Student Alumni Board Newsletter - Winter 2011

Winter 2011

TODAY

SAB

K-State Student Alumni Board alumni newsletter

By Rachel King, SAB Member This past summer, four members of Student Alumni Board had the opportunity to attend the 38th annual CASE Affiliated Student Advancement Programs (ASAP) Network Convention. Matt Marchesini, Taylor Veh, Annika Schneider and Rachel King, along with adviser Jessica Elmore, traveled to Nashville, Tenn., in August for the conference. The event was sponsored by SAB’s national parent organization, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, better known as CASE. Attending this conference were more than 650 students and advisers from universities across the SAB representatives Taylor Veh, Annika Schneider, Rachel King and Matt Marchesini and adviser Jessica country.

Elmore at the CASE ASAP awards banquet in Nashville, Tenn.

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Northern Kentucky Univerhomecoming to tradition books to alumni-student dinners. sity hosted the three-day conference as members of the naSAB students thoroughly enjoyed the presentations as well tional CASE ASAP organization. The conference was open to as the messages given by the conference’s various keynote similar student alumni boards, speakers: Rose Jackson Flenori, as well as student ambassador manager of social responsibility organizations and foundation for FedEx, and Amy Millslagle, student groups. In fact, K-State’s marketing director for Dow The purpose of the conference was to Student Foundation also was Olympic Operations Unit. help students build strong student represented, which allowed The conference was not all advancement programs through nine K-State students to easily work and no play. SAB students informative and educational workshops. fill Nashville with purple pride! had time to explore Music City The purpose of the conferand mingle with other CASE ence was to help students build ASAP members from District 6 strong student advancement at a special dinner one evening. programs through informative and educational workshops.

Overall, the conference was a success, and SAB looks SAB students spent the three days attending workshops and forward to implementing some of the great ideas attendees learning how other universities facilitated programs from learned from the conference.

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Matt Marchesini

Student Alumni Board members visit Nashville

[ SABTODAY ]

BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE ing board members arrive and gather in the Alumni Center’s Tadtman Board Room for a meeting is eerily similar to watching SAB members arrive at our monthly meetings. Purple clothing, hugs all around, jokes rolling and laughter resounding — the room quickly seems full.

It has been a true joy and inspiration for me to be able to get to know this group of fantastic K-Staters serving on the board. The pride for our university the members possess is so encouraging and inspiring to me as a student. They have been teaching me how to wear my K-State experience on my sleeve and to always be ready to share my passion for our university.

Every board member serves a fouryear term. The transition between old

[ FROM THE PRESIDENT ]

By Mindy Highberger, President

One of the major highlights of my role as SAB president this year is the opportunity to serve on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

I have been able to attend two board meetings, and to say that I look forward to the next is a major understatement.

Those who have experienced a gathering of SAB members can tell you there is an incredible amount of energy in the room. There is passion and excitement in every conversation.

The board of directors, I have come to realize, is the exact same! Watch-

and new members occurs in June. This summer, I was able to be there for the outgoing members’ final words to the board. One of my favorite thoughts was delivered by a member who had become engaged that weekend to another K-State grad. He said, “Everything good that has happened in my life has been because of K-State.”

Thinking about just how large of an impact being a K-State graduate has on alumni’s lives gives me goose bumps and reminds me of just how fortunate I am to have had my own K-State experience.

Being a member of the board of directors this year will no doubt be one of my fondest memories of K-State and Student Alumni Board. I will be counting down the days until the March meeting — and not just because that means it’s also time for spring break!

By Kristin McCormick, Vice President of Wildcats Forever Wildcats Forever has seen another great fall semester! This year, 1,855 members participated in Big 12 Friday giveaways and other club-sponsored events. Each Friday before a conference home game, SAB volunteers spot Wildcats Forever members who are wearing their Wildcats Forever T-shirts on campus and give them a prize. Prizes this year have ranged from purple plastic travel cups to vintage club T-shirts.

We are happy to report Wildcats Forever is now better promoted by using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. These outlets have enabled us to reach out to our members and remind them of upcoming opportunities and giveaways.

Our most recent membership benefit

Photo illustration

Wildcats Forever giveaways a hit; social media gets the word out

venture was our annual bus trip. This year, 52 members of Wildcats Forever traveled to Stillwater, Okla., for the football game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

After enjoying dinner at Louie’s and Boomarang Diner in downtown Stillwater, the crew cheered on the ’Cats in a heart-

stopping game. We contributed to the traditional KSU cheers — and were even heard on television by some of our members back home! Thanks to a generous sponsorship from the President’s Office, members were provided transportation to and from the game, a T-shirt, snacks and the game ticket for a reasonable price of $60.

As this semester wound down, Wildcats Forever members had a few more opportunities to win. Big 12 Friday winners’ names were entered into a scholarship drawing, sponsored by K-State Federal Credit Union. Members were invited to the Alumni Center during dead week and finals week for study snacks and a quiet atmosphere for some last-minute prep.

More great prizes and activities await all Wildcats Forever members during the spring semester as well!

SAB Today HAS CHANGED IMPORTANT!

Starting with this edition of SAB Today, you will be receiving your newsletter only by email to keep you updated on all the SAB news. You will no longer receive a printed copy of SAB Today in the mail. Update your email address by visiting www.K-State.com/updateyourinfo [2]

[ SABTODAY ]

Students select new ambassadors Get to know ...

Phillicia Thomas

Andrew Waldman

Hometown: Olathe, Kan. Year: Junior Major: Mass communications and business management

Hometown: Shawnee, Kan. Year: Junior Major: Industrial engineering

David Mayes ‘96, K-State Alumni Association

By Taylor Veh, Secretary In front of a full Homecoming crowd Oct. 29, Phillicia Thomas and Andrew Waldman were announced as the 2012 Student Ambassadors.

While Andrew was already a member of Student Alumni Board, SAB is excited to wholeheartedly welcome Phillicia to the group.

Phillicia, from Olathe, Kan., is a junior double majoring in mass communications and business management. Phillicia said she is very excited about her new position as student ambassador and looks forward to working with the Alumni Association to meet with alumni and prospective students. Phillicia expressed she has not always liked speaking in front of large groups but now enjoys it, which is great for her communications major! A fun fact about Phillicia is that she really enjoys banana peppers.

Andrew, from Shawnee, Kan., is a junior majoring in industrial engineering. Andrew said he is looking forward to working with Phillicia and stated the two “played off each other so well” after they met. He also said he is excited to share his K-State story with potential students all across Kansas. A fun fact about Andrew is that he has recently discovered a great talent for Hula-Hooping.

Phillicia Thomas and Andrew Waldman are the 2012 Student Ambassadors. The announcement was made at the Oct. 29 Homecoming game. Ambassadors receive the official K-State ring from the Alumni Association.

Erin Kelly ’02

Welcome, Megan!

Megan Sherlock is associate director of student programs and adviser for Student Alumni Board.

This fall, Megan Sherlock joined the K-State Alumni Association staff. Originally from Washington, Kan., Megan is a 2006 graduate of K-State’s College of Business Administration. After graduating, she served as a K-State admissions representative for three years. She spent the past two years working as a human resources administrator for a small marketing research firm in downtown Kansas City, Mo. In September, Megan joined the Alumni Association as the associate director of student programs, including serving as the Student Alumni Board adviser. Megan has been enjoying her time getting to know the students and being in Manhattan again.

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[ SABTODAY ]

By Darren Allison, Outgoing Student Ambassador After hearing my name announced as the 2011 K-State Student Ambassador, I was simultaneously overcome by many emotions. I was excited for the opportunities the position would bring, nervous of living up to the legacy past Student Ambassadors had established, but most of all extremely humbled by being selected by my peers to represent them in such an important role for the university. I knew the upcoming year would be one of the most impactful of my life, but I had no idea the number of ways I would be affected by such a wide variety of people.

I was extremely blessed to be paired with such an amazing partner. Angela Muhwezi complemented me in every way I could ask for. She can bring energy into a group of people like no one I have ever met. Her enthusiasm for the position and energy she exuded proved contagious to everyone around her. This energy made the whole year an unbelievable experience, and I can’t imagine experiencing it with anyone else but Angie. I have learned so much from her throughout the year and am very grateful to have been paired with such an amazing person.

I had always heard of the amazing alumni base at K-State, but I never truly appreciated it until I was able to witness it firsthand. One of the highlights of my year was to have the chance to meet hundreds of alumni throughout the state whose passion for K-State consistently blew me away. All the alumni we met were not only eager to share their personal K-State experiences with us, but also genuinely cared about each of our K-State experiences and showed commitment to heightening the amazing tradition of the university to an even higher level.

My experiences with alumni brought my love for K-State to another level, and I am grateful I had the opportunity

David Mayes ‘96, K-State Alumni Association

A year in review: My time as a Student Ambassador

The outgoing Student Ambassadors are Darren Allison and Angela Muhwezi. “One of the highlights of my year was to have the chance to meet hundreds of alumni throughout the state whose passion for K-State consistently blew me away,” Darren says.

to share my passion for K-State with prospective students as well. Being able to interact with high school students from all over the state, as they made one of the most important decisions of their lives, was one of the roles as Student Ambassador I valued most. My K-State experience has allowed me to grow tremendously both academically and personally, which allowed me to feel completely confident that I was helping them make a decision that would prove just as beneficial for them.

There is no way I could thank my fellow peers, the K-State Alumni Association and the countless people who have

affected my life enough for giving me the opportunity to serve as a Student Ambassador. It will forever be one of the fondest memories of my K-State experience, and I thank God for having this opportunity.

The atmosphere that we, as Wildcats, have created at K-State is unmatched by any I have ever experienced. It is the passion for K-State I have had the chance to witness over the past year that makes K-State a one-of-a-kind place and is the reason it will continue to develop people and make a positive impact on the world each day.

K-State PROUD!

SAB REUNION RECAP Thank you to everyone who attended the SAB reunion/parade watch party in October. We had more than 50 former SAB members and their families join us for the evening. We missed those of you who could not join us. Keep your eyes open for future special SAB gatherings and other SAB news at www.k-state.com/SAB. [4]