Everybody loves a celebration. As K-Staters we have many things to celebrate; academic achievements, successful athletic programs and the dynamic direction of our University under the Kent Bradley ’88 leadership of President Kirk Schulz. The celebrations continue this fall as we recognize 10 years of being in our K-State Alumni Center, the beautiful building that is our Association home. My personal recollections go back to Hollis House and then the old Farm Bureau building, but I am sure many of you remember location of our Association even before those times. Our center is one of the most used buildings on Campus with events going on daily. Look forward to an invitation this fall to a dessert reception honoring the center’s 10-year anniversary. We thank Amy Button Renz, the Association staff and the board members who helped make this dream a reality. This spring will be Kansas State University’s 150th birthday party. The campus community looks forward to the many events commemorating Kansas State and its history. Events will officially kick off in February, but there will be many opportunities to read about K-State’s history and celebrate its accomplishments throughout the year. Kansas State is a very special place. As current and former board members, we realize what truly makes K-State special is its people. Talk to any K-Stater, and what they will recall is the people who made K-State a special experience for them. So as we approach our 10th anniversary of our building and the 150th anniversary of being a University, take a moment to reflect on the people who made your time special and reach out to those folks who are still with us. We look forward to seeing you at our celebration this fall, and I thank you for the time you have committed as a volunteer and your service to our Association and our University. In Purple Pride, — Kent Bradley ’88 SUMMER 2012
K-STATE ATHLETICS SEES SOARING SUCCESS
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-State Athletics continues to experience tremendous success. January brought an appearance in the 2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas. More than 20,000 alumni and fans attended the pep rally, and the official pregame event was a sellout. The summer Catbacker tour is also seeing great attendance as more than 6,000 fans have attended the gatherings through the first week in July. The Wildcat Nation also set a new record of $25.8 million for total gifts to the department, and the Ahearn Fund membership grew by 12 percent to finish the year at an all-time high of 7,866. An operating budget of $58 million has been set for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, which will be the largest in school history and represents a 12.7 percent increase from fiscal year 2012. Our student-athletes impressed both on and off the field, as 202 student-athletes made the 2012 Spring Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Victor Ojeleye of the men’s basketball program was named the 2012 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar of the Year, and for the second straight year, a K-State student-athlete, David Klaudt of the men’s golf team, was elected to serve as the Big 12 SAAC vice chair. K-State also led the Big 12 Conference in all-sports graduation rate. Your Wildcats have achieved this distinction for four of the past five years. Construction and facility upgrades continue to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience. The new Basketball Training Facility is scheduled to open this fall, and construction on the West Stadium Center at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is under way. More than $53 million toward the total fundraising goal of $75 million has been committed. The facility is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 30, 2013. Also, your alma mater will be well represented at the 2012 summer Olympic Games in London. NCAA outdoor high jump champion Erik Kynard will proudly represent the United States, and Coach Cliff Rovelto tutors all three high jumpers on the U.S. team, a first in U.S. high jump history. In addition, five other Wildcats will compete in the games for their home countries. K-State’s Erik Kynard, NCAA outdoor high jump champion, will represent the United States at the 2012 summer Olympics in London.
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K-State Athletics
Chair’s Corner