Rand and Patti Berney named grand marshals for 2018 Homecoming parade

Posted September 7, 2018

Longtime Kansas State University supporters Rand and Patti Berney, Manhattan, Kansas, will be the grand marshals for the Oct. 12 K-State Homecoming Parade. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. at Manhattan Town Center and will proceed through Aggieville before ending in City Park for the Homecoming pep rally.

"We're so honored to have the Berney's as our grand marshals this year," said Marcus Kidd, Homecoming chair and assistant director of student programs for the Alumni Association. "They've given back so much to the University and it's amazing to see what a great impact that they've had on students' lives. Their philanthropic nature is truly inspirational and helps
K-State flourish and thrive."

Rand Berney graduated from K-State in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He earned a master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University in 1982. He is retired from ConocoPhillips, where his last position was senior vice president of corporate shared services from 2009 until his retirement in May 2012. The majority of his career with ConocoPhillips was spent in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He is on the executive committee of the dean's advisory council for the College of Business Administration, is an Executive-in-Residence for the college, served as chairman of the board of directors of the KSU Foundation and currently serves as chairman of the KSU Foundation board of trustees. Additionally, he was a member of the K-State Alumni Association's board of directors. Rand was inducted into the Kansas State Accounting Hall of Fame in 2003. He was honored in 2004 as the College of Business Administration's Distinguished Business Leader of the Year and was inducted into the Distinguished Business Leaders Hall of Fame that same year. In 2006, he was honored again by the college when he was named an alumni fellow and in 2011 he served the college as its distinguished lecturer in the spring. He also serves as an executive mentor in the college. Rand serves on the board of directors of Tortoise Capital Advisors, Leawood, Kansas; and Arvest Bank and the Frank Phillips Foundation, both of Bartlesville.

Patti Berney attended Fort Hays State University. She has been an active volunteer leader for community, church, arts and educational institutions in both Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Houston, including Red Cross, Greenspoint Mission, Target Hunger, the Bartlesville Symphony and Special Olympics. Patti served on the board of directors for Family Crisis and Counseling, and Friends of Frank Phillips Home, all in Bartlesville. She currently serves on the Salvation Army board of directors also in Bartlesville, and is a member of the board of trustees of the KSU Foundation.

The Berney Family Welcome center is named for their family and is located in World War I Memorial Stadium.

"Kansas State University has played a central role in our relationship and family life over the past 46 years," said Rand and Patti Berney. "We are extremely humbled to serve as Grand Marshals in this year's Homecoming Parade and will cherish this honor for many years to come. We are so proud of our students, alumni, faculty, administration and student-athletes and to be recognized as passionate Wildcat fans."

This year's Homecoming theme is Little Apple, Big Entertainment and marks K-State's 103rd Homecoming celebration. Homecoming is a universitywide celebration sponsored by the K-State Alumni Association.

To stay up-to-date on all 2018 Homecoming activities here.

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