Board Matters: Summer 2015

Board

M at t e r s A newsletter for current and past members of the K-State Alumni Association Board of Directors

Hello from Manhattan! June 1 marked my 38-year work anniversary with the K-State Alumni Association, and I’m proud to share that your Association continues to be a strong and effective organization! Probably most exciting is the ongoing leadership and support of our board and staff who remain strongly committed to the future of both the Association and Kansas State University. For this we are most grateful.

This year has been one of reflection and brainstorming for the future. Utilizing an outside consultant, Jeff Todd, who is a respected leader in the alumni relations field, we completed a new strategic plan that will guide Association programming through 2020.

Jeff helped us focus on how to enhance and build upon the plan

previously created through the leadership of Rhea Serpan and Janet Ayres many years ago. I believe the new plan will strengthen our support and collaborative efforts with our K-State Community and campus partners. The process also validated our standing as one of the best alumni organizations in the nation!

Please take time to review the plan, which we have shared below, and do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts. The complete text can be found at www.k-state.com/mission. It is through your ongoing involvement that we will achieve our mission: “To lead and inspire lifelong involvement that will benefit Kansas State University and all members of our Wildcat Community.”

Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, President and CEO

FY 2016-2020 STRATEGIC PLAN:

LEADING AND INSPIRING LIFELONG INVOLVEMENT ounded in 1874, the K-State Alumni Association has consistently and effectively played a central role in the life of Kansas State University and its former and current students.

For more than a century, the Alumni Association has been engaging alumni with their alma mater and with one another.

The Alumni Association has justifiably earned the reputation as a trusted and reliable partner for Kansas State University.

With this focus in mind, members of the board of directors and staff spent the past year developing the next five-year strategic plan that will guide programming for the future.

The process included substantial consultation with alumni, students, volunteers and university leaders; assessment of the organization’s strengths and opportunities for improvements; review of best practices in alumni association management and alumni engagement; and thoughtful consideration of K-State 2025, the university’s strategic plan.

The result is a bolder mission, with the Alumni Association assuming a stronger and more significant role as the leader of lifelong involvement for the entire Wildcat Community. While the Alumni Association exists first and foremost to serve and represent alumni, this plan fully embraces its larger role and responsibility to meaningfully engage anyone who genuinely feels a part of the Wildcat Community.

LIFELONG CONNECTIONS

SUMMER 2015

OUR MISSION: To lead and inspire lifelong involvement that will benefit Kansas State University and all members of our Wildcat Community.

STRATEGIC GOAL I: CREATE AND ADVOCATE LIFELONG CONNECTIONS The Alumni Association will lead and advocate for the development of high-quality, high-value programs that ensure lifelong engagement and meet the needs of alumni.

STRATEGIC GOAL II: ADVANCE K-STATE AND THE INTERESTS AND VOICE OF ALUMNI Lead alumni engagement and facilitate two-way communication with the university and our K-State family partners to support K-State’s aspirations.

STRATEGIC GOAL III: SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION’S ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS Build resources and infrastructure to support Alumni Association programs and services that meet the growing needs of the university and Wildcat Community.

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

OUR FUTURE

Photos by David Mayes ’96 and Tom Theis ’13

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Welcomes current board members

Steve Dunning ’86 Hutchinson, Kansas Taylor Fry 2015-16 Student Alumni Board President Great Bend, Kansas Andy Hurtig 2015-16 Student Body President Wichita, Kansas Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins ’96 Washington, D.C. John Morgan ’74, ’76 Spicewood, Texas Kate Perkins ’91, ’93 Howard, Kansas Phil Stroupe ’76, ’77 Waukesha, Wisconsin

&Goodbyes past board members

Aubrey Abbott Patterson ’98 Hutchinson, Kansas Reagan Kays ’15 2014-15 Student Body President Weir, Kansas Mary Jo Rupp Myers ’64 Arlington, Virginia Aaron Otto ’98 Roeland Park, Kansas Edgar Ramirez ’04 Naples, Florida Holly Sinderson Roberts ’81 Colorado Springs, Colorado Adam Wilkerson 2014-15 Student Alumni Board President Columbia, Missouri [2]

ASSOCIATION STRENGTHENS INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH EFFORTS

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he university reports enrollment of more than 2,200 international students, which represents approximately 9 percent of the student population in 2014-15. In an effort to effectively serve this constituency, the Alumni Association has expanded efforts to connect with international students and alumni through several new initiatives introduced this year. These initiatives include a coordinated effort with administration, faculty and staff who focus on international programming and assisting those who travel internationally with hosting events for alumni living abroad.

On campus, the Association hosted an International Student and Family Fun Day last fall to reach out to international students and their families; held the inaugural International Graduation Celebration and the inaugural International Leadership Awards this spring; and introduced an International Student Scholarship program that awarded 20 $500 scholarships in the first year.

An International Alumni Ambassador program also was implemented. K-State pride is now promoted around the world through the efforts of these volunteers: Australia: David Kozar ’02 Brazil: Trent Coen ’04 Bulgaria: Mark Leonard ’95 Canada: Krista Leben ’08 Costa Rica: Jose Dominguez ’96 East Africa: Holly Heyroth ’02 Egypt: Mohamed Ismail ’15

Germany: Sheryl Bauchwitz ’81, ’85 Saudi Arabia: Adnan Alkhiary ’11 Sweden: William Yankey ’08 Taiwan (Tapei): Emily Wu ’98, ’03 Taiwan (Kao-Hsiung): Allan Yen-Lun Su ’96 United Arab Emirates: Mohammad Sahtout ’14 United Kingdom: Chris McLemore ’01 Vietnam: Jennifer Farris ’06

“I am very excited and optimistic about our international programmatic expansion,” Jessica Elmore ’06, ’15, associate director of diversity programs for the Alumni Association. “The Alumni Association has been able to build and strengthen meaningful relationships with our K-State family. Being able to spend a Sunday afternoon with international students and their families and bringing faculty and administrators together to celebrate students graduating have been so rewarding. We have a fantastic K-State family, and we want to make sure that the link of K-State is felt all across our purple globe.”

Your support matters!

The Alumni Association staff extends heartfelt and sincere thanks for your generous support of our annual fund, Tradition Founders! Contributions to the fund support our annual operating budget and made it possible for the Alumni Association to provide the programming efforts that reached more than 131,000 alumni and friends this year.

We are pleased to share that more than $542,000 was contributed to the 2014-15 campaign, which wrapped up June 30. This is an alltime high for contributions received and includes 145 leadership gifts of $1,000 or more, which qualified for Founders Circle recognition.

Your generosity is key to the success of this effort. To learn more about the fund, or other opportunities to support the continued excellence and growth of our programs, contact Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, president and CEO, at 800-600-2586 or arenz@k-state.com.

SUMMER 2015

Chair’s Corner By now you know — but it bears repeating! — that your K-State Alumni Association is in its 19th year of leading the Big 12 Conference in the percentage of alumni who are members. That is a remarkable achievement, and it speaks to the dedication and loyalty of K-Staters from around the world.

Most of us, as current and former Travis Lenkner ’01 Board members, would never take any credit for this milestone, or for any of the other good news we routinely hear about the Association. Instead, we attribute all of the success to the work of a wonderful team of professionals and the passion of our alumni base.

To be sure, the lion’s share of thanks is due to our incredible staff, which works tirelessly to provide a valuable membership experience and fulfill the Association’s mission.

But we also should recognize the role that our consistently strong volunteer Board has played in guiding the Association to its current position. Everyone who receives this newsletter has been critical to the Association’s growth and development over many years.

As the current Board prepares to lead the Association through a new five-year strategic plan, it is worth taking a moment to say “thank you” to all past Board members. Thank you for leading this organization from its original days in Anderson Hall to the Hollis House and then the Foundation center, and for having the temerity to turn dreams of a standalone Alumni Center into reality. Thank you for equipping the Association with the tools to grow from a small club tied to an agricultural college into a model alumni association with more than 40,000 members who support a major research university.

Your work and leadership helped build the Association we know today, and your continued support is critical to our success in the coming years. We are grateful for your financial investments that propel our Tradition Founders fund to new heights, as well as your gifts of time in service of our alumni clubs and other local programs. We appreciate your continued interest in the Board itself, which includes proposing and helping recruit new Board members who reflect our diverse Wildcat community. And we rely on your love of K-State as you encourage family and friends to join the Alumni Association, buy K-State license plates, and support K-State in many other ways.

This newsletter is called “Board Matters.” This short note can be summarized as “Boards Matter.” Thank you for your past or present service on our Board. This group has done great things, and with your help, we will continue to chart a course for success for the Association and the university we all love so much.

Wildcat Proud!

— Travis Lenkner ’01

SUMMER 2015

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF UPDATES

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he Association recently welcomed four staff members. Ashley Pauls and Tim Schrag ’12 joined the communications department in April. Tim serves as editor of the K-Stater magazine and Ashley as communications coordinator. Tim earned a degree in journalism and digital media and a minor in leadership studies from K-State in 2012. While a student, he served as editor-in-chief of the Kansas State Collegian and has worked for both the Hutchinson News and the Wichita Eagle newspapers. Ashley is a graduate of Friends University and has worked for the Newton Kansan newspaper, the Wichita Art Museum and Momentum Marketing and Design in Wichita, Kansas. She is responsible for editing the monthly electronic newsletter, @K-State, and supports other communications functions.

Anita Eagan and Annie Holle joined the information services department as alumni records assistants in May. Anita is a graduate of Manhattan Area Technical College and has clerical experience with the ManhattanOgden School District in Manhattan. Annie worked for Wamego Public Schools. They are great additions to the team that maintains and updates records of alumni, friends and businesses on the database.

We are pleased to share news about two additions to the Wildcat family! Congratulations to Kim Ralston ’07, and her husband, Zac, on the birth of their son, Lincoln Ray, Jan. 27. Darcie Riordan and her husband, Mark, welcomed their first child, daughter Leah Marie, March 6. Kim serves as manager of electronic communications and social media, and Darcie as graphic designer for the Alumni Association.

We also want to congratulate Jessica Elmore ’06, ’15, who completed a doctorate in educational leadership from K-State in May! Jessica received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Grambling State University in 2004 and a master’s in business administration from Kansas State University in 2006. She joined the staff in 2010 as assistant director of multicultural programs and was promoted to associate director of diversity programs July 1.

dates

to note

Aug. 14 2015 Wabash CannonBall Colorado Sept. 13 2015 K-State Day at the Kansas State Fair

Oct. 11-17 Homecoming Week A Century of Coming Home

Oct. 17 Annual Homecoming Pregame at Cat Town Nov. 5-8 Biennial Black Alumni/ Greek Reunion

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Construction

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CONSTRUCTIVE THINKING

his past fiscal year continued to see many exciting changes on campus. Below are just a few highlights, although many other campus infrastructure and maintenance projects are ongoing.

Throughout the university, academic and athletic facilities are receiving renovations and additions including: • A new 155,000-square-foot building for the College of Business Administration to be completed in July 2016.

• Durland Hall addition that will create more than 100,000 square feet of instructional, research and office space to the College of Engineering home.

• Relocation of the Purple Masque Theatre from the east to the west side of Memorial Stadium was completed this spring, and construction of the Berney Family Welcome Center on the east side of the stadium is scheduled for completion in April 2016.

• Construction of the Vanier Family Football Complex, which will be complete by August. The north end expansion will double the amount of space for student-athletes and coaches and will provide improved seating and fan accommodations.

• Estimated to be complete by spring 2016, construction on the new Jon Wefald Hall and Dining Center has begun. The Hall will be a part of the Kramer Complex and will house more than 540 students in 129,000 square-feet. Renovations to Kramer Dining Hall, Marlatt and Goodnow Halls are also planned.

• The KSU Foundation is developing the K-State Office Park, a 14-acre tract at the corner of Kimball and Denison avenues.

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UNIVERSITY HIGHLIGHTS

his past fiscal year continued to see many exciting changes and accomplishments universitywide. Here are just a few highlights: • Dr. Tammy Beckham, director of the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases in College Station, Texas, was named the new dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, replacing Dean Ralph Richardson ’69, ’70, who since has been selected as interim dean and CEO of the K-State Olathe campus.

• In February, Greg Willems was named president and CEO of the KSU Foundation, succeeding Fred Cholick, who had served in that position since 2010. Willems has held executive fundraising positions at the University of Hawaii, University of British Columbia and Texas A&M. • Philanthropic gifts and commitments by Wildcat supporters totaled $141.5 million this past fiscal year. This marks the fourth consecutive year fundraising has topped $100 million.

• K-State Athletics continues to experience excellence in competition and in the classroom, with Big 12-leading APR scores in five sports (football, men’s golf, volleyball and crosscountry). A total of 82 student-athletes earned their degrees, and a combined 514 K-Staters were named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll – 96 with a perfect 4.0 GPA! • Ahearn Fund donors surpassed 10,000, with donors to the fund now represented in all 50 states.

• Nearly 3,000 students completed degree requirements from K-State in the spring 2015 semester.

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Kudos & Congrats Karen Milner Graves ’57, St. Joseph, Missouri, received an honorary doctorate from Missouri Western State University.

Richard Myers ’65 and Mary Jo Rupp Myers ’64, Arlington, Virginia, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 12, 2015.

Reagan Kays ’15, Weir, Kansas, has received a Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship to study agriculture, business and public policy law at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Ian Bautista ’94, ’97, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was recently named executive director for Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative.

Jake Worcester ’01, of Manhattan, Kansas, was named president and CEO of the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

Erin Brummett Klein ’85 is now a marketing consultant for Buchanan & Edwards in Arlington, Virginia.

Dan Yunk ’71, ’75, ’87, Manhattan, Kansas, was selected Citizen of the Year by the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. Dan was also elected the 2015-16 chair-elect of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors.

Doris Wright Carroll ’74, ’76, Kansas City, Missouri, developed an e-book to help K-State graduate students in the College of Education cut down on the cost of textbooks.

Aaron Otto ’98, Roeland Park, Kansas, is now serving as assistant to the county administrator for Johnson County Kansas.

David Brown ’77 was named capital manager in the Facilities Services and Development/Hospital Construction Department at The University of Kansas Hospital in July 2015.

Jay Heidrick ’99 has been named a 2015 Client Service All-Star by national consulting group BTI. Jay is a lawyer and shareholder for Polsinelli PC in Kansas City.

In Memoriam It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of Jack D. Taylor ’93 on April 2, 2015, at his home in Lebanon, Missouri. Jack served in several capacities at K-State including as an admissions representative, assistant director of student financial assistance and as an assistant director of admissions. He was a member of the Alumni Association board from 2003 to 2007. Survivors include his wife, Theresa Campbell Taylor ’11, and two daughters.

Please email items you would like to share in Board Matters to Lynn Beier at lbeier@k-state.com.