Manhattan, Kansas, may not be surrounded by skyscrapers or millions of people like Manhattan, New York. However, the “Little Apple” still offers plenty to see and do, with a charm all its own.

“Little Apple, Big Entertainment” is the theme of Kansas State University’s Homecoming 2018, Oct. 7-13. Homecoming is sponsored by the K-State Alumni Association and includes activities for all ages, ranging from students to families.

“It’s something all generations are able to connect to,” said junior Caroline McFeeters, who is serving on the Alumni Association’s Student Homecoming Committee for the first time.

Fellow committee member and senior Eli Berner said this theme actually came up last year for consideration, and it made such an impression that it was proposed again this year. Berner said he’s excited this theme is getting its turn in the spotlight.

“I really like the theme,” he said.

The members of the Student Homecoming Committee are behind-the-scenes rock stars who help make all the Homecoming events possible.

Berner served on the committee last year, and is now an intern in charge of the 5K event.

“I really enjoyed doing it last year,” he said. “I want to make more of an impact, to give more of myself.”

McFeeters said she joined the committee thanks to encouragement from Alumni Association President and CEO Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, whom McFeeters looks up to as a mentor.

“Homecoming is always something I look forward to each year,” she said.

Don’t miss out on all the fun — check out the different Homecoming events in our gallery below. (File photos) Learn more about K-State Homecoming 2018.

Sunday, Oct. 7
Philanthropy 5K Run/Walk
Benefitting the Multicultural Student Center initiative.
K-State Alumni Center, 10 a.m.
All race-day entries and entries postmarked after Sept. 26 are $25. Walk-up registration will be accepted at the K-State Alumni Center from 8:30-9:30 a.m. the morning of the race. (Note: T-shirts cannot be guaranteed for entries after Sept. 26.)

Pant the Chant
Bramlage Coliseum, 8 p.m.
Watch student organizations compete and share their best Wildcat cheers.

Tuesday, Oct. 9
Paint the ’Ville
Aggieville, All day
Come see how students have painted the windows in Aggieville and dressed them up for Homecoming!
***Rain delay: Students scheduled to paint Wednesday.***

KSUnite Walk
Campuswide, 1 p.m.
Faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to come together to celebrate diversity and inclusion with a Unity Walk to the K-State Student Union Ballroom at 1 p.m. An official program will start afterwards.

Wildcat Request Live
Bramlage Coliseum, 8 p.m.
Student organizations show off their best dancing and lip-syncing skills.

Wednesday, Oct. 10
Percentage Night
Manhattan businesses are helping raise funds for the 5K benefactor, the Multicultural Student Center initiative, by donating a portion of their proceeds from Wednesday evening. Participants must mention Homecoming Percentage Night when placing an order. Find a list of participating businesses.

K-State volleyball vs. Iowa State
Ahearn Field House, 7 p.m.
Come cheer on the ’Cats!

Thursday, Oct. 11
Children’s Carnival
K-State Student Union, 6-8 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 12
Trick-or-Treat
Aggieville, 3-5 p.m.

Parade
Begins on Third and Poyntz through Aggieville, 5 p.m.
Longtime K-State supporters Rand ’77 and Patti Berney will be the grand marshals for the parade.

K-State soccer vs. Texas Tech
K-State soccer complex, 6 p.m.
Come cheer on the ’Cats!

Pep Rally
Larry Norvell Band Shell, City Park, approx. 6:30 p.m. (following the parade)

Madness in Manhattan
Bramlage Coliseum, 7 p.m.  
Come celebrate K-State basketball!

***Weather Notice for Parade and Pep Rally: Rain or shine, these events will still happen! Please dress appropriately. However, if there is lightning in the area, expect a delay. Follow us on social media for the most updated information.***

Saturday, Oct. 13
Homecoming Pregame Party
Cat Town, 9 a.m.
(Note: Registration due by Oct. 8.)

K-State football vs. Oklahoma State
Bill Snyder Family Stadium, 11 a.m.
2019 Student Ambassadors announced at halftime. Learn more about discounted tickets for Alumni Association members.

They may be separated by hundreds of miles, but the Freisberg family’s K-State pride never fails to bring them together. K-State football games have become a favorite gathering place for the family, and the Sept. 15 game vs. UTSA found them coming back “home” to Manhattan, Kansas.

However, this was no ordinary football game for the Freisbergs. That’s because Sept. 15 was also K-State’s 90th Family Day, and on the field during the football game, the Freisbergs were recognized as K-State’s 2018 Family of the Year.

Chimes, K-State’s junior honorary, selects the university’s Family of the Year based on three criteria: how the family is affiliated with the university; the way family members show loyalty and pride in the university; and how they define family and fit the description.

“The Freisberg family stood out to our organization because they have taken their pride far and wide across the country and the world,” said Alexis Cherry, chair of events for Chimes Junior Honorary. “We were excited to honor a family that is dedicated enough to represent our university from all over.”

Purple pride worldwide

The Freisberg family’s history at K-State began with John Freisberg, who attended K-State in the 1960s. Three of his children also attended the university: Anna Freisberg Hoard ’96 received a Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in planning; Reese Freisberg ’99 received his bachelor’s degree in horticulture/turf management, a secondary degree in natural resources and environmental science, and a minor in German; and Richard Freisberg attended until 2002 and majored in chemical engineering with a minor in Spanish.

While not all of the Freisberg children attended K-State, they share their dad’s passion for K-State — along with their mother, Jackie — and show their Wildcat pride from Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas and internationally.

“My sister sent me a photo of her and her husband wearing K-State memorabilia in Abu Dhabi, where her husband currently works,” said Richard Freisberg, who nominated his family for the award. “Our K-State pride also has been seen in Mexico, Hawaii, Germany, France, England and Japan.”

Returning to K-State provides an opportunity for them to share their love for each other and the university.

“Family is the center of being,” Freisberg said. “Our family is spread out but we join together on many special occasions, especially K-State games!”

About Family Day

K-State Family Day is a special tradition, and the 2018 event celebrated 90 years of welcoming families to campus for a day of activities designed around family, togetherness and pride. Participants enjoyed a variety of activities showcasing the history, tradition and special connection between K-State, students and their families.

“Celebrating 90 years of K-State Family Day is truly remarkable,” said Mindy Weixelman ’95, director of parents and family relations in the Office of Student Life. “Parents and families continue to play a critical role in achieving student success. One way we define family is by making sure students have the resources they need to be successful.”

Learn more about the Freisberg family or K-State’s Family Day, and get to know K-State’s past Families of the Year. 

When St. John’s Catholic School graduate Adam Bates decided to enroll at Kansas State University, he wasn’t alone. In fact, the entire senior class from his high school decided to join him. 

“All four students from that class are now enrolled at KSU for the fall semester,” said Jeff Bates ’91, ’97, business teacher/academic adviser at St. John’s Catholic School and Adam’s father. “Over the past several years, more of our students have enrolled at KSU than any other post-secondary school, but never 100 percent of them!”

Jeff said that four is a smaller than normal class size for St. John’s Catholic School, which is in Beloit, Kansas. However, these students’ accomplishments are anything but small.

“Despite the small number, it was a class that was a part of some great things during their time in Beloit, both academically and athletically,” he said.

David Lutgen is a member of K-State’s cross country team; Adam Bates is a Putnam Scholar; Avery Gates is a legacy student and the daughter and sister of GoPowercat.com writers Brian Gates ’94 and Riley Gates ’18; and Claire Pastrovich competed for a spot on the cheerleading squad. 

Adam plans to study general engineering and said that K-State always felt like the right choice for him.

“I had always planned on going to K-State,” he said. “My family is a big K-State family. It kind of just feels like home. The campus is just beautiful. There’s something for everyone here.”

So far, Adam has run into all the students from his graduating class at St. John’s on campus. David also is interested in engineering, and they have been able to study together.

“It’s definitely really impressive,” Adam said of K-State’s engineering facilities. “It’s definitely drawing people in.”

As a K-State grad himself, Jeff isn’t surprised that students from St. John’s continue to choose K-State.

“I think it’s because of a combination of things,” he said. “The extensive amount of possible majors and top-notch programs, the huge variety of activities, the relative distance to Beloit, and the small-campus feel. K-State offers a tremendous number of majors in all sorts of areas, so it is an attraction for students regardless of their interests and academic plans. It’s a place where students easily run into friends they’ve known from other small towns and schools, and then get together to enjoy attending NCAA Division I activities and other big-time concerts and events. Manhattan is 90 miles from Beloit and the Salina campus is 60 miles, so it’s just far enough away for students to make their own way, yet close enough to get home or have family visit with little effort.”

Jeff also is proud that Adam will be carrying on the family’s K-State legacy.

“I grew up in Oakley, and had never been to the K-State campus until I attended the All-University Open House my senior year,” Jeff said. “I was actually already planning to go somewhere else, but my high school guidance counselor insisted that I must visit K-State since I was planning an agriculture major.  After that visit, I was certain that K-State was the place for me.”

Some of the Bates family’s favorite K-State activities include traveling to Manhattan for athletic events and attending mass at St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center.

“Although it’s a relatively young legacy, our family has made a lasting connection with KSU,” Jeff said. “We have made many trips to Manhattan over the years to attend ball games, Open Houses and other campus events. I joke that even my second-grader knows how to get around Manhattan and the K-State campus better than I did when I first enrolled there! K-State was a great place to be when I was there, and it’s a great fit for our children now, too.”

Photo: St. John’s seniors on graduation day, from left to right: Adam Bates, Claire Pastrovich, Avery Gates and David Lutgen. (Courtesy photo)

They’ve gone on to compete in the Olympics. They’ve starred in the NBA and the WNBA. They’ve made a name for themselves in the NFL. 

But regardless of where they ended up, they got their start running the track, shooting hoops or throwing a football at Kansas State University.

K-State has a proud history of student-athlete excellence, backed by the elite coaches and staff who train them and support them.

In September, K-State Athletics honored a group of nine outstanding athletes and administrators by inducting them into the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame.

“We are excited to announce this year’s diverse group of nine individuals and welcome them into the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame,” said Kenny Lannou, senior associate athletics director for communications and K-State Athletics Hall of Fame chair. “Each of these inductees has made a lasting impact on K-State Athletics and Kansas State University.”

The class is the 12th in the history of the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame, including the charter class of 1990. Official induction ceremonies took place Sept. 28, before the inductees were recognized at halftime of the football game against Texas the following day.

Get to know the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2018, and hear what the recognition means to them. 

Christine Boucher Lynch ’04 
Women’s golf (2001-04) 
The only player in school history to earn Conference Player of the Year accolades, she picked up Big 12 Player of the Year honors in 2003-04. She also was the only Wildcat to earn a trip as an individual to the NCAA Championship (2003). She holds the K-State single-round record of 64 and 54-hole score record of 204.

On being inducted: 
“Obviously it’s a great honor. I truly enjoyed my time at K-State; my stats and my tournament records proved that. I’m a big fan of Colbert Hills and all the facilities that we had there. It had a big impact on how my game was developed throughout my college years.”

Rita Graves Jackson ’87
Women’s track and field (1983-86)
An eight-time letterwinner in track and field (four indoor and four outdoor), she was the 1986 NCAA Outdoor National Champion and All-American in the high jump. She also was the Big Eight Conference Outdoor Champion in the high jump in 1986.

On being inducted: 
“It was a surprise. I was really excited about it. I never went into doing the athletics thinking that would ever happen. It was a really big surprise for me. I was just, like, ‘Really? Me, in the Hall of Fame?’ It was exciting to be able to tell my family and of course they were really excited for me. It was just really exciting.”

David Hall ’72
Men’s basketball (1969-72)
A three-year letterman for coaches Cotton Fitzsimmons and Jack Hartman, Hall was part of two Big Eight Championships (1970, 1972). He is one of six Wildcat 1,000-point scorers to shoot 50 percent or better from the field in his career and one of the few players to average a double-double (12.3 ppg., 10.1 rpg.) for an entire career. He is currently the president of the University of the Virgin Islands.

On being inducted:
“It is a great, special honor. I entered into K-State Athletics about 50 years ago in a stage of my life where I didn’t know what the future would hold and played four years, one on the freshmen team and three on the varsity, and to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of Kansas State Athletics, which is an outstanding athletic program nationally, is a special honor to me.”

Ed Klimek ’39
Football/men’s basketball/baseball/track and field (1936-38) 
He was K-State’s last four-sport letterman. He signed a contract to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals before dying tragically of a heart attack while jogging in March 1940. The men’s dormitory at Memorial Stadium was named in his honor in 1946.

On being inducted (quote from nephew Ed Klimek ’71): 
“To be recognized is a real tribute to Ed’s abilities and what he accomplished there at K-State. As far as the family’s concerned, most of us weren’t even around when he was competing but certainly the legend carries on in the family and it’s something that we’re all pretty proud of.

“The fact that we’re bringing out the accomplishments of Ed, it’s just a satisfying thing that people will know what he did because in history sometimes you lose track of those folks that were instrumental in K-State Athletics in the early days. It’s good to recognize the guys that are pretty current, but going back in time is kind of a treat just to let the world know about them again.”

Terence Newman ’02
Football (1999-2002)
One of the most dynamic football players in school history, he was a four-year letterwinner and 2002 Thorpe Award winner as top defensive back in the nation and one of five finalists for the Nagurski Trophy. He became the second-highest NFL Draft pick in school history when he was taken fifth overall in 2003 to Dallas.

On being inducted:
“It’s a great honor to be recognized amongst the best of the best in athletics at Kansas State. It takes a great deal of work to excel at anything you do, so to be recognized as an elite athlete is a great achievement.”

F.I. Reynolds 2017
Men’s basketball (1915-17) 
He was K-State’s first All-American in the sport of men’s basketball in 1917 and helped lead the Wildcats to a record of 13-3 in 1916 and the 1917 Missouri Valley Conference title with a record of 15-2. K-State won the final 13 games of his collegiate career, including four straight on the road.

On being inducted (quote from granddaughter Jenny Reynolds Towner):
“We’re very excited. My dad really loved his father, and we had tons of respect for him so it’s just very exciting to see him honored this way.”

Mark Simoneau ’15
Football (1996-99)
A 2012 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, he was just the second player in K-State history to be inducted. He was a four-year starter for head coach Bill Snyder and led the Wildcats to a 42-7 record during his career. He was selected in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft by Atlanta.

On being inducted:
“Obviously I’m just honored. I feel like whenever you’re recognized, it’s not really about you as much as it’s about your teammates and the coaches that you worked with and all the people over the course of your life who have had an impact on you, from your family to the coaches that you had through the years and the teams I had an opportunity to be on and the players that were on those teams. Whenever you are recognized in that way, you understand how big of an impact all those people had.”

Margaret Thompson Murdock ’65
Honorary (1965)  
An Olympian (1976 silver medalist and the first woman to win an Olympic shooting medal since the games began in 1886), she also earned five gold medals in the Pan American Games (all in men’s competition) and once held 13 world records.
 
On being inducted:
“It’s pretty special. It’s not something that happens to every athlete. I was very pleased that it was going to happen to me. I said maybe I’ll go to K-State and get on the rifle team. That’s what I did. And I’m glad I chose K-State because I liked it there. I was very happy. I’ve never been not happy that I went to K-State because I liked K-State and the people up there were friendly and nice.”

Max Urick
Administration (1993-2001)
Serving as athletic director for K-State, he was a key player in the development of the Big 12 Conference. He placed a high priority on gender-equity issues and made significant strides in accomplishing the objectives of Title IX. He also was at the helm when K-State made a run of eight straight bowl games.  

On being inducted:
“It never seemed possible. I never internalized any of the successes I’ve been around. It’s always the other people. Of course in sports if you have success it’s because of a lot of other people making that happen. It was kind of a humbling, amazing and a tingling all combined. I was very humbled by it. It was quite uplifting and I didn’t have to look very far to find targets of my gratitude. They’re all around me every day. Things like this do cause you to reflect back a little bit, but it’s very humbling, very uplifting, and I’m excited. I’m really excited.”

— Article prepared with the assistance of Corbin McGuire ’14, creative writing specialist at K-State Athletics.

There’s nothing quite like a K-State basketball game at Bramlage Coliseum. 

The stands are a sea of purple as fans gather to cheer on the Wildcats and the band plays the K-State Fight Song. There’s a reason Bramlage is called the “Octagon of Doom” — sometimes the cheering is so loud the walls almost seem to shake. You can feel the excitement fill the stadium — the Wildcats are here to win.

It’s been 30 years since K-State opened Bramlage Coliseum, with an NBA exhibition game Oct. 21, 1988, between the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, led by former K-State star Rolando Blackman ’81. In honor of the milestone, the K-State Alumni Association’s annual holiday ornament this year features Bramlage, available for ordering now.

Bramlage Coliseum replaced Ahearn Field House as K-State’s basketball facility and is named for Junction City, Kansas, businessman Fred Bramlage ’35, who played a key role in fundraising.

“What we begin here today will add to the glory and reputation of K-State,” Bramlage said at the groundbreaking ceremony in 1986. “My hope is that this coliseum will inspire people to come together around teams in the spirit of cooperation.”  

The first K-State game played in the facility was an 81-77 victory over Purdue on Nov. 26, 1988. The facility has drawn crowds to gamedays ever since, and has even hosted NCAA basketball tournament games.

The hype is already high for this coming basketball season, after an exciting finish for both the women’s and men’s teams. The men’s team made it to the Elite Eight and the women’s team made it to the round of 16 in the WNIT. And K-State basketball fans were with them all the way, cheering them on to victory.

About the ornament

The 2018 K-State Alumni Association holiday 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”).

You can order an ornament online; cost is $25 for K-State Alumni Association members, and $30 for nonmembers. Ornament designs from previous years, including an Alma Mater ornament, also are available.

Not a member of the K-State Alumni Association? Learn more about the benefits available to members, such as the K-Stater magazine and our nationwide Wildcat Discounts program.

When Eveanna Mosier ’58 talks about her granddaughter, Jenna Hostetler ’16, her voice fills with pride. 

She loves sharing about her granddaughter’s accomplishments, both in college and in her new career. She’s also proud of the fact that Jenna is carrying on the family’s K-State legacy, tracing back to Eveanna’s father, Herbert Clutter ’33.

With her Bachelor of Science in dietetics through K-State Global Campus, Jenna now works for Kroger and is a nutrition technician under The Little Clinic and a lifestyle coach for the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

“My options on schools were limited, but once I got accepted and realized I was the fourth generation to attend and one of many family members, I was proud to claim it as my own!” Jenna said of K-State.

“Global Campus has always been about extending K-State’s land-grant mission by bringing education to those who wouldn’t otherwise have access to it, and accessibility is a big part of that,” said Karen Pedersen, dean of Global Campus. “For more than 50 years, we’ve been working hard to make sure our learners can gain the education and skills needed to succeed in their careers, and in life. We exist to help students like Jenna, and we’re so proud of all she has accomplished.”

Jenna is from a small town in Ohio and originally attended Wright State University, majoring in accounting.

“My second semester I took ‘The Biology of Food’ and fell in love with human biology and how something as simple as the food we eat can impact our bodies so greatly,” she said.  

She transferred to the University of Dayton but soon realized that online school fit her schedule better. She said at the time, there were only two schools offering a full dietetics degree online and the application process at K-State was much less stressful.

K-State’s Global Campus ultimately proved to be a good fit for Jenna thanks to its accessibility and the ways it empowered her love for knowledge. Jenna is a quadriplegic — defined as partial or complete paralysis of both the arms and legs — and even as a distance student, she was able to utilize K-State’s disability services to receive testing accommodations.

Two of her favorite classes at K-State were Human Nutrition and Counseling Strategies in Dietetic Practice.

“Learning how food is metabolized and used by the body is so interesting to me, and I can’t get enough of it,” she said. “In Counseling Strategies, I realized how much of a psychological hold food can have over people and learned what it really takes to change behavior.”

Although her time at K-State has ended for now, she still carries her experiences with her in her new career.

“I still use my notes,” she said. “Whether I’m talking about vitamins and what foods enhance or inhibit absorption, or if I’m helping someone pick out food to increase their heart health, I can always look back on my notes if I’m ever unsure about something. I love talking to my customers every day and helping them shop healthy and discover healthy food that tastes good!”

Since its inception in 1966, Global Campus has helped make a K-State education more accessible to adult learners all over the world. Global Campus brings K-State to those who may not be able to pursue a traditional degree on campus, offering flexible schedules and the ability to finish coursework from wherever you are.

Find out more about the variety of learning opportunities available through Global Campus and how you can pursue your passion online.  

From swimming lessons to glass etching, from cooking to yoga, from learning a new language to discovering your family history — for the past 50 years, UFM Community Learning Center has been celebrating all kinds of learning. 

Originally known as University For Man, UFM was created by K-State faculty and students in the late 1960s as a way to share ideas and provide opportunities for learning outside the traditional education structure. It rapidly became a bridge between the campus and community. The concept that everyone has something to share was quickly embraced with the slogan “anyone can teach, anyone can learn.”

“This community understands education,” Kayla Savage ’17, UFM education coordinator, told the K-Stater magazine for an article in the fall 2018 issue. “Not only its importance, but the role that it has in individual lives, the whole lifelong learning concept and learning because it’s fun to learn. We start classes for people as young as infants through older adults. I think we’ve been able to sustain and grow because the variety of classes is based on the interests of people who are part of this community. There is also a desire for people to be engaged citizens.”

UFM published its first brochure in January 1968 offering seven classes. Today, UFM publishes catalogs three times a year, highlighting over 250 classes a semester. Classes are taught by members of the K-State/Manhattan community. In addition, other UFM programs include the Lou Douglas Lecture series, Project EXCELL for special needs adults, a teen mentoring program and the Manhattan Community Garden. UFM also co-sponsors the Osher Lifelong Institute with Kansas University. Total participation in UFM activities during fiscal year 2018 was over 20,000.  

Join the celebration

UFM is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall with two activities in addition to its regular program offerings.

UFM will host an exhibit, “Teaching, Learning and Growing: 50 Years of UFM,” at the William T. Kemper Art Gallery in the K-State Student Union from Oct. 8 to Nov. 3, with an opening reception on Friday, Oct. 12, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The exhibit will be open to the public Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In partnership with KSU Libraries, K-State Union Program Council, Historic Costume and Textile Museum at KSU in the College of Human Ecology, and Riley County Historical Museum, the exhibit features historical documents, pictures and artifacts celebrating 50 years of UFM.

The Flint Hills Discovery Center and UFM also are cohosting a ticketed event titled “Celebrate ’68: 50 Years of UFM” at the Discovery Center on Nov. 3 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale. Learn more.

Did you know? If you’re a member of the K-State Alumni Association, you can receive a special discount on select McCain Performance Series shows. 

Members, you should have received an email with more information on how to receive your 15 percent discount. If you did not receive the email, please contact Krista Darting ’00, associate director of membership and marketing, at KDarting@K-State.com or 800-600-ALUM (2586). Not a member of the K-State Alumni Association? LEARN MORE about the other benefits available to members, such as the K-Stater magazine and our nationwide Wildcat Discounts program.

Note: The McCain discount is 15 percent off the regular ticket price; online only; not combinable with other discounts; while supplies last.

Discounted shows for the 2018-19 season:

Emmylou Harris
7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12

Wynonna & the Big Noise
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11

The Mavericks: Hey! Merry Christmas!
7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26

imPerfect Dancers: Anne Frank – Words from the Shadows
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29

Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6
7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 31

Church Basement Ladies: Rise Up O Men
2 and 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18

Steve Logback ’90, a beloved member of the K-State family, passed away unexpectedly Sept. 28, 2017. Thanks to the generosity of family and friends, and matching funds provided by Mary Vanier ’89, his legacy of supporting and loving everything about Kansas State University will continue with the Steve Logback Wildcat Way Scholarship for students in the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

“This scholarship is really just a way to keep doing the work that Steve was doing,” said Donna Logback, Steve’s wife. “He was such a mentor and teacher. So to be able to continue that so someone can go to his favorite school, study his favorite topic, and then go on to help improve communication in the world — that is wonderful.”

Steve was a fourth-generation Wildcat, and he received his degree in journalism from K-State in 1990. He was a longtime and dedicated member of the Manhattan and K-State communities, having worked at Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Press Association, the K-State Alumni Association and Kansas State University. He was the associate vice president of communications and marketing at K-State when he passed. Steve left behind his wife, Donna, and their two children, Elizabeth and Logan.

To support the Wildcat Way Scholarship in honor of Steve Logback, you can give online or contact Jeff Haug ’09 via email or at 785-532-7887.

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Protecting food production

Drs. Kelly ’87, ’88 and Marcie ’86, ’12, ’14 Lechtenberg, Oakland, Nebraska, have created the T.G. Nagaraja and M.M. Chengappa Excellence Fund in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University.

This fund will support graduate student work and research in food animal medicine in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, while honoring two K-State professors and researchers who are leaders in this field.

“This gift, and past contributions to the department from the Lechtenbergs, are vital in helping us maintain and build programs critical to our missions in teaching, research discovery and contributions to animal and human health,” said Dr. Derek Mosier ’76, ’78, head of the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology. “The Lechtenbergs’ gift in particular helps support a wide variety of department needs, from infrastructure, student support, support of specific research projects and as an investment in the future of our training and research programs.

“This gift is also a great recognition of two long-time, dedicated and highly accomplished members of our department,” Mosier said. “Drs. Chengappa and Nagaraja have collectively more than 70 years of service to the department and university. The recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgement of their significant impacts on research in bacteriology and on undergraduate, veterinary and graduate student training. Kelly and Marcie have been strong and dedicated supporters of the department and college for years; we are thrilled they have chosen to recognize these two individuals as a mechanism for their continued financial and moral support for the department. The department and college have benefited greatly from the Lechtenbergs’ generosity in the past, and we greatly appreciate their continued commitment to helping us achieve our teaching and research missions.”

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