Kansas State University’s 103rd Homecoming started with a 5K Run/Walk benefitting the Multicultural Student Center initiative and ended with a football victory over Oklahoma State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

This year’s Homecoming theme was “Little Apple, Big Entertainment,” celebrating a variety of musical styles and performers. View photos from some of our Homecoming events in the gallery below, and click on the links for even more photos on Facebook.

Student organizations competed and shared their best Wildcat cheers at Pant the Chant. (Photo: David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association)

Students painted the windows in Aggieville and dressed them up for Homecoming. (Photo: Ashley Pauls, K-State Alumni Association)

Student organizations showed off their best dancing and lip-syncing skills at Wildcat Request Live. (Photo: David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association)

Face painting was one of the highlights of the annual K-State Homecoming Children’s Carnival. (Photo: David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association)

Cool, rainy weather couldn’t dampen the festive spirit in Aggieville for the Homecoming parade, where plenty of purple pride was on display. (Photo: Ashley Pauls, K-State Alumni Association)

K-Staters geared up for the Homecoming football game at the annual pep rally. (Photo: David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association)

Wildcat fans enjoyed food and fun before the football game at the K-State Alumni Association’s pregame party. (Photo: David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association)

Congratulations to K-State’s new Student Ambassadors! Pictured left to right are: current ambassador Michelle Anderson; President Richard Myers ’65; Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, K-State Alumni Association president and CEO; new ambassador Maddy Mash; Sylvia White Robinson ’71, Alumni Association board of directors chair; new ambassador Tel J. Wittmer; and current ambassador Darrell Reese Jr. (Photo: David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association)

For Kansas State University’s Student Ambassador candidates, standing on the field during halftime at the Homecoming football game is both a thrilling and nerve-wracking experience, as everyone waits to hear the announcement about who will be the next K-State Student Ambassadors.

That moment marked the beginning of a whole new journey for Maddy Mash and Tel Wittmer, who have been elected by the student body to serve as the 2019 K-State Student Ambassadors. Mash is a junior in microbiology and pre-medicine from Wichita, Kansas, and Wittmer is a sophomore in secondary education from Holton, Kansas.

The Student Ambassador program was established by the K-State Alumni Association in 1977 and broadens the university’s outreach. Mash and Wittmer will visit with prospective students and alumni at K-State alumni club events, sharing updates about the university and the benefits of being a student at K-State.

They’ll also attend Student Alumni Board meetings and activities and assist with programming on campus, such as the Alumni Fellows program, All-University Homecoming Committee and other special events. Mash and Wittmer also will receive a $1,500 scholarship, clothing from Manhattan clothing store Borck Brothers and an official K-State ring from the Alumni Association.

Get to know Maddy Mash and Tel Wittmer with our Q&As below, and be sure to look for them at future K-State events!

Maddy Mash

Mash is a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She has served her sorority as member development vice president, new member orientation director, sisterhood director and assistant academic director. Additionally, she is a pre-health ambassador, New Student Services ambassador, 2018 K-State Orientation and Enrollment leader and is a member of Silver Key Sophomore Honorary and Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

Why is K-State important to you?

Mash: K-State is truly dedicated to preserving the individuality of all students, while at the same time providing them with the support of the K-State family throughout their college careers. I am so thankful for the development, opportunities, and most importantly, the people I have met throughout my time here. We are all here for each other, and strive to ensure each other’s happiness.

Why did you decide to run for Ambassador?

I would love the opportunity to connect with students and share the incredible, unique experiences I have had thus far. K-State and the people that fill this outstanding university have shaped my future for the better, and I am confident that K-State can continue to do that for future generations to come!

What is your greatest challenge to overcome in projecting a positive image about K-State?

In today’s world, many students are choosing to go to community colleges over four-year institutions, simply because of cost. It is important to remind students that K-State can provide them with so much more than just academic classes; it provides them with a life education. Upon graduation, students will feel fully prepared to tackle their career paths ahead, because K-State has fostered the growth of their full potential!

What qualities do you have that will allow you to succeed in the role of an ambassador?

Whenever I meet a new person, I love finding out their unique interests and what they are passionate about. Being able to connect with someone upon those topics, often spurs the best kinds of conversations and can allow me to show prospective students how K-State can support and develop their interests and passions. Additionally, I am also innovative and love thinking of new and creative ways to constantly better my surroundings.

Tel Wittmer

Wittmer is a member of the Student Alumni Board and Student Governing Association, serving as a student senator and caucus leader for the College of Education and vice chairman of the Travel Allocations Committee. Additionally, he is a New Student Services ambassador and a 2018 K-State Orientation and Enrollment leader. 

Why is K-State important to you?

Wittmer: K-State is important to me because of the opportunities that it provides. In 1863, we were established as the nation’s first land-grant institution; our mission was to provide access to opportunities so that everyone, regardless of background, could further their education and succeed. Our mission is still the same to this day: to provide access to opportunities, academics, and above all, access to a community that will love, support and encourage you to grow.

Why did you decide to run for Ambassador?

Throughout the school year I work as a New Student Services ambassador, where I have the awesome opportunity of sharing K-State and connecting with prospective students and their families. What better way to make the K-State family accessible to everyone than to build meaningful relationships with past, present and future students through serving as a K-State Student Ambassador!

What is your greatest challenge to overcome in projecting a positive image about K-State?

There is a qualitative value we put on the word “family.” It means you can expect the best from me and I can expect the best from you, and together we can make each other and the world better. Reinforcing the idea of loving each other and doing my part in maintaining this commitment to people around me is what I believe to be my greatest challenge as a student but also my greatest opportunity!

What qualities do you have that will allow you to succeed in the role of an ambassador?

If I could describe K-State in one word it would be “relationships.” Time and time again, it is the intricate web of relationships that I have built over my time at K-State that has pushed myself to be the best I can be. As Student Ambassador, my No. 1 goal will be to build meaningful relationships with everyone so that we all can get the most out of our amazing university!

When the K-State men’s basketball players walked onto the court for their matchup with TCU in January, they were wearing uniforms that looked a little different than normal. 

The throwback uniforms — featuring lavender jerseys, dark purple shorts, white socks and lavender shoes — originally debuted in 1973. At the time, they weren’t necessarily universally loved within college basketball culture. According to the Wichita Eagle, home teams only wore white uniforms at the time, and when K-State took their unconventional look on the road, they drew a lot of attention.

Although opposing fans and players may have jeered at the uniforms, Wildcat fans and players embraced the unique look. The lavender uniforms have now come to symbolize one of the most successful periods in K-State men’s basketball history. Serving as K-State’s permanent road uniforms from 1973-82, they were immortalized with Sports Illustrated’s March 23, 1981, cover photo of Rolando Blackman ’81 and his game-winning shot against No. 1 seed Oregon State in the NCAA Tournament.

“Those uniforms were before their time,” Wildcat alum Chuckie Williams ’79 told the K-State Alumni Association. “I hadn’t seen anything like them before. They were colorful, they were magical, and we won a lot of games. And something about them, they brought them back. That’s the magical part in it. Let’s hope they win a lot of games wearing those uniforms.”

The idea for the two-tone uniforms came from legendary K-State coach Jack Hartman. He got together with his longtime friend Jim Knight, who ran Knight’s Sporting Goods, the team’s primary apparel vendor out of Salina, Kansas, to come up with the uniforms.

Lon Kruger ’75, Oklahoma’s head coach who played at K-State from 1971-74, said Coach Hartman was proud of those uniforms, despite the fact they were booed on the road (or maybe even because of it).

“We were proud to wear them,” Kruger said. “It was different and a little bit unusual. Today, people will wear uniforms of any color, but back then it was a little bit different.”

The lavender uniforms certainly seemed to have a special kind of magic. From 1973-82, K-State went 186-81 (.697) and reached the postseason six times, including five NCAA Tournament berths. K-State also won the 1977 Big Eight regular season title, as well as the 1977 and 1980 Big Eight Tournament championships during this stretch.

“If you’re going to wear that uniform, you have to back up wearing that uniform. You have to let people know that the uniforms represent who we are,” said Mike Evans, who played at K-State from 1974-78. “We were proud to wear those uniforms. We preferred to use those uniforms. We would’ve liked to wear those uniforms at home. We loved it.”

The second season with the uniforms, when Williams and Evans first earned the “Purple Pop Guns” nickname, K-State took the unique look to the East Coast to play in the NCAA East Regional. The opponent was Pennsylvania, led by Hall of Fame head coach Chuck Daly. The venue was the Palestra, often referred to as the Cathedral of College Basketball.

“They were just shocked,” Evans said. “You could hear them whispering, ‘Look at the colors on those uniforms. What kind of uniforms are those? Where are these people from?’ They really didn’t give us a lot of concern back then. We quieted them up really, really fast.” Evans and Williams eventually scored 33 points combined in K-State’s 69-62 win over Pennsylvania. “The lavender and purple left a lasting impression on them.”

Apparently, the lavender is still working its magic on the basketball court. This past season, the men’s team made it all the way to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’ve always been a big fan of these jerseys, and the shorts and the shoes,” senior guard Barry Brown said. “It’s good for our alumni that went here. People are now calling them the ‘lucky lavender.’”

K-State fans haven’t seen the last of the lavender, either.

During a recent media day, coach Bruce Weber said the Wildcats will wear the throwback, two-tone lavender jerseys again in 2018-19.

“I think the people liked it,” Weber said in an article in the Manhattan Mercury. “Our kids liked it.”

View the 2018-19 K-State men’s basketball and women’s basketball schedules.

— Special thanks to Corbin McGuire ’14, creative writing specialist at K-State Athletics, for his contributions to this article. 

When K-State graduate Bernard Franklin ’76, ’96 was young, he dared to dream impossible dreams. 

He was born in poverty, and his parents worked as sharecroppers. He grew up with no running water, had to sleep outside in the summertime, and was only able to take a bath once a week.

But he never let go of his hopes for the future, and today he serves as the vice president for student life at Mount Saint Mary’s University. He shared his life story during Kansas State University’s KSUnite gathering on Oct. 9, an event designed to spread a message of hope, unity and possibility for all K-Staters.

“That was my beginning. That’s where I was formed, where I was shaped,” Franklin addressed the crowd gathered in the K-State Student Union. “I stand before you a transformed man, from what K-State did for me. I came from nothing. I represented nothing. I had nothing. K-State gave me everything.”

The KSUnite movement started in 2017 with a gathering on Anderson Hall lawn designed to affirm K-State’s commitment to create a safe, inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, where everyone can share ideas and learn from each other, and all have a chance to succeed.

The university planned a similar event for 2018 to demonstrate that the conversation surrounding unity, diversity and opportunity is ongoing and will continue in the future. A variety of speakers — including Franklin — shared their perspectives on what the concept of KSUnite means to them, and why it’s important to keep fighting against discrimination and injustice.

Making dreams a reality

When Franklin came to K-State in the 1970s, he recalls that his roommates’ parents would judge him based on the color of his skin. He was encouraged to get involved on campus to help change the culture, and so he did. He became student body president in 1975.

“Life changed for me,” he said. “I found my voice. I found who I was.”

His life would never be the same because people believed in him and his dreams. He encouraged K-Staters to continue building a community that is open to all.

“Our students will leave here and work and live in a diverse culture,” he said. “We must figure out how we take those dreams and make them reality. We can’t wait — we must push forward.”

K-State is already making dreams a reality for Vedant Kulkarni, international community student.

Kulkarni dreamed of studying abroad, when he happened to read about K-State and saw it was a place where all Wildcats were welcome.

Although he faced some challenges and was anxious about starting a new experience, he has now made friends from all over the world and is serving as the Student Engagement Committee chair as part of the K-State Student Governing Association.   

“Every international student has a unique story,” he said. “I have had a wonderful experience here at K-State. I have made many friends. Kansas State gave me an opportunity to dream big.”

Be part of the change

K-State has already made strides in promoting diversity and making sure a K-State education is accessible to all. The university has once again received a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED, Award from Insight into Diversity magazine; K-State has received the award every year since 2014. And for the second year in a row, Campus Pride has listed K-State among its 30 Best of the Best LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities with the highest ranking, five stars.

However, there is still work to be done. Adam Carr, LGBTQ community student, said it’s vitally important to make sure that all voices are heard. Don’t let anyone feel like their input has been dismissed, or that they have not been included in the K-State family.

“All who have been minoritized and minimized in this world — I hear you, I see you, and I believe you,” he said. “I am here for you. Keep pushing and moving forward. I see our community as having pieces from all of us.”

K-State views the construction of a Multicultural Center on campus as an important part of “moving forward.”

President Richard Myers ’65 said the project has now received more than $4.2 million in funding, and is scheduled for approval by the Kansas Board of Regents in November. Preliminary designs are due in January 2019, and the project likely will be completed in 2020. This year, the K-State Alumni Association’s annual Homecoming 5K Run/Walk raised funds for the project.

The facility will be approximately 14,300 square feet and will include a welcome area as well as gathering, meeting and performance spaces.

“This will be a place where all people can unite for Kansas State University,” Myers said. 

Whether you are a student, faculty/staff member, graduate, friend or donor, you can be a part of KSUnite and define the future of the university.

“We stand for unity that embraces our differences,” Myers said. “We believe that diversity of views enriches our learning environment. Our work is not complete. Let’s continue this walk together.”

When Aubrey Abbott Patterson ’98 and her husband, Lance ’98, moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, as newlyweds, they didn’t know anyone. However, they soon found they weren’t really alone; a K-State alumni group in the area helped them get connected to other K-Staters and settle into their new home.

Patterson hasn’t forgotten the impact those early connections made. Now, she gives back to the K-State Alumni Association’s annual fund, Tradition Founders, as a way to help other K-Staters continue making connections.

“The Tradition Founders fund supports so many of the things I love, like the K-Stater magazine, scholarships and campus reunions,” she said. “The K-State Alumni Association helps me connect and reminds me of all the ways that K-State touched my life and helped me succeed. In turn, I want the Alumni Association to be able to do the same for other students and alums, and that’s why I give back.”

Tradition Founders donors support a wide variety of programs that unite members of the K-State family, including student scholarships and student retention programs; awards that recognize outstanding alumni and students; multicultural programming; alumni club events; the K-Stater magazine; and more. The average gift is $50 — every gift makes a difference!

Sylvia White Robinson ’71, current chair of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors, donates to the Tradition Founders fund as a way to support the Alumni Association’s ongoing programming.

Robinson said she came to K-State as a very shy first-generation college student, and the experience gave her the opportunity to change her life’s trajectory by supporting her development and enhancing her leadership skills. 

“It was through opportunities to work with campus leadership, at all levels, that I learned how to engage in adaptive leadership toward the common good,” she said. “This has translated toward my past and current involvement in civic service at the local, state and national level.”

Although she and her husband, Roy ’70, became life members of the Alumni Association after graduating from K-State, Robinson said it wasn’t until they started getting more involved with the Alumni Association through the Black Student Reunion that they began to understand and appreciate the role of the Alumni Association. 

“I would invite alumni and friends of KSU to visit the Alumni Association website and learn more about the ongoing programming their contributions would support,” she said. “You will be inspired by the scope of opportunities, resources and recognition the Alumni Association provides for incoming, outgoing, current and past alumni.”

For Edgar Ramirez ’04, contributing to the K-State Alumni Association Tradition Founders fund helps promote the university’s overall mission. He looks back fondly on his time at K-State.

“Kansas State University has made me a better person,” he said. “I’ve gained my academic degree, invaluable life skills, true lifelong friends and a strong appreciation for the state of Kansas. I learned so much from my university experience.” 

He sees the Alumni Association as “an integral part of Kanas State University.” 

“I appreciate all that they do to collaborate with the Athletic Department, the Foundation and the university administration,” he said. “The Alumni Association plays an integral role to facilitate scholarships for students [and] organize university events for alumni/students. I am proud to donate to such a strong cornerstone of the university.” 

Giving Tuesday

Want to learn more about Tradition Founders and the mission of the Alumni Association? You can find more information on our Tradition Founders webpage.

And as you’re putting together your plans for Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping this season, why not put Giving Tuesday on your calendar as well? “Giving Tuesday” is an international day of giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Learn more about giving back to the K-State Alumni Association. 

Ask a K-State graduate about their favorite professor on campus, and you can watch these former students’ eyes light up as they share a special memory. Maybe it was a professor who stayed late to help them with an assignment, enabling them to pass a difficult class. Maybe it was a professor who encouraged them to take on a challenging research project, pushing them to achieve more than they ever thought they could. Maybe it was a professor whose passion for their field helped a student find their own passion for their future career.

Every semester, K-State faculty guide, challenge, inspire and enable K-State students to succeed in the classroom and beyond. The K-State Alumni Association provides well-deserved recognition for faculty with its annual Dr. Ron and Rae Iman Outstanding Faculty Awards. Introduced in 2007, the awards are sponsored by the K-State Alumni Association and are made possible through the generosity of Ron ’62, ’70, ’73 and Rae Iman.

This year’s Iman Award winners — Todd Easton and Raymond R.R. “Bob” Rowland — each received $5,000 awards in recognition of their outstanding research and teaching during a ceremony Oct. 15 at the K-State Alumni Center.

Todd Easton, Ph.D.
Associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering
Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching

“The Iman Teaching Award is very prestigious,” Easton said. “K-State faculty invest so much time and effort to help students become successful. We also have so many excellent teachers. I am still surprised that I am receiving this award. At the same time, I feel inadequate and more pressure to become a better teacher. I am truly honored, grateful and humbled to receive such an excellent award.”

Easton has developed a new active learning teaching style called lecture-based tutoring, and he has successfully implemented this technique in both undergraduate and graduate courses. His research interests are in combinatorial optimization with an emphasis in integer programming and graph theory.

His nominator, Bradley A. Kramer ’80, ’81, ’85, professor and head of the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, said that Easton is one of the most outstanding teachers he has ever known. He calls Easton an “enthusiastic and dedicated educational innovator.”

“Dr. Easton is an extremely popular teacher,” he said. “Students rearrange their schedules to take his classes. His popularity, though, is certainly not based on his being an easy teacher. Dr. Easton challenges his students to a very high level. He is an energetic and enthusiastic manager of learning and is highly respected by students. He cares for each student deeply, and he challenges both graduate and undergraduate students to high levels of achievement. Dr. Easton treats each student as if he was their personal mentor.”

His mentorship made a special impact on former student Jessica Heier Stamm ’04. Wanting to use her engineering background to solve technical issues related to the deployment of resources to help post-disaster recovery, she followed Easton’s advice to go to Georgia Tech and work towards a doctorate degree. She earned a National Science Foundation Fellowship, and her dissertation was recognized both nationally and internationally. Now, she has returned to K-State as an associate professor and recently received the prestigious NSF CAREER Award.

“First as an instructor and now as a colleague, Todd’s enthusiasm for teaching inspires me,” Heier Stamm said. “Whether meeting with a student one-on-one or in front of a large class, he purposefully engages each student to help them learn the material. This effort helped prepare me to succeed in challenging doctoral courses after I graduated from K-State. Now it’s a privilege to work alongside Todd to prepare other industrial engineers for success in their chosen careers.”

Easton said he treasures the connections he makes with the students in his classroom.

“I try to convince every student to pursue a graduate degree,” Easton said. “In a junior or senior class, I identify good students and persuade them to join my research group. For two years, we spend substantial time pursuing and solving some complicated problem. Watching these students successfully defend their thesis brings so much joy. I have had this experience 35 times, and each experience has been unique and truly awesome. This friendship continues after graduation, and it is wonderful to see the success of these students throughout their careers.”

Raymond R.R. “Bob” Rowland, Ph.D.
Professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology
Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Research

“This award comes at the perfect time in my career,” Rowland said. “As an older investigator, receiving the Dr. Ron and Rae Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Research has caused me to reflect on my 25 years in academics. One lesson I have learned is that research and education are inexorably linked; you cannot have one without the other. The research experience in my lab begins when a freshman student walks in the door. The Iman Award is not just a reward for scientific productivity, but a validation of my own unique art of discovery.”

Rowland is a virologist and immunologist and is an internationally recognized leader in swine health. For more than 25 years, he has worked on developing control measures for the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, known more commonly as PRRSV, the most devastating disease to ever face the global swine industry.

His recent work, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Missouri, demonstrated that genetic modification of the PRRSV receptor delivers complete resistance to disease. This work is considered a “game changer” that creates a path for the elimination of the virus and other pig diseases.

His nominator, Derek Mosier ’76, ’78, professor and head of the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, said that Rowland has established an international reputation addressing fundamental problems in the detection and control of infectious pig diseases caused by emerging and foreign viruses. His lab also has been active in the training and mentoring of undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students, as well as post-doctoral students and junior research faculty.

“He is an outstanding scientist at the top of his profession,” said Frank Blecha, associate dean for research and university distinguished professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “I have the highest admiration and respect for the job he does as a scientist and graduate student mentor.”

Rowland said the biggest highlight from his career at K-State has been participating in the collaborative effort to find a genetic solution to a disease that has plagued the swine industry for decades. 

“The total estimated impact of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is $15 billion,” he said. “Up until now, this disease was considered an intractable, ‘unsolvable’ problem, to be conquered by the next generation of veterinary virologists. The work on pigs genetically resistant to PRRSV, executed in collaboration with Randy Prather ’82, ’84 at the University of Missouri, has propelled the livestock industry into a new era. Research success is all about collaboration. As a research collaborator, Dr. Prather, a former K-State graduate, represents the best in collegiality and friendship.”

Rowland thanks K-State for helping make this research possible.

“K-State has carved out for me a large expanse of creative space supported by a team of problem-solvers,” he said. “While doing this job, I have seen the world, visiting more than 16 countries. I have the unique luxury and freedom of thinking about anything from anywhere.”

Learn more about the Iman Awards and the work of Ron and Rae Iman to support outstanding faculty on the K-State campus. 

Are you wondering what to get your favorite Wildcat fan for the holidays this year? Why not help them show off their purple pride all year long with these exclusive gifts from the K-State Alumni Association!

Browse through some of these items in the gallery below, and find even more gift ideas on the Alumni Association’s Shop Purple page.  

K-State Stones
K-State stones are made in Manhattan, Kansas, and are a great way to display your K-State pride. The stones are created using top-quality limestone and engraved with fade-resistant, long-lasting, monument-grade paint. Designs include the Powercat, vintage logos and more, as well as options for personalization. (Note: For 2018 holiday orders, order by Nov. 19 to ensure delivery by Dec. 21.)

Ornament
Who’s ready for K-State basketball season? We are! Our 2018 ornament design commemorates the 30th anniversary of Bramlage Coliseum. The ornament features the basketball court and stands of Bramlage Coliseum, with a Powercat and the word “DOOM” on the back, along with “30th anniversary 1988-2018”). Previous years’ designs also are available, including an Alma Mater ornament. (Note: For 2018 holiday orders, order by Dec. 10 to ensure delivery by Dec. 21.)

Ring
Take a piece of K-State with you everywhere you go with the official K-State ring. The ring, which was designed based on input from K-State students, reflects the university’s culture and tradition. A variety of design options are available. (Note: Please allow at least eight weeks for the delivery of your ring.)

Watch
You can keep track of time with K-State pride using the K-State Seiko Watch from Danenberg Jewelers in Manhattan, Kansas. The watch features the Kansas State University seal, in either gold-tone or two-tone designs. (Note: Call 785-776-7821 for more information about purchasing.)

Charlie Hustle shirt
K-State Alumni Association members can purchase our new K-State Charlie Hustle T-shirt — this design is available exclusively for members and cannot be purchased anywhere else! This T-shirt is super soft and made in a unisex cut. (Note: For 2018 holiday orders, order by Dec. 10 to ensure delivery by Dec. 21.)  

Diploma frame
Preserve your K-State diploma with an official K-State diploma frame from Church Hill Classics! A variety of designs and styles are available to help you display your diploma and share your purple pride. (Note: As a general rule, you should expect to have your frame “in hand” in 10 business days.)

If you’re looking for an additional gift that keeps on giving throughout the year, why not get the Wildcat in your life a K-State Alumni Association membership? Benefits include the K-Stater magazine, annual wall calendar, our nationwide Wildcat Discounts program and more! Learn more about the benefits of Alumni Association membership.

Laurie Koehn ’15 knew that being a basketball star would take a lot of hard work. At the age of 9, she decided she wanted to become a Division I player, and so she practiced…and practiced…and practiced.

“Every single day, I wanted to do something that would make me better at basketball,” Koehn told the Manhattan Mercury in 2017. “It was simple, but literally, I was pretty obsessed about it. I wouldn’t miss a day when I would shoot 100 free throws.”

All that practicing definitely paid off. Koehn is the K-State and Big 12 all-time leader in career 3-point field goals made, with 392 during her four-year career that spanned from 2001-05. She went on to play in the WBNA and will always be remembered as a K-State basketball legend.

Koehn joins two other Wildcat greats, former football players David Allen ’01, ’11 and Clarence Scott ’77, as a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018. The Wildcat trio was inducted during a ceremony Oct. 7 at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in the Wichita Boathouse. With the three new members, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame now includes 49 representatives with ties to K-State.

Laurie Koehn ’15

The school and conference leader in 3-point attempts (942), Koehn was a two-time Second Team All-Big 12 selection (2004, 2005) and earned third-team honors as a freshman in 2002. She also picked up national Rookie of the Year honors from ESPN in 2001-02 and was a three-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week pick.

A two-time Academic All-America honoree, who earned first-team accolades in 2005, Koehn went on to earn a gold medal with the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship for Young Women Team and a silver medal as a member of the 2003 USA Basketball Pan American Games Team.

Koehn signed as a free agent with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics in 2005 and played four seasons with the organization, and she played the 2012 season with the Atlanta Dream. She led the WNBA in 3-point field goal percentage in both 2005 (.467) and 2006 (.524).

“Laurie is the best three-point shooter in the country,” said Deb Patterson, former K-State women’s basketball coach. “With Laurie Koehn, you get the very best there is in this game. I can honestly say it’s a privilege to walk into a gym with someone with the heart, intensity and skill she brings to the floor. She’s one-of-a-kind in how quickly she can get her three-point shot off and with what range she brings to the floor with that shot. There has never been a more committed, intense or harder worker in Kansas State women’s basketball.”

David Allen ’01, ’11

The sixth Consensus All-American in school history following the 1998 season, Allen’s Wildcat career coincided with some of the best years in K-State football history as the program put together four 11-win seasons during his playing days of 1997-2000. During that time, Allen set the school career punt-return records for yards (1,646), average (16.0), touchdowns (7) and attempts (103).

During his All-American campaign of 1998, Allen set school records for punt-return yards (730) and touchdowns (4), while he also had a 172-yard return game against Texas to set the school mark. His contest against the Longhorns featured a 93-yard touchdown.

Allen also picked up First Team All-America accolades in 1999 and 2000, and he earned four career Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Following his K-State career, Allen played five seasons in the NFL with San Francisco, Minnesota, Jacksonville and St. Louis, and he finished his professional career with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2006. For his career efforts, Allen was enshrined in K-State football lore as he was inducted into the program’s Ring of Honor in 2008.

John Fabris, special teams coach during Allen’s college career, said, “David had a vision for the field and had the wiggle in his running that made people miss so often. He worked so hard and would stay after practice to get better. It was second nature to him. He had that competitive confidence you want in a guy returning kicks.”

Clarence Scott ’77

A defensive back from 1968-70, Scott played in the first game at now-Bill Snyder Family Stadium. As a senior in 1970, he earned First Team All-America honors from Sporting News and Look magazine, in addition to being named a First Team All-Big Eight performer.

Drafted 14th overall in the 1971 NFL Draft by Cleveland, Scott played 13 seasons in the NFL and helped the Browns earn four playoff appearances.

He is a member of the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame, was inducted into K-State football’s Ring of Honor in 2015, and he was enshrined in the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

“I have great memories from Kansas State,” Scott said. “It was part of my development, part of the process that took me on to the NFL. K-State was part of my story.” 

— Special thanks to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and photographer Darren Decker for the use of photos from the induction ceremony Oct. 7.

Is higher education worth the cost? Tax payers, students, parents, legislators … many people are asking this question. The answer is YES. Having thriving institutions of higher education is key to Kansas’ prosperity; it’s crucial for a flourishing state economy and it’s essential to the health, well-being and success of students, families and Kansas communities.

The value of a college education is just one of the questions frequently asked of KSU Foundation staff that we address in this issue of Good for K-State magazine. Do you want to find out how research at K-State benefits you? Have you wondered why private support for faculty is so important? Keep reading to find out the answers to these questions and more.

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The inventor award

When Dave Braun ’67 was a graduate student in mechanical engineering at K-State, he developed an omni-directional radiometer to measure the mean radiant temperature of enclosed spaces, and designed a small machine that would climb a steel surface and measure its thickness.

“At that time there were no emphases on student patents, but this work prepared me to become an inventor in my later career,” Dave said.

Due to his own experience, Dave and his wife, Ann, decided to create an inventor award for students enrolled in the College of Engineering who are involved in the development of new technologies and products with a potential for commercial application.

“We hope this award will cause students to learn about creativity, innovation, inventions and patents, and we want to reward outstanding new inventors in the student body,” Ann said. “Especially those who are willing to work diligently to bring their ideas to life.”

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