Alumni and friends are invited to come home to K-State during the annual All-University Open House on Saturday, April 1. The event is a chance for members of the Wildcat community and prospective students to explore the campus and learn more about K-State.

 

Every year, approximately 20,000 people flock to K-State’s carnival of academic exhibits, entertainment, food and fun. The open house showcases the university’s 250-plus majors and options, 475-plus student organizations and the family atmosphere that makes K-State stand out.

 

The event is open to all ages, and admission is free. This year’s theme is “The Future is Built Here.”

 

The different colleges have a chance to show off their programs with special demonstrations and hands-on activities for visitors. Other activities throughout the day include opportunities to visit the nuclear reactor at Ward Hall; take photos with Willie the Wildcat; participate in a short service project at the School of Leadership Studies; learn to Wabash with the K-State Marching Band; and more.

 

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, you’ll find a variety of options across campus, including a pancake feed, homemade baked goods, barbecue and more.

 

The event at the Manhattan campus is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at the Olathe and Polytechnic campuses from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Learn more about the open house or watch a video below.

 

After celebrating a winning season that was capped by a Texas Bowl victory, Kansas State fans can get their first look at the 2017 Wildcats at the annual Purple/White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, in Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

 

Tickets will be available through the K-State Athletics Ticket Office beginning Wednesday, March 1, and cost only $5. The game will begin at 1:10 p.m. Season tickets for the 2017 season also will go on sale March 1, online at www.k-statesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or at the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.

 

K-State returns 14 starters — eight on offense and six on defense — and 18 players overall who made at least one start in 2016. The group includes eight players who earned All-Big 12 honors this past season, featured by first-teamers Winston Dimel, Will Geary, Byron Pringle, D.J. Reed and Dalton Risner. Reed was named the 2016 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, while defensive end Reggie Walker earned Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.

 

Head coach Bill Snyder also announced 22 student-athletes who plan on joining or have already joined the K-State football program as part of K-State’s 2017 Signing Class. This year’s class includes 19 players from the high school ranks and three community college players.

 

“I have been impressed with the quality of character of each of these young men, as well as their collective commitment to become the best person, student and athlete possible,” Snyder said.

 

On the road

K-State football will travel to Nashville on Sept. 16 to take on the Vanderbilt University Commodores. Join the K-State Alumni Association to cheer on the ’Cats.

 

The Association will offer two- and three-night land packages, including a Nashville Day Tour on Friday and admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

 

The travel packages are available for booking now. For more information about the trip or to register, visit www.k-statesportstours.com or 888-402-8055. Game tickets are not included with the travel packages. Stay tuned for more details on a pregame event.

 

View the complete 2017 football schedule.

John Currie, who since arriving in 2009 has led K-State Athletics through one of the most successful periods in department history, has been named the new vice chancellor and director of athletics at the University of Tennessee.

 

Since Currie’s introduction as director of athletics in May 2009, the Wildcats’ athletics program has experienced a seven-year period of athletic, academic and fundraising excellence that ranks among the best in school history. Currie, who will begin his new position on April 1, spent 10 years at Tennessee prior to his arrival at K-State.

 

Laird Veatch ’95, current deputy athletics director and former Wildcat football standout, has been named acting athletics director and will manage the department until a permanent hire has been made.

 

“I want to thank John for his tremendous leadership and efforts on behalf of our student-athletes and university,” said President Richard B. Myers ’65. “It has been impressive to see the growth of our athletics department with the goal of building a Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program. I look forward to working with acting athletic director Laird Veatch and the staff as we continue to strengthen what is already a very strong relationship between intercollegiate athletics and the university community.”

 

Under Currie’s leadership, K-State has evolved into one of the NCAA’s most financially solvent programs while initiating $210 million in comprehensive facility improvements — all privately funded with zero state tax or university tuition dollars — including the new Vanier Football Complex, West Stadium Center at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Ice Family Basketball Center, Intercollegiate Rowing Center and Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.

 

Athletically, Currie’s tenure has been marked by across the board success, including seven straight bowl appearances in football; Big 12 Conference championships in football, men’s basketball and baseball; 47 individual Big 12 and eight NCAA titles in track and field; and NCAA Tournament appearances by men’s basketball (five), women’s basketball (three), volleyball (four) and baseball (three). The 2012-13 campaign also was one for the ages as K-State became just the fourth BCS school since 1998 to win league titles in football, men’s basketball and baseball the same year.

 

“Words cannot express how grateful our family is for the time and experience we have had here at K-State and in the Manhattan community,” Currie said. “Tennessee reached out to me earlier this week and encouraged me to visit with Chancellor Davenport about the position. It was evident early in our discussion that she has a tremendous vision for the University, and I am excited to be a part of her leadership team.

 

“From when I arrived at K-State back in 2009, I have experienced some of the most enjoyable moments in my life, filled with some of the most genuine and caring people I have ever met. As I have said so many times, the collective group of head coaches we have here rival those of any in all of college athletics. Our primary goal has been to provide a world-class student-athlete experience, and I know we have made tremendous progress in this arena. And of course, our fans continue to support the Wildcats in record numbers, and I know that will continue.”

 

Academically, all Wildcat programs boast multi-year Academic Progress Rate marks of at least .944, with the football, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s cross country and women’s cross country teams sporting Big 12-leading scores. Approximately one-half of all 450-plus Wildcat student-athletes achieved a 3.0 GPA or higher this past academic year.

 

K-State Athletics has also proven to be a great partner to the university, having eliminated approximately $3 million in annual state and direct university funding of intercollegiate athletics under Currie’s leadership to become the only institution in Kansas and one of only approximately two dozen nationwide to operate without these subsidies.

 

The 2013 Bobby Dodd AD Award winner and a 2012 UnderArmour AD of the Year, Currie has served on the NCAA Division I Administrative Cabinet and was the chair of the Big 12 ADs in 2013-14 while also being one of only two intercollegiate ADs named to SportsBusiness Journal’s 2011 prestigious Forty Under 40 list of national sports leaders.

Kansas State University’s research capabilities, facilities and resources will be spotlighted at a 2017 event for business and industry in the Kansas City metro area.  

 

The 2017 Research Showcase is May 17 at K-State Olathe. The event serves as a large-scale networking session and showcase for the wide breadth of research expertise and resources at K-State that are available for public and private corporate partners. 

 

“Industry partnerships are crucial components to advance your research, to increase research funding at Kansas State University, and to impact the economic development of our state and region,” said Peter Dorhout, vice president for research. “These partnerships are becoming even more pivotal as state funding remains limited and grants from federal funding agencies are becoming increasingly competitive. I hope faculty and staff are excited about this opportunity that could lead to collaborations that will advance their research, engage their students, and potentially develop new solutions and technologies.”

 

The Research Showcase will highlight the university’s numerous capabilities, including:

 

• Global food systems, including agriculture and food science

 

• Animal and human health and nutrition

 

• Engineering and technology, including construction, architecture and software

 

• Workforce development and diversity

 

• Life sciences and analytics, including sensory analysis and consumer preferences and behavior

 

“We are taking the showcase on the road to Olathe this year because companies in Greater Kansas City are hungry for collaboration and innovation with talented researchers,” Dorhout said. “Industry benefits from academic partners who help develop and advance the technologies of tomorrow so that they can be brought to a commercial market and used to improve lives.

 

“I encourage you to join us at this event to promote your expertise and the resources and research activities and capabilities across our campuses at Kansas State University,” he said.

 

Learn more about the 2017 Research Showcase. Industry registration is due by May 1.

 

K-Staters from the Kansas City area gathered to celebrate their purple pride and raise funds for student scholarships at the 11^th annual Wabash CannonBall Kansas City on Feb. 24 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

 

The elegant evening of dining, dancing and donating drew a crowd of nearly 800 K-State alumni, supporters and university administrators. In the first decade, the event has built an endowment of nearly $2 million and funded more than 370 scholarships — totaling $932,500 — for Kansas City-area high school students to attend K-State.

 

“Thank you to all of our alumni and supporters who helped us celebrate K-State at the 11^th annual Wabash CannonBall Kansas City,” said Andrea Bryant Gladin ’02, director of alumni programs. “Your generous support of scholarships makes it possible for future generations of Wildcats to attend K-State. Thank you!”

 

The next Wabash CannonBall event will be the inaugural Wabash CannonBall North Texas gala May 19, followed by Wabash CannonBall Colorado on Aug. 11. Learn more about the Alumni Association’s Wabash CannonBall galas.

 

(Photos by David Mayes ’96) 

 

Experience K-State with a special grandchild, niece, nephew or neighbor in your life at this year’s Grandparents University.

 

Co-sponsored by the College of Education and the K-State Alumni Association, Grandparents University is a summer camp where children ages 8-12 and their guardian can engage in a variety of learning experiences on the K-State campus in Manhattan, Kansas. 

 

Grandparents University 2017 will be July 30 through Aug. 1. Registration opens March 6.

 

Participants stay in a suite together in a residence hall and eat in the Derby Food Complex, just like a college student. The schedule involves activities from units such as Engineering, Education, Architecture, the Beach Museum of Art and more. Additional opportunities include swimming and bowling and of course a scoop of Call Hall ice cream. There also will be time to explore campus while participating in a scavenger hunt.

 

“Make plans now to reunite with campus, do the Wabash, and spell K-S-U,” said Debbie Mercer ’84, ’88, ’96, ’99, dean of the College of Education. “Share your K-State pride while making memories with a special child in your life!”

 

Logan Taylor, Wichita, Kansas, and Lynda Taylor ’74, Yates Center, Kansas, attended Grandparents University 2016 and said it was a great opportunity for them to have fun together and explore K-State.

 

“We just wanted to spend some quality time together,” Lynda Taylor said.

 

If you have questions about Grandparents University, please call the registration office at 785-532-6041 or email gpu@ksu.edu. Space is limited, so make sure to sign up as soon as possible if you’d like to attend.

Throughout the year, the K-State Alumni Association connects K-Staters across the state, the country and the globe with a variety of events and programs. View photos from some of our recent events in the gallery below, or learn how you can get involved with a club in your area. Also be sure to watch our calendar page for upcoming events. 

 

Former K-State basketball player Bob Chipman ’74, ’76 played guard for two years under Wildcat coaching legend Jack Hartman. Now, he’s a coaching legend in his own right.

 

As head coach of the Washburn University men’s basketball team, Chipman, Topeka, Kansas, has led the Ichabods to unparalleled success, reaching 800 wins this season. He is the all-time winningest MIAA basketball coach. He led the Ichabods to the 1987 NAIA National Championship in Kansas City as well as to 12 conference titles with 10 coming in the MIAA. Last summer, he announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

 

Below, Chipman shares some of his thoughts about his career and his time at K-State.

 

Reflecting on your career, what has been your most memorable moments with Washburn?

Bob Chipman: The National Championship in 1987. In 2001, we were the runner-up. Being able to coach my son, Bobby — that was a dream come true. My family — my wife, Carol ’76; my daughter, Kelsey ’10, and Bobby — were so much a part of so much of everything I’ve done here. Those are the highlights.

 

Was there anything in your coaching style that you picked up from Coach Jack Hartman?

In my estimation he was the greatest basketball coach ever. Coach taught me the game of basketball, the fundamentals, how to win. The practices that he organized and put us through, they allowed everyone to become the very best they could be.

 

Why do you think basketball is so important to Kansas?

The history and the winning. With schools like K-State, KU, Wichita State, Washburn and Fort Hays, it’s always been exciting. They’ve all had successes, but it seems to be getting better in recent years on all levels, not just the top schools. 

 

Stay up-to-date on K-State men’s and women’s basketball with K-State Athletics.

Harold Roberts ’59, ’68, or as others knew him, “Mr. Ice Cream,” earned the name for his passion in teaching dairy processing and for his years directing the operations of Kansas State University’s dairy processing plant.

 

“The ‘Purple Pride’ ice cream flavor was started by Harold back when the football field was purple and Vince Gibson was the coach,” said Kevin Grow ’87, ’90, one of Roberts’ former students. “All the ice cream formulas and flavors at the Call Hall Dairy Bar were developed by Harold and to my knowledge are still intact.”

 

The Kansas Dairy Technology Society and the Missouri Dairy Products Association have created a scholarship to perpetuate the memory of Roberts and honor his family while providing financial assistance to students in the Department of Animal Science and Industry or the Food Science and Industry programs at K-State.

 

While having numerous professional memberships, Roberts also left a mark on K-State personally. He was a reliable dairy judge for the FFA, K-State dairy products teams and many state fairs, and also was known for inspiring many students in the classes he taught.

 

Read more

 

Carrying on the inspiration

Diane Patrick ’70 and her late husband, Bob ’69, ’70, were both influenced by taking political science courses from Orma Linford. Linford held rigorous academic standards, founded the pre-law program and was a staunch defender of the Constitution. She was a civil rights and civil liberties advocate, counseling victims of civil rights infringements and racial and gender discrimination.

 

To Diane and Bob, she represented an empowered professor with the highest intellectual standards, who had the strength and will to counsel those who did not yet have their voice.

 

“Dr. Linford was committed to ensuring that due process was in place for students who chose to demonstrate or engage in civil disobedience to voice their opinion on critical issues of the late 1960s, such as civil rights and the Vietnam War,” Patrick said.

 

The Linford-Patrick professorship in political science was made with the intent that the recipient of this award would reflect the teaching style that Linford possessed.

 

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