of @K-State.)

The DYA Award recognizes two K-State graduates who are younger than 35 and are using the scholarship, leadership and service experience they acquired at K-State to excel in their professions and contribute to their communities. The Alumni Association and Student Alumni Board honored Monk and Cull when they returned to campus Feb. 25-27 to give keynote presentations and visit with student groups and university classes.

“I was honored and humbled to be recognized as a Distinguished Young Alumni at Kansas State University,” Cull said. “It means a lot to be honored by a university that has given me such a solid foundation and has enabled me to accomplish so many things in my life. Receiving the Distinguished Young Alumni Award could not have been possible without an army of people who have helped shape my life. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to realize a dream and not only attend but graduate from a great university.”

Relationships and research

During his time at K-State, Cull said he learned to overcome challenges and focus on the important parts of his life.

“There were times when I struggled to meet the demands of rigorous programs, but through my investment in myself, and through the investment of others, I learned to put my head down, focus and push through,” Cull said. “K-State also taught me that people and relationships are at the core of many decisions, and I developed a desire to positively impact those around me with my endeavors.”

In addition to helping him pursue his passion for agriculture and research, K-State also gave Cull an opportunity to refine his skills, build a network of mentors, and appreciate the importance of lifelong learning.

“The K-State experience allowed me to connect with individuals and groups who were truly invested in my path and success and provided me opportunities to grow,” he said. “I hope to someday provide that same impact to others.”

According to Dr. Rush, Cull is already making an impact — he is a member of the Oakland-Craig Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program that organizes science workshops for high school students, and he serves as a scientific mentor for a critical workforce development program called “Pathways to Tomorrow,” an internship program to match non-college bound high school students with vocational and technical jobs in rural communities.

“Even though he is an early-career researcher and veterinarian, the combination of his knowledge, training and collaborative skills has made him a leader among peers and colleagues,” Rush said.

Values and traditions

Although academics kept him busy at K-State, Cull has memories of fun times, as well.

“I still remember going to my first Open House and stopping by Call Hall after exams for a little ice cream treat,” he said. “But my favorite is still catching up with family and friends at K-State sporting events, while cheering on the ’Cats.”

He encourages other K-Staters to keep up their connection to their alma mater.

“Always remember that when you joined the K-State community, you became part of a family that takes pride in sharing the values, traditions and memories that bind us all together,” he said. 

It’s game night at Bramlage Coliseum. The stands are packed with fans wearing purple, and the crowd erupts into cheers as the Wildcats run onto the basketball court. 

The volume rises as the excitement builds — it’s called the “Octagon of Doom” for a reason. However, there’s always one voice that stands out to those listening to the game: play-by-play announcer Wyatt Thompson, who serves as the anchor of the K-State Sports Network and is returning for his 17th season as the “Voice of the Wildcats.”

Thompson’s purple pride and passion for K-State are always on display, both on gamedays and throughout the year as he travels to pep rallies and Catbacker Club events. The K-State Alumni Association is honoring his work and his K-State spirit with the 2019 Flinchbaugh Family Wildcat Pride Award.

“I was really surprised, stunned, and so honored and humbled,” Thompson said of receiving the award. “It’s hard to put into words what it means.”

Promoting K-State

Every year, the K-State Alumni Association presents the Flinchbaugh Family Wildcat Pride Award to a current or emeritus K-State faculty or staff member for his or her advocacy of alumni relations, with a special emphasis on support and participation in alumni programs that engage members of the Wildcat family.

According to Michelle Elkins ’87, the Alumni Association’s associate director of awards and special events, Thompson has been a strong partner of the Alumni Association. He promotes Association membership and programs through the annual Catbacker tour and during his broadcasts. He also emcees the Homecoming pep rally as well as other events throughout the year.

“The Wildcat Pride Award emphasizes advocacy, support and engagement for members of the Wildcat family — Wyatt’s demonstration of each of these characteristics over the past 17 years has helped promote K-State in such a positive way,” said Alan Fankhauser ’82, assistant director of alumni programs, who nominated Thompson for the award. “Many of the Catbacker events Wyatt hosts help to support local Alumni Clubs raising scholarship money for local high school students. His ability to have positive interactions with those prospective students, as well as student-athletes, coaches, alumni and K-State staff, is second to none. His energy and passion for K-State is a great addition to every event he attends.”

The K-State spirit

Thompson said he appreciates the partnership and spirit of camaraderie that exists between K-State Athletics, the Alumni Association, KSU Foundation and the university. That friendly cooperation between different organizations isn’t something you find at every university, and fans take notice.  

“It makes a real difference when you’re out there together,” he said.

There are a number of memories that stand out to Thompson from his years with K-State Athletics. There’s the 2003 Big 12 football championship, where K-State defeated the Oklahoma Sooners, considered to be one of the greatest teams in college football. There’s also the 2013 Wildcat basketball Big 12 championship game during Bruce Weber’s first season at K-State, and the baseball super regional where the ’Cats came close to going to the College World Series.

“I never take that stuff for granted — it’s just such a special time,” Thompson said.

However, the most important part of those memories is definitely the people — all the coaches, players, staff, donors and fans he has been honored to interact with over the years. The people are what make these experiences special.

“At the end of the day, that’s what you’re going to remember,” he said. “If you’re involved with K-State, you understand.”

The K-State Alumni Association recognized Thompson at an awards dinner March 1 as part of the Association’s board of directors meeting. The award is made possible by the Barry and Cathy Flinchbaugh ’69, ’82 family. View a list of previous Flinchbaugh Family Wildcat Pride Award recipients.

At first, it might not seem like a simple item such as a box of cereal or a can of vegetables could make a difference in a student’s education. 

However, student hunger is a growing concern on college campuses. Difficulty accessing food on a regular basis is an issue that negatively impacts the educational success of thousands of students across the country and was recently highlighted in a USAToday article.

Kansas State University’s student food pantry, Cats’ Cupboard, is there to help students meet this need, enabling them to succeed as they work towards their degree.

“They’re here at K-State to better themselves, and you can’t do that when you’re hungry,” Cats’ Cupboard coordinator Erin Bishop ’05, ’08 previously told @K-State for an article on the campus food pantry. “We believe that food is a basic human right. We just want to level the playing field.”

Now, you too can help the mission of Cats’ Cupboard and make a difference in students’ lives. On March 27, K-State will host its first annual day of giving — All In for K-State. Unlike most giving days, All In for K-State will focus on one project, taking it from start to flourish.

“I am looking forward to March 27, when K-Staters will come together for one day to achieve one philanthropic objective,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of the KSU Foundation. “K-State’s giving day will be like no other. In a 24-hour time period, we will help K-State students not just survive, but thrive.” 

Cats’ Cupboard addresses food insecurity on campus, providing food, cooking equipment, personal necessities and other forms of assistance for students in need. (Note: Food insecurity is defined by the USDA as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.)

The Campus Climate Assessment Project, sponsored by university administration, revealed that 39 percent of students who reported financial hardship indicated they had difficulty affording food. More than 57 percent of students who utilized the Cats’ Cupboard food pantry in fall 2018 reported they had considered leaving K-State due to financial challenges.

Since the Cats’ Cupboard opened in September 2017, the food pantry has served more than 3,000 visitors.

“The Cats’ Cupboard is a vital resource on the K-State campus, helping to ensure students thrive and graduate,” said K-State President Richard Myers ’65. “We want to provide all the tools necessary to help our students succeed. By providing much-needed food, personal items and access to campus resources, Cats’ Cupboard ensures our students are able to meet their primary needs so they can focus on their education. I hope the entire K-State family comes together to support this important campus initiative by contributing to All In for K-State on March 27.”

Learn more about All In for K-State, or read more about the services offered by Cats’ Cupboard and the volunteers who support the mission.

About the KSU Foundation

As Kansas State University’s strategic partner for philanthropy, the KSU Foundation inspires and guides philanthropy toward university priorities to boldly advance K-State family. The foundation is leading Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion for student success, faculty development, facility enhancement and programmatic success. 

Imagine throwing a party so big that you have to line up enough food and entertainment for 20,000 friends and family members. 

That’s what Kansas State University does every year with the annual All-University Open House. K-State invites all members of the Wildcat family to return to campus for a day of food, fun and purple pride, showcasing all the programs the university has to offer. It’s a chance for everyone to “come home to K-State” and reconnect with the spot they love full well.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind program to showcase the excitement of the college experience in one of the greatest communities in America,” said Pat Bosco ’71, ’73, vice president for student life and dean of students. “It’s an event that makes K-State special.”

This year’s Open House takes place Saturday, April 6: from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Manhattan campus; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Olathe campus; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Polytechnic (Salina) campus.

Before the All-University Open House, some of the colleges had their own separate events, Bosco said. The All-University Open House provided an opportunity for the entire university family to come together.

This unique event draws about 20,000 visitors annually and involves an army of students, faculty and volunteers who spend nights and weekends working hard to prepare for the event.

What to expect

There’s a lot to see and do at K-State’s All-University Open House. There are more than 250 majors and options; more than 475 student organizations; and nine colleges to explore. Also, don’t forget about the live entertainment in the quad and Bosco Student Plaza!

Events include the popular “BOXhattan” project. Sponsored by K-State’s Student Planning Association and Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, this event allows visitors to try their hand at city planning. Using recycled materials and Lego bricks, you’ll learn to assess a city’s physical and economic needs, design harmonious buildings and public spaces, and construct a city that enhances urban livability. (Located in the lower level, Regnier Hall outside Weigel Library.)

You can also experience an inflatable obstacle course with the College of Business Administration, explore the College of Veterinary Medicine with a guided tour, and, of course, enjoy lots of delicious food!

In conjunction with Open House, the K-State Alumni Association also hosts For Sophomores Only, which gives high school sophomores a chance to learn about college life at K-State. Learn more about this two-day event for prospective students and their parents.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity that we don’t take lightly,” Bosco said of Open House. “It’s a tremendous K-State tradition.”

Want to learn more about K-State’s All-University Open House? Watch a video below or check out the Open House webpage for all the details.

If you had to describe your personal strengths, what words would you use? 

Are you analytical? Strategic? Disciplined? Focused? Adaptable? Empathetic? Positive? 

To Kristen Brunkow O’Shea ’14, these words are more than just random descriptors. These are some of the concepts in the well-known Gallup CliftonStrengths program, which is designed to help professionals discover what they naturally do best and learn how to develop their greatest talents.

K-State has a CliftonStrengths program for students and is seen as a model campus for how to integrate strengths into campus life, O’Shea said. Thanks to her own CliftonStrengths experiences as a student, she now operates her own consulting business, O’Shea Strengths Coaching.

“My experience on campus and interacting with other K-Staters was far more than just going to class, it prepared me for so much in life,” O’Shea said. “I am very proud of everything I received from K-State and hopefully, was able to give back. I have great confidence in the preparation K-State gave me and great pride in being able to say I am an alumna.”

What are CliftonStrengths?

So far, more than 19 million people around the world have taken the CliftonStrengths assessment. But what are the Clifton “strengths”?  

According to O’Shea, CliftonStrengths is a human development tool designed to measure someone’s most natural ways of thinking, feeling and behaving — a.k.a. their talents. Then individuals learn how to develop their talents into strengths and apply them towards individual or organizational goals. Some of these strengths include words like analytical, learner, achiever and more (view the full list of 34 traits).

“Using your strengths is highly correlated with higher scores in well-being and employee engagement, which lead to better business outcomes,” O’Shea said.

Spreading strengths across campus

O’Shea became interested in CliftonStrengths as a student, even before K-State offered a free assessment for all incoming students.

“I wanted to do something with organizational development and applied psychology when I got out of college and I could tell this tool was an amazing facilitator of human development,” she said. “Fortunately, K-State believes in students driving campus initiatives forward, so with the partnership of advisers and other students, I played an integral role in spreading ‘strengths’ across campus.”

O’Shea said one of the best parts of going through the program is being able to talk with classmates, roommates and friends about your unique lens of the world, viewed through your strengths.

“I witnessed strengths becoming a common language, advisers and professors using strengths to customize student development, and intentional partnering with people very different from each other, with new understandings and value for differences, because of strengths,” she said.

From K-State to career

In addition to helping O’Shea on campus, the CliftonStrengths program also helped prepare her for the workplace.

O’Shea said her business — O’Shea Strengths Coaching — provides services such as strengths workshops, one-on-one coaching, keynote speaking and organizational development projects, such as integrating strengths throughout the workday to change behavior and create new healthy habits.

“Managers who focus on their employees’ strengths are far more likely to receive great performance and drive business outcomes,” she said. “Only 33 percent of the U.S. workforce is engaged in their jobs, according to Gallup. Because of my experience at K-State, I believe it can be better for many jobholders. Because I had the opportunity to work on human and organizational development all over campus, I am better prepared to help the companies I work with on this very same challenge.”
 

Sharing strengths with purple pride

If you’d like to learn more about how K-State is helping students through CliftonStrengths, K-State has a webpage dedicated to showing how the program is used across campus. And if you’re curious about learning what your own strengths are, O’Shea encourages you to give the assessment a try.

“Hopefully, if there is one thing your K-State experience taught you it was to be a lifelong learner and that relationships matter,” she said. “CliftonStrengths is a tool that allows you to focus on what is working well with yourself and others. It is tied to business and individual outcomes in well-being and engagement. We all want to live healthy lives with strong relationships and communities. We want to enjoy our jobs and give back while being financially secure. Strengths is a tool that when developed and applied, can get you there.” 

Watch O’Shea’s keynote address from the Gallup CliftonStrengths Summit.

K-State Alumni Association members will receive a discount of up to 20 percent on tickets to the annual Kicker Country Stampede on June 20-22. 

The annual three-day music festival in Manhattan, Kansas, brings in a full lineup of popular country music artists for a weekend of music, camping and fun.

This year’s lineup includes artists such as Jason Aldean, Old Dominion, Jake Owen, Clint Black and more.  

In February, the K-State Alumni Association sent an email about the discount to members, which included a special code to use when ordering tickets. If you didn’t receive the email or are not yet a member but would like to become one to take advantage of this discount, contact Krista Darting ’00, associate director of membership and marketing, at KDarting@K-State.com or call 800-600-ALUM (2586).

Get your tickets for Kicker Country Stampede 2019. 

Purple table decorations. Purple lighting. Purple curtains. Purple ballgowns. Purple ties. 

Everywhere you looked at the Wabash CannonBall Kansas City gala, you could see K-Staters showing off their purple pride. 

The 13th annual Wabash CannonBall Kansas City on Feb. 22 was a chance for Wildcats to socialize, dine, dance and donate to raise scholarship funds for Kansas City-area students to attend K-State. 

More than 900 K-State alumni and friends attended this year’s gala, which was hosted by the K-State Alumni Association. To date, the gala has awarded nearly 600 scholarships for Kansas City-area students totaling nearly $1.5 million. Wabash CannonBall Kansas City also has funded a scholarship endowment totaling nearly $2.5 million.

“The Wabash CannonBall scholarships are a vital part of the recruitment efforts in attracting new students to Kansas State University from the Greater Kansas City metro area,” said Wabash CannonBall Kansas City co-chairs Leo J. Nunnink ’83 and Amy Sue Nunnink. “This year we fielded more than 360 applications from high school seniors eager to become Wildcats, and we will celebrate the awarding of 55 freshmen and 25 renewable scholarships.”

Thank you to all our generous Wabash CannonBall Kansas City sponsors, who helped make this event possible! VIEW A FULL LIST of the 2019 sponsors, and also be sure to check out all of our UPCOMING WABASH CANNONBALL EVENTS for 2019.

View photos from this fun evening of purple pride:

Clay Harvey, 1974 Kansas State University graduate in biology, and spouse, Patty McGivern, 1977 K-State graduate in microbiology, may have science backgrounds, but they also are supporters of the arts. 

In addition to involvement with the Beach Museum of Art’s Board of Visitors, Clay and Patty have established an endowment with the School of Music, Theatre and Dance to fund a series of musical performances.

“We have a desire to assist others with their education,” Patty said. “It’s our responsibility to give.”

The gift will be used to support one to three musical performances a year utilizing stringed instruments at K-State within the School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

Read more

Inspired to help Wildcats succeed

K-State means family and future to Amy Guerich ’06. With family in the area, plus growing up rooting for K-State football, Amy knew that K-State was the place she wanted to be. A meeting with Pat Bosco ’71, ’73, dean of students, at a K-State Alumni Association Just for Juniors event sealed the deal. 

According to Amy, “His energy really resonated with me and I couldn’t wait to get to campus and be part of the family.”

It was during a summer accounting class that Amy heard someone talk about the Personal Financial Planning (PFP) program. After meeting with Bosco and the program director, Amy enrolled in PFP and completely changed the trajectory of her professional future.

As a member of the Personal Financial Planning advisory board, Amy saw firsthand the significance of maintaining top-notch faculty members who may otherwise be hired away by other universities. She wants to promote and encourage faculty retention.

“Scholarships are popular, everyone understands the need for scholarships,” Amy said. “However, we need the best trained faculty, doing the latest and greatest in research and being the best educators in order to recruit good students and to help those students to prepare for careers in firms like ours at Stepp & Rothwell.”

Amy believes that as a recipient of a K-State education and being a part of the Wildcat family, she has a responsibility to help facilitate opportunities for current and future students. She is the first person in her immediate family to graduate with a four-year degree and believes that having a college education opens so many doors that a student wouldn’t otherwise have.

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Photo: Amy Guerich, right, with fellow K-State alum Ken Selzer ’75. (Courtesy photo)