K-Staters swelled with purple pride, excitement and generosity at the inaugural Wabash CannonBall gala Friday at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel where Wildcats raised $170,000 for scholarships to Kansas City-area students.

“We are excited about the tremendous success of this gala event,” said Amy Button Renz, president of the K-State Alumni Association. “In addition to scholarship funds, the inaugural Wabash CannonBall provided a wonderful venue to showcase the university and afforded more visibility for the more than 23,000 alumni living in the Kansas City area.” 

Visibility took a literal meaning Friday when giant K-State Powercats illuminated the east and west sides of the Sheraton facing I-435. Inside, the event surpassed expectations with a sold-out crowd.

“When we first discussed the idea (of a K-State gala in Kansas City) in February 2006, we hoped to get 200 to 300 people and break even,” said Bob Regnier, Wabash CannonBall committee member. “We ended up with more than 600 guests and net revenues of $170,000.” 

Steve Wilkinson, Wabash CannonBall committee member, added, “It was a great feeling to look across the large ballroom and see more than 600 people all there to raise funds for scholarships and celebrate the success of our university.” 

Scholarship dollars were raised at the event through the “Fund a Wildcat” program. Each attendee had the opportunity to donate to the scholarship endowment. The total donation from each table determined their eligibility in the prize drawing, which included flat-screen televisions, iPods, digital cameras, hotel getaway packages and restaurant gift certificates. 

“K-Staters really care about students,” said Lyle Pishny, Wabash CannonBall committee member who attributed the success of the event to “the sense of K-State as a family.”

“That’s K-Staters for you,” added Jill Gerlach, Wabash CannonBall committee co-chairperson. “They always come through.”

Four students were awarded scholarships at the event. They include: Kaitlin Chipman, Olathe Northwest High School; Christina Davis, De Soto High School; Joanne Heimsoth, Shawnee Mission North High School; and Kirsten Salyer, Gardner-Edgerton High School.

In her presentation of the scholarships, Renz said K-State is the number one college attended by Johnson County high school students and there are currently 3,400 Johnson County students enrolled at K-State.  

The program included a welcome from committee chairpersons Carl Gerlach and his wife, Jill. Greg Musil kept the crowd entertained as the master of ceremonies. More entertainment followed as Sen. Pat Roberts, a K-State alumnus, introduced fellow K-Stater Gen. Richard Myers to the podium to share why he is proud to be a Wildcat.

Fourteen months in the making, the evening was an elegant, first-class event that K-Staters were wanting, said the Gerlachs.

K-Staters demonstrated their appreciation of the musical entertainment by Atlantic Express as they danced between dinner courses and into the night.

“One thing that I found interesting was that everyone stuck around until the end,” said Regnier. “I know at several events I attend the dance floor is deserted by the time the band quits. The floor was full for the last dance, and as I was walking out I would guess that there were still more than 200 people talking after the event was over. I think sometimes we underestimate the connections we make over a common bond — K-State.”

“The K-State Alumni Association was honored to work with a planning committee comprised of Kansas City-area volunteers to make this longtime dream a reality,” said Renz. “The Alumni Association is grateful for the tireless efforts of the planning committee, sponsors, attendees and Tom Roesler, the Association’s associate director of alumni programs. We are very proud this special evening will provide additional educational opportunities for students in the Kansas City area, and we are already looking forward to another magnificent event in 2008.”

2007 Wabash CannonBall Committee chairs
Carl '76 and Jill '76, '81 Gerlach

View photos from the event on Facebook