The doors to K-State’s famous Hale Library will remain closed this fall, in the aftermath of the fire that occurred earlier this summer. Students will not be able to use the space for studying, grabbing a book off the shelf, meeting with friends or other common back-to-school activities.

Although the temporary absence of this beloved resource will be felt across campus, this story of loss is also a story of hope, as K-Staters look towards the future and begin the process of rebuilding.

“The outpouring of support from faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and other libraries around the country has been overwhelming,” K-State Libraries writer/editor Sarah Hoyt posted in a recent Hale Library Blog entry. “We are profoundly grateful for their generosity and kind words, and we know that with the K-State Family behind us, the long chapter ahead of us has a very, very bright ending for an exciting, new Hale Library.”

The fire

The fire occurred about 4 p.m. May 22 — alarms shattering the illusion of what seemed like an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. Everyone rushed to evacuate the building, in some cases leaving behind personal belongings in their haste.

The fire started on the roof near the fourth floor of the building (there are five floors total), believed to be an accident related to roofing work. Smoke filled the library, and the structure had to be aired out for two days. An estimated 400,000 gallons of water were pumped into the building via sprinklers and fire hoses.

“There was so much water it was seeping through the limestone,” said Mike Haddock ’77, associate dean for Research, Education and Engagement with K-State Libraries. “Water was coming in like rain.”

Haddock said that since the library has a gentle slope, the water went through every floor and ended up in the data center in the basement. Although the damage to the building from the smoke and water was extensive, Haddock credits the library’s new sprinklers for preventing the fire from creating a worse disaster.

Tables were warped by the water, and most of the furniture on the first four floors had to be removed. You can look up and see holes in the ceiling of the library’s famous Great Room — a.k.a the “Harry Potter” room. Debris is scattered across the floor. Smoke has stained the bookshelves. Water damage has threatened some of the library’s well-loved murals. Mold growth is a concern due to the general dampness and heat. In the background, you can hear the hum from the dehumidifiers and the chillers pumping cooler air into the building.

The recovery

A variety of experts — from engineers to art restorers — have been working on the building and the library’s collection of books. Teams started working seven days a week, 12 hours a day on disaster recovery, since time is critical. The library is now in the process of being cleaned and parts are being gutted.

Wet books have been placed into boxes lined with plastic and then frozen in order to protect them. About 3,000 boxes so far have been driven in refrigerated trucks to a facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to vacuum dry them.

Approximately 1 million volumes from the library’s collection will need to be physically cleaned. Gamma radiation (similar to X-rays) can be used to kill mold spores, but this process can age the paper, so the library will have to decide how often to use the process, Haddock said. Placing the books in an ozone chamber for 12 hours can be used to neutralize the smoky odor.

Thankfully, the library’s special collections are housed on the fifth floor, above where the fire started. This collection includes manuscripts, rare and unique books, and photographs.

The future

Haddock said the library had previously been planning a first floor renovation before the fire and will now have to renovate four floors. K-Staters may have to wait until December 2019 to fully use the building again.

“It’s going to be a while,” Haddock said.

The university is still waiting for official cost estimates to come in but has received an advance insurance payment of $12 million (the university’s policy had a $500,000 deductible). The university is also working on a plan for recommended study space for students this fall; Haddock estimates the library typically sees 30,000 entries in a normal week.

In the meantime, K-Staters continue to band together and help each other during the restoration process. Buildings across campus have opened their doors to library staff, providing temporary office space until they can return to Hale. The K-State Libraries administration team, including Dean Lori Goetsch, are being housed on the third floor of the K-State Alumni Center.

“Our land-grant ethos requires that we take setbacks in stride and continue to strive for growth and progress,” President Richard Myers ’65 wrote in a letter to K-Staters following the fire. “The fire in Hale Library brought out the best in our family and community. City, county, state, military and other agencies had our backs, with firefighting, emergency management and support. Because this university and its people are resilient, I know we will continue to work hard to restore Hale Library to its full glory.”

The Kansas State University Foundation has established a special fund for those who would like to contribute to the recovery and restoration of Hale Library after the fire. LEARN MORE. 

Stay informed about the progress on the Hale Library renovation. 

K-State student-athletes work hard studying, training and striving to compete at the highest level they possibly can. However, there are some key figures who work just as hard behind the scenes, supporting these students, following them on the road and cheering them on from the sidelines.

Although still a new program, K-State soccer already has a core group of parents who are proud supporters of the team. This dedicated group of road warriors includes Mike and Tracy Egan of Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Their daughter, Morgan, is a senior defender on the K-State soccer team.

“It’s been really fun to watch the team evolve,” Mike said. “I’ve never seen anything like this K-State community. It’s unbelievable.”

“It’s amazing,” Tracy added. “It really is. We’ve always been wowed by the K-State following.”

The Egans are used to being on the road a lot for sporting events — they’ve raised four NCAA athletes, in football and soccer. They would often have to divide and conquer in order to make sure there was at least one parent at their children’s games. Since Morgan (pictured at left) is their youngest, they’ve enjoyed the opportunity to now travel to more games together.

Morgan’s transition to collegiate soccer was complicated by two ACL tears in high school, around the time she was being recruited by colleges. However, she eventually heard about K-State’s new program and decided to take a leap of faith. She called head coach Mike Dibbini and visited campus.

“She fell in love with the coaches, the program, the school and the Big 12,” Mike said.

“Morgan’s been excited since the day she set foot on this campus,” Tracy added.

Thanks to the soccer program, the Egans said they’ve enjoyed traveling to places they’d never been to before — Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and Oregon, to name a few. They were impressed by all the fans who showed up to support the K-State program. Some of these fans didn’t even know anyone on the soccer team; they just came to support it because it’s part of the K-State family.

Mike said he has enjoyed watching the players, coaches and fans grow together. Even as a new program, K-State has had the opportunity to play some of the top teams in the country.

“We were in every game — that’s a huge testament to those girls and the connections they have with the coaches,” Tracy said. “You’re going toe-to-toe with these top teams as a first-year program.”

Morgan is currently majoring in communication sciences and disorders with a business minor. She is working in St. Louis at a summer internship, all while keeping up with soccer training.

“Athletics has prepared her for this [success],” Tracy said.

The Egans said they will definitely miss K-State after their daughter graduates, although it doesn’t necessarily have to be goodbye forever.

“I’m going to miss Manhattan — I think I’m going to come back,” Mike said.

Stay caught up on the latest soccer news with K-State Athletics. The Wildcats will face Arkansas on the road Aug. 4, with a home game Aug. 8 versus Minnesota.

Former Kansas State University football player Brett Alstatt ’08 has memories of going door to door as a kid, selling little replicas of NFL helmets he created using his mom’s printer. He might have only made a few cents for his efforts, but that early passion for business stuck with him.

Now, the College of Business Administration grad is preparing to open his own doughnut shop in Wichita, Kansas.

“It’s kind of come full circle,” said Alstatt, whose previous career experiences include time at BNSF and Koch Industries. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business since I was a little kid. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit.”

Alstatt had been searching for an opportunity to start his own business for a while and looked at hundreds of different franchises. He came across The Dapper Doughnut, a relatively new franchise that was growing and expanding. Of course, he had to sample the doughnuts first.

“Once I tasted them, I thought, ‘Oh, these are perfect,’” he said. “It was delicious. It seemed like a good fit.”

Alstatt said Dapper Doughnuts are made fresh to order and come with a variety of different toppings. In addition to a permanent location scheduled to open in late August at Wichita’s Union Station, he’s also excited about being able to offer his portable doughnut machine at weddings, meetings, parties and various other events.

He credits K-State’s College of Business Administration for laying a good foundation for his business career. He said the college equips students with adaptable skills that can meet the demands of evolving industries.

“They were really forward-thinking,” he said.

He also thanked K-State football head coach Bill Snyder for his mentorship and for teaching his famous 16 Goals for Success.

“He instilled a bunch of those in me that I use even today,” Alstatt said. “Coach Snyder was just absolutely instrumental.”

Alstatt encourages other K-Staters with an entrepreneurial spirit to go ahead and take the leap. It can be a little scary to step out of your comfort zone and start your own business, but it’s worth it in the end. Don’t be intimidated by the risk.

“I’m a big believer that you have to take a risk to get a reward,” he said. “You have to attack it like a problem — it’s just another problem to solve.”

He said that as he shares the word about his business, K-Staters have already been reaching out to him and wishing him luck.

“I’m continually amazed by the width and the depth of the Kansas State universe,” he said. “I already knew it was awesome, and this just exemplifies that.” 

What’s better than an evening of food and fun? An evening of food and fun with fellow K-Staters, of course!

The annual Alumni Club and Catbacker Tour events give K-Staters a chance to socialize with fellow Wildcats and hear exciting updates about the university and athletics.

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. 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.

View photos from this year’s tour in the gallery below. We hope to see you at an Alumni Club or Catbacker event in the future!

Students receive scholarships at the Finney County Alumni/Student/Catbacker event May 15 in Garden City, Kansas. The Alumni Association annually awards approximately $550,000 in student scholarships with funding provided by local K-State alumni and friends and Alumni Association programming. (Photo: @GCHSTHAcademy)

K-Staters reconnect at the Northwest Arkansas K-State Alumni Picnic in Bella Vista, Arkansas, on June 9. (Photo: @JohnBuckwalter1)

K-State football head coach Bill Snyder visits with K-Staters at the Wichita Catbackers gathering May 22. (Photo: Ann Schrick ’17)

Willie the Wildcat joins in the fun with yard games at the Wichita Catbackers event. (Photo: Ann Schrick ’17)

Kansas City Catbackers offered plenty of good food for Wildcat fans at the 2018 Summerfest event. (Photo: David Gift)

Summertime gatherings aren’t the only activities Alumni Clubs do throughout the year. Other events include watch parties, food drives and more. The TulsaCats Alumni Club likes to give back by sending care packages (pictured above) to Tulsa-area students in Manhattan during finals, filled with fun goodies like chocolate, coffee and macaroni and cheese. (Photo: TulsaCats Alumni Club)

Don’t want to miss out on the fun? Be sure to check out our calendar page for Alumni Club and other Alumni Association events! We have events for K-Staters across the state, the country and worldwide. Find an Alumni Club near you.

Whether they’re volunteering to help direct traffic at the annual Homecoming parade, serving ice cream during K-State’s orientation and enrollment, or helping to connect alumni across the globe, our employees here at the K-State Alumni Association are proud to put their purple pride into action every day on the job.

Alumni Association staff members work hard behind the scenes to help carry out the Alumni Association’s mission to be a “link for life” for all K-Staters. The Administration team keeps the Association running on a day-to-day basis; Alumni Center staff help run the many events that take place in our building; Communications keeps you informed about everything that’s going on; Information Services organizes data and helps you stay connected; and Programs organizes lots of fun activities for alumni and friends.

View photos of some of our staff working behind the scenes in the gallery below. We hope you enjoy being involved in the Alumni Association as much as we do! 

Asha Nagaraja (fs), accounting manager and human resources coordinator, and Krista Darting ’00, associate director of membership and marketing, serve ice cream at the K-State Alumni Center to new students and their families visiting campus during the university’s orientation and enrollment in June. (Photo: Ashley Pauls, K-State Alumni Association)

Jessica Elmore ’06, ’15, associate director of diversity programs, speaks with K-Staters as part of an alumni social during her recent trip to the Philippines. The Alumni Association has alumni groups all across the globe and is proud to connect alumni locally, nationally and internationally; learn more. (Courtesy photo)

Staff helped put together a special “good luck” themed social media post for Friday the 13th in July by rubbing the nose of our Wildcat statue and enjoying some Lucky Charms marshmallow treats. Pictured are alumni records assistants Christina Davin, Anita Eagan and Annie Holle, and K-Stater editor Tim Schrag ’12. (Photo: Ashley Pauls, K-State Alumni Association)

Marcus Kidd ’14, ’16, assistant director of student programs, passes out popsicles after a marching band practice last year to thank students for all their hard work as part of the band. Association staff love watching the marching band practice on the field at World War I Memorial Stadium behind our building! (Photo: Tim Schrag ’12, K-State Alumni Association)

Ally Brooks ’08, administrative office assistant, and Krista Darting ’00, associate director of membership and marketing, prepare to ship out orders of the Alumni Association’s Charlie Hustle T-shirt. The exclusive design is available only to Alumni Association members; learn more. (Photo: Ashley Pauls, K-State Alumni Association)

Several Alumni Association departments hosted going-away parties for graduating student workers this spring, including Sophia Lehmann, Programs student worker, pictured above. (Also pictured are Laken Horton, NEAT grant student for the past school year, and Blake Batson, Programs student worker). We appreciate all the hard work all of our student workers do to support the Alumni Association! (Courtesy photo)

Maybe they tailgate before every football game, bringing the whole family out to the stadium to barbecue, play games and enjoy time together. Maybe they’ve got a car decked out in K-State purple, with the K-State license plate and bumper stickers. Maybe they wear matching K-State shirts to family functions. Or maybe they’re proud to share about their family’s long tradition of K-Staters, stretching back generations.

However they show their purple pride, we love to hear about families who carry on the K-State legacy. If you know a family who bleeds purple, why not nominate them for this year’s K-State Family of the Year Award?

Sponsored by Chimes Junior Honorary, K-State’s annual Family of the Year competition recognizes a family that has shown great dedication to the K-State community. The deadline for applications is Aug. 24; submit one today!

K-State hosts the winning family for special activities during K-State Family Day, which is coordinated by the university’s Parents and Family Association. This year’s Family Day is Sept. 15 and will be an extra special event — it will be the 90th celebration.

Learn more about Family Day and view a list of past recipients of the Family of the Year Award.

Photo courtesy of a past Parents and Family Association Legacy Pinning Ceremony.

It’s not too late to share your thoughts on the future of Aggieville as part of the City of Manhattan’s Aggieville Vision to Reality project! You are invited to participate in a survey about proposed streetscape and parking improvements to Aggieville.

The SURVEY IS AVAILABLE NOW and will be live through August; thank you to all those who have already taken it! Alumni also are invited to participate in an upcoming focus group, if you would like to provide even more input. You can enjoy a free lunch before the K-State home football game Sept. 1, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Wahoo Fire and Ice Grill, while sharing your thoughts on Aggieville. The focus group will be limited to the first 20 participants; learn more!

As more students from all backgrounds strive to earn a college degree, scholarships have the power to make dreams come true. At Kansas State University, scholarships helped a cancer survivor stay in school; enabled K-State to recruit and retain a Marshall scholar; inspired a military veteran to find a new career helping others; and made it possible for outstanding students with financial need to attend K-State.

We could tell thousands of stories about the power of scholarships. We bring you seven. These stories represent how you, K-State’s generous donors, make dreams come true with your gifts. For this past academic year, K-State students earned nearly 13,700 scholarships, most of which were made possible with private gifts from donors like you. In fact, private dollars for student support, made available to K-State through the KSU Foundation, have doubled in the last seven years alone.

The K-State family is pulling together to make a difference. The result? Extraordinary students are doing extraordinary things when they graduate — or even before they graduate. Opportunities have been seized. Goals are being set and reached. Dreams are coming true.

Read more

Honoring her husband while providing more opportunities for students

For Connie Satzler, K-State is more than just a school filled with purple. Connie graduated from K-State in 1991 and 1999 with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering. Connie’s experiences as a K-State student were filled late study nights in Durland Hall, serving in several engineering and K-State student organizations, and cheering the ’Cats on at K-State sporting events.

During an Engineering Open House in 1991, Connie was escorted to the banquet by her late husband, Larry Satzler, on one of their first dates. Weeks later they would be engaged. To honor Larry’s memory, Connie established the Larry Satzler Engineering Scholarship.

“Because of the positive experiences that Larry and I had at K-State, the scholarships I received as a student, and the scholarships my children are currently receiving, I believe it is my obligation and privilege to help repay at least a portion of those benefits,” Connie said.

Larry graduated from K-State in 1987 and 1989, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering. At the time of Larry’s passing in December 2015, he was serving as the assistant dean for student services in the College of Engineering. Before that, he was an instructor in K-State’s College of Business Administration while working on his Ph.D. in engineering.

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