Nearly 3,000 Kansas State University students earned degrees in May, closing one chapter in their lives and opening another. Although they end their time on campus as students, they are welcomed into the K-State alumni family.

 

The 2017 graduates are part of the 150th class to graduate from K-State since the first class graduated in 1867. 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. 

 

During K-State’s spring commencement ceremonies, nearly 2,300 bachelor’s, 570 master’s, about 80 doctorates, 109 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and four associate degrees were awarded. More than 330 students earned their degrees through K-State Global Campus online degree programs.

 

At the Graduate School commencement, 2017 honorary doctorate recipient and National Medal of Science winner Geraldine “Geri” Richmond ’75, ’17 offered several words of wisdom to the students. She encouraged them to take advantage of their K-State education and embrace new opportunities as they begin their careers.

 

“The degree opens doors for you that you cannot imagine at this point, and opportunities yet to become,” she said. “But often, you must play a role in opening those doors too, and creating those opportunities.”

 

Richmond’s story is an example of the hardworking, innovative spirit of K-State grads. She worked to help pay her way through college and got an early start in research as an undergrad. She is now presidential chair in science and professor of chemistry at the University of Oregon.

 

“I’m back home,” she said during her commencement address. “Let me say how deeply honored I am to get this honorary degree. It was here at Kansas State University that I developed my love for science that has withstood the test of time and many challenges over all these years.”

 

K-State Alumni Association honors graduates

The K-State Alumni Association celebrated graduation with a variety of events, including Grad Bash, International Graduation Celebration and Multicultural Graduation Celebration (learn more and view photos from the International and Multicultural events).

 

At Grad Bash, students enjoyed free hamburgers and ice cream while listening to live music from the Mikey Needleman Band and snapping photos with Willie the Wildcat.

 

Carina Metzgar, Mound City, Missouri, and Katie Proctor, Manhattan, Kansas, attended Grad Bash. They both came to K-State to study athletic training and said their time at K-State has helped prepare them for their careers ahead. Metzgar plans to earn a master’s in sports psychology while Proctor wants to pursue physical therapy.

 

“I always wanted to go to K-State,” said Metzgar, whose mother and sister also attended K-State. “The family aspect has played a key role.”

 

Proctor agreed. “It’s prepared me really well to work with people in a professional environment,” she said. “The atmosphere here has been awesome.”

The K-State Alumni Association welcomed a new group of members to its board of directors at the annual meeting in June.  

 

Alan Fankhauser ’82, Brookfield, Wisconsin, will serve as the 2017-18 chair, with Sylvia White Robinson ’71, Kansas City, Kansas, serving as chair-elect. Dan Yunk ’71, ’75, ’87, Manhattan, Kansas, is immediate past chair.

 

The five new members of the board will serve four-year terms and will continue to June 2021.

 

 

New student representatives joining the board for 2017-18 are Jack Ayres, Overland Park, Kansas, student body president, and Matthew Grosdidier, Lenexa, Kansas, Student Alumni Board president. View a complete list of the current Alumni Association board of directors.

As part of its graduation activities, the K-State Alumni Association hosted celebrations for international and multicultural graduates, in addition to presenting leadership awards. At these events, students had a chance to enjoy free refreshments and prizes, as well as reflect on their time at Kansas State University.

 

View photos from these events below (all photos by David Mayes ’96). 

 

The K-State Alumni Association hosted the inaugural Wabash CannonBall North Texas on May 19 at the Dallas Marriott Las Colinas Hotel — an evening of dining, dancing and donating to support scholarships that will help North Texas-area students attend K-State.

 

Approximately 225 guests attended the first Wabash CannonBall in North Texas. In addition to supporting scholarships, the black-tie gala provided an opportunity for Wildcats to network with K-State administrators and other alumni and friends from the North Texas area, celebrating their purple pride.

 

“K-Staters in North Texas have been incredibly loyal to our university,” said Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, K-State Alumni Association president and CEO. “We are honored to bring the Wabash CannonBall to the region and look forward to helping more students join the Wildcat family and attend K-State.”

 

View some of the photos from the event in gallery below, or learn about how you can be a part of our upcoming Wabash CannonBall galas. 

 

(Photos by Grapevine Photo)

 

 

Thank you to all of our generous Wabash CannonBall North Texas sponsors:

 

Title Sponsor
Carl and Mary Ice

 

Powercat
Scott and Julie Jimison
Doug and Kathy Mann
Charlie and Debbie Morrison

 

Purple and White
Lisa Acosta and Manny Fernandez
American Airlines
The Castañeda Firm/Canterbury Communications
Jan and Charlie Cole
Conrow Commercial Real Estate
Kip and Sheri Hanzlicek
The Lacy Family
Rod and Charlene Lake
Cami Large
Woody and Lynne Leel
Munck Wilson Mandala
Dallas/Ft. Worth Alumni Association co-founders: Pat Sargent, Barbara Kille, Joleen Moden
Qualified Plan Advisors
Marilyn Sullivan Family and Friends
Sims Global Solutions
Doug Weyer
Kay Yates Family and Friends

 

University Sponsored Tables
Office of the President
K-State Alumni Association
K-State Athletics and the Ahearn Fund
KSU Foundation
College of Engineering
College of Business Administration
College of Human Ecology
Parents and Family Association 

Renowned photographer and Kansas State University alumnus Pete Souza ’06 will be awarded the K-State Alumni Association’s Alumni Excellence Award. He will receive the award at a banquet on Friday, Oct. 13, at the K-State Alumni Center.

 

The Alumni Excellence Award, in its inaugural year, is an annual award recognizing an alumna or alumnus of K-State whose career, service and achievements exemplify the spirit, values and excellence of the university.

 

Souza was the chief official White House photographer for President Barack Obama and director of the White House Photo Office. He also was the official White House photographer for President Ronald Reagan. Additionally, he has worked as an assistant professor of photojournalism at Ohio University; the national photographer for the Chicago Tribune based in their Washington bureau; and a freelancer for National Geographic.

 

Souza has covered stories all around the world. After the Sept. 11 attacks, he was among the first journalists to cover the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan, after crossing the Hindu Kush mountains by horseback in three feet of snow. His photographs have also been published in many other publications, including the covers of Life, Fortune, Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report.

 

He is a native of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in public communication from Boston University and received his master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from K-State. As a student at K-State, Souza worked as a student photographer shooting photos for the Kansas State Collegian and the Royal Purple. 

 

“We are incredibly honored to present the first Alumni Excellence Award to such an outstanding K-State graduate,” said Michelle Elkins ’87, associate director of awards and special events for the Alumni Association. “Pete Souza’s photography has allowed so many of us to see current events from a perspective we wouldn’t otherwise get to see.”

 

The Alumni Excellence Award is made possible by the generosity of the Curt ’73 and Sherry ’73 Frasier family of Beloit, Kansas. More details about the banquet will be made available in the coming months. Learn more about the Alumni Association’s awards programs or call the K-State Alumni Association at 800-600-ALUM (2586).

Although track and field is sometimes viewed as a sport for individuals, that’s not how the Kansas State University team sees it. The Wildcats look at track and field as a true team effort, and that spirit of camaraderie and teamwork paid off for the K-State women as they claimed the program’s first Big 12 Outdoor Championship since 2002.

 

“When it came down to (the final) night, it was a team. And it wasn’t only a team, it was a family that was out there competing and making sure we brought home this title,” K-State junior A’Keyla Mitchell said. “When we know we have to go out and do something, it’s a team sport, it’s not individual anymore. We compete as a team.”

 

The Wildcats totaled 133 points, a school record at the conference meet, to bring home the Big 12 crown. They did so with a youthful surge of scoring. K-State’s freshmen combined for 46 points, while the sophomores collected 34 and the juniors added 38, leaving just four individual points from the seniors.

 

K-State certainly celebrated as a team — dancing, yelling, crying and taking pictures with the program’s third Big 12 outdoor championship trophy. Among current Big 12 schools, only Texas has more women’s outdoor titles than K-State.

 

Freshman Nina Schultz was recognized as high jump champion and also was named high point scorer of the meet. Junior Janee’ Kassanavoid (hammer throw) and sophomore Shadae Lawrence (discus) both repeated as Big 12 champions. Senior Morgan Wedekind won the 3,000-meter steeplechase for her first conference title.

 

In other Big 12 honors, K-State Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Cliff Rovelto was unanimously named Women’s Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, and Schultz became the third-straight Wildcat woman named Outstanding Freshman of the Year. On the men’s team, sophomore Brett Neelly won the shot put title.

 

“Championships and awards are a reflection of the efforts of a whole lot of people,” Rovelto said. “Our athletes, coaching staff, support staff and administration should all also be recognized for their efforts this season.”

 

Other K-State Athletics recognition in the Big 12

K-State’s sports medicine department has been honored as the Big 12 Conference Sports Medicine Staff of the Year. The award is the second in department history, after also being recognized in 2004. K-State’s department is made up of nine full-time athletic trainers as well as five graduate assistant athletic trainers. The Wildcats also employ a full-time sports nutritionist who oversees two graduate assistants, as well as a full-time director of sport psychology. Services provided to student-athletes by the department include preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

 

K-State also has seen success in rowing. A gritty performance by a Third Varsity Eight boat made up of eight underclassmen and one senior helped guide the K-State women’s rowing team to a third-place finish for the first time since the 2015 season at the Big 12 Championship. K-State finished the two-day competition with 92 total points. The score is the Wildcats’ highest point total since finishing with 112 in 2014.

Join the K-State Alumni Association in June, and you’ll receive a free clear stadium bag!

 

This Join in June offer is available to new members and annual members who upgrade to a three-year or lifetime membership. 

 

The bags are stadium regulation and can be used at K-State Athletics facilities and other facilities that require a clear bag. The offer is available through June 30, while supplies last.

 

In addition to the clear bag offer, as a member of the Alumni Association you’ll receive a variety of great benefits throughout the year, including the quarterly K-Stater magazine, annual wall calendar, 10 percent K-State Campus Store discount and more.

 

You also can take advantage of this special upcoming offer from K-State Athletics: Alumni Association members can purchase a football ticket combo package for the Charlotte (Sept. 9) and Oklahoma (Oct. 21 – Homecoming) games for just $75. Available June 19-21 only, while supplies last (June 19 online for Association members who also are members of the Ahearn Fund; June 20 online only; and June 21 in person and by phone). Call 800-221-CATS for more information.

 

Learn more about becoming a member of the K-State Alumni Association.

Philanthropic gifts to K-State make a difference every day in the lives of faculty and students.

 

The spring issue of Good for K-State magazine shares stories of how Kansas State University goes above and beyond for K-State students, from their first day to their last. You’ll also learn how the K-State Proud campaign has instilled a culture of philanthropy on campus and in young alumni. Discover how farmers’ gifts of grain advance K-State, and meet the new K-State Medal of Excellence honorees. Learn about the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign raising $1.4 billion for K-State and how you can make a difference.  

 

Read more

 

K-State hosts young African leaders with support from philanthropy

The K-State family is growing globally more than ever before, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In the summer of 2016, the Staley School of Leadership Studies, in partnership with the Office of International Programs, hosted 24 of Africa’s brightest emerging civic leaders for a six-week academic and leadership institute.

 

Out of 40,000-plus applicants, these young leaders were among 1,000 selected to receive the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). They were chosen because of their accomplishments in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, communities and countries.

 

K-State was one of a select group of institutions who hosted fellows in 2016 and has been selected to host another group of fellows this summer.

 

“Leadership is a thing that is talked about a lot but not very well understood. Leadership is the one single item, I believe, that has the most impact for making change,” said Dave Everitt.

 

Dave ’75 and Ellie ’73 Everitt, both K-State graduates, fund the endowment that enabled the Staley School of Leadership Studies to fulfill the YALI application requirement of providing matching funds to the grant award.

 

Read more