On every home gameday in the fall in Manhattan, Kansas, the empty parking lots outside Bill Snyder Family Stadium transform into a giant celebration of purple pride, as K-Staters gather to tailgate before the football game.

You can smell the delicious food cooking on barbecue grills across the parking lot, hear the sounds of laughter as family and friends gather together and swap favorite K-State memories, and see Powercat flags waving in the breeze.

Tailgating is a time-honored K-State tradition, and we asked alumni and friends to share some of their favorite tailgating photos. See some of these photos in the gallery below, and then read on for more news and updates that will help you get prepped for K-State football season!

Are you ready for K-State football? So are we! Here are six ways you can get hyped for the new season:

The Junior Wildcats Club program and Alumni Association pregames are sponsored by BRIGGS AUTO.

When you’re driving down the highway and Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” starts playing on the radio, you might not immediately think of Kansas State University. 

However, this famous song does have a very important K-State connection, through the work of the late Jerry Wexler ’46. The K-State grad and multiple Grammy Award winner had a hand in the careers of countless famous artists as a talent scout, producer and record label partner, working with Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and more. He also first coined the phrase “rhythm and blues.”

A decade after Wexler’s passing, a K-State faculty member is helping put together a special record honoring Wexler’s work. Wayne Goins, University Distinguished Professor of music and director of jazz studies, is helping to compile a selection of music for an exclusive vinyl record (and it’s a purple record, of course!) that will be offered in conjunction with the upcoming Blues Masters at the Crossroads event, Oct. 26-27 in Salina, Kansas. Goins also will be performing at this event, and K-State will be a sponsor.

According to an article in the July 1993 edition of the K-Stater magazine, Wexler ended up at K-State almost by chance. He called himself a “totally lost soul…I was totally restless.” Never giving up on her son’s future, his mother happened upon some information about K-State, and “chance” turned into “destiny.”

After his time at K-State, Wexler felt the call of “big city” life and made his way to New York City. He started out reviewing records for Billboard magazine, then was later invited to join Atlantic Records as a talent scout and producer, and eventually became a full partner. He was inducted into the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Blues Foundation.

However, even with his successful career, the “Little Apple” of Manhattan, Kansas, was never very far from Wexler’s heart. According to Goins, in 1986 Wexler donated nearly 2,000 recordings to K-State. This collection included LPs he gathered from Atlantic Records and also items from his private collection. In recognition of his achievements, K-State also honored him as an Alumni Fellow.

“I was absolutely knocked out to see how this place had become a really well-rounded, fully integrated university, with people from all over, with all kinds of courses,” Wexler said of his alma mater. “It was really heartening.”

Although Wexler passed away in August 2008, at the age of 91, he leaves behind an incredible contribution to the music industry that is being discovered by new generations of fans every day.

“The man is gone, but his musical legacy at Atlantic Records lives forever,” Goins said.

Mark your calendar and learn more about the upcoming Blues Masters at the Crossroads event at Blue Heaven Studios, 201 S. Eighth St., Salina, Kansas.

Some traditions at Kansas State University are timeless, like singing the Alma Mater, seeing the spire of Anderson Hall from across campus, and experiencing that sense of family that unites K-Staters, no matter who they are or where they’re from.

However, there are also memories and traditions that are special to each decade. Depending on when you graduated, the places students went to grab a late-night snack or hang out with friends have probably changed.

Take a trip back in time with us to the decade you graduated in, and see if you remember any of these highlights!

Commitment. Unselfishness. Unity. Self-Discipline. Consistency. Responsibility. 

Many Wildcat fans can easily list off several of Kansas State University head football coach Bill Snyder’s famous 16 Goals for Success. Snyder’s leadership philosophy isn’t just about shaping a winning football team — although it certainly has helped accomplish that goal. These principles are designed to help students find success in the classroom, their careers and beyond, empowering them to become the next generation of leaders.

K-State’s Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows is a special leadership development program honoring Coach Snyder’s work. The program includes a class of up to 40 outstanding K-State students entering their final year of undergraduate studies, and is a partnership between the Staley School of Leadership Studies and K-State Athletics. It is rooted in the 16 Goals for Success and gives top students at the university a chance to learn from mentors like Coach Snyder, community and business leaders, successful athletes and scholars. It promotes a philosophy of service and leadership in action, encouraging students to make a difference in the world they live in.

“Our communities, our country and our world are crying out for strong, positive leadership, and our students deserve the opportunity to develop as quality, caring leaders,” Coach Snyder said. “Join me in investing in their future, and ours, as a community and as the K-State family.”

‘A platform for powerful learning’

Frank Hernandez III ’92, Houston, Texas, is a current member of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors and is passionate about sharing the benefits of the Snyder Fellows program. He serves as an advisory board member for the Snyder Fellows and supports the program in various capacities, including guest lecturer, retreat guest speaker, development outreach and more.

“Fundamentally, the program serves as a platform for powerful learning,” Hernandez said. “This program is dedicated to creating a family of future leaders by allowing each person involved to further connect with their leadership potential, while using the core values of Snyder’s Leadership Goals as the guardrails of support. The program is designed, in my opinion, to challenge people to go out and make a positive impact in their respective communities by caring unconditionally.

“The Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows program provides leadership lessons to the involved students, that will ultimately help them effectively maneuver through their lives’ challenges, trials and tribulations. In essence, I believe this program helps students clear their vision and teaches them to think differently about how they make decisions.”

Coach Snyder sees the program as a bridge that builds leadership skills that can last a lifetime.  

“As we help students transition from college to career, it is important that we encourage leadership developed from a value system that promotes integrity, credibility, responsibility, accountability, honesty, hard work, self-discipline and genuine concern for others,” he said.

Supporting future leaders

The program has already paid off for recent grad Tracie Thibault ’18, and she thanks the university for making the program possible.

“The 16 Goals and all that I learned through the Snyder Fellows Program have become even more valuable post-graduation than during my senior year,” she said. “The fruit of this program has come in a time of my life that I really needed it. The investment you have made in this program is changing lives. Thank you so much for your leadership and all that goes into this program. I am beyond thankful!”

Hernandez encourages K State alumni, friends and family to spread the word about the program and to support future leaders.  

“The program is built on the same core principles and values that makes Kansas State University what it is today,” he said. “This program is designed to bring about significant change personally, academically and professionally. The Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows program is coaching to a culture as much as it is challenging our students academically. The program has several options of opportunities available for support and involvement.”

To find out how to get involved, contact Marcia Hornung ’00, ’08, Staley School of Leadership Studies coordinator of partnerships, at hornung@k-state.edu.

Learn more

Meet the 2018-19 Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows; learn more about how you can support the program; and view a personal message from Coach Snyder below!

The next time you bring home some new pet food for your dog or cat, take a closer look at the bag or can. 

What does the food look like? How does your pet react to the smell and taste? What ingredients are listed on the package? How long will this food stay fresh?

Although you might not normally think about these kinds of questions when you open a bag or can of pet food, there’s actually a lot of research that has to happen before pet food hits the shelves at your local store.

You also may not be aware that Kansas State University has a growing Pet Food Program, with faculty and students playing a role in pet food research and influencing the type of pet food that is sold to consumers.  

“We’ve become relatively prominent and well-known in the industry,” said Greg Aldrich ’84, research associate professor at K-State involved with the Pet Food Program.   

Pet food is a major industry, and that’s no surprise — an estimated 68 percent of homes in the United States have a pet. It’s a $30 billion industry in the U.S., even exceeding the toy industry. It’s also the fourth largest export in the state of Kansas and adds numerous jobs to the economy.

Aldrich got involved with a faculty-led pet food initiative at K-State back in 2011. Aldrich, who had previously worked as a nutrition consultant with pet food companies, was contacted by K-State faculty members who were interested in expanding the university’s existing feed science capabilities into pet food.

“The real intent was to be able to recruit more young men and women into feed, or animal food,” Aldrich said.

He taught a single course in 2011 and brought on three graduate students in the first year, who helped write proposals for research funding.

“It made sense to let it grow organically on its own,” Aldrich said of the program. “It’s been growing ever since.”

In the lab

So, what exactly does pet food research look like? According to the program’s website, the K-State pet food initiative explores “solutions for food processing and nutritional challenges faced by companion, endangered and captive wild animals.” 

At K-State, researchers participate in a variety of activities, such as testing ingredients; making sample food; and examining the effects of processing on the pet food’s overall safety, nutrition and shelf life. Pet food is regulated by the FDA, just like human food. Aldrich said it’s also important to study whether the food appeals to both the pet and the owner — the pet has to like it, of course, but the owner has to be motivated to buy it first.

Much of the program’s support comes from industry partners, who are looking for practical solutions to pet food challenges.

The pet food industry can actually help lower the amount of agricultural waste. For an example, some leftover meat products from chicken or beef are not edible for humans, but are still safe and nutritious for pets. These leftover products can be converted into high-quality pet food and thereby reduce waste. The same applies to certain grain products.

K-State’s pet food program encompasses both undergraduate and graduate work, as well as opportunities for continued education and advanced training for industry professionals.

Aldrich also is excited about how many opportunities for collaboration the program has offered. The pet food program has involved faculty from various colleges and departments, including animal sciences and industry; food, nutrition, dietetics and health; K-State’s Sensory Analysis Center; agricultural economics; business; veterinary medicine; K-State Olathe; and more.

“We’ve really reached out across campus,” Aldrich said. “We have a lot of partners; we’ve really expanded.”

With so many opportunities — and his own love for animals — Aldrich is excited about coming to work each day and promoting the Pet Food Program at K-State.

“It’s fun,” he said. “For me, it feels like a noble cause. I’ve always had this passion for animals.”

Attend a workshop

This fall, K-State is hosting a Pet Food Research and Development Showcase called “Treats, Toppers and Inclusions.” The event is Oct. 10-11 on campus, and is a Pet Food Forum event.

The event provides an opportunity to present K-State research and technology along with hands-on activities. It also gives students a chance to interact with industry professionals. Learn more. 

Not quite a year ago, on one afternoon in late fall, all activity on Kansas State University’s Manhattan campus came to a halt. 

Classes were canceled. Offices were closed. Then together, students, faculty and staff from across campus, as well as community members, walked as one united group to the Anderson Hall lawn for a special gathering called KSUnite.

Since that Nov. 14 event, KSUnite has grown into a movement that continues to impact K-State today. The initial event — and the overall movement it inspired — were designed to celebrate unity and to reaffirm K-State’s commitment to safety, inclusion and compassion for all. The university — and all K-Staters — have a responsibility to take action against all forms of discrimination, whenever and however they may occur.

“It’s time for all of us to stand up as a family, as a community, to unite around our values,” President Richard Myers ’65 said at the event, calling the crowd to action.

K-State Alumni Association staff joined the rest of campus for the Nov. 14 event and continue to be involved in KSUnite efforts on campus. Alumni Association president and CEO Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86; Jessica Elmore ’06, ’15, associate director of diversity programs; and Marcus Kidd ’14, ’16, assistant director of student programs, all serve on a KSUnite planning committee.

“The impact that the [initial] KSUnite event has had on campus is a collective strategy to address how K-State can continue to build a community that fosters diversity and inclusion,” Elmore said. “This event provides common language and a vision for all of the K-State stakeholders to rally around.”

Events across campus

KSUnite has since encompassed a variety of events, including facilitated conversations on important topics such as K-State’s principles of community; cultural competency through curriculum; an update on the Multicultural Center project; need-based scholarships; campus safety; and more.

The university maintains a special webpage with events that tie into the KSUnite theme. Some of the recent events include an International Block Party; The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a play at the Purple Masque Theatre; and discussions surrounding K-State’s 2018 common book The Hate U Give. This past spring, the K-State Alumni Association and the KSU Foundation also partnered together to offer a half-day alumni relations and fundraising workshop for student organizations.

The Alumni Association sees KSUnite as an important part of its outreach to students and alumni.

“The Alumni Association has dedicated staff, resources and the alumni platform to creating inclusive programming since the early 1980s,” Elmore said. “KSUnite provided an additional opportunity for the Alumni Association to engage students, alumni and friends centered around the messaging of bringing the entire Wildcat community together.” 

Call to action

The Alumni Association encourages all of our alumni and friends to look for ways they too can play a role in KSUnite.

“What alumni and friends can do to support KSUnite from now and going forward is to one, participate in KSUnite, maybe even consider serving as a workshop host or speaker; spread the word and let other people in your circles know what K-State is doing in the area of diversity and inclusion; and support our students,” Elmore said. “Our students need to hear and see our alumni and help guide them as our workforce is continuing to evolve.”

Learn more about KSUnite. Also be sure to mark your calendar for another KSUnite event Oct. 9 during K-State’s Homecoming week. Follow us on social media for more information about this event, as it becomes available.    

Wildcats celebrated five years of dining, dancing and donating at the fifth annual Wabash CannonBall Colorado on Aug. 3. 

About 200 K-State alumni and friends attended the gala, which is hosted by the K-State Alumni Association and raises scholarship funds for Colorado-area students to attend K-State. Over the past five years, Wabash CannonBall Colorado has given away 20 $5,000 scholarships.

“I am attending the college of my choice thanks to being selected for the Wabash CannonBall Colorado scholarship,” said 2018 scholarship recipient Nathan Kugler, who plans to study engineering. “I will be able to further my education with a small amount of student debt. Living out of state and being a third-generation student at K-State makes this scholarship even more meaningful.”

View photos from the event below (all photos by Altitude Arts, unless otherwise noted). Thank you to all our generous Wabash CannonBall Colorado sponsors, who helped make this event possible! VIEW A FULL LIST of the 2018 sponsors, and also be sure to check out all of our upcoming Wabash CannonBall events for 2019!

While at the Johnson Cancer Research Center banquet last spring, Kathy ’70 and Jim ’69 Haymaker had the chance to talk with Amit Chakrabarti, K-State’s dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, about a variety of different topics. What caught the Haymakers’ attention was Chakrabarti’s clear passion for first-generation students who do not have the funding to continue their education into their second, third or fourth year. Kathy and Jim have a longstanding interest in trying to help in-need community members with their education in the hope of providing a needed boost at the right time for a student to succeed.

Jim recalled a prior experience of having breakfast with Chakrabarti and hearing about his upbringing in India. “Amit began to speak of his father with such a degree of reverence and respect that it held me spellbound. I believe he said that his father, even though he was not highly educated, was the smartest man he had ever met — this coming from a physicist, former head of that department and newly appointed dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. I came away very touched by that story and described it to Kathy.”

This particular memory stuck with Jim and his wife until they were reunited with Chakrabarti at the banquet. With that memory in mind, the opportunity to help students and honor Chakrabarti’s late father could not be passed up by the Haymakers. They decided to provide a $100,000 scholarship toward this purpose. Kathy suggested the scholarship should be in Chakrabarti’s late father’s name, so it is named the Raghunath Chakrabarti Dare to Dream Scholarship.

“We named this the Dare to Dream Scholarship in the spirit of these young, often first-generation college students who are pursuing their dream and often the dream of their family, to earn a college education and have a chance to improve the economic prospects for themselves and those who helped them get there,” the Haymakers said.

Read more 

Kansas State Polytechnic students take flight

K-Staters don’t shy away from challenges.

Meet three students from the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus who exemplify what it means to face a challenge and — with the support of the K-State family — power through toward graduation and beyond.

Read more