K-Stater magazine, Winter 2021

K-STATER MAGAZINE

K- STATER The magazine for K-State Alumni Association members

LOOKING BACK AT THE MYERS ERA

WINTER 2021

Winter 2021 • Vol. 71 , No. 2

CONTENTS 4 6 8 9 10 22 24 40 60 62 68 78 80 82

KANSAS ON DISPLAY:

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K-STATE’S KONZA PRAIRIE BIOLOGICAL STATION TURNS 50 Barb Schmidt Van Slyke ’78, Konza Prairie Biological Station

David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association

24 CLOSE-UP: KSU FOUNDATION

48 ‘WE PERFORMED’

28 CELEBRATING THE MYERS ERA

52 A K-STATER IN LEGOLAND

34 KANSAS ON DISPLAY

54 A BRIGHT FUTURE

40 HELPING K-STATE FLOURISH

56 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ’CATS!

42 WILDCAT WELL-BEING

58 IN A SWIPE

44 CHANGING THE WORLD

78 CLOSE-UP: OFFICE OF RESEARCH

Learn about the Foundation’s new Edge Collaboration District north of campus President Richard Myers ’65 will retire at the end of the year

28 Shane Keyser ’96, Keyser Concepts

Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Association board of directors or staff.

Correspondence related to the K-Stater should be directed to the editor. For membership information, call 785-532-6260. Address changes and news of births, deaths, marriages or job changes should be directed to Alumni Records.

The K-Stater is printed by LSC Communications, Liberty, Mo. Advertising information is located on the web at www.k-state. com/K-Stater. Canadian return mail address: Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6J5. K-Stater (ISSN-10761934), the alumni magazine for Kansas State University Alumni Association members, is published four times a year (spring, summer, fall, winter) by the K-State Alumni Association, 100 Alumni Center, 1720 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506-1001. Periodicals postage paid at Manhattan, Kan., and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Alumni Records, 100 Alumni Center, 1720 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506-1001.

FEATURES

K-State’s Konza Prairie Biological Station turns 50 this year Medal of Excellence recipients Curt ’73 and Sherry ’73 Frasier help K-State thrive Charlie ’90 and Debbie Morrison invest in student wellness at K-State

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First Look Editor’s Note Snapshots Mailbox Around K-State Wildcat Kids Close-up KSU Foundation Annual Report Class Notes In Memoriam Close-up Last Look K-S-U Photos

Couple earns Alumni Excellence Award for illustrious careers in biosecurity

On the cover: President Richard Myers ’65 and his wife Mary Jo Rupp Myers ’64 participate in Harley Day at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 2018. (Photo by Meg Shearer, Collegian Media Group)

Integration is a proud part of K-State’s legacy to college athletics Chris Jadwin ’02 helps build a new ride for Legoland California Department of Energy’s Tony Reames ’07 advocates for affordable energy

Recapping the Homecoming festivities, meet 2022 Student Ambassadors K-Staters develop job searching app to match employees with employers K-State is embarking on a plan to increase economic prosperity in Kansas K - S TAT E R

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Molly Kaiser, K-State Athletics

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WINTER 2021

FIRST LOOK WE FILLED THE BILL A sea of purple Wildcat fans filled up Bill Snyder Family Stadium for K-State’s home opener against Southern Illinois University on Sept. 11, 2021. The Wildcats defeated the Salukis 31-23. This was K-State’s first home football game at full capacity since the pandemic started. There were 48,628 fans in attendance.

K - S TAT E R

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Photos by David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association

THINGS TO DO

A note from our editor Dear Readers, As the year ends, it’s important to look back, take stock and celebrate.

This issue of K-Stater magazine has a lot to celebrate.

We’re celebrating K-State’s 14th president, Richard Myers ’65, who led K-State through unknown waters of an ongoing pandemic, racial unrest, successes in fundraising and athletics, among many other things. President Myers will retire at the end of this year. In talking to him you can tell he has a passion for K-State that goes beyond his role. This seems fitting as he has dedicated his life to public service.

K-Stater magazine also is celebrating a piece of the university’s history. Did you know that K-State paved the way for integration in the Big Seven and Big Eight? Harold Robinson, in football; Gene Wilson, in basketball; Earl Woods and Coach Dave Baker, in baseball; were all trailblazers. Milton Eisenhower ’24, ’63, K-State’s ninth president, opened the door for them to do so at a time when other conference members were absolutely against it. Coach Baker offers some great perspective and K-State’s D. Scott Fritchen ’99 does an amazing job telling this important chapter in K-State history.

The Konza Prairie Biological Station is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Of course, the prairie itself is thousands of years older. Over the last 50 years, this 8,600-acre space of tallgrass prairie has become some of the most studied prairieland in the world.

Konza, in my opinion, is among the most beautiful spots in Kansas. I find it inspiring, which is why you’ll often find photos of it within the pages of K-Stater magazine. I go out there regularly to hike along the public trails. Often, I’m thinking about the magazine and how to make it better.

In this issue, we’re also celebrating K-Staters who have achieved great success. The K-State Alumni Association recently presented Dr. Jerry Jaax ’70, ’72 and Dr. Nancy Dunn Jaax ’71, ’73 with the Alumni Excellence Award for their veterinary science, biosecurity and infectious disease research. Take a minute to read our story on their careers written by K-Stater assistant editor Ashley Pauls.

This issue also is celebrating plenty of other K-Staters who are thriving in their careers. Sisters Deborah Muhwezi Gladney ’10 and Anglea Muhwezi-Hall ’13 have built an app called Quick Hire to help skilled workers find employment, well, quickly. Engineer Chris Jadwin ’02 helped build a new ride in the Legoland California theme park. Tony Reames ’07 is making sure everyone in a community has access to affordable, sustainable energy in his new role as a senior adviser with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Finally, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate my team, Maria Childs ’14, Ashley Pauls, Kendall Ens, Megan Reichenberger ’11, Salena Sauber ’09, Terin Walters ’05, our publisher Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86 and the rest of the Alumni Association staff. Without your help and support, the K-Stater would not be what it is today.

With Wildcat Pride,

Tim Schrag ’12 Editor, K-Stater magazine 6

WINTER 2021

K - S TAT E R

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K-STATER

The magazine for K-State Alumni Association members

VOL. 71, NO. 2

ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins ’96, Washington, D.C., chair Candace Hart Duncan ’75, Bethesda, Md., chair-elect Kendal Frazier ’73, Centennial, Colo., past chair Terms expire in 2022 Frank Hernandez III ’92, Houston, Texas Debbie Leckron Miller ’75, Council Grove, Kan. Dr. Jeff Luty ’89, Abilene, Kan. Cmdr. Tim Oswalt ’93, Oak Harbor, Wash.

Terms expire in 2023 Chancy Montera Love ’07, Denver, Colo.

Rich Macha ’80, Rehoboth, Del. Lori Francis Rogge ’94, Leonardville, Kan. Mike Simms ’89, Kansas City, Mo. Brent Wiedeman ’97, ’05, Colby, Kan. Terms expire in 2024 Dr. Curt Coffman ’90, Phoenix, Ariz.

Jeff Ellison ’90, St. Joseph, Mo. Jody Isch Lancaster ’88, Ottawa, Kan. Zach Maier ’09, New York, N.Y. Suze Brink Parker ’81, ’83, Overland Park, Kan. Terms expire in 2025 Morgan Fisher ’04, Arlington, Va. Lydia Peele Kinkade ’09, Overland Park, Kan. Steve Lacy ’76, ’77, Des Moines, Iowa John Niemann ’93, Mount Hope, Kan. Karen Wiley Works ’76, Humbolt, Kan.

Snapshots

Gia Stalcup Scott ’77

WE ASKED READERS TO SEND US PHOTOS OF THEIR COMPLETED SUGAR COOKIES. THE RECIPE WAS SHARED IN THE FALL 2021 ISSUE.

Standing directors Richard Myers ’65, Manhattan, Kan., K-State president Mary Vanier ’89, Manhattan, Kan., chair, board of directors, KSU Foundation Curt Frasier ’73, Beloit, Kan., treasurer Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, Manhattan, Kan., secretary Michael Dowd, Spring Hill, Kan., student body president Megan Klug, Manhattan, Kan., Student Alumni Board president Greg Willems, Manhattan, Kan., ex officio member, president and CEO, KSU Foundation

Rich Macha ’80

K-STATER MAGAZINE STAFF

Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, publisher Tim Schrag ’12, editor Maria Childs ’14, assistant editor/designer Ashley Pauls, assistant editor/Class Notes Kendall Ens, designer Megan Reichenberger ‘11, advertising Salena Sauber ’09, director of communications Terin Walters ’05, assistant vice president of communications

K-STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

100 Alumni Center | 1720 Anderson Avenue Manhattan, KS 66506-1001 Visit us at k-state.com, call 785-532-6260, or fax 785-532-5068

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

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W I N TT EE RR 22002211

Brooklyn, Lacy and Elizabeth Schmidt

Josey Doyle

Gretchen Ricker Bergkamp ‘95

MAILBOX Alumnus shares memory of the late Bill Gross ’70, ’73 I was saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Gross ’70, ’73. I was happy to follow his career with the KSU Polytechnic unit at Salina, especially the Bill Gross Professional Flight Program.

In a small way, I may have been responsible for his career in aviation, having recruited him to join the K-State Flying Club when I lived in Manhattan back in the late 1960s. I also recall, while I was living in Lincoln, Nebraska, that Bill would fly the KSU coaches to Lincoln for KSU football and basketball booster club meetings. He was a great K-Stater.

Bill and Elaine Gross

YOUR LETTERS AND PHOTOS ARE WELCOME

By Mail: K-Stater magazine K-State Alumni Association 100 Alumni Center 1720 Anderson Ave. Manhattan, KS 66506-1001

Online: kstater@k-state.com /KStateAlumniAssociation @KStateAlumni @KStateAlumni Use hashtag #KStateAlumni

Future Wildcats add color to pages of K-Stater Each issue of K-Stater magazine features a coloring page for future Wildcats of all ages to enjoy. Encourage your future Wildcat to complete the coloring page, found on page 22, and send a picture to kstater@k-state.com.

Gary L. Vacin ’60, ’64 Sun Lakes, Arizona

Couple has fond memories of campus squirrels My wife, Annie Roberts Gish ’62, laughed with happy delight when I showed her your “squirrel photo” (fall 2021 K-Stater magazine, page 51). When we were growing up as Manhattan kids during the 1940-1950’s, she was a young “critter loving girl.” Along with other “critters,” she rescued with and hand raised a pet squirrel (which looked Annie Roberts Gish ’62 l. irre squ the py exactly like the photo); she named him “Happy” Hap per his personality (and hers).

Happy was blown out of a tree onto her street (Vattier) during a severe wind/rain storm.

His eyes were just opening; he was only a few days old. She modified a bottle from her doll collection and hand fed Happy until he was capable of eating nuts from her hands. Thereafter, he would gently dig between her fingers to extract the nuts. In mutual delight, she could scratch behind his ears and rub his tummy. Even after Happy was freed to live in the trees, Annie would step out on her porch and knock two black walnuts together. Then tree leaves would shake as he came scampering through the branches and jump onto her shoulder to eat the nutty treasure.

A few years later, after we were married, we lived in an apartment next to her parent’s home. As I walked to/from my KSU classes, sometimes I would hear a squirrel chattering and scolding. Was it Happy looking for a nut in my pockets? Probably not but then again, this photo could be one of his descendants.

Annie returned to Manhattan to live while I was flying in Vietnam (1967-68) and, as a former KSU art student, her drawings and paintings were displayed for a week in the Student Union.

Those drawings and paintings are now displayed in our home.

Don Gish ’62 Cedar Park, Texas Correction: The Fall 2021 issue of K-Stater magazine misidentified Michael Edwards as Joshua Solomon on page 43.

Hayes, 4, Neva, 9, and Everly, 6, Gladin

Camila Headle, 5

Everly Lyon, 6

Pippa Hayden, 6

Young pet owner excited to see cat in the K-Stater Jaden smiles with Ringo. Ringo was featured in the fall 2021 issue of the K-Stater on the K-S-U Pets page.

K - S TAT E R

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Around K-STATE

15 K-Stater Kudos

16 Alumni Profile

19 From the Archives

12 2021 Gift Guide

15 Ask the Expert

18 Slice of the Little Apple

20 Big 12 adds new schools Tom Theis ’13, K-State Communications and Marketing

11 Cat Connections

Suit up: More than 3,000 K-State students meet with potential employers in Bramlage Coliseum and the Shamrock Zone for the All-University Career Fair in September.

Fall 2021 sees student growth in several key areas, despite overall enrollment decline

Despite a challenging year caused by the ongoing pandemic, K-State has recorded its highest graduation rate in recent history — a rate that is higher than the national average.

Although overall enrollment is down 3% this fall at K-State, recruitment of new freshmen and transfers has stabilized following several years of smaller classes.

Total student enrollment is 20,229 for fall 2021 and includes increases in transfer students, at K-State Salina, graduate students and new international freshmen and international graduate students. New student enrollment — including new freshmen and transfer students — dipped only 1% from last year.

K-State continues to lead all Regents institutions in key student success indicators: the student retention rate of 86% is tied for highest, while K-State’s six-year graduation rate of

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WINTER 2021

68.4% is the best and well above the 63.9% national average for four-year doctoral institutions. Larger graduating classes have led to an overall decrease in enrollment as smaller incoming classes in previous years work through the system.

Karen Goos, vice provost for enrollment management, said student application numbers show increased excitement and interest in K-State and provide evidence that the university’s enrollment management plan is working.

“Efforts to streamline tuition and revamp our scholarship programs to address affordability are gaining traction,” Goos said. “Last year, we had record numbers of inquiries and applications, which is a positive trend in our long-term efforts to grow strategically.”

An indication that the effects of the global pandemic are easing on enrollment is that new international freshmen student enrollment is up more than 65% from a year ago, led

by more students from Paraguay and India. New international graduate student enrollment is up nearly 89%, with China leading the way, followed by Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Nigeria.

K-State Salina, home of the Aerospace and Technology Campus, is continuing several years of enrollment growth. Fall 2021 enrollment is 741, up from 649 in fall 2020. The campus’ enrollment growth has sparked the need for more on-campus housing, with construction of a third residence hall to begin soon.

New transfer student enrollment is up nearly 8% from a year ago, graduate student enrollment is up from 4,120 to 4,134 students, while K-State Online enrollment also rose slightly, from 2,763 to 2,837.

While enrollment is down slightly, university administrators planned for a slight decrease and do not anticipate any effect on the university’s budget for the current school year.

AROUND K-STATE Photo Courtesy of K-State Athletics

CAT

Connections K-State Alumni Association members receive a 15% discount at the K-State Campus Store. Members can shop online at kstatecampusstore.com with the discount code: MEMBER15.

When ordering online, place the code in the special instructions box, not in the promo code box.

Brynnan Norris ’21

The K-State Alumni Association welcomes Brynnan Norris ’21 as the Alumni Center coordinator.

The K-State Alumni Association welcomes Lorraine Tudor Jensby ’85 as alumni programs assistant.

Get your K-State license plate in Kansas, Texas and Maryland today!

Amy Button Renz No. 1 Affinity Plate in Kansas. ’76, ’86 k-state.com/Drive

Download the K-State Alumni Link for Life Download the App, powered by Kansas Lottery.

K-State Alumni k-state.com/App Link For Life App www.K-State.com/App

Keep in touch with your fellow Wildcats and stay up-to-date on the latest news from campus.

One of the greats: Darren Sproles ’05, who played for the Wildcats from 2001-04, was recognized on Oct. 2 by the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame as a 2021 inductee during the football game against the University of Oklahoma.

State gains first Aerospace and Technology Campus with rebranding of Salina Campus With a focus on national expansion, meeting the demands of the aerospace industry and a recognition of the niche mission of the campus, K-State’s Polytechnic Campus is rebranding to be Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus.

“This change establishes the first aerospace and technology campus in Kansas and shows our Salina campus is ready to take on the accelerating needs of the aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries,” said Richard Myers ’65, K-State president. “The Aerospace and Technology Campus will be a national leader in advanced aviation and aerospace training, education and engineering through research, innovation and instruction.”

Since joining the K-State system in 1991, the campus has housed the university’s aviation and engineering technology programs. These are niche programs, separate from any programs offered on the other K-State campuses. The historical lineage of the campus — a two-year technical institution that merged with a public university — uniquely positions it to serve all career-entry points into the aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries.

The Aerospace and Technology Campus will retain the College of Technology and Aviation, which includes three academic departments: aviation, integrated studies and unmanned aircraft systems. The campus offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as credit and non-credit technical and graduate-level certificates. It also is home to in-demand programs that assist employers with upskilling their current workforces.

Alysia Starkey ’10, CEO and dean of the campus, says the new

name better represents what the campus offers for prospective students, donors and community and industry partners, and is a better representation of the education received by alumni.

“We are very excited to influence the future of aerospace and technology,” Starkey said. “We already offer world-renowned programs in the operational segment of aviation and look forward to expanding our offerings. Equally exciting is that the program expansions required to achieve this vision support the same business, engineering and technology workforce needs of the recent expansions in the advanced manufacturing sector in central Kansas.”

“Since the closure of Schilling Air Force Base in 1967, the mission of the Kansas State University campus in Salina has been to maintain excellence in aviation and engineering,” said state Sen. J.R. Claeys ’01, R-Salina. “This rebranding enhances the campus’ ability to support the growth of the Kansas economy.

Some of the top employers in Kansas require highly skilled, educated professionals in the technologies that will drive innovation in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The median annual wage for these industry sectors is $104,312, benefiting economic development in Salina and across the state.”

Aligning the campus brand and name has been a goal since 2017 when the campus, with help from community partners in Salina, launched its Global Aeronautics Initiative with the vision to establish an aerospace and technology campus.

Starkey said that the campus’s focus on a hands-on and real-world approach to preparing students to be career-ready will remain the same.

For more information, visit the Aerospace and Technology Campus website, salina.k-state.edu.

WWW.K-STATE.COM/NEWS K-STATE.COM/NEWS K - S TAT E R

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AROUND K-STATE

K-State earned national recognition as one of the top universities for diversity and inclusion with the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED Award, from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. It is the eighth year in a row K-State has achieved this honor from the magazine, which is the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

As a recipient of the award, presented to U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, K-State will be featured, along with 100 other recipients, in the November issue of the magazine.

“The HEED Award symbolizes that Kansas State University remains true to its land-grant university mission to encourage diversity and learning opportunities created through societal differences,” said Richard Myers ’65, K-State president. “We’re honored by this award, but we know we must always strive to be better. Our Action Plan for a More Inclusive K-State demonstrates our commitment to addressing racial and social injustices and ensuring this great university is and always will be a welcoming place for all.”

Be Stoney, K-State’s interim chief diversity and inclusion officer, said efforts must continue to maintain and sustain an action-oriented campus environment that promotes diversity and inclusion in everything it does, including teaching, research and outreach.

“Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are not a check-the-box conversation,” Stoney said. “When we appreciate our differences, we reshape ourselves through a better understanding of issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.”

K-State continues to invest in many programs that encourage the recruitment, retention and graduation of multicultural and first-generation students, including First Scholars, Project IMPACT, Multicultural Academic Success and the Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation.

For the fifth consecutive year, K-State has been recognized by

Tim Schrag ’12, K-State Alumni Association

K-State’s commitment to diversity, inclusion earns national honor for eighth year in a row

The tradition continues: The K-State Alumni Association’s Legacy Scholars were present on the field at Bill Snyder Family Stadium for the opening kickoff against Iowa State University. Children and grandchildren of K-State alumni are invited to apply for a $1,000 K-State Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship. To apply, visit k-state.com/scholarships.

Campus Pride as among the best universities in the nation for LGBTQ inclusion in programs, policies and practices. K-State’s more than 40 multicultural student organizations also have a reputation for excellence, including the Black Student Union, which as of 2020, had been named best Black student council in the Big 12 Conference 12 times in the last 16 years.

University efforts to build a diverse workforce and culture also are meeting with success. For the second year in a row, K-State was named a top employer by DiversityJobs.com.

It also was the second year in a row that K-State was the only higher education institution in Kansas to achieve the distinction.

Other important steps in improving the university’s diversity and inclusiveness are the addition of the Morris Family

Multicultural Student Center, which opened last fall and has become a hub for intercultural learning and multicultural enrichment at K-State, and the appointment of the university’s first student ombudsman, Kimathi Choma ’07, ’13, on April 1.

Stoney encourages everyone in the K-State community to participate in the many events the university offers to highlight diversity and inclusion. K-State also honors the work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with the university’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Week in January.

“Working side by side, we must all continue to promote and commit to making diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging a priority for students, faculty staff and community members who visit the campus,” Stoney said.

2021 Gift Guide

These gifts from the K-State Alumni Association make great surprises under the tree or in a stocking for your favorite Wildcat!

Shipping times will vary so order now. For more information and additional items visit:

k-state.com/giftguide 2021 Purple Truck Ornament $25

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WINTER 2021

Stone Coasters $29.95

AROUND K-STATE Aerospace and Technology Campus enhancing its training aircraft fleet K-State Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus is taking another step forward in becoming a global aerospace leader by providing career-ready pilots.

The campus has added 17 new aircraft to enhance its fleet and provide students with a high-quality flight training program.

These new planes were purchased from two wellknown airplane manufacturers.

“This is a major step toward our vision to meet industry demands by providing students experience from a primary trainer all the way to a business-class airplane,” said Alysia Starkey ’10, CEO and dean of K-State Salina.

The addition of the new aircraft allows for diverse training options with high-performance, complex, lowwing and high-wing planes, said Clinton Strong, head of the aviation department on the Aerospace and Technology Campus.

“Our entire K-State fleet will now have Garmin avionics, providing the latest technology and giving student pilots improved situational awareness while flying,” Strong said.

“This change supports the campus’s goal to provide a highquality, comprehensive and affordable flying experience.”

K-State Salina has purchased 10 new Cessna 172 Skyhawks with Garmin G1000 avionics from Textron Aviation that will be delivered during the first quarter of 2022. These planes will provide students with training in a top aircraft and bring the number of this model in the K-State fleet to 20. The increase helps accommodate the campus’s growing aviation enrollment.

“Textron Aviation remains committed to supporting the training and development of the next generation of pilots, and our continued strong relationship with Kansas State is a critical element to these efforts,” said Chris Crow, vice president of piston sales at Textron Aviation. “K-State Salina has been training future pilots in Cessna Skyhawks since its program’s inception, further demonstrating the strength

K-State Diploma Frames Starting at $134

and capability of the platform and its leadership in pilot training.”

Through its strategic partnership with Cirrus Aircraft, K-State Salina has purchased five new Cirrus SR20s featuring innovative systems, including electronic stability and protection and the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, or CAPS, as an added protective layer for pilot and passengers. The campus will receive its first aircraft in the fourth quarter of this year and the remaining four aircraft in the second quarter of 2022. The addition of the high-performance Cirrus Aircraft will provide students with the advanced-aviation training needed to become safe, professional pilots.

“Cirrus Aircraft is dedicated to delivering safe and innovative flight training solutions for leading aviation training organizations,” said David Moser, vice president of Cirrus fleet and special mission sales. “Our TRAC Series aircraft provide K-State Salina with an advanced platform that is ideal for training aspiring professional aviators.”

The campus also has added two more Beechcraft Baron G58s for complex, multi-engine training.

“The Baron will continue to be a pinnacle for K-State Salina’s flight training program,” Strong said. “This plane prepares graduates for professional careers with their experiences in this powerful and sophisticated twin-engine aircraft.”

Strong said the diversification of the K-State Salina fleet allows students to begin training in the Cessna 172, a dependable training aircraft, and then move into the high-performance Cirrus SR20 with its advanced avionics and higher speeds. Finally, they can complete their multiengine rating in the capable Beechcraft Baron, where they learn a more advanced system.

“I don’t know of any other flight school that uses this unique combination of the 172, Cirrus and Baron for training,” Strong said.

K-State Alumni Wine Club Starting at $59 with promo code MEMBER5

Legendary: K-State football greats Jonathan Beasley ’01, ’12 and Bill Snyder were inducted into the Cotton Bowl’s Hall of Fame in October. Beasley was K-State’s quarterback in the 2001 Cotton Bowl Classic. Snyder served as head coach for the Wildcats in three Cotton Bowl Classic games.

Photos courtesy of K-State Athletics

Bill Snyder Book $21 with promo code KSTATEALUM30 K - S TAT E R

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Doug Barrett, 400 North Creative

AROUND K-STATE

A long time coming: For more than 60 years the K-State Black community advocated and provided the steadfast momentum for K-State to build and operationalize a space dedicated for multicultural students and individuals actively seeking to develop and strengthen their cultural understanding. In October, during the K-State Alumni Association’s Black Alumni Reunion, the Black community had the opportunity to celebrate with a ribbon cutting at the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center.

Bachelor’s program in finance earns Chartered Financial Analyst university affiliation

K-State is now part of the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute University Affiliation Program. This designation indicates K-State’s bachelor’s program in finance emphasizes the high ethics and standards set by the institute and is well-suited to prepare students to sit for the chartered financial analyst exam.

“The CFA Institute recognizing Kansas State University and its finance department’s curriculum as keeping with these high standards is a great compliment and an incredible honor,” said Hardy Johnson, associate professor of finance and interim head of the department. “CFA affiliation means that our students who choose to pursue a degree in this program will acquire the tools necessary to not only compete for these highly sought-after jobs but obtain and excel at them.”

The K-State finance program provides a high-quality educational experience for students and allows them to pursue careers in a wide selection of industries, including financial management, controllership, financial services, consulting, asset management and more, said Sabuhi Sardarli, associate professor of finance and director of the Gates Capital Management Center for Financial Analysis in the College of Business.

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USDA grant supports new K-State hotline for diagnosing toxic animal emergencies

Rapid response to animal health emergencies has prompted the creation of a new veterinary toxicology training program at K-State. A $248,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant will enhance the ability of researchers in the College of Veterinary Medicine to answer calls for help.

The goal of the program, developed by Dr. Steve Ensley ’79, ’81, clinical veterinary toxicologist, and Dr. Bob Larson ’85, ’87, ’92, professor of production medicine, is to create impactful and innovative outreach tools. This will better enable livestock veterinarians to recognize and address toxicology problems in food animal species, especially cattle, small ruminants and pigs.

The project will utilize veterinary telemedicine and other distance-based education resources, including a toxicology call-in hotline for practicing veterinarians called CONSULT — Collaborative, Online, Novel, Science-based, User-friendly, Learning Tool — for common livestock toxicology problems, and YouTube training videos. The nationwide call-in service to address common food animal toxicological emergencies was identified as a priority by the researchers.

“The toxicology section at the Kansas State Veterinary

Diagnostic Lab and I receive multiple calls each day dealing with questions about food animal veterinary toxicology from across the U.S.,” Ensley said. “Many questions are about current cases that veterinarians are dealing with and they want assistance in answering specific questions. Because of the infrequent nature of most toxicological case presentations, many practicing veterinarians find it difficult to maintain the current knowledge necessary to quickly address specific toxicological emergencies.”

The outreach portals created with the grant provide new and valuable resources to practitioners.

“This program will greatly enhance currently available toxicology resources for teaching veterinary nurses and veterinary students during the last two years of their professional education,” Larson said.

Some of the resources can be modified to be contentappropriate to introduce important animal health concepts to high school students in grades 11 and 12, he said.

Outreach portals for the training materials will include the websites for the Beef Cattle Institute, Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, K-State Veterinary Medical Continuing Education and the Colby Community College Veterinary Nursing Program.

AROUND K-STATE

K-STATER Kudos

Leanne Caret ’88, president and CEO of The Boeing Company’s Defense, Space, and Security unit, was named to Fortune’s Top 30 Most Powerful Women list for 2021.

Behrooz Mirafzal, professor of electrical engineering, was honored with a five-year appointment as a George Yeh keystone research scholar.

Hayder Rasheed, professor of civil engineering, was honored with a five-year appointment as a Darold and Debbie Davis cornerstone teaching scholar.

Colton Hull, a fourth-year veterinary student in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Woodston, Kansas, received the inaugural Aurora Pharmaceutical D.V.M. Student Scholarship from Aurora Pharmaceutical.

Bill Snyder, special ambassador for K-State, was inducted into the St. Joseph (Mo.) Area Sports Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.

The Buyle family was honored as K-State’s 2021 Family of the Year during the university’s 93rd annual Family Weekend.

Michael Pritchard, assistant professor in the integrated studies department at Kansas State University Salina, is the 2021 recipient of the Rex McArthur Family Faculty Fellow Award.

Kansas Educational Leadership Institute, or KELI, a partner with the Kansas State University College of Education, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in September.

ASK THE

Expert

What I choose to continue from the pandemic

BY ELAINE MELTON JOHANNES ’79, ’82, ’03 we won’t ever forget. And, there might be things that Editor’s note: Elaine Johannes ’79, ’82, ’03 is the we’ll choose to continue as we move forward. One of Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor in those things could be slowing down, reflection and Community Health and a state Extension specialist in family and youth development. The K-Stater asked her expression of gratitude.

For many, the imposed solitude, quiet and to share some information on pandemic resiliency. slowing down associated with the pandemic resulted It was on March 13, 2020, when I discovered in emotional discomfort and anxiety. That anxiety that the global pandemic would up-end “business might follow those who return to the workplace or as usual.” Traveling back that day from a meeting who now work in a different way. Therapists with the in Salina with three Extension professionals, we Cleveland Clinic caution against returning to a prereceived word from K-State colleagues still in pandemic pace; at least not right away. Instead, take Manhattan for us not to return to our Justin Hall time to acclimate, adjust and acknowledge concerns offices, but instead be ready to go directly home. about safety and about how Little did we know that the purpose and meaning of after that trip we wouldn’t work may have changed. see each other in-person For many, the stillness for over a year. Nor did we 1. The quality or state of of being alone much of the know how much our work being conscious or aware of time during the pandemic, would change from the something.“their mindfulness of the slowing of the preyear before, and that coping the wider cinematic tradition” pandemic lifestyle, and with so much uncertainty the benefits of focus and would be “normal.” During 2. A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the reflection offer a different the 15 months of working path to re-entry. For from home, I adjusted from present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting example, two months into face-to-face Extension one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily the pandemic I began to programming and sensations, used as a therapeutic establish habits associated teaching to online delivery, technique. with slowing, mindfulness which included holding and gratitude. I’m planning workshops and discussions to continue those habits during my re-entry to the about coping and resilience with Extension agents, workplace. parents and youth.

I’m not the only one who has discovered some I’m an Extension Specialist and professor new ways of thinking during the pandemic. Much in community health for K-State Research and has been written about the benefits of mindfulness, Extension, and though my training and content which involves being aware of what is happening prepared me to understand what the pandemic was, in the present, experiencing that awareness, and it did not prepare me for the important lessons I accepting thoughts and then letting them go. learned throughout the experience.

Trying these habits over days, weeks and months Early in the pandemic, national surveys revealed led me to appreciate the renewal and energy that that a third of Americans experienced high levels of can come from choosing slowness, focus and being psychological distress (Pew Research Center, May grateful. In the second month of the pandemic, 2020). Well into March 2021, Americans continued I began to keep a journal of gratitude, and then to experience mental health difficulties and anxiety I began sending messages of appreciation and (Pew Research Center). Now, as we all try to gratitude to others. adjust and establish a different “normal,” I think I plan to continue this mindful habit throughout about what might have been gained through this my re-entry. I also plan to adopt a more appreciative pandemic. and sustainable pace as the uncertainty of the Certainly there are things we don’t want to pandemic becomes a memory. remember, and experiences – good and bad – that

mind·ful·ness

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AROUND K-STATE Doug Barrett, 400 North Creative

K-State one of the top schools on Princeton Review’s latest lists

Outstanding: Each year, the K-State Alumni Association provides two $5,000 awards for K-State faculty to honor outstanding teaching and research. These awards are made possible with the funding from Ron ’62, ’70, ’73 and Rae Iman of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Research was presented to Mike Tokach ’88, university distinguished professor of animal science and industry, and the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching was presented to Julia Keen ’98, ’05, ’10, professor of architectural engineering and construction science. Tokach and Keen are pictured here with Ron and Rae Iman. To learn more about the recipients and the Imans, visit k-state.com/Iman.

Ben Fallin ’09, ’10

When it comes to great schools for undergraduates, the Princeton Review puts K-State among the Top 10 in the nation, the best in Kansas and the best in the Big 12 Conference.

The education services company profiles and recommends K-State in the 2022 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 387 Colleges. K-State makes the list in 10 of the guide’s 26 categories, including happiest students, most loved colleges, great quality of life, great career services, great residence halls and great health services. The guide also recommends the university for great town-gown relations, being among the bestrun schools and being one of the best universities in the Midwest.

K-State also made the lists for great athletic facilities and great intramural sports.

K-State’s 10 appearances in the guide are only topped by four other schools that made 11 of the guide’s lists. Two other schools also had 10 list mentions.

“The Princeton Review lists confirm that Kansas State University is a place where students can thrive and succeed,” said Thomas Lane, vice president for student life and dean of students. “Students can rely on our comprehensive network of support, including first-rate residence halls and dining centers, top-notch health and recreational facilities, and the academic support, such as dedicated advisors, tutoring and first-year success programs, that will help them finish their degrees and find successful careers.”

The Princeton Review is not the only publication finding K-State as one of the best. The latest SmartAsset study finds K-State graduates command the highest average starting salaries in the state, and Niche.com just ranked K-State as the top university in Kansas.

ALUMNI profile

This K-Stater’s work is all about having fun with creative content creation for the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is home to the Dallas Cowboys, the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Big 12 Championship Game and, of course, team owner Jerry Jones.

Like any NFL venue, the space, is by design, created to put on a show. There’s a reason they call this stadium Jerry’s World.

AT&T Stadium boasts two of the largest HD video screens in the world and those screens are constantly showing something to keep the crowd revved up. And there’s a K-Stater helping make that happen.

Ben Fallin ’09, ’10, senior motion graphics designer for the Dallas Cowboys, is responsible for those graphics, animations and displays fans see on gamedays. Things like scoreboards, fantasy football stats, out of town scores, a noise meter, Cowboys trivia, it’s third down make some noise, block that kick, anything you might find at a typical football 16

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game. He even designed graphics for the Allstate Kickoff Classic that saw the Wildcats defeat Stanford Cardinal 24-7.

“It’s a lot of marketing and understanding how somebody views the game themselves,” Fallin said.

Fallin and his team work to ensure that no matter where you sit in the stadium you can see these graphics clearly and easily. But Fallin doesn’t just produce graphics. Last May, the Dallas Cowboys announced their schedule with a special video featuring rapper Post Malone and team owner Jerry Jones. In the video, Malone and Jones are seen playing tailgating games and throwing schedule cards from a ledge onto several of the team’s players, including quarterback Dak Prescott. Fallin wrote the script for the popular video, which was featured on Sports Center and The Pat McAffee Show, among others.

As entertainment success can be often fleeting, the

challenge of the job, Fallin said, is finding what comes next, what’s interesting and what fits the sponsors and the Cowboys’ brand. His degrees in marketing and journalism and the skills he learned at K-State help him in this area.

“I think a lot of people would sit there and go, ‘Oh, he makes graphics, he makes videos, he makes animations. He writes scripts, whatever the creative side of it is,’ but a lot of times I have to fit more in. Does this make sense for the brands? We have multi-million dollar deals that are very important to Mr. Jones and the Jones family. Keeping those things in mind is incredibly important to what we do.”

Navigating those details can be tricky especially when players or guests have deals with competing brands.

“In a way it’s fun and challenging and new,” Fallin said.

“But in a way, it’s also sort of exhausting.”

Fallin got his start in the industry by filming the K-State

AROUND K-STATE Senior administrators to retire in 2022

Two top administrators at K-State will retire in 2022. Linda Cook ’77, chief of staff and director of community relations, will retire on Jan. 31 after four years of service. Jeff Morris ’80, vice president for communications and marketing, plans to retire on March 19, following 12 years of service.

Cook and Morris chose to announce their retirements now to allow time for a smooth transition following the anticipated hiring of a new president in December.

“As lifelong K-Staters, Linda Cook and Jeff Morris provided outstanding service to their alma mater,” said Richard Myers ’65, K-State president.

“They exemplify the K-State spirit and the university is grateful for all they Linda Cook ’77 have done. We have been fortunate to have experienced professionals willing to give back to their university.”

Cook, who is completing a 45-year career in public affairs, communications and business planning that included assignments with two Fortune 100 companies, came to the university in February 2018 after serving as assistant vice president of communications for the K-State Alumni Association.

As chief of staff and director of community relations, Cook had oversight of the Office of Institutional Equity, McCain Auditorium and the Beach Museum of Art, provided leadership for the prestigious Landon Lecture Series, represented the university on community boards and municipal government initiatives, and coordinated numerous special projects for the president.

“It has been a pleasure to directly serve my alma mater in these positions over the past several years,” Cook said. “I’ve had a very fulfilling and successful career that started with a solid

educational foundation and diploma from K-State in 1977. I look forward to continuing my support and participation with the university and K-State family as a loyal and active alumna.”

Morris became the university’s first vice president for communications and marketing in February 2010. Under Morris’ leadership, the division has increased the effectiveness and consistency of institutional communications and marketing initiatives. This includes enhancing and growing the university’s branding efforts; modernizing the university’s web presence; starting K-State Today and expanding media coverage and overall exposure of the university nationally.

For these efforts, the university has been recognized by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Jeff Morris ’80 Education, or CASE, with numerous awards and sweepstakes honors for excellence in all forms of communication, including three international CASE Circle of Excellence Awards. Morris also received the 2013 Flinchbaugh Family Wildcat Pride Award, which recognizes K-State faculty or staff who have been instrumental in advancing the mission of the K-State Alumni Association through the support of its programs.

“It has been an honor to serve my family’s university and help support the land-grant mission of a world-class research institution,” Morris said. “I represent the third generation of my family to retire from K-State and deeply appreciate the opportunities provided by Presidents Kirk Schulz and Richard Myers. We’re ready to help the next generation take the lead.”

Announcements on searches and replacements for the chief of staff and vice president for communications and marketing will be released as transition plans are finalized.

Alumni Association names 2021 International Student Scholars

The K-State Alumni Association has recognized 20 Kansas State University international students with scholarships totaling $10,000.

The scholarships are made possible by K-State’s license plate program. The Alumni Association awarded the International Student Scholarships based on outstanding achievements and leadership.

“This is yet another way to assist our international students, who are an important part of our K-State family,” said Jessica Elmore ’06, ’15, associate director of diversity programs for the Alumni Association. “The Alumni Association is proud to continually offer these scholarship opportunities to our international students. K-State has more than 5,000 graduates who currently live internationally; we are proud to support K-Staters from wherever they might hail.”

The recipients are: Nasik Muhammad Nafi, Rangpur, Bangladesh; Md Abu Sayeed Maroof, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Ricardo Aranha, Brasilia, Brazil; Xuyun Liu, Guangzhou, China; Catherine Obiribea OforiBah, Apirede, Akuapem, Ghana; Ketan Shende and Nirupama Kotian, Mumbai, India; Manjot Rekhi, Kharar, Punjab, India; Niloufer Nittala, Rajahmundry, India; Arash Saeidi Rashk Olia, Kerman, Iran; Elaheh Rabiee, Tehran, Iran; Shawn Koki Oshikawa, Meguro Ku, Tokyo, Japan; Andrea Ramirez Tello, Cuernavaca, Mexico; Nikesh Gyawali, Bharatpur, Nepal; Pratikshya Sharma, Kathmandu, Nepal; Rania Marie Buenavista, San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines; Jared Lou Rivera, Caloocan, Philippines; Jihyuk Gweon, Seoul, South Korea; Narmadha Mohankumar, Hatton, Sri Lanka; and Kelly Shunje, Harare, Zimbabwe.

For more information on the scholarship and other Association scholarships, visit k-state.com/scholarships.

football team’s practices as a videographer.

“I really started to enjoy working video from that job,” he said. “And it just became fun. Something I’ve always been a big proponent on in my life is I wanted to have fun. I never wanted to sit in a cubicle for 30 years just to work my way into an office to go, ‘Now I’ve made it.’”

From there Fallin took an internship with the Tampa Bay Rays, then another internship for Under Armour. After graduating in a recession he returned to Manhattan and worked odd jobs until an opportunity with a minor league baseball team in southern California opened up. That role with Inland Empire 66ers helped him win several awards and opened the door for him to take a job with the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans. In 2019 he started his current role with the Cowboys and while he’s very aware of how grateful he is to hold his position, Fallin said it often fades into the background.

“Everyday I drive to AT&T Stadium,” he said. “I’m blessed.

But a lot of times, I don’t even think about it. Sometimes, it just sort of fades into a job, right? There are times where I do have to pull myself back and go, ‘This is crazy.’”

— Tim Schrag ’12 Photo courtesy of Ben Fallin ’09, ’10

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SLICE of the Little Apple A welcome wallaby

Tori White, Collegian Media Group

AROUND K-STATE

The Sunset Zoo announced the birth of a rare albino wallaby in October. The Manhattan Mercury reported Bruny was born in late December 2020. The wallaby was named after the Bruny Island off of Tasmania, which is home to a colony of albino wallabies.

C is for Cookie Eileen’s Colossal Cookies, 830 Commons Place, opened in October. The franchise has locations in eight other states.

C is also for Cheesecake Robby’s Famous Cheesecakes Manhattan, 716 N. Manhattan Ave., also opened in October. The store has a variety of cheesecake flavors, including Keto friendly options.

Changing of the guard The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are working on a phased transition of NBAF as the project nears completion. In October, WIBWTV reported DHS and USDA have created a transfer of responsibility, allowing the USDA to start taking over the operations and responsibility of portions of the facility, including the central utility plant, the guard staff and the wastewater treatment.

Local Lemonade A 9-year-old Manhattan resident, Tremaine Glasper, started a small business, Tre’s Squeeze, this summer.

First debuting at the Manhattan Farmer’s Market, Glasper’s business has grown rapidly. Tre’s Squeeze makes 100% natural, freshly-squeezed lemonades. In October, Tre’s Squeeze officially found space on the shelves of the Manhattan Hy-Vee. Learn more at tressqueeze.com.

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Challenge accepted: The Finance Scholars took part in K-State’s Challenge Course that reopened this semester.

The Challenge Course is an experiential adventure program that offers groups and individuals the opportunity to engage in a series of personal development and team building activities. Benjamin Dezube, senior in finance, Overland Park, Kansas, leads the scholars to guide a rope through the shapes without touching the green outlines.

State partners with K-State engineering through University Engineering Initiative Act renewal Over the last decade, the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering has used funding from the University Engineering Initiative Act to increase its number of engineering graduates as a way to fuel economic growth and business success in Kansas.

The program was so successful in meeting its goals, funding for a second 10-year program was signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly in April and celebrated with a signing ceremony Oct. 18 alongside Matt O’Keefe, dean of the College of Engineering and LeRoy C. and Aileen H. Paslay chair, and other leaders in engineering from across the state.

“We are pleased to see the state legislature make another crucial investment in engineering education in the state of Kansas,” O’Keefe said. “This partnership has already yielded many tangible benefits to both K-State and the Kansas economy, and we’re certain the next 10 years will see a continued high demand for K-State engineering graduates at businesses and firms all over the state and the region.”

The ceremonial signing took place on-site at the Topeka engineering firm Bartlett & West, with Gary Clark, senior associate dean; Stacy Hutchinson ’96, ’98, associate dean for research and graduate programs; and Sue Peterson ’76, ’05, chief government relations officer, joining O’Keefe for the event.

“This legislation will support our state’s tradition of churning out great engineers, and we’ll encourage them to use and keep their talents right here in our state,” Kelly said in a statement. “I want to thank the bipartisan coalition of

legislators, stakeholders and businesses who worked with my administration to make sure this program remained strong and in place.

“My administration will continue to do everything we can to support engineering talent development at our universities and provide opportunities for engineering students to succeed.”

The previous University Engineering Initiative Act saw K-State reach and exceed its portion of the overall goal to increase the number of engineering graduates statewide four years early in 2017. The college’s 2020-2021 class of 675 bachelor’s degree graduates exceeded the goal for the program by nearly 15%.

While the original act focused on increasing the number of engineering graduates in the state to 1,365 students per year, the objective of the current funding is to increase the number of engineers working and living in Kansas.

“We are excited about meeting the challenge of providing education to students who can then contribute to the Kansas economy for decades to come,” O’Keefe said. “This program will help reinforce our already strong partnerships with Kansas companies that value the work that we do.”

Like the original bill, the renewed University Engineering Initiative Act provides $105 million to K-State, Wichita State University and the University of Kansas over 10 years. Each institution receives $3.5 million per year and matches it with $3.5 million per year from non-state sources.

Learn more about the program: engg.k-state.edu/about/ueia

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FROM THE

Archives

Mary Van Zile ’29 was an advocate for women during her tenure

BY VERONICA DENISON, UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Many students through the years have either lived in or walked

by Van Zile Hall, which was the first residential hall built on campus.

It opened in 1926 as an all-female hall, and became co-ed in the fall of 1968. But many may not remember or know the woman it was named after.

Mary Pierce Van Zile ’29 was born on Feb. 7, 1872 in Solomon, Kansas. However, she spent most of her young life in Winfield, Iowa, where she also began her teaching career. From 1888-1891, she attended K-State; however she did not graduate at that time. Instead, she moved back to Iowa, becoming a principal at Wayland High School and marrying Gilbert J. Van Zile in 1892. Gilbert Van Zile graduated from K-State in 1890. The couple had two sons before Gilbert died in 1899. After her husband’s death, Mary Van Zile went to Iowa State College and received her teacher’s diploma in 1904. She taught domestic science and art at New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Illinois for four years. She later obtained a bachelor of science from K-State in 1929.

In 1908, Van Zile was appointed as professor of domestic science and dean of women at K-State when the board of regents officially organized the college into deanships.

Four years later, the college decided to organize into five distinct divisions, one of which was home economics, and as a result, Van Zile became dean of home economics, in addition to her prior appointments. She soon expanded the home economics courses to include men, teaching table etiquette to about 100 male students. Due to an influx of students, both in the department of home economics and university-wide, Van Zile requested to be relieved of her home economics duties in 1918 after seven years of dual deanship and teaching to fully devote herself as dean of women.

She was so invested in the success of women at K-State, that she held events at her house to better know the women she was responsible for. In her own words from the 1936 Royal Purple, “I want my girls to know all of life and life as it is...so they may choose wisely from the knowledge and experience that they have, that they will build into their lives those things which are ultimately the best and most satisfactory.”

While Van Zile’s career at K-State was successful, it was not without bumps. In 1927, Van Zile handed down an edict that female students could not attend dances unless they wore bloomers to cover their knees. She said that the shortness of skirts made it imperative for the “modern young woman to wear bloomers to avoid embarrassment.”

It wasn’t too long after that, while at a co-ed dance, female students checked their bloomers at the door along with their coats.

After hearing of this, Van Zile appointed representatives at every university sanctioned dance.

While she was strict in regards to university rules and attire, she took an active role as dean of women and was considered the voice for women students. Van Zile was instrumental in raising the funds to build Van Zile Hall, and advocated for the reduction of the housing cost of the hall when women students couldn’t afford to live there. She worked hard to prove that home economics was professional work, and she helped and supported women in finding jobs during and after their time at the university.

Between 1928 and 1930, she planned 532 social functions, held 2,075 meetings with women students, and helped obtain 455 jobs for students.

Mary Van Zile retired as dean of women in 1940, and died in 1949. The Industrialist described her as “one of the most active, colorful, and influential lives ever to affect the Kansas State campus.”

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AROUND K-STATE Photo courtesy of K-State Athletics

K-State launches the Women in Business initiative through the College of Business

Honoring more greats: Four Wildcats, Steve Fritz ’93, Jordy Nelson ’07, Terence Newman ’02 and Darren Sproles ’05, were inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame 2021 class in October. Bill Snyder, a 2006 class inductee, represented Sproles and Newman at the ceremony.

The College of Business Administration at K-State launched a Women in Business initiative with a career summit on Oct. 22, 2021.

K-State’s Women in Business initiative is supported by numerous College of Business donors and advisers, including several female executives who are K-State alumni — Candace Hart Duncan ’75, former managing partner KPMG LLP; Carolyn Thompson ’12, founder and CEO of Merito Group; and Leanne Caret ’88, CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security. Caret served as the keynote speaker.

“The women of K-State today will be the future changemakers, CEOs and business leaders of tomorrow,” said Marcia Hornung, Menard Family Director, Center for Principled Business. “The K-State College of Business strives to foster an inclusive learning environment for students throughout their time at K-State and beyond. As a part of our strategic plan for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, we are thrilled to launch the Women in Business Initiative.”

Hosted by the Center for Principled Business, this new initiative serves current college students, alumni, working professionals, as well as regional high school students. The Women in Business Initiative fosters a network of innovation and collaboration through academic and co-curricular learning opportunities, and supports business research to advance women in the workplace.

Big 12 Conference adds four new members starting no later than the 2024-2025 athletic year The Big 12 Conference, in September, announced that Brigham Young University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Houston will become members no later than the 2024-25 athletic year.

This marks the second time in the Conference’s 26-year history that new members were added. Baylor, Iowa State, K-State, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech have been members since the Big 12 began in 1996, with TCU and West Virginia joining in 2011.

“The Big 12 presidents and chancellors entered this process with the singular focus to strengthen and stabilize the Conference,” noted Lawrence Schovanec, chair of the Big 12 board of directors and president of Texas Tech University. “With the addition of these four tradition-rich institutions we have set the Big 12 on a continued path of success. We look forward to having BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston under the Big 12 banner, both athletically and academically.”

These actions were in accordance with Big 12 Conference Bylaw 1.5.2.b.3 requiring an affirmative vote of a

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supermajority of directors, and was approved unanimously by the eight continuing members. “[This] vote solidifies the long-term trajectory of the Big 12 Conference,” stated Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “I applaud the efforts of our presidents, chancellors and athletics directors of our continuing members to expeditiously consider and take this action. The addition of these four fine institutions ensures the continued success of the Big 12 at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics competition.”

Founded in 1875, Brigham Young University is located in Provo, Utah. The campus is home to 33,181 undergraduate students, pursuing degrees in 186 majors. Athletically, the Cougars compete in 21 sports. They have won 12 NCAA titles all-time, claimed 296 conference championships; and have been home to 1,385 All-Americans, one Heisman Trophy winner and 75 Olympians.

Located in Orlando, Florida, the University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that was founded in 1963.

UCF is recognized nationally for its innovation, affordability

and for fostering social mobility. With approximately 70,000 students, 13 colleges and 230 degree programs, the university helps to develop the skilled talent needed to advance industry and solve society’s greatest challenges.

The University of Cincinnati is a public research university with an enrollment of 46,798. Founded in 1819, UC offers 414 degree programs. Over its athletics history, Bearcat teams have combined to win 116 conference championships. The men’s basketball program has accounted for 41 conference titles and two national championships. This past season, the UC football team took a perfect record and a #8 CFP ranking into a Peach Bowl date with Georgia.

Established in 1927, the University of Houston is a Tier I research institution, with over 47,000 students enrolled in its 408 undergraduate, masters and PhD programs. Its athletic success includes 158 conference titles, 17 NCAA team champions, 1,059 All-Americans, 63 Olympians and one Heisman Trophy winner. Last season was highlighted by the men’s basketball team’s run to the Final Four.

AROUND K-STATE Photo courtesy of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce

Hometown Pride: A new mural highlighting the charm and partnerships of Manhattan, Kansas, Fort Riley and K-State graces the west wall of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce’s building on Poyntz Avenue. The mural was painted by Carr, Kerr, & Co. as part of the Incite MHK project. Learn more at incitemhk.org.

$3.43 million NIH grant to create core research facility at College of Veterinary Medicine Like a hub that connects the spokes of a wheel, the College of Veterinary Medicine is creating a new research center that brings together five highly focused laboratories at K-State. The core laboratory is being made possible by a $3.43 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and will strengthen research efficiency and collaboration among K-State scientists and beyond.

The core-facility suite is the final element of a three-phase renovation at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Phase 1 delivered the Boehringer Ingelheim Auditorium adjacent to Mosier Hall — a 220 seat, contemporary educational space.

Phase 2 became the Hill’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center for clinical training and community service, which occupies the first-floor space created by deconstruction of the outdated, two-story auditorium. Phase 3, the 5,000-square-foot research laboratory, will occupy the second floor of the old auditorium space.

“This new core research facility strategically combines five key disciplines: animal model/pathology, molecular and cellular biology, microscopic imaging, flow cytometry and cell sorting, and next-generation sequencing,” said Bonnie Rush, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The new research facility represents a critical component of the university’s research infrastructure to support infectious disease studies.

It will provide direct support of K-State’s Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, or CEZID, which was created by an $11.3 million grant in 2020 through the NIH’s Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, and nearby federal facilities in Manhattan that include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF, and Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit.

“Kansas State University is poised to become the

“Kansas State University is poised to become the preeminent institution to advance the discovery and development of biosecurity strategies for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases.

With the upcoming deployment of the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility next to our college, K-State will be the only U.S. university with a full continuum of biosecurity level-1 through biosecurity level-4 facilities co-located on one campus. The new core laboratory will be an important resource for noncontainment research.”

Bonnie Rush, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine preeminent institution to advance the discovery and development of biosecurity strategies for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases,” Rush said. “With the upcoming deployment of the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility next to our college, K-State will be the only U.S. university with a full continuum of biosecurity level-1 through biosecurity level-4 facilities co-located on one campus. The new core laboratory will be an important resource for non-containment research.”

Currently, existing laboratories are isolated from each other, spread across three buildings and in some cases, hosted by individual faculty members, creating a burden for the host scientist and inefficient workflow for all parties, Rush said.

Consolidating these individual facilities into a combined core

will improve laboratory access, optimize research workflows and experimental outcomes, and provide coordinated training opportunities for students.

“This will give our university a modern biomedical research facility with advanced instrumentation and technical support to foster collaborative, transdisciplinary science across the university and beyond,” Rush said. “This is critical to promoting a robust research and training environment where researchers can answer the most challenging and urgent biomedical questions of our time.”

Rush said the latest NIH grant will support CEZID and collaborating scientists to advance the discovery and molecular characterization of infectious pathogens and diseases affecting animals and people. Projects within this new core research facility will bridge areas of excellence across K-State colleges that conduct STEM research. These projects examine crosscutting themes, such as virulence factors and host-pathogen interactions of pathogens of significance for human health, employing in vitro systems and animal models.”

The newly funded, core-facility suite will assemble state-of-the-art technologies in a single location to facilitate the delivery of coordinated services for academic, corporate and federal researchers in imaging and molecular analyses, providing a complete range of services from whole tissues to single-cell nucleic acid analyses.

Currently, CEZID has collaborative partnerships with the University of Missouri, Columbia; MRI Global in Kansas City, Missouri; and regional pharmaceutical companies in the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, such as Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health in St. Joseph, Missouri, CEVA Animal Health in Lenexa and Elanco Animal Health in Overland Park.

Rush said the proposed plan is to complete renovation and then occupy the consolidated biomedical core facilities by the fourth quarter of 2023.

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WILDCAT KIDS Encourage your future Wildcat to complete this coloring page in each issue of the K-Stater magazine and send your photos to kstater@k-state.com. Sign up your child for our Future Wildcat programs — Born to be a Wildcat and Junior Wildcats Club. For more information, visit k-state.com/FutureWildcats.

Ages 0-24 months

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Tag @KStateAlumni on social.

Coloring page designed by Kendall Ens

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CLOSE-UP: KSU FOUNDATION CLOSE-UP

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CLOSE-UP: KSU FOUNDATION CLOSE-UP

Edge Collaboration District at K-State takes shape Where industry, research and talent come together to create meaningful and real outcomes to K-State, Kansas and beyond

A

BY ALLIE LOUSCH ’90, KSU FOUNDATION

fresh academic year brings signs of change around Kansas State University’s campuses, including progress on the new Edge Collaboration District along the Manhattan, Kansas, campus. More than purple obelisk signs, limestone gateways and a fresh entry to the football stadium, the Edge District is where industry, research and talent come together to create meaningful innovations and real outcomes to K-State, Kansas and beyond.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KSU FOUNDATION

“The Edge Collaboration District sets the standard for innovation and collaboration in Manhattan.

Opportunities to partner with Kansas State University and the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility make this a powerful location for businesses.”

— David Toland, Kansas lieutenant governor and secretary of commerce

Edge Collaboration District

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CLOSE-UP: KSU FOUNDATION CLOSE-UP

“Adding an office in the Manhattan, Kansas, area to collaborate with the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility was a necessity. Locating adjacent to the facility in the Edge Collaboration District made the most sense. The management team at the K-State Office Park helped us every step of the way; their vast professional network provided us leads on everything from office furniture to restaurant recommendations. The longer I spend in the area, the more I enjoy it and look forward to growing our company in the district.”

— J.P. Snyder, president and CEO, Defense Contracting Activity LLC

HOW IS THE EDGE COLLABORATION DISTRICT ADDING TO K-STATE? Drive around the northern Edge of campus and you’ll see the area is transforming from a handful of related entities to one unified brand supporting K-State’s land-grant mission. You’ll see more purple, more welcoming, cohesive design and wayfinding elements, and landscaping that softens the boundary of campus with the community beyond the Edge District.

It also means more opportunity for students and faculty to advance their knowledge and professional experience when collaborating with the growing number of Edge District industry and corporate partners. Six academic colleges have already established partnerships and a presence in the district and more are finding innovative ways to come to the Edge.

“At Garmin, we are very pleased with our K-State Office Park location as it allows our associates and interns to work together year-round. This drastically reduces onboarding time when interns transition to full-time associates and helps us maintain K-State as our No. 1 hiring school.”

— McKenzie Randall, university recruiter, Garmin

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR INDUSTRY PARTNERS? K-State’s excellent reputation of highlevel cooperation with industry, corporations, foundations and other partners creates opportunity for K-State students and faculty. These partnerships transform industry by connecting the university’s flourishing academic and research expertise to the ideas and challenges faced by corporate interests in real time. Industry’s competitive edge is sharpened by joining forces with K-State’s research, innovation and talent in the growing Edge District.

Joining the Edge District puts companies in the center of an active, existing collaboration district with more than a dozen domestic and international partners such as Garmin, Topcon Agriculture, McCownGordon Construction, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fulcrum Global Capital and Stormont Vail Health.

Partner-tenants strengthen their competitive edge when creating satellite offices or moving their operations into the Edge District. Companies interested in benefiting from state-of-the-art facilities and communications services, $2 billion in current and planned infrastructure and the opportunity to tap into the established talent pipeline that is Kansas State University, are invited to learn more about locating in the Edge District.

The K-State Office Park is located in the Edge Collaboration District at K-State. Companies that locate in the office park will benefit from award-winning talent, cuttingedge innovation and research, and legendary community partnerships.

These partner tenants also enjoy:

24/7 secure access

Collaboration opportunities

Professional management staff

Secure infrastructure, data network

Self-service tenant portal for room reservations anytime of day

Network of local, regional and national partners make move-in process seamless

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE REGION AND KANSAS? With the collaborative development already at work in the Edge Collaboration District at K-State comes an anticipated 5,000-plus jobs by 2035.

Since 2010, 1,350 new jobs have been added in the district. These new jobs not only benefit the Manhattan community, they benefit the region.

Solid job growth is imperative for the state of Kansas and the economic prosperity of all Kansans.

CLOSE-UP: KSU FOUNDATION CLOSE-UP

Discover the Edge Collaboration District at K-State. Connect with Kate to discuss your new K-State home base: KATE RYAN ’05

Real Estate Partnerships Manager 785-775-2008 direct kater@ksufoundation.org Follow us:

DREAM BIG AND DISCOVER WHAT IS NEXT The Edge Collaboration District at K-State is more than a location, though the proximity to K-State’s Manhattan campus is key to the success of both the university’s land-grant mission and the partnertenants’ interests.

Domestic and global leaders in research, global food systems, commerce and more are invited to join their inspiration with K-State’s research and academic expertise and address the issues of today and the future. Learn more about the Edge Collaboration District at K-State by visiting ksiteonline.com/ edge and this update from the Greater Manhattan Economic Partnership, greatermanhattan.org/ CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=32.

Discover the Edge Collaboration District at K-State for yourself!

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Photo by David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association

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Celebrating PRESIDENT RICHARD MYERS '65

K-State’s 14th president will retire at the end of the year with a strong legacy of supporting the university through difficult, uncertain times

BY TIM SCHRAG ’12

K

ansas State University has seen success under the leadership of its 14th president, Richard Myers ’65. Since becoming president in 2016, the university has seen the completion of the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center; a Big 12 title and an Elite Eight Run in men’s basketball; and the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign that raised $1.6 billion (the campaign surpassed its original goal by $600 million) among many other successes. Myers came to K-State after a career in military service with the U.S. Air Force, serving as 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I will have many indelible memories from my presidency at K-State,” he said. “As a team, we’ve made advancements in significant areas and we’ve

Photo by K-State Communications and Marketing

“As a team, we’ve made advancements in significant areas and we’ve tackled unprecedented challenges. It always came down to the people to make it happen – the students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. It’s the people I will remember the most.”

RICHARD MYERS ’65, K-STATE’S 14TH PRESIDENT

Photo by Meg Shearer, Collegian Media Group

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Photos courtesy of the Myers family, Communications and Marketing and David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association

tackled unprecedented challenges. It always came down to the people to make it happen – the students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. It’s the people I will remember the most.”

Of course, Myers clarifies, stating his greatest K-State memory will always be meeting his wife, Mary Jo Rupp Myers ’64, and marrying her in All Faiths Chapel.

You could often find Myers on the sidelines at K-State sporting events. When K-State took down the University of Oklahoma in 2019 during the Homecoming football game, Myers ran alongside the student section to give out a rapid batch of high fives.

When K-State beat the University of Kansas in the 2018 Sunflower Showdown in Bramlage Coliseum, he sported purple hair.

He also enjoyed teaching, spending time in the classroom and meeting with student organizations.

“After talking and meeting with students, I would

always come away inspired by this current generation,” he added.

During his tenure, Myers led K-State through critical moments in history. Among them are the coronavirus pandemic and issues of social justice, which swept the country.

The pandemic, Myers said, required K-State to think very creatively while operating at a $100 million loss in revenue.

“The crisis helped us look at the future differently than we would if we hadn’t faced that crisis,” he said.

“Now we’re looking at how we deliver content. We’re doing a universitywide program review of all our academic programs. We’re looking at what it might mean to be a cyber land-grant university, where we utilize information technology, better and more than we currently do.”

The completion of the university’s Morris Family Multicultural Student Center in 2020 was a

cornerstone of expanded efforts to lead diversity and inclusion initiatives across the university. Myers also added a chief diversity and inclusion officer to the president’s cabinet and elevated diversity and inclusion issues to a top priority.

Myers said an assessment of his legacy is not his to write, however; he pointed out that creating a solid leadership team and working to set K-State up for future success is something he is extremely proud of.

“I think our team is what’s probably our greatest accomplishment here,” he said. “Those collaborative efforts have positioned us, I hope, for a really strong future.”

Additionally, Myers and his team implemented two programs to help modernize K-State, creating a new budget model and a new strategic enrollment initiative to counter declining enrollment.

This new budget model is more transparent than the historic model the university had previously used.

“Thank you for all you’ve done, each and every one of you. Let’s build an even greater future for our great university. We can do this. It’s been an honor serving as your president.”

RICHARD MYERS ’65, K-STATE’S 14TH PRESIDENT DURING HIS FINAL STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS IN SEPTEMBER

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“It’s a real incentive program to keep innovating, keep trying to find what it is that students really need and want, and what society needs and wants,” he said.

The strategic enrollment initiative included restructuring K-State’s recruiting, student success and scholarship programs, moving to a data-driven, strategic approach, and streamlining the tuition structure.

With retirement on the horizon for President Myers, he said he is focused on getting K-State into a position that allows the next president to concentrate on their goals to move the university forward.

“I hope our efforts now will set the stage for the next president to prosper and thrive in serving students, faculty and staff,” he said.

In retirement Myers said he’s ready to spend time with his grandchildren, maybe buy an RV. He added that he’ll certainly be around to cheer on the ’Cats.

Photo by David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association

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TIMELINE OF MYERS PRESIDENCY APRIL 2016

NOV. 15, 2016

APRIL 2017

Richard Myers ’65 becomes the interim president at Kansas State University after Kirk Schulz announced he was leaving Manhattan to become the next president at Washington State University.

Kansas Board of Regents announces the appointment of Richard Myers as the 14th president of Kansas State University.

K-State announces that the Innovation and Inspiration campaign’s original goal was exceeded one year ahead of schedule and extended the effort with a new goal of $1.4 billion.

Myers and his wife, Mary Jo ’64, served as co-chairs of the campaign that raised $1.6 billion.

NOV. 14, 2017 Myers addresses the crowd of students, faculty and community members at the inaugural KSUnite event.

Myers said K-State’s values are under attack in part by misinformation, hate and divisiveness spread on social media.

2017

MARCH 2018

Myers launches two transformational initiatives. The Strategic Enrollment Management Initiative is building an effective foundation for long-term enrollment growth and student success. Budget Modernization efforts replaced a decades-old historical budget model with a new performance-driven model adaptable to change.

K-State creates the position of chief diversity and inclusion officer. This position reports directly to the President and serves as the senior diversity and inclusion adviser to the President and university leadership. They serve on the President’s Cabinet and President’s Advisory Council.

SHARING THEIR THOUGHTS “Dick and Mary Jo Myers are dedicated public servants. I am grateful for their passion and service to K-State. Both have served the university in many capacities, including as members of the K-State Alumni Association’s board of directors. They have made K-State a better place. We are proud to have them as alumni and I am blessed to call them my friends. I know they’ll continue to stay involved and will always have a special place for K-State in their hearts.”

AMY BUTTON RENZ ’76, ’86, PRESIDENT AND CEO, K-STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION “Honor, integrity, service – I can’t think of anyone who embodies those words more than Richard Myers. I have had the great fortune to work with him on the KSU Foundation board of directors and saw him masterfully search for our new Foundation president/CEO as we were simultaneously embarking on a $1.4 billion campaign. As university president, he has moved K-State forward in many, many significant ways during very challenging times. A simple ‘thank you’ to Dick and Mary Jo Myers doesn’t seem adequate, but it is sincere and comes from the heart.”

MARY VANIER ’89, CHAIR, KSU FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS “President Myers regularly shares what initially motivated him to submit his application for the position: the people he worked alongside and the unmatched atmosphere at Kansas State University. He continued to serve as an effective advocate for higher education and developed a vision for what our university will become in the next decade. His impact at K-State went far beyond the bounds of university policy. President Myers made personal impacts on those around him, including student leaders. From regular coffee-shop meetings to action committees created at the start of the pandemic, President Myers always searched out the student perspective and asked what our university leadership can do to better serve students. I couldn’t be more grateful to have worked alongside President Myers and Mary Jo; their efforts have strengthened Kansas State and will leave a legacy for years to come.”

JANSEN PENNY ’20, FORMER K-STATE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT

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Photos by K-State Communications and Marketing

MAY 22, 2018 A fire starts on Hale Library’s roof, resulting in damage throughout the building. At the time of the fire, other K-State services were disrupted, most noticeably the university’s IT Services. President Myers helped develop the recovery and resettlement plan.

Hale reopened completely in August 2021.

MARCH 2020 The coronavirus pandemic hits the U.S. impacting K-State’s campuses. Myers announces that all classes will be taught remotely. University travel is restricted.

NOV. 20, 2020

MAY 24, 2021

ADDITIONS TO CAMPUS

ATHLETIC SUCCESS

The Morris Family Multicultural Student Center celebrates a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the official completion of the project following expanded efforts to lead diversity and inclusion efforts across the university.

Following a lifetime of public service, Richard Myers announces that he plans to retire at the end of the 2021 calendar year.

During his time as the 14th president, Myers oversaw the completion of updates at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Bramlage Coliseum and Tointon Family Stadium. Additionally, he oversaw the opening of Buser Family Park, Reginer Hall and Engineering Hall.

2017 Big 12 women’s track and field outdoor champions 2018 Big 12 women’s track and field outdoor champions 2019 Big 12 men’s basketball champions

“We are so thankful for and will always honor and celebrate the service and dedication of President Richard Myers and our incredible First Lady, Mary Jo Myers.

President Myers has been an unwavering champion, supporter and friend of K-State and we have been so fortunate to have had his global perspective and visionary, inclusive, compassionate and steady leadership these past five years. Thank you, President Myers and Mary Jo – students and alumni around the world are so appreciative of you and your care and stewardship of our Wildcat community. We will miss you.”

NABEEHA KAZI HUTCHINS ’96, CHAIR, K-STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS “Richard Myers has dedicated his life to serving others, and K-Staters are fortunate that he answered the call to lead his alma mater in 2016. President Myers oversaw the successful completion of the largest capital campaign in university history, reformed the institution’s budget model while navigating significant funding challenges, and charted a steady course through the COVID-19 pandemic. K-State is well-positioned for the future thanks to his leadership. As an alumnus, President Myers has a passion for K-State that was evident throughout his tenure, from his commitment to our land-grant mission to his genuine care for the success and well-being of students, faculty and staff. Dick and Mary Jo Myers are incredible K-Staters and remarkable people. Alumni around the world are grateful for their dedication and for their innumerable contributions to the spot we all love full well.”

TRAVIS LENKNER ’01, FORMER CHAIR, K-STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS “President Myers is a man of commitment, perseverance and resilience. He is a leader that doesn’t stand down in the face of adversity, but presses forward through trying times. He has an unwavering commitment to the K-State family, and truly wants to see everyone reach their tremendous potential. If there is someone that truly embodies what it means to lead and love the K-State family, it is President Myers. He will be missed, and I know so many people that are grateful for his leadership.”

DARRELL REESE JR. ’20, FORMER K-STATE STUDENT AMBASSADOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK STUDENT UNION

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KANSAS ON DISPLAY

For 50 years, Konza Prairie has been a blend of nature and research at K-State

BY TIM SCHRAG ’12

PHOTOS BY BARB SCHMIDT VAN SLYKE ’78, KONZA PRAIRIE BIOLOGICAL STATION

Just south of Manhattan, Big Bluestem grass sways and rustles in the breeze. There’s a stillness here no matter the season.

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In the distance a bison herd quietly grazes. In the air glides a turkey vulture or two. Meadowlarks singing their song can be found here. The clear waters of the Kings Creek nurture the area and sometimes set the soundtrack. Whitetail deer can be found prancing about here too. Kansas — and more specifically the Flint Hills — are on display for anyone who wants to see it at the Konza Prairie.

Konza Prairie Biological Station was established in 1971 and is jointly owned by Kansas State University and The Nature Conservancy. For 50 years, Konza has been a place of both research and respite.

“Grasslands, in general, cover 30% or so of the Earth’s surface, so they’re really important and understudied. They’re also some of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet. In North America, only about 4% of what was originally tallgrass prairie remains,” said John Blair, university distinguished professor of biology and director of Konza Prairie Biological Station. “Konza Prairie, our little 8,600 acres of tallgrass prairie, is the most intensively studied piece of grassland in the world.”

Operating as a research field station managed

by K-State’s Division of Biology, scientists have conducted long-term and short-term research at Konza since its establishment. However, Blair said, for the past 40 years of operation the station has been part of a long-term ecological research program that measures the health of the prairie.

Essentially scientists are measuring everything about it from the soil chemistry to water chemistry, to the plant, bird, mammal and invertebrate communities that inhabit the prairie.

“We’ve built up now a 40-plus year record of how all of those things respond to natural variability, to management, and to the environmental changes that are happening around us,” Blair said. “And all of that is the kind of information that you need if you want to sustainably manage and conserve these grasslands for future generations.”

More than 1,900 scientific papers have been produced based on findings from Konza.

Additionally, more than 300 graduate students have received their master’s and/or doctoral degrees based on research from the station. Blair said more than 60 K-State researchers from five colleges and 12 departments are involved in studies on the prairie. Also, more than 25 institutions have active projects.

“For the past half-century, Konza has been owned - excepting 900 acres - by the Conservancy and managed for research, study and education

by K-State,” said Rob Manes ’82, director of The Nature Conservancy, Kansas. “This unique cooperative venture is recognized around the world

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Konza Prairie has maintained a herd of bison since 1987 when Fort Riley Military Reservation donated 30 animals. Today the K-State herd numbers are close to 300.

Each year researchers and staff at Konza Prairie burn portions of the watershed to investigate long-term prairie health.

“We’ve built up now a 40plus year record of how all of those things respond to natural variability, to management, and to the environmental changes that are happening around us.

And all of that is the kind of information that you need if you want to sustainably manage and conserve these grasslands for future generations.”

Wolly Verbena is a drought-resistant prairie plant with purple flowers and roots that can descend to 12 feet.

JOHN BLAIR, DIRECTOR OF KONZA PRAIRIE BIOLOGICAL STATION K - S TAT E R

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Fog on the Prairie

Blue False Indigo

Hulbert Center in snow

To find out more about the Konza Prairie, visit konza.ksu.edu for its prized scientific opportunities.”

Since 1980, Konza Prairie investigators have received more than $90 million in extramural research awards, primarily from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“The Konza Prairie Biological Station plays a critical role in K-State’s research enterprise,” said David Rosowsky, K-State’s vice president for research. “This milestone anniversary marks five decades of important research that has produced a rich and detailed understanding of how long-term environmental change and land management affect grasslands and water systems.”

Researchers are looking at a wide variety of topics that have practical applications, Blair said.

Fire ecology is important for managing prairies, for example, and restoration has applications in places where the tallgrass prairie once thrived.

“How do we rebuild something that looks like a native prairie that has the diversity of plants and animals and insects in those places? Restoration ecology is a really hot topic,” Blair said. “And we’re doing some pioneering research here in how best to restore the diversity that characterizes native prairies. It’s a challenge. It’s really not easy.”

Burning prairie land is a common practice for land management. Konza has multiple studies looking into best practices of burning.

“The invasion of woody plants is negatively impacting both the economic and the ecological values of the prairie,” said Jill Haukos, education coordinator for the station. “If we don’t do something to fight back against that we could potentially lose

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our tallgrass prairie, and this highlights the necessity of fire as a management tool.”

Haukos runs the education program, which helps the public learn about the prairie. For the past 25 years, the Konza Environmental Education Program, known as KEEP, offers programming for all ages.

The program has several goals: • To bring children to the tallgrass prairie to increase their understanding of this remarkable ecosystem and to instill a sense of place and pride in their environment.

• To allow students to participate in handson ecological research to increase their knowledge of the scientific process and the significance of research.

• To share with the public the latest scientific research and emphasize the importance of research in grassland conservation and management.

“I’ve got 2,500 to 3,000 students a year K-12, coming out here and learning about their ecosystem,” Haukos said. “They come out here and we teach them, ‘This is yours, people. This is your responsibility. Come learn about it, because you’re going to need to take care of it.’”

The station was the vision of Lloyd Hulbert, a K-State professor of ecology. Haukos said a group of researchers within the Division of Biology in the 1950s saw the need for land to conduct research on the surrounding tallgrass prairie. Hulbert spearheaded the efforts to secure such land.

Haukos said Hulbert went to the administration, the Board of Regents, the state legislature and

Washington, D.C., to try to secure funding to purchase a parcel of prairie.

“They all said, ‘Love it. Great idea, no money.’

There was really only one organization that gave him any hope,” Haukos said. “The Nature Conservancy was interested in preserving large swaths of prairie, and Lloyd Hulbert’s idea for a tallgrass prairie biological station in Kansas was the kind of initiative they were looking to support.”

Enter philanthropist Katharine Ordway, who provided funds for the purchase of the initial parcel of land. Ordway asked that the space be named after a native people and thus Konza was selected to honor the Kansa or Kaw people. After her death several adjoining tracts, including the 2,923-hectare historic Dewey Ranch, were purchased between 1971 and 1979. Haukos said in all Ordway bought about 31,000 or so acres of prairie land in five different states, all of which is part of what’s called the Ordway Prairie Preserve.

The Nature Conservancy also helped Konza Prairie establish three hiking loops approximately 2.6, 4.5 and 6 miles in length that are open to the public year-round. The trail hosts 45,000 visitors annually, rivaling many state parks in visitation. The Kansas Trail Guide published by University Press of Kansas refers to the trails as great scenic vistas of pristine tallgrass prairie.

“Though recreation is somewhat outside the mission of both TNC and K-State’s research arm, both organizations recognize the great importance the Konza trails hold to people who benefit from the trails and support the work of the Conservancy and Kansas State,” Manes said.

Konza Barn

Kings Creek in Snow

Sunflower

Eastern Purple Coneflower

The view on the trail

The hills of the Konza Prairie in May

Hikers on the trail

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KSU FOUNDATION

Helping K-State Flourish

Medal of Excellence recipients Curt and Sherry Frasier help the K-State family thrive

BY MARISA LARSON ’93, ’16, KSU FOUNDATION STAFF PHOTOS COURTESY OF KSU FOUNDATION

K

-State family is a phrase often used in describing Kansas State University’s alumni and fans, but for 2021 Medal of Excellence recipients Curt Frasier ’73 and Sherry Basgall Frasier ’73, K-State truly is family.

When asked what K-State means to them, both Sherry and Curt said, “family.” “K-State is family. It’s being around those individuals who enhance you, help you to grow and help you to be the person you can be,” Curt said. “We’ve sure experienced that in our lives, and we hope others are able to do the same.”

Curt graduated from K-State in 1973 with a degree in animal sciences and industry. He followed his older sister from their home in Sharon Springs, Kansas, to Manhattan, joined Farmhouse fraternity and participated in campus activities. He had planned to go back to the family farm, but instead earned his law degree from Washburn in 1976 and

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made a career as a lawyer in Beloit, Kansas.

Sherry, also from Sharon Springs, followed Curt to K-State, as they were high school sweethearts.

“I was a first-generation college student. It was very important to my dad that I attend college,” Sherry said. “I went to K-State because Curt was there. K-State and Curt were two of the best decisions I have made in my life.” Sherry earned her elementary education degree in 1973.

The Frasiers began their decades-long service to K-State upon moving to Beloit. The town didn’t have a Catbacker group, so Curt helped establish one. Both Curt and Sherry have served their local community in a variety of ways. “If we want our communities — our hometown, our churches, our universities — to grow, we must tend to them,” Sherry said. “They will only flourish if we give of our time and talents. K-State provided so much to

us in experiences, education and friends. It’s only right to give back to those things that have given so much. We have received so much more than we have given. We hope others may benefit as much as we have.”

Curt and Sherry, together and individually, have served K-State in many volunteer positions with the Alumni Association and with the KSU Foundation.

They established the Frasier Family Study Abroad Scholarship in Education to assist future teachers with an international learning experience.

“Curt and I have been so fortunate to be able to travel abroad. We have gained so much in visiting different cultures and visiting with those from other countries,” Sherry said. “Both of our daughters had the opportunity to study abroad in their college days. It was a great experience for them. Besides the education they received, they also developed

KSU FOUNDATION their foreign language skills and gained a greater understanding of the world. I think it’s important to be able to study abroad, and I hope that having a study abroad scholarship available will encourage those who have the desire but not the means to be able to do so.”

Curt and Sherry began a family legacy of attending K-State. Two of their three children attended. One grandson graduated from K-State in May 2021 and another is currently a student.

When their oldest grandson (who graduated from K-State this year) was four years old, the men of the Frasier family began a tradition that continues today of attending one away football game together.

The memories from those family excursions and all the K-State activities they’ve been involved with through their volunteer work and K-State travel with the Alumni Association, are what make K-State feel like family to the Frasiers. This is why they give so much of their time to K-State. And this is why they were awarded the K-State Medal of Excellence.

“One of the wonderful things about K-State is all of the opportunities you have across campus,” Curt said. “Honestly, those opportunities are what helped me gain the confidence that I could go out into the world and make a difference. We’d like to see others be able to have that same kind of experience to grow, be challenged and develop. Whatever we can do to help in that cause, we’d like to be there.”

Left to right, back row to front row: Kaden Frasier ’20, Kinsley Snyder ’19, Justin Frasier ’02, Curt Frasier ’73, Tim Emerson, Daniel Catalano, Stacie Schmidt Frasier ’03, Sherry Basgall Frasier ’73, Darci Frasier Emerson ’01, Jolee Frasier Catalano holding Clari Catalano, Blake Arria, Chase Frasier, Zoey Emerson and Sophie Emerson.

Sherry and Curt Frasier’s support of the K-State family GIFTS TO K-STATE

• Frasier Family Study Abroad Scholarship in Education • Endowed the K-State Alumni Association Excellence Award program

MEMBERSHIPS/VOLUNTEER ROLES

• • • • • • • •

KSU Foundation Board of Trustees KSU Foundation Board of Directors (Curt: former chair) K-State Alumni Association Board of Directors (Curt: former chair, current treasurer) K-State Alumni Center Project K-State Alumni Association Student Recruitment Letter Writing Campaign Wildcats for Higher Education Innovation and Inspiration Alumni Association Campaign Committee Innovation and Inspiration Campaign Strategy Study Committee

RECOGNITION

• Medal of Excellence 2021

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David Mayes ’96, KSU Foundation

KSU FOUNDATION

K-State students, staff and faculty utilize services at Cats’ Cupboard. Anne Weese (below) helps student-athletes thrive.

TRANSFORMiNG

WiLDCAT WELL-BEiNG Charlie and Debbie Morrison invest in student wellness at K-State

BY MARISA LARSON ’93, ’16, KSU FOUNDATION PHOTOS COURTESY OF KSU FOUNDATION

J

uggling school and work. Paying for tuition, books, housing, food and other necessities.

Participating in career-building activities. These pressures, and more, weigh on college students. Charlie ’90 and Debbie Morrison remember well the stresses and pressures they felt as undergraduates at Kansas State University. Now successful alumni, they have given $10.2 million to K-State to invest in a variety of student well-being initiatives. Having received this transformational gift in spring 2021, K-State has started putting those funds to use, and an impact is already beginning to be felt across campus.

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KSU FOUNDATION

Kathleen Hatch is the inaugural Morrison Family AVP for student well-being.

FOCUSING ON STUDENT WELL-BEING Sept. 20, 2021, Kathleen Hatch set foot on the K-State campus as its first-ever Morrison Family associate vice president for student well-being. This position was created with the funds the Morrisons gifted K-State.

“Kathleen will be identifying ways to increase participation in existing wellbeing programs and services, evaluating what programs are working and where improvements are needed, and looking for collaborative opportunities both within and outside Student Life to offer students more opportunities to increase their sense of well-being,” said Thomas Lane, vice president for student life and dean of students. “Her efforts will help foster a culture of well-being at K-State that connects students to the right resources at the right time and in ways that work for them.”

Energy is high on campus to bring change as society is growing and adapting due to the global pandemic, and Hatch is excited to build on that feeling.

“COVID-19 has disrupted all patterns and so this is a good moment, as patterns

are being reestablished, to focus on well-being as an essential element to advance learning, persistence and student success,” Hatch said.

“The fragility of the human experience has been made visible, and these are new strategies, at an institutional level, to create a chance to strengthen and elevate the beautiful K-State character and extended family.”

STUDENT-ATHLETE WELL-BEING Charlie and Debbie Morrison also invested in K-State’s student-athletes with a gift to help create space and programming for mental health and wellness services.

“The gift from the Morrisons has allowed us to offer a paid practicum counselor position, allowing more athletes to receive mental health care while contributing to essential training in the field of mental health in athletics,” said Anne Weese, director of mental wellness and sports psychology for K-State Athletics. “We have also been able to purchase the Therapy Assistance Online Connect program for our athletes, offering 24/7 support for our athletes in a self-paced, private way. These funds have given more access to resources for our studentathletes. The future of the mental wellness and sport psychology department is bright because of this generous gift. Our next steps hopefully include a second full-time position and expanding our resource library for athletes across a variety of topics, from sport performance to general wellbeing and literature targeting mental health concerns.”

CATS’ CUPBOARD For nearly five years, the Cats’ Cupboard — K-State’s food pantry — has provided food and essential personal items for K-State students, faculty and staff. Even through the pandemic, pantry staff and volunteers made sure people were able to get what they needed.

Generous donors have made sure this service persists on campus. The Morrisons’ gift, endowing the full-time director position, gave the Cats’ Cupboard much-needed financial stability.

“This generous gift provides the flexibility to shift funding priorities,” said Shelly Williams ’14, Morrison Family director of Cats’ Cupboard. “With this endowed leadership position, Cats’ Cupboard expanded professional staff to help provide direct resources (e.g. food distribution, as well as case management) to address the ever-expanding challenges related to food security.”

CARING FOR WILDCATS A passion to serve others drives the Morrisons’ philanthropy and volunteer work. Charlie and Debbie hope that with these initiatives in place at K-State, students will have access to the help they need. “Our gifts are to help students who are struggling, which is all students at some point.

College is a big life transition, with stresses and pressure,” said the Morrisons. “These investments will provide students access to the assistance they need, while maintaining their dignity without scrutiny. The K-State family supported us when we needed it, so we are paying it forward.”

Shelly Williams ’14, Morrison family director of Cats’ Cupboard, celebrates the donation of can openers.

THE MORRISON FAMILY GIFT: • Creates the Morrison Center for Student Well-Being • Hired the Morrison Family associate vice president for student well-being • Named and endowed the position of Morrison Family director of Cats’ Cupboard • Focuses on student-athlete well-being • Establishes a scholarship for first-generation students in the College of Business

Charlie and Debbie Morrison, with their family, support student well-being.

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Shane Keyser ’96, Keyser Concepts

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CHANGING THE WORLD

BY ASHLEY PAULS PHOTOS COURTESY OF JERRY JAAX ’70, ’72 AND NANCY DUNN JAAX ’71, ’73

Together

Jerry Jaax ’70, ’72 and Nancy Dunn Jaax ’71, ’73 receive Alumni Excellence Award for distinguished careers in veterinary science, biosecurity and infectious disease research When Nancy Dunn ’71, ’73 met Jerry Jaax ’70, ’72 at a student mixer during their time at Kansas State University, it was an event that not only changed their own lives but later the world.

Nancy said she saw Jerry playing guitar, and there was an “instant attraction” between the two students. Since that moment, Nancy and Jerry have been a team, building a life together as well as military careers in veterinary science, biosecurity and infectious disease research.

The story of their groundbreaking work during the Reston, Virginia, Ebola outbreak in the late 1980s was featured in the bestselling nonfiction book The Hot Zone

by Richard Preston, and more recently in a National Geographic miniseries of the same name, starring Julianna Margulies and Noah Emmerich.

In honor of their distinguished careers, Jerry and Nancy Jaax are being honored with the Alumni Excellence Award from the K-State Alumni Association.

“Once we completed our specialty training in Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) and Veterinary Pathology (ACVP), we were able to work in complimentary roles in biodefense and chemical defense research programs,” Jerry said. “We’ve never been anything but a team

“Both of us had a diverse and fulfilling veterinary military career.

That’s an accomplishment.”

DR. JERRY JAAX ’70, ’72

Jerry Jaax ’70,’ 72 and Nancy Dunn Jaax ’71, ’73 joined the Army Veterinary Corps after attending K-State. In 1975, the freshly minted captains were stationed at Fort Lewis Madigan Army Medical Center.

and it’s worked great for us. We’ve always been together.”

THE MOST DANGEROUS WORK IN VETERINARY MEDICINE Nancy grew up loving animals and knew she wanted to be a veterinarian from the time she was 6 years old. Although Jerry didn’t decide on a specific career quite that early, he grew up in a rural environment and also loved animals, and he wanted to do something in the medical field.

The Jaaxes joined the military after earning their veterinary medicine degrees from K-State.

Jerry said the couple’s K-State experience gave them a generalized education that prepared them for almost anything and taught them how to be problem-solvers and adapt to evolving circumstances.

Although they didn’t initially foresee the military as a lifetime career, it turned out to be the perfect fit for the young couple. Due to the overlap in their careers, they were able to be part of the same meetings and collaborate on solving highlevel issues.

“We both retired as colonels,” Jerry said, adding that Nancy was one of the first female officers commissioned in the Army Veterinary Corps.

“Both of us had a diverse and fulfilling veterinary

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The Alumni Excellence Award is given to a graduate of Kansas State University whose career, service and achievements exemplify the spirit, values and excellence of the university.

The Alumni Excellence Award is made possible by the generosity of the Curt Frasier and Sherry Basgall Frasier family of Beloit, Kansas.

Both are 1973 graduates of K-State. To learn more about the Alumni Excellence Award, visit k-state.com/Excellence.

Jerry Jaax ’70,’ 72 and Nancy Dunn Jaax ’71, ’73 share in each other’s distinguished careers, which paralleled and complimented each other throughout their lives. The Jaaxes hope their legacy will inspire more students to pursue careers in veterinary science.

military career. That’s an accomplishment.”

During their time in the military, the Jaaxes were part of a team of first responders in 1989 to a suspected Ebola outbreak among primates in a research facility about 15 miles outside of Washington, D.C. According to the World Health Organization, the Ebola virus is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average Ebola case fatality rate is around 50%, with fatality rates varying from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. Symptoms include fever and internal/ external bleeding.

As a veterinary pathologist, Nancy was already doing Filovirus research (Ebola and Marburg

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virus) long before the Reston event. The disease may not have been well-known at the time, but that didn’t make it any less dangerous to work with.

“The work is often brutally exacting and tedious,” Nancy said. “Researchers can’t save the world in one day as you sometimes see in the movies. If you cut a glove or get a needle stick, the consequences can be dire.”

“It is pretty remarkable what she did — especially in the early days at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases,” Jerry said of his wife. “It is my view that performing biosafety level four (BSL-4) necropsies is amongst the most dangerous work you can do in veterinary medicine. If you make a mistake, it has the potential to be lethal.”

Although the particular strain discovered in the Reston outbreak turned out to be nonlethal to humans, the event proved to be valuable for the infectious disease community and for establishing training procedures for infectious disease response.

“The event demonstrated what veterinarians can contribute to the discussion surrounding zoonotic disease,” Nancy said. “We have been able to show the role vets play in international and national public health.”

THE IMPACT OF ‘THE HOT ZONE’ The Reston outbreak — and the Jaaxes’ involvement — became more well-known to the public thanks to Richard Preston’s New York Times bestseller, The Hot Zone, which was later adapted into a National Geographic miniseries.

From 1989 to 1997 the Jaaxes served at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Dr. Jerry Jaax ’70, ’72 was assigned to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Nancy Dunn Jaax ’71, ’73 was assigned to U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense.

Jerry said that well-known director Ridley Scott — whose filmography includes Alien, Bladerunner and Gladiator — wanted to do a Hot Zone movie back in the 1990s. A combination of events, including that the Jaaxes were still serving on active duty, ultimately put the project on hold.

Jerry said that for those who want to learn more about the true-life story of the Reston outbreak, The Hot Zone book provides a more accurate retelling than the miniseries, which is more fictionalized in order to build drama and conflict. The TV series compresses events and characters due to the limited runtime, and not all the important players were recognized.

Although the Jaaxes were not consulted about the script for the miniseries, they did answer technical questions while filming was

taking place. Nancy praised the laboratory set used in the series; she said it looked realistic and captured the technical details of a high-risk research facility.

REFLECTING ON A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AND LEAVING A LEGACY After their time in the military, the Jaaxes were recruited to come back to K-State.

They were key players in K-State’s successful development of the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI), which later paved the way for the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan.

“K-State is in a position to be a national and international player in infectious disease research,” Jerry said. “It will be a transformational

event for the university.”

Now retired, the Jaaxes have moved to the Kansas City area to be closer to family and spend time with their grandchildren. As they look back on their careers, they emphasize that it is possible to have a successful, busy career and spend quality time with family.

The Jaaxes hope their legacy will inspire more students to pursue careers in veterinary science.

When they talk to students about earning a veterinary degree, they said they like to highlight the diverse array of opportunities available: veterinary practice, research and public practice, industry, academia, or, in the Jaaxes’ case, the military.

“There are so many different things you can do with that degree,” Nancy said.

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“ONCE WE HAD THE OPPORTUNiTY, WE PERFORMED.”

Integration is a proud part of K-State’s legacy to college athletics

BY D. SCOTT FRITCHEN ’99

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Photo by David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association

O

n the morning of Sept. 11, 1999, Harold Robinson greeted a reporter with a toothy smile while occupying a couch in the lobby of Jardine Apartments, less than one mile from then-KSU Stadium. Hours later, cheers from the crowd of 50,624 would cascade upon the 69-yearold as Kansas State University celebrated the 50th anniversary of Robinson breaking the race barrier in the Big Seven Conference.

Robinson usually wore a black driver’s cap. Today he wore his purple one along with a purple sports jacket. His kind eyes sparkled as he offered a business card that read: “Harold Robinson/Kansas State University/First Afro-American Athlete/Big Seven Conference.” Then Robinson began his story.

“One week before the 1949 coaches’ meeting in Kansas City, coach Ralph Graham ’34 told Milton Eisenhower ’24, ’63, who was the Kansas State College president, that he wanted to put me on the varsity team,” Robinson said during a 1999 interview.

“Milton said, ‘Well, I want you to go to Kansas City and tell all of those coaches that you’re going to play a Black player on your team.’ Ralph said, ‘OK, I’m glad to hear you say that. That’s what I wanted to hear.’

So Ralph went to Kansas City and said, ‘President Eisenhower wants me to play Harold Robinson, a Black player, in the Big Seven Conference.’ Missouri coach Don Faurot stood up and said, ‘Ralph, why do you want to go and do something like that? That’s not right.’ Ralph said, ‘Don, I’m playing him.’”

This breakthrough announcement came toward the end of Eisenhower’s eight-year stint as K-State president. It marked arguably his greatest exercise in leadership.

Since Eisenhower resigned as associate director of the Office of War Information and was inaugurated at age 43 as president of Kansas State College on Sept. 20, 1943, the native of Abilene, Kansas, had long been regarded among his faculty and staff as a reformer who maintained an uncompromising attitude. People called him “foresighted” and “interested in student problems.”

According to Milton S. Eisenhower: Education Statesman, a biography by Stephen E. Ambrose and Richard Immerman, General Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote to his brother: “The Presidency of a great college is a grand job for a man of your talents and disposition.”

Milton Eisenhower, the first K-State alumnus to be named the college’s president, earned a degree in industrial journalism in 1924. As just a sophomore, he served as editor of the Kansas State Collegian, and by graduation had been honored as one of the top orators in the Midwest.

Eisenhower’s initial concern as president entailed broadening curriculum to best benefit postwar students while maintaining industrial research. He

Above: Harold Robinson was the first Black athlete to break the color barrier in the Big Seven Conference. Right: Milton Eisenhower ’24, ’63, K-State’s ninth president, helped make that possible, as did football coach Ralph Graham ’34.

Photos courtesy of the Royal Purple Yearbook and K-State Athletics Photo frames: istock.com/subjug

“I tell you, I’m not a political person. I never got involved in any of these controversies.

I was there to play ball. I didn’t care about anything as long as they let me play ball.”

Harold Robinson, who broke the Big Seven’s color barrier

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“In fact, I believe Kansas State University is the only school from a Power 5 conference to have a Black head coach in all three major sports. In men’s basketball, Darryl Winston ’79, an assistant coach, took over as interim head coach for Jack Hartman when he suffered a heart attack in 1985; Ron Prince was hired as head football coach in 2006; and I was hired as head baseball coach. Kansas State was way ahead of the curve. That’s something I’m so proud of.”

Dave Baker, former K-State baseball coach called K-State students a “homogeneous bunch” according to Educational Statesman, due to the fact that a majority of students hailed from rural in-state towns and possessed a dogged work ethic, nice manners, and a thirst for education. Eisenhower traveled, spoke to high schools, and his regional popularity attracted an uptick in out-of-state students. K-State had a record enrollment of 7,435 for the fall 1949 semester.

For all of his travels and speeches, little could Eisenhower predict that the young man destined to usher in a new era of Big Seven Conference athletics lived on Yuma Street in Manhattan.

“Kansas State was in a unique spot and kind of spurred a revolution,” said 90-year-old Dick Towers ’53, ’60, a former halfback who was Robinson’s roommate for two years. “Milton Eisenhower said Black athletes should play and should have the opportunity to represent the university. We were a trailblazing university to get this started. It’s important for everyone to know that there was no great (negative) protest at Kansas State. Our student body was very supportive.”

Since the founding of the Big Six in 1926, a league-wide gentleman’s agreement kept Black athletes off varsity teams in every sport. Then in 1946, the Big Six’s governing body of faculty representatives unanimously passed a bylaw that formally banned Blacks athletes from participating in varsity athletics — a rule spurred by league powerhouses Missouri and Oklahoma, which were both segregated. Protests ensued among many Big Six campuses whose students opposed the formal bylaw.

Over the years, Eisenhower planted seeds of change.

First, he suggested to the K-State student government that Black students share the same pool as other students on campus. Then he suggested that Black students be allowed to participate in intramural sports. Then he suggested that K-State perhaps should integrate student housing.

Eisenhower’s initial step in collegiate athletics

arrived in 1947 when he suggested to athletic director Thurlo McCrady that perhaps two Black student-athletes could earn a football scholarship each year, thus easing K-State into the forefront of change within the conference.

Although K-State had two Black players on its freshman football team in 1947, neither was good enough to play at the varsity level, but Eisenhower was “prepared” to add Black players to K-State’s varsity football team “just as soon as we find ones who can meet the competition,” according to Educational Statesman. In 1948, the Big Six Conference of Iowa State, Kansas, K-State, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma, grew to become the Big Seven with the addition of Colorado.

Eisenhower’s visit with Graham the week before the 1949 annual spring coaches’ meeting in Kansas City, and Graham’s landmark announcement at the meeting on April 11, 1949, was met with support — from everyone except for Oklahoma and Missouri, that is. Both schools threatened to pull out of the conference.

As Paul Zeh wrote in the Abilene ReflectorChronicle on April 15, 1949: “Oklahoma is the pressure behind the policy, with Missouri lending support. That is common knowledge.” Zeh continued. “But both these schools appear to be on the threshold of admitting Negros to their institutions. When this occurs on a broad scale, there would certainly be no sound reason for not permitting them to compete in athletics. In fact, there isn’t now.”

Zeh echoed a sentiment largely shared by media throughout the state of Kansas.

“The Graham announcement offers a ray of hope for dozens of excellent athletes of that race throughout the state,” Zeh wrote, “whose only hope for a college career in the past has been in the smaller schools or larger ones outside the state.”

K-State faced another potential roadblock.

Although Robinson could play in home games, he’d possibly have to stay home when K-State played in states where segregation persisted. College programs

such as Missouri and Oklahoma could dictate whether visiting Black players could attend games inside their stadiums.

For all of the fuss, Robinson became the first Black athlete to play against Missouri in Columbia during the final game of the 1949 season. Despite K-State’s final 1-9-1 season record, Robinson earned a spot on the 1949 Big Seven Sophomore All-Star team at the center position “by a landslide,” according to the Lincoln Evening Journal, and he went on to earn 1950 first-team All-Big Seven honors as well.

His close friend, Hoyt Givens ’52, was a Black nonscholarship halfback in 1949 and then was placed on scholarship the remainder of his career.

“Coach Graham was like a father figure to us,” Givens said.

“I tell you, I’m not a political person,” Robinson said in 1999. “I never got involved in any of these controversies. I was there to play ball. I didn’t care about anything as long as they let me play ball.”

Robinson grew up on 922 Yuma Street. At age 14, during summer Saturday mornings in 1943, Robinson raced to 1015 Yuma and knocked on the bedroom window to awaken his best friend, Earl Woods ’53. Together, they ran to the nearby Douglass Community Center. They would watch

Earl Woods ’53 Photos courtesy of the Royal Purple Yearbook and K-State Athletics

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Photo frames: istock.com/subjug

two close friends and members of the segregated calvary unit based in Fort Riley roller skate for recreation. They were Heavyweight Champion Joe Lewis, and Jackie Robinson, who in 1947 became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era.

Years later, Jackie Robinson wrote Harold Robinson (not related) a letter of encouragement when he broke the Big Seven race barrier. Harold hung the letter on his wall. In 2004, Harold hung his plaque from his induction into the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame next to it.

Milton Eisenhower’s push to play Harold Robinson on the gridiron opened further opportunities.

In 1951, K-State’s Gene Wilson joined University of Kansas’ LaVannes Squires as the first Black scholarship basketball players in the Big Seven.

Wilson also was one of five in the conference to break the color barrier in track and field. In 1952, Earl Woods, father of Tiger Woods, broke the Big Seven’s color barrier in baseball. Ronald and Donald Harris also became the first two Black tennis players in the Big Seven.

Arguably the most famous early pioneer was halfback Veryl Switzer ’54, ’74, a native of Nicodemus, Kansas, who became the fourth overall pick to the Green Bay Packers in the 1954 NFL Draft. He remains the highest-drafted K-State football player in history.

“Harold showed me that if I came to Kansas State, I would never regret it,” said Switzer, a 1990 member of the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame. “He gave me that kind of assurance. We didn’t get into the race issue at all.”

Dave Baker sat inside the newly-built Douglass Activity Center this past August. He grew up on Yuma Street just down the street from Robinson and Woods.

In second grade, Baker fielded balls for Woods and the K-State baseball team at nearby Griffith Park. In third grade, Baker became the team’s bat boy. Now the 75-year-old Baker has spent the past 10 years as director of the Douglass Community Center. He retold stories of playing as an outfielder and batting .291 at K-State during the 1965-66 season. He so impressed the Kansas City Monarchs that the baseball organization invited him to play. In Baker’s only game as a Monarch, he caught the first two innings for Satchel Paige. As a basketball guard, Baker helped Coffeyville Junior College to a 32-0 record and a national championship under head coach Jack Hartman. Hartman would later go on to coach at K-State. Baker later served as assistant basketball coach for Eddie Sutton at Creighton.

But Baker’s passion remained baseball and he believed things ran full circle when K-State athletic

Above: Gene Wilson was the first Black scholarship player for K-State and tied for first in the Big Seven. Right: Dave Baker was the first Black baseball coach in the Big Eight.

director John Jermier hired him as head baseball coach in 1977. Baker remains the only Black man to serve as head baseball coach in Big Six, Big Seven, Big Eight and Big 12 Conference history.

“In fact, I believe Kansas State University is the only school from a Power 5 conference to have a Black head coach in all three major sports,” Baker said. “In men’s basketball, Darryl Winston ’79, an assistant coach, took over as interim head coach for Jack Hartman when he suffered a heart attack in 1985; Ron Prince was hired as head football coach in 2006; and I was hired as head baseball coach.

Kansas State was way ahead of the curve. That’s something I’m so proud of.

“Once we had the opportunity, we performed.”

It all goes back to Eisenhower inviting Graham to speak in his office one week prior to the 1949 Big Seven coaches’ meeting in Kansas City — and his courageousness that would alter the landscape of the Big Seven forever.

“That decision took a lot of guts,” K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said. “That’s tremendous conviction knowing what the reaction could be. Milton Eisenhower was a great leader because he believed in what was right and he did anything that he could to make sure it happened.

That’s not an easy thing to do. There’s a whole lot of pride that this whole effort was initiated by Milton Eisenhower and Kansas State.

“The opportunities that it opened up for young men because of one man who stood up and said, ‘We’re going to play Harold Robinson’ — wow. I feel a sense of pride that I’m at an institution that has

that conviction that started so many years ago and that always stands up for what is right.”

It started with Eisenhower and Graham discussing that the talents of outstanding sophomore center Robinson qualified him to play on the varsity football team.

It continued with athletic exploits of Woods too great to deny him a spot on the K-State varsity baseball roster. Race, Eisenhower told his contemporaries, should have no bearing on athletic participation.

With his power and position, Eisenhower opened the door to give Black athletes opportunities.

Little did he know that Robinson and Woods, two lifelong friends who lived down the street from Kansas State College, would pioneer this new era behind a blend of athletic skill that knew no color.

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K-STATE GRAD WORKS ON

NEW LEGOLAND THEME PARK ATTRACTION

BY ASHLEY PAULS LEGOLAND PHOTO COURTESY OF LEGOLAND PRESS ROOM PROFILE PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS JADWIN ’02

When he was young, Chris Jadwin ’02 remembers asking for the same thing every year at Christmas: a set of Construx plastic building toys from Fisher-Price.

“I liked building stuff when I was little,” he said.

As it turns out, Jadwin still likes “building stuff ” — as a project executive for commercial construction company Swinerton, he now oversees a growing portfolio of building projects covering a variety of industries, including healthcare, office

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buildings, higher education, entertainment and, more recently, amusement parks.

In October 2018, Swinerton began working on a project for Legoland California, an amusement park based on the widely popular toy brand known for its colorful plastic interlocking bricks — a true dream come true for a kid who grew up dreaming of building his own creations.

Jadwin grew up in Hiawatha, Kansas, and graduated from Kansas State University in

2002 with a degree in construction science and management.

He spent more than a decade with general contracting firm Rudolph and Sletten Inc. before transferring to Swinerton in 2013. He typically works on 3-5 active design/construction projects at any one time, assembling teams and managing schedules, budgets and other details.

Jadwin said Swinerton was approached by Merlin Entertainments — a U.K. company owning

a series of Legoland parks, including sites in Florida, Tokyo and London — to assist with a new area at the California park that would be based on the Lego film franchise, including The Lego Movie and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.

One of the biggest projects for the park is a “flying theater” similar in style to Disney World’s “Soarin’” ride.

The new Legoland ride, called “Emmet’s Flying Adventure,” has three tiers that each have their own gondolas. The ride is inspired by Lego movie character Emmett (voiced in the films by Chris Pratt) and his famous triple-decker sofa. After park visitors enter the ride, they’re seated in the gondolas, which then rotate 180 degrees and extend beyond a ledge, facing a 100foot concave screen.

The 4D ride moves up and down and side to side, and includes audio/visual features, physical effects like spraying water and even scents like marshmallows.

“You’re completely immersed, so when the screen comes on, it actually feels like you’re on the ride,” Jadwin said. “It offers a lot more range of movement.

You’re ‘free-falling’ to a degree. It’s pretty interactive.”

Jadwin said the ride presented Swinerton with an exciting logistics challenge: balancing safety guidelines and housing the sheer physical weight of the ride inside a building, while also making sure all the parts function together smoothly.

“We had to really strategize and figure out how to approach it,” he said.

Construction began in March 2019, and due to the global pandemic, the grand opening took place on May 27, 2021. Beforehand, Swinerton constructed a themed barricade wall to protect the construction site while also giving park visitors a peek at what was coming.

“It’s caused a lot of excitement,” Jadwin said.

Swinerton’s work for Legoland also included two hydraulic drop towers for a new ride called “UniKitty’s Disco Drop, Queen Watevra’s Carousel, Emmet’s Super Suite and Benny’s Playship.”

Jadwin is looking forward to helping Swinerton expand into more theme park related projects in the future, and he credits his K-State experience for enabling him to succeed in life outside of college.

“I do believe at K-State, you get more of an intimate class setting,” Jadwin said. “You knew a lot of your professors. They do a good job of how you structure the classes you take in your degree path.”

Chris Jadwin ’02

BUILDING A CAREER In addition to Legoland, Chris Jadwin lists some of these past projects as career highlights: $90 million new dormitory for UC San Diego, featuring study spaces, a great hall/cafeteria and apartment-style living University of San Diego – School of Leadership and Education Sciences site, which at time of construction was a one-of-a-kind facility with an interactive virtual conference room that allowed live streaming Community park in Eastlake Village in San Diego, California, including a skate park, multi-purpose field and indoor gym Football stadium at Oceanside High School in California 195,000 square-foot life sciences facility in San Diego

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A BRIGHT FUTURE

Tony Reames ’07 advocates for affordable energy in role as senior adviser with U.S. Department of Energy

BY ASHLEY PAULS

PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY REAMES ’07

Most of us take it for granted that when we come home after a long day at work, we’ll be able to flip on a light switch, heat up the oven to make dinner, and relax in a room that’s temperature-controlled by heating or air conditioning.

However, making sure everyone in a community has access to affordable, sustainable energy that minimizes harm to the environment is a far more complicated issue than many realize. That’s why the work that K-State graduate Tony Reames ’07 is doing in his new role as a senior adviser with the U.S. Department of Energy is so important.

“Every day when we come to the office, the work we do is benefitting American citizens,” said Reames, who works in the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity. “This is a moment for us to right the course and deal with climate change. How do we make energy access equitable, affordable and clean?”

Reames draws on his past experiences in private engineering, local government and higher education as he assists the Department of Energy with its mission to carry out U.S. President Joe Biden’s Justice 40 Initiative, which dictates that 40% of the benefits from certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities. Part of this process is researching and then identifying communities in need of aid, and tracking and measuring how these communities benefit from the initiative.

“We’re held accountable — that was a bold proclamation, very important, very timely,” Reames said. “It’s a responsibility that does not sit lightly with me.”

BEYOND THE DATA Reames was serving in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Riley when he decided to pursue a master’s degree in engineering management at K-State. He was one of the early remote/distance learning students at K-State, back when classes were viewed on VHS tape instead of online. He saw the degree program as a way to combine his Army leadership skills with his undergraduate experience in civil engineering.

One of the experiences that stood out to him

“Every day when we come to the office, the work we do is benefitting American citizens. This is a moment for us to right the course and deal with climate change. How do we make energy access equitable, affordable and clean?”

TONY REAMES ’07, SENIOR ADVISER WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND DIVERSITY most was an assignment in an operations research class where he had to conduct models of employees at a plant, determining whether to lay off or add more workers.

The exercise reminded Reames of his own experiences growing up in the South, where he witnessed how textile companies leaving town could impact a community.

“It might be just numbers on a screen to you, but it impacts real people,” Reames said.

Reames has continued to focus on the people behind the data throughout his career. As he watched the growth of residential development while working in local government in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Reames saw a need for encouraging developers to invest in sustainable infrastructure for future generations.

Then, while serving as a professor at the University of Michigan, he established the Urban Energy Justice Lab as a way to help students research racial, income and geographic disparities in energy access, and also assist community groups asking for data.

“My goal was to do good research, and do research that could help community groups advocate for themselves,” Reames said.

ENERGY FOR ALL According to the Initiative for Energy Justice, the term energy justice refers to “the goal of achieving equity in both the social and economic participation in the energy system, while also remediating social, economic and health burdens on those disproportionately harmed by the energy system.”

As Reames promotes energy justice within the U.S. Department of Energy, one of the greatest challenges is recognizing past harms and addressing them so people feel their grievances are being heard, while also backing up recommended changes with data and science.

He said it is important to remember that there cannot be a “one size fits all” policy. A community where a coal mine is being shut down will need a different solution than a community seeking relief from pollution.

“We want to hear what solutions people want to see for themselves,” Reames said.

Reames sees cost as the biggest barrier to accessible energy. Partnerships between government, nonprofits and the private sector are vital for pushing forward new forms of technology, such as harvesting geothermal energy within the earth to generate electricity.

Another key factor is public education. When the government introduces new technology to make energy more accessible and affordable, how do people learn about it? Reames gives the example of a single mother working more than 50 hours a week, who does not have time to go out and do her own research on solar energy. The Department of Energy needs an easy way to bring that information to her.

While energy justice has historically been studied more in the United Kingdom, Europe and developing countries, Reames hopes more Americans will become aware of the concept and of the need for energy reform.

“We have some of those same challenges here,” he said.

K - S TAT E R

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Wi ld ca t Re qu es t Liv e

5K Ru n/ Wa lk

Kansas State University’s 106th Homecoming celebration was in the spotlight Oct. 24-30. The week-long celebration is sponsored by the Alumni Association. Every year, a studentdriven committee prepares for the weeklong celebration.

This year’s theme was Lights, Camera, ’Cats!

The week began with a 5K Run/Walk benefitting Pawnee Mental Health Services, which serves 10 area counties providing an array of services which promote mental health.

Students competed in events throughout the week including Pant the Chant, Paint the ’Ville, Wildcat Request Live and more.

Dr. Kyle Goerl, K-State’s Lafene Health Center medical director, served as the 2021 Homecoming Parade grand

Residence Halls

First Place: Honors House, Smurthwaite, West Hall Second Place: Marlatt Hall and Ford Hall Third Place: Haymaker Hall and Wefald Hall

56

W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 Pant the Chant

marshal.

“Dr. Goerl has made tremendous contributions to K-State, especially during the pandemic,“ said Amy Button Renz `76, `86, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association.

“The coronavirus created many unique needs and Dr. Goerl stepped up and answered the call. The All-University Homecoming Committee wanted to recognize him with this honor in appreciation for all that he has done for K-State, the Big 12 and the greater community as a whole.”

The week ended with a 31-12 football victory over TCU. At halftime Stacia Mendoza, junior in finance, Lenexa, Kansas, and Josh Diazdeleon, junior in elementary education, Liberal, Kansas, were named the 2022 K-State Student Ambassadors.

Sororities and Fraternities

First Place: Gamma Phi Beta, Acacia, Sigma Tau Gamma Second Place: Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Sigma Phi Third Place: Kappa Kappa Gamma, Phi Gamma Delta, Kappa Sigma

Student Organizations

First Place: Sexuality and Gender Alliance Second Place: Powercat Motor Sports Third Place: Black Student Union

ss ad or s 20 22 K-S ta te St ud en t Amzdbaele on an d Jo sh Dia Me St ac ia nd oz a

Pa ra de

Ho me co mi ng Gr an d Ma rs ha l Dr . Ky le Go er l W ith W ya tt Go er l

Pa in t th e ’V il le

PA NT TH E CH AN T

Sp iri t Sig ns

PR EG AM E

FO OT BA LL GA ME

K - S TAT E R

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Finding a job in a swipe K-State alumni develop job searching app to match employees with employers in a unique way

BY TIM SCHRAG ’12

I

n an ever more digital landscape, people do a lot of swiping. It’s almost second nature to anyone with a smartphone. On apps like Instagram, we swipe up to learn more. On apps like Bumble, we swipe right on people we like and left on those we don’t.

Sisters Deborah Muhwezi Gladney ’10 and Angela Muhwezi-Hall ’13 have built an app called QuickHire to use this swiping concept to help people find work.

The idea of QuickHire has been something Muhwezi-Hall had been sitting on for several years. Muhwezi-Hall had been working in career and educational advising at the college level when a student came to her office.

“She had all these paper applications, she was trying to find a local job opportunity at a grocery store or retail store,” MuhweziHall said. “And it kind of struck me in that moment that while it’s been years, since myself or Deborah, even longer since our parents who migrated here from Uganda worked in those spaces, the process of applying to those jobs really hasn’t changed much. A lot of those positions still require you to walk into their brick-and-mortar store to even know if they’re hiring. And then they’ll probably give you a paper application to fill out.”

They did a deep dive and learned more about the application process for non-degree jobs, sometimes called blue collar jobs. They discovered the technology and application Photo courtesy of QuickHire

58

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processes for these jobs had not caught up to their degree-needed counterparts to meet the hiring needs of this sector of work.

Gladney and Muhwezi-Hall worked to focus on the needs of both the applicant and the employer. The system they created is very customizable to those needs. Users can create a profile that includes a 10-second introduction video and lets employers get a feel for the candidate’s personality.

The app is designed to be run fully on a smartphone. Job seekers on QuickHire on average hear back within 48 hours about their application status.

QuickHire also is working to develop new features to help with career development and talent retention.

“We’ve learned that people need platforms to be mobile friendly, they need it to be easy,” Gladney said. “That’s why we have Tinder-like swiping to apply, no more scrolling, and all that unnecessary

stuff. And then, also, on the company side, they’re saying that a lot of the applicant tracking systems cater to white collar jobs. All they need is a simple way to find somebody who is a good culture fit with a great personality and things like that. So that’s why we incorporated an intro video where applicants can record a 10-second intro video.”

The emphasis both Gladney and MuhweziHall said is to put dignity back into these jobs that are sometimes called unskilled work, which in reality is not the case. These jobs often require knowledge of a trade or completion of training.

“Our big picture vision is to give job seekers the power over their career and advancement,” Gladney said. “The talent shortage we face today is greater than the pandemic. It stems from decades of work neglect, career stifling, bad pay and more. We want to change that.”

But it wasn’t until the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. that the sisters got serious about building QuickHire.

“Deborah gave me a call at 4 a.m. one day, saying that we have to build QuickHire, because as we saw millions of people lost their jobs,” Muhwezi-Hall said. “It really hit this industry hard. COVID definitely was the catalyst to work on this. And we probably started working on it around March [of 2020]. We’re really excited about the progress we’ve made so far.”

The pandemic may have been the catalyst but to launch the business, Gladney said the sisters still had hurdles to overcome. One of which was access to capital.

“You can’t just launch a really nice-looking app,” Gladney said. “But even if you do it yourself, it’s still the opportunity cost that goes into it and you likely have a full-time job.”

The circumstances of 2020 including the job market and racial unrest allowed Gladney and Muhwezi-Hall to find access to capital likely more quickly than if they had attempted to launch in the years prior.

“People who wouldn’t ordinarily be paying attention to a Black-woman-led tech start-up were paying attention,” Gladney told the New York Times in August. “Being able to have the financial backing and support, that had something to do with it as well.”

Another obstacle they encountered was neither Muhwezi-Hall nor Gladney had a tech background. Luckily they knew a K-Stater who did. Royce Haynes ’08 is a software engineer with Twitter. Haynes was able to serve as a technology adviser to Gladney and Muhwezi-Hall.

“We’ve kind of been lucky with our network and a big thanks to K-State,” Gladney said. “A lot of the people in our network who have been our mentors, a lot of them have either come through K-State or the other Kansas schools.”

Today QuickHire has more than 11,000 job seekers and 60 paying companies.

“A big goal of ours is to put dignity back into this workforce,” Muhwezi-Hall said. “We want to make sure that people realize that it takes a lot of skill. A lot of these jobs require customer service, handling big machinery, things like that. So we want to put that dignity within that title.”

HOW IT WORKS 1. Create an account 2. Complete your profile 3. Set a career path 4. Review jobs K - S TAT E R

59

2020-2021 ANNUAL REPORT Our Social Media Followers

GÐke Facebook: 26,521 Twitter: 14,034 LinkedIn: 1,489 Instagram: 7,661

11,541

K-State license plates in Kansas, Texas and Maryland combined

97% retention rate of plate holders

3,078 donors support our annual fund, Tradition Founders, contributing $628,051

A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO Dear friends, As we continue to monitor developments in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic, I remain grateful for and impressed by the resilience, adaptability and perseverance shown by members of our K-State family throughout these unprecedented times.

The Association staff is pleased to support a mindful, safe and productive return to campus this fall and we continue to collaborate with our campus partners to ensure the success of our faculty, staff and students. We have resumed in-person events and we will maintain a virtual option, when possible. We encourage you to visit our website, k-state.com, to keep informed about events in your area.

Despite the challenges faced this past year, we did experience many successes.

We set an all-time high in contributions received for our annual fund, Tradition Founders. Additionally, while our spring awards programs were held virtually, we were not deterred from recognizing the amazing student leaders on campus.

Together, with your support, we found ways to encourage each other and advance Kansas State University. The Alumni Association’s mission “to lead and inspire lifelong involvement that will benefit Kansas State University and all members of our Wildcat Community” still remains our guiding principle and we thank you for supporting us through these challenging times as we strive to continually achieve this goal.

Take care and Go ’Cats!

$23,292 saved by Association members through Wildcat Discounts

$550,000 Awarded in scholarships to 500 students

60

WINTER 2021

Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86 President and CEO K-State Alumni Association

ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins ’96, Washington, D.C., chair Candace Hart Duncan ’75, Bethesda, Md., chair-elect Kendal Frazier ’73, Centennial, Colo., past chair Terms expire in 2022 Frank Hernandez III ’92, Houston, Texas Debbie Leckron Miller ’75, Council Grove, Kan. Dr. Jeff Luty ’89, Abilene, Kan. Cmdr. Tim Oswalt ’93, Oak Harbor, Wash.

Terms expire in 2023 Chancy Montera Love ’07, Denver, Colo.

Rich Macha ’80, Rehoboth, Del. Lori Francis Rogge ’94, Leonardville, Kan.

Mike Simms ’89, Kansas City, Mo. Brent Wiedeman ’97, ’05, Colby, Kan. Terms expire in 2024 Dr. Curt Coffman ’90, Phoenix, Ariz.

Jeff Ellison ’90, St. Joseph, Mo. Jody Isch Lancaster ’88, Ottawa, Kan. Zach Maier ’09, New York, N.Y. Suze Brink Parker ’81, ’83, Overland Park, Kan. Terms expire in 2025 Morgan Fisher ’04, Arlington, Va. Lydia Peele Kinkade ’09, Overland Park, Kan. Steve Lacy ’76, ’77, Des Moines, Iowa John Niemann ’93, Mount Hope, Kan.

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW current assets $2,270,816

current liabilities $493,340

investments $15,650,906

other liabilities $1,269,221

building & land $7,429,273

total liabilities $1,762,561

other assets $123,985

total net assets $23,712,420

total assets $25,474,981

total unrestricted reserves $5,367,764

Operating Expenses

Revenues

14% - Management & general

6% - Contributions, restricted

14% - Stewardship programs & awards

6% - Sales, commission & events

14% - Membership, development & fundraising

6% - University partnerships

17% - Alumni Center occupancy & depreciation

8% - Membership dues

20% - Communications & data services

9% - Royalties

21% - Constituent programs & services

19% - Contributions, unrestricted 46% - Investment revenue (net)

Karen Wiley Works ’76, Humbolt, Kan. Standing directors Richard Myers ’65, Manhattan, Kan., K-State president Carl Ice ’79, Westlake, Texas, chairman, board of directors, KSU Foundation Curt Frasier ’73, Beloit, Kan., treasurer Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, Manhattan, Kan., secretary Michael Dowd, Spring Hill, Kan., student body president Megan Klug, Manhattan, Kan., Student Alumni Board president Greg Willems, Manhattan, Kan., ex officio member, president and CEO, KSU Foundation

WHO BELONGS TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION? MEMBER AFFILIATION Graduates Students Friends TOTAL

36,026 394 3,562 39,982

MEMBER BY LOCATION Kansas Out of state International Lost TOTAL

23,871 15,758 205 148 39,982

MEMBER BY DECADE 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Friends Students TOTAL

4 4 178 1,533 3,963 6,955 5,391 5,378 4,179 3,481 4,960 3,562 394 39,982

ALL LIVING K-STATE GRADUATES Kansas 94,369 Out of state 93,523 International 5,970 No address 4,275 TOTAL 198,137 *As of 5/15/2021

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

K - S TAT E R

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CLASS NOTES

SEND US your

good news W

e want to let your fellow K-Staters know what’s happening in your life by printing your good news in the K-Stater Class Notes.

Please keep the following guidelines in mind when submitting items for publication.

• Because of deadlines, it could be up to six months from the time you send in your news to the time it appears in the magazine.

• Because of space limitations, we can print news only about K-State Alumni Association members.

• No news more than a year old at the time of submission will be printed.

How to share your news (and any address or occupation changes): Postal mail: Alumni Records 100 Alumni Center 1720 Anderson Avenue Manhattan, KS 66506-1001 Online: • Alumni Association website: k-state.com/UpdateYourInfo Email: alumni@k-state.com Fax: 785-532-5068 CLASS NOTES LEGEND (fs) former student (fr) friend

60

William B. “Bill” Walters, College Park, Maryland, retired from the University of Maryland. He was one of the institution’s first nuclear chemists.

63

Janie Wullschleger Curtis, Marco Island, Florida, was included in Ingram’s business magazine as one of the “50 Kansans You Should Know.” Janie is the CEO of Curtis Machine Company Inc.

69

Lawrence M. “Larry” Kendall ’69, ’73, Fort Collins, Colorado, was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame.

Sue C. Maes ’69, ’72, ’98, Manhattan, Kansas, was honored by the Central Region of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association, which renamed its annual leadership award for Global Campus’ Dean Emeritus Maes as a tribute to her service to the organization and nearly 40 years of active membership.

72

James R. “Jim” Lee, Stillwater, Oklahoma, retired as director of manufacturing from Frontier Electronic Systems, after a 49-year career in military/space electronic systems manufacturing.

73

Richard G. “Rich” Green, California, Missouri, is the mayor of California.

James A. “Jim” Heggie ’73, ’75, Houston, Texas, was selected as a 2020 Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Association “Living Legend - Honoring Our History” honoree for his outstanding leadership and dedication to education and community service in Houston for the past 45 years.

Donnetta L. Heitschmit Suchon, Seabrook, Texas, retired as vice president of student affairs at Lee College, after working in higher education for more than 40 years.

She currently is an adjunct instructor at the University of Houston - Clear Lake.

Leonard H. Le Blanc III, Bangkok, Thailand, published The Perfect U.S. “Deep State” Operation.

75

Connie R. Harness Edmonston, Fayetteville, Arkansas, retired as the city of Fayetteville’s Parks and Recreation director after 35 years with the city.

Daniel B. Love, Libertyville, Illinois, was elected to a four-year term as trustee to the Village of Libertyville.

Gregory R. “Greg” Mann, Manhattan, Kansas, was hired to serve as interim superintendent for Wamego Public Schools for the 2021-2022 school year.

76

Randy L. Wehling ’76, ’80, ’83, Lincoln, Nebraska, retired from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln after 37 years, as a professor of food science and technology.

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ANNIVERSARIES 53 Ruthe Hetzler Pattison and Wilbur A. “Pat” Pattison ‘57, Harlan, Iowa, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary May 27, 2021.

Robert D. O’Shea and Joan Roggenkamp O’Shea, Oskaloosa, Kansas, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary July 26, 2021.

58

Ronald E. Spencer and Lucille M. Spencer, Ottawa, Kansas, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary July 29, 2021.

66

Gerald H. Schmitt ’66, ’72 and Dianna L. Klocke Schmitt, Wichita, Kansas, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary July 23, 2021.

68

Stephen M. Murphy and Sylvia C. Slimmer Murphy (fs), Alta Vista, Kansas, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary Sept.

3, 2021.

70

Frank A. Bova and Janet L. Wolfe Bova, Topeka, Kansas, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary July 9, 2021.

Robert D. Cook and Joanne L. Cook (fs), Pueblo, Colorado, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 30, 2021.

Barry L. Schartz and Charlotte K. Prosser Schartz ’71, Manhattan, Kansas, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 29, 2021.

71

Eugene D. Berges and Deborah K. Henneberg Berges ’71, ’80, ’82, Onaga, Kansas, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 22, 2021.

82

Timothy G. O’Shea and Debra E. Muiller O’Shea, Topeka, Kansas, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary June 13, 2021.

77 78

George Durler ’77, ’78, Emporia, Kansas, retired from Emporia State University.

Connie Haffener White, Longview, Texas, retired from teaching high school after 15 years in Spring

Hill.

Wendy Wintersteen, Ames, Iowa, was inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. She is the president of Iowa State University.

CLASS NOTES The K-State Alumni Association welcomes the new fully paid life members from July 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2021.

We greatly appreciate their loyal support of the Alumni Association and Kansas State University.

Joshua M Abrams `11 Erik Preston Ankrom `05 Matthew Mario Battiston `04 Joel Grimsley Bland `14 Justin A Booth `03 Daniel Andrew Brakenhoff `09 Seth Thomas Bridge `05 Lindsay K Bryant `08 Travis J Bryant `07 Amanda Unn Buckwalter `20 Kelly Diane Carmody `01 Royce Ann Collins `05 David T Cunningham `75 Anne de Noble Timothy de Noble Gary Lamar Diener `75 Allison Penner Disbrow `01 Amanda Marjorie Donnoe `17 Joshua Brown Donnoe `16 Steven Allen Eaton `21 Eryn E Elder `08 Matthew H Elder `08 Isaac Jeremiah Evans `21 Kara Kathleen Evans `16 Michelle Flaming Scott M Flaming `01 Dalton Alexander Fraizer `16 Katharine Jo Frank `07 Steven Lee Frank `09 Blake Neill Frigon `96 Shelby L Frigon `98 Heather L Gamache `09 Mario Garibay `80 Nori Sally Garibay `81 Deb J Gettler `78 William C Gettler `66 Cole Hunter Gillman-Goss `21 Kristin Kay Guthrie `93 Robert Kelly Guthrie `91

Alexander Gutierrez Andrew K Hamor `03 Kiley K Hamor James Michael Haney `92 Tiffany Lynn Hansen `06 Donald Eugene Harris `79 Lucy J Harris Patrick J Heim `87 Stacey L Heim `89 Adam J Helm `00 Martie L Helm `02 Maury Elena Hernandez `07 Andrew J Hofmann `04 Jenell Brianne Hulse `18 Carolyn M Janzen Michael L Janzen `92 Eric T Jay `00 Josie T Jay `98 Craig Matthew Johnson `11 Marcus Daniel Kautz `11 Cassidy Colbie Keating `14 Jessica Marie Lattimore `20 Andrew C Lawson `05 James R Lee `72 David S Lustig `89 Stacey Anne Lustig Kimberly Marie Marquardt `10 Jared Eugene Martin `10 Mary C Martin `88 Michael James Martin `86 Joshua Scott Martinson `99 Mandi R Martinson `98 Sarah Anne Mauler `20 Kurt G May `83 Ryan Joseph McCullick `15 Daniel R Merker `99 Denise A Miller `89 Michael E Miller `90 Kurtis Jay Morgan `16

Claire Cameron Mullender `13 Lydia Jo Ouverson `21 Christopher J Pachta `05 Ella K Pachta `07 Peyton Leigh Pericola `20 Brandon Layne Perkins `10 Marie Therese Perkins `10 Mary V Peterson Jeremy Reed Phetteplace `09 Benjamin Peter Rajewski `20 Jesse Samuel Rice `21 Bryce Allan Roberts `18 Betty L Robison `72 Frank A Schmeidler Lindsey A Sellers `04 Missina M Sharp Tony R Sharp `02 Jill Raelynn Sigsbee `02 Aaron Keith Stoffer `05 Christen Irene Stoffer `04 Richard Scott Swain `05 Sarah Katherine Swain `07 Jacob L Swearingen `99 Tyler Tait Thomas `15 Paula C Thompson Steven Marion Thompson `84 Faith A Traver `20 Heather D Van Slyke `92 Jennifer D Voss `09 Michael James Voss `11 Philip K Walrod `77 Rita J Walrod `74 Michaela Renee Warnke `20 Catherine Alisa Way `93 Gerri Lynn Wilhelm-Fraizer `90 Kelly Ann Wilkerson `20 Morgan Lynette Woodbury `21 Rebecca Sue Wysong-Haney `94

To view a list of all fully paid life members, visit k-state.com/LifeMembers.

Special pricing is available for recent K-State graduates.

If you would like to become a life member of the K-State Alumni Association, to make corrections to the information listed above, or for additional information, please contact Megan Reichenberger ’11 at mreichenberger@k-state.com.

K - S TAT E R

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CLASS NOTES

79

Dennis E. Burson ’79, ’85, Lincoln, Nebraska, retired from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln as an Extension meat specialist.

Gary R. Haglund, Blue Springs, Missouri, retired as technical manager of quality engineering after 40 years with Honeywell.

Rev. Sue Livingston Nilson Kibbey, Westerville, Ohio, is the director of the Bishop Bruce Ough Innovation Center at United Theological Seminary.

80

Daryl D. Buchholz, Manhattan, Kansas, was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame. He retired in 2017 from his role as associate director for K-State Extension.

Cindy A. Granzow Bontrager ’80, ’82, Whiting, Kansas, retired from K-State as vice president and chief operations officer for the university, after more than 37 years in higher education.

Thomas I. “Tom” Phillips ’80, ’83, Manhattan, Kansas, received the Lyle Butler Distinguished Service Award presented annually to a Leadership Manhattan alumnus.

81

Mark W. Herron, Springfield, Missouri, retired from 3M after 39 years working in various manufacturing roles.

82

Sonia R. Dyck Cooper, Inman, Kansas, retired as a K-State Research and Extension agent for nutrition, food safety and health.

83

Mary Kay Siefers ’83, ’97, ’00, Manhattan, Kansas, received the K-State Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. She is a professor in the Staley School of Leadership Studies.

85

Jon C. Erickson ’85, ’87, Leawood, Kansas, is a senior project manager with Power Engineers.

Lisa M. Ford Robertson, Topeka, Kansas, was named city attorney for St. Joseph, Missouri.

Geri L. Nelson Bachman, Overland Park, Kansas, is a physical education teacher with Hickman Mills C-1 School District.

Edward F. “Ed” Prosser, Omaha, Nebraska, is the Scoular senior vice president and has been named to lead the recently created Emerging Businesses division.

Annie M. Ripper Platoff, Goleta, California, completed her Ph.D. in history from the University of Leicester in England.

86

Robert D. “Bob” Goodband, Ph.D. ’86, ’89, Manhattan, Kansas, received the 2021 American Society of Animal Science Fellow Award for Extension. He is a professor in the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.

Dennis A. Jones, Manhattan, Kansas, retired from K-State as a payroll accountant in the Resource Center and Operations unit of Human Capital Services after 35 years of state service.

87 88

Spencer W. Sechler, San Francisco, California, is the director of business development for ACE Parking.

Jaime Armendariz ’88, ’02, Manhattan, Kansas, retired as principal of Ogden Elementary.

Janet K. Hanson ’88, ’92, Manhattan, Kansas, was named Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year by the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers.

Kayla Kvasnicka Stigge, Manhattan, Kansas, retired as the library media specialist at Bluemont Elementary School

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after 37 years of service to Manhattan-Ogden School District.

Michael D. “Mike” Tokach Ph.D., Abilene, Kansas, received the 2021 American Society of Animal Science New Frontiers in Animal Nutrition Award. He also received the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Research from the K-State Alumni Association. He is a professor in the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry.

90

Rosanne Proite, New Braunfels, Texas, retired as director of housing and residential life at Texas State University.

Annette D. Thomas Winrick ’90, ’17, Shoreview, Minnesota, is a forensic auditor with the state of Minnesota.

Kristi L. White Wasinger, Olathe, Kansas, is the media director at Wunderman Thompson Health.

91

MARRIAGES 90 04

Jennifer Rempel and Mike Parham, Owasso, Oklahoma, were married Oct. 20, 2020.

Michael E. Wolff and Jessica L. Weaver ’07, Mission, Kansas, were married March 13,

2021.

07

Matthew D. “Matt” King and Krystin Husz, Washington, D.C., were married May 12,

2021.

09

Thomas “Bain” Wilson and Jacquelyn Prestegaard, Christiansburg, Virginia, were married June 12, 2021.

Victor S. “Scott” Kaufman, Florence, South Carolina, was named distinguished professor for 2020-2021 at Francis Marion University.

Thomas R. “Tom” Mitchell III, Overland Park, Kansas, is a global business development leader at DLR Group.

11

92

14

Frank Hernandez III, Houston, Texas, is a sales executive - Texas, at Penumbra Inc. - Vascular Division.

He is a current member of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors.

94

Rev. Daneale J. White, Manhattan, Kansas, is a chaplain and bereavement manager at Interim Healthcare and Hospice.

95

Benjamin R. “Ben” Clouse ’95, ’96, Overland Park, Kansas, was named chief financial officer at CrossFirst Bankshares Inc. C. Jason Massoth, Wildwood, Missouri, is the chief operating officer at PayneCrest Electric.

Aaron J. Wilcox, Nowata, Oklahoma, is serving as the 2021 president of the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors. He is the chief estimator for BECCO Contractors Inc.

96

Bradley R. “Brad” Finkeldei, Lawrence, Kansas, was elected to the City Commission in Lawrence and became mayor in December 2020.

97

Julie V. Benson ’97, ’99, Seattle, Washington, is the associate vice president, Central Development Units, with Washington State University Foundation.

Bernard J. “Bernie” Haney, Manhattan, Kansas, received the Colbert Hills Award of Excellence.

Tara L. Hannebaum, Arvada, Colorado, was promoted to senior consultant at The Sage Group Inc. Robert D. “Bob” Loughbom, Lenexa, Kansas, is the lead account analyst, Midwest Region, at A Place For Mom.

98

Julia A. Trowbridge Keen, Ph.D. ’98, ’05, ’10, Manhattan, Kansas, received the Iman Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching from the K-State Alumni Association. She is a professor of architectural engineering and construction science at K-State.

Emily M. Harsch Lehning, Ph.D. ’98, ’00, ’08, Westmoreland, Kansas, has taken a new position with a consulting firm. She had been involved with student recruitment and success at K-State for more than 20 years.

00

Todd H. Petersen ’00, ’03, ’09, Anchorage, Alaska, was promoted to professor of electrical engineering at the University of Alaska - Anchorage.

Brian S. Stinson ’11, ’14 and Aaron Miller, Manhattan, Kansas, were married in November 2020.

Mitchell R. DeHoff ’14, ’20 and Katelyn M. Meek ’16, Junction City, Kansas, were married July 10, 2021.

Sage N. Henderson and Travis Hofer, Bridgewater, South Dakota, were married in August 2020.

Ryan J. Irvin ’14, ’17 and Emily Hart, Denver, Colorado, were married May 30, 2021.

15

Logan L. Britton and Brady M. Nordhus ’16, Manhattan, Kansas, were married June 12, 2021.

Sarah L. McKittrick and Christopher A. “Chris” Sourk, Prairie Village, Kansas, were married May 22, 2021.

17

Tanner M. Aherin ’17, ’18 and Darby L. Schmidt ’19, Parker, Colorado, were married June 12, 2021.

Caroline R. Kabus and Lucas G. Verschelden, Overland Park, Kansas, were married April 17, 2021.

Maggie A. Meyer and Luke Curran, Kansas City, Missouri, were married May 22, 2021.

18 20

Allie C. Dieter and Gabriel P. Thomas ’20, Topeka, Kansas, were married Oct. 10, 2020.

Clark A. Cummings and Julia E. Maddock, Leavenworth, Kansas, were married Jan. 2,

2021.

Madison A. Hines and Steven D. Schmoll, Wichita, Kansas, were married June 26, 2021.

Jacob H. Mischlich and Trisha Kiser, Shawnee, Kansas, were married June 12, 2021.

01

Kelly C. Simpson Law, Manhattan, Kansas, was named vice president of partner engagement for Marsh and McLennan.

Michael J. Stamm ’01, ’03, Manhattan, Kansas, was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the K-State Eta Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta.

02

Andy T. DiOrio, Olathe, Kansas, is the founder and chief communicator, DiOrio Communications LLC. Sheila L. Luke Coomes ’02, ’03, Manhattan, Kansas, is the inaugural director of the Vern and Joan Herbel Accounting Academy in the Department of Accounting in

CLASS NOTES the K-State College of Business Administration.

Julie A. Rooney Wankel, Petersburg, Illinois, is a financial adviser with Edward Jones.

Mark N. McFadden, Garden Plain, Kansas, is a commercial lead for SAP - IT deployment at Cargill.

03 04

Mako Blevins Miller, Olathe, Kansas, has been named director of the Professional Mobility Escalator program at the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Jamie A. Bosse, Manhattan, Kansas, is the author of Money Boss Mom, Helping Young Parents Be the “Boss” of Their Financial Future and another children’s book about Milton the Money Savvy Pup.

05

Shawn M. Dryden, Manhattan, Kansas, was promoted to director of web and creative development at New Boston Creative Group.

Marc C. Shaffer, Overland Park, Kansas, was highlighted as a 40 Under 40 honoree in Ingram’s and a NextGen Leaders honoree with the Kansas City Business Journal.

Andrew C. Zender, Leawood, Kansas, is the brand communications manager for Ascend Learning. He also released his debut EP, Stealing Petals, as an independent songwriter.

06 08

Emilie C. Fink, Wamego, Kansas, is a chief engagement officer at HitchPin.

Amber N. Logan ’08, ’19, Olathe, Kansas, is a lead scientist at Catalent Pharma Solutions.

Lauren E. Luhrs, Kansas City, Missouri, is a senior director of development at the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

Matthew D. “Matt” Wagner, Fulshear, Texas, was

00

Michael J. “Mike” Tufano and Amanda Tufano, Kansas City, Missouri, announce the birth of Arthur, July 21, 2020.

03

Brandon M. Solt ’03, ’07 and Kristi Solt, Houston, Texas, announce the birth of Madison Reese, May 6, 2021.

05

Megan K. Beckman Lodhia and Anil Lodhia, Oakland, California, announce the birth of Hazel Quinn, April 6, 2021.

Debra J. “Janie” Salmon Piontek and Jeff Piontek, Bloomington, Minnesota, announce the birth of Caroline Joy, June 9, 2020.

07

Van T. Alexander and Cortney L. Alexander ’10, Shawnee, Kansas, announce the birth of Collins My Linh Alexander, Nov. 24, 2020.

Angela C.R. Rokey Marzan and Shawn Marzan, Aurora, Colorado, announce the birth of Rafael Chaise Mcray, May 16, 2021.

Virginia Somer Torres and Mark Torres, Skiatook, Oklahoma, announce the birth of Archer Collins, April 12, 2021.

Stephanie A. Wilkins Hamer and Matt Hamer, Topeka, Kansas, announce the birth of Natalie, June 21, 2021.

08

Cole M. Campbell and Trey Williams, Kansas City, Missouri, announce the birth of Ivy Rue,

promoted to director, business continuity modernization, at Phillips 66. He is a former member of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors.

09

Andrew T. “Drew” Claassen ’09, ’11, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is the director of strategic digital marketing at the University of Alabama.

Thomas “Bain” Wilson, Christiansburg, Virginia, is an assistant professor of practice at Ohio State and will coach the livestock judging team in the Department of Animal Sciences.

10

Heather N. Arnold, Portland, Oregon, was promoted to engineering group leader in the PTD Lithography module at Intel Corporation.

Anna M. Sommer Quinn, Olathe, Kansas, received the Missouri Lawyers Weekly Women’s Justice Award.

11

Adam D. Brock, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, was recently promoted to vice president of food safety, quality and regulatory compliance at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. He also was elected to the board of directors of the American Cheese Society.

12

Dr. Connor M. Bridge, Hutchinson, Kansas, earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University of Biomedical Sciences. He is an emergency medicine resident at Freeman Hospital.

Jeniffer A. Brunker Carmichael, Emporia, Kansas, is a teacher with Chase County School District.

Matt R. Marchesini, Prairie Village, Kansas, is a project manager at Hillrom.

Tyler M. Sharp, Atlanta, Georgia, is a data and visualizations manager at Primrose Schools.

BIRTHS

March 31, 2021.

Amy Lauer Pyle and James Pyle, Overland Park, Kansas, announce the birth of Dalton James, Jan. 8, 2021.

09

Madison A. Loeb Smith and Patrick J. Smith, Overland Park, Kansas, announce the birth of Claire Audrey, March 25, 2021.

Tanner A. Marshall and Mina Hosni Marshall ’11, Littleton, Colorado, announce the birth of Kinley Rana, July 28, 2020.

10

Mitchell G. Gregson and Teryn Gregson, St. Augustine, Florida, announce the birth of Leighton Alene, July 23, 2020.

Trenton K. Hargrave and Lynn M. Leuthold Hargrave ’11, Leonardville, Kansas, announce the births of Kinsey Pearl and Trevor Lucas, May 5, 2021.

Brantlee A. Shearmire and Devon E. McKinney Shearmire ’12, Lakin, Kansas, announce the birth of Lola Jean, May 3, 2021.

12

Garrett C. Lister ’12, ’14 and Alyson M. McCall Lister ’12, ’14, Manhattan, Kansas, announce the birth of Johnathan Paul, April 24, 2021.

13

Macario T. “Mac” Benavides ’13, ’21 and Ruddy E. Yanez Benavides, Manhattan, Kansas, announce the birth of Elida Jane, June 3, 2021.

Hollyann D. Sewell Kessler ’13, ’18 and Jacob Kes-

13

Ronald J. “Ron” Benoit Jr., Manhattan, Kansas, is a staff accountant with Varney and Associates.

Ashleigh R. Herd, London, United Kingdom, graduated from the University of Oxford with an MBA. She is now a senior leadership consultant based in the U.K. Jessica D. High Cless ’13, ’15, ’18, Exeter, Rhode Island, is an assistant professor in the Couple and Family Therapy program at the University of Rhode Island.

14

Nathan T. “Nate” Spriggs, Bel Aire, Kansas, was appointed to the Kansas Human Rights Commission. He is an HR reporting and analytics supervisor at Koch Industries. He is a former member of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors.

Dr. Mikaela B. Sundgren ’10, ’14, El Dorado, Kansas, purchased El Dorado Animal Clinic.

15

Dr. Katherine N. Bruns, Salina, Kansas, is an optometrist with Drs. Cooper and Banninger.

Adam W. Cless ’15, ’17, Exeter, Rhode Island, was promoted to research associate/evaluator in the K-State Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation.

Brian C. Davis, Norristown, Pennsylvania, is a project designer at D2 Groups.

16

Adrienne E. Eisenhauer, Arlington, Virginia, is a senior manager of social media and digital content at Volo.

Kedric D. Elmore, Manhattan, Kansas, is the Union Program Council program adviser.

Luke M. Klefstad, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the program director for experiential learning at Carleton College.

sler, Dodge City, Kansas, announce the birth of Ainsley Dawn, Jan. 22, 2021.

14

Bobbi J. Ehrlich Rubeck and Gregory W. Rubeck ’20, Wichita, Kansas, announce the birth of Nathaniel Paul, Aug. 3, 2020.

15

Bailee N. Barrett Lowe ’15, ’17 and Tyler S. Lowe ’17, Emporia, Kansas, announce the birth of Karter James, March 31, 2021.

Sarah M. Ramsey Stasser and Ryan S. Strasser ’17, Juneau, Wisconsin, announce the birth of Allison E., Dec. 23, 2020.

16

Ryan G. Massman and Kylie J. Sturgis Massman, Windsor, Colorado, announce the birth of Crosby Parker, June 24, 2021.

17

Jennifer L. Hitschmann Reifschneider and Jacob Reifschneider, St. George, Kansas, announce the birth of Aiden R., Oct. 6, 2020.

Andrew J. Lauver and Mary Lauver, Lohrville, Iowa, announce the birth of Doris Maria, June 23, 2020.

18

Samantha A. Askew Rumbaugh and Tanner Rumbaugh, Dodge City, Kansas, announce the birth of Cayson Gage, June 9, 2020.

Madeline G. “Mattie” Murphy Will and Zachary A. “Zach” Will, Wichita, Kansas, announce the birth of Bishop Drew, March 12, 2021.

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CLASS NOTES Evan M. Woodbury, Topeka, Kansas, is a financial examiner with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner.

17

Dr. Maggie A. Meyer Curran, Kansas City, Missouri, graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She is a family medicine resident physician at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City.

Mason K. Schoen ’17, ’18, ’20, Overland Park, Kansas, is a financial planner with Creative Planning Inc. Matthew J. Zemanick, Trumbull, Connecticut, is a senior financial analyst at Johnson & Johnson.

19

Emma L. Carter, Shawnee, Kansas, is a paid media coordinator at Go Local Interactive.

Alexandria D. “Allie” Decker ’19, ’21, Kansas City, Missouri, is a technical recruiter at Astraworks.

Rafael Garcia Jr., Wichita, Kansas, is an education reporter with The Wichita Beacon.

Rachel A. Lord, Manhattan, Kansas, is a fifth-12th grade art teacher for Concordia Public Schools.

Braden D. Mishler ’19, ’21, Wichita, Kansas, is a design engineer with CNH Industrial.

Elijah C. Sullivan, Stone Mountain, Georgia, signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

20

Nathan D. Astle, Manhattan, Kansas, is a therapist at Pawnee Mental Health.

Brady E. Brooks, Lawrence, Kansas, is a production engineer at HorizonPSI. Josemaria Cabanas Britos, Alexandria, Virginia, is a marketing consultant at IDB Global Federal Credit Union.

Clark A. Cummings, Leavenworth, Kansas, is a farm worker at Alan Cummings Farms.

Joshua M. Drouin, Mayfield, Kentucky, received the K-State Presidential Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He is a graduate teaching assistant and doctoral student in mathematics.

Brett D. Engle, Manhattan, Kansas, is a personal banker at ESB Financial.

Anna E. Featherston, Overland Park, Kansas, is a kindergarten through sixth grade music teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Jennifer K. Gamblian, Houston, Texas, is a pantry sales partner with JustFoodForDogs.

Abbey B. Gilliland-King, Lawrence, Kansas, is the outreach and programming coordinator at the Kansas Bar Association.

Jeremy R. Gray, Ogden, Utah, is an assistant head miller at Ardent Mills.

Wyatt A. Hubert, Topeka, Kansas, was taken in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jessica M. Lattimore, Ulysses, Kansas, is a first grade teacher at Hickok Elementary.

Andres “Andy” Loya, Olathe, Kansas, is an agent/ financial professional at New York Life Insurance Company.

Julia E. Maddock Cummings, Leavenworth, Kansas, is a data analyst at Cerner.

Sarah A. Mauler, Great Bend, Kansas, is the assistant director of human resources at Barton Community College.

Pavithra Natarajan, Olathe, Kansas, is a scientist I at Ceva Animal Health.

Erin N. Smee, Leavenworth, Kansas, is a title processor at Clear Title Nationwide Inc. Jessica D. Switzer Maxwell, Manhattan, Kansas, is the specialist/communications for K-State Student Union marketing.

Brooke L. Thilges Burger, Olathe, Kansas, is a kinder-

Olathe

66

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garten teacher at Brougham Elementary.

Prajakta Thipsay, Kansas City, Missouri, is an associate architectural designer at DRAW Architecture + Urban Design.

Grant T. Thompson, Brooklyn, New York, is a publicity assistant at Permanent Press Media.

Jake L. Wessel, Cedar Point, Kansas, is a state agriculture representative in the office of U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran.

21

Lauren O. Ailslieger, Manhattan, Kansas, earned a 2021 Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship.

Eric S. Ashlock, Mission, Kansas, is an electrical designer at IMEG. Shaylyn L. Ballard, Lenexa, Kansas, is a food safety and lodging surveyor at the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Alexandria N. Christian Danks, Manhattan, Kansas, is a veterinary assistant at Fur Family Animal Hospital.

Katelyn M. Harbert, Lincoln, Nebraska, is the Gelbvien Media Productions coordinator at the American Gelbvien Association.

Zachary T. Newman, Houston, Texas, is an electrical EIT I at DBR Consulting Engineers Inc. Thomas J. Smith, Prairie Village, Kansas, is a risk management associate with StoneXGroup Inc. FACULTY/STAFF Michel D. Ransom, Manhattan, Kansas, received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the K-State Eta Chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta. He is a professor and interim department head in the K-State Department of Agronomy.

Gene Taylor, Manhattan, Kansas, was named to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. He is the director of athletics at K-State.

olathe.k-state.edu

Helping Wildcats protect life’s biggest moments.

Proud sponsor of the K-State Alumni Association for over 17 years.

Call 1-800-922-1245 today or visit www.TheAIP.com/K-State Auto • Home • Life • Health • Long-Term Care • ID Theft • Dental • Vision • Travel

1P9

K - S TAT E R

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IN MEMORIAM

W

e honor the lives of these Kansas State University graduates, former students, faculty, staff and friends, as we mourn their passing and recognize their contributions to K-State and their communities.

If you’d like to share an obituary announcement with us, email us at alumni@kstate.com or mail your information to Alumni Records, 100 Alumni Center, 1720 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506-1001.

To make a memorial gift, please contact the KSU Foundation at 833-448-3578 or foundation@ksufoundation.org.

COLLEGE KEY: AG - Agriculture AI - School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies APD - Architecture, Planning and Design AS - Arts and Sciences BA - Business Administration ED - Education EN - Carl R. Ice College of Engineering HHS - Health and Human Sciences TC - Technology and Aviation VM - Veterinary Medicine

43

Edward G. Buss, Ph.D. ’43 (AG), State College, Pennsylvania, July 10, 2021.

Lily G. Johnson ’43 (HHS), Hays, Kansas, June 15, 2021.

44 46

Dr. Russell W. Hardin ’46 (VM), Lebanon, Indiana, Aug. 4, 2021.

Claudine Payer Fitzgerald ’46 (HHS), Westminster, Maryland, July 5, 2021.

Helen I. Rein Lockyer ’46 (BA), Roseburg, Oregon, July 16, 2021.

47 48

Ruth A. Wilson Yeager ’47 (AS), Boulder, Colorado, Feb. 20, 2021.

Nancy C. Bohnenkamp Winter ’48 (AS), Manhattan, Kansas, May 10, 2021.

Dr. Wayne R. Cowell ’48, ’50 (AS), Lombard, Illinois, Feb. 24, 2021.

Estyl M. Olsen Bowser ’48 (HHS), Leawood, Kansas, Dec. 17, 2020.

Kenneth I. Sinclair ’48 (AS), Middlebourne, West Virginia, Nov. 6, 2020.

Lois E. Sturtevant Johnson ’48 (HHS), Salina, Kansas, July 4, 2021.

49

William H. Cohrs Jr. ’49 (AS), Lexington, Missouri, June 26, 2021.

Victor G. Geihsler ’49 (EN), Bensenville, Illinois, Sept. 26, 2020.

Allan F. Keeth ’49 (EN), Lake Mary, Florida, June 30, 2021.

Edward J. Lidinsky ’49 (EN), Plant City, Florida, Aug. 4, 2020.

David C. “Dave” Mattson ’49 (EN), Lenexa, Kansas, June 19, 2021.

Paul J. Noynaert ’49 (EN), Bryan, Texas, May 21, 2021.

Dean L. Schowengerdt ’49, ’51 (AG), Coldwater, Kansas, July 21, 2020.

Donald L. Stevens ’49 (APD), Lenexa, Kansas, April 26, 2021.

John L. Zimmerman ’49 (EN), Salina, Kansas, June 25, 2021.

50

68 WINTER 2021 68 WINTER 2017

Robert S. “Bob” Ekblad ’44 (EN, APD), ’47 (APD), Dallas, Texas, June 8, 2021.

Joan M. Griffith Martin ’50 (HHS), Wichita, Kansas, April 17, 2021.

Robert L. Hemphill ’50 (EN), Cedar Park, Texas, June 1, 2021.

Dwaine O. Nault ’50 (AG), Indianapolis, Indiana, April 17, 2021.

Thomas D. “Tom” Overton Jr. ’50 (BA), Ponca City, Oklahoma, Nov. 1, 2020.

51

Dr. Francis M. “Max” Beam ’51 (VM), Washington, Kansas, April 16, 2021.

Raymond K. Bower, Ph.D. ’51, ’54 (AS), Montrose, Colorado, May 12, 2021.

Leslie J. “Les” Doty ’51 (EN), Wichita, Kansas, July 25, 2021.

Earl S. “Sid” Hanson ’51 (EN), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 25, 2021.

Lois E. Jones Baker ’51 (AS), White Salmon, Washington, July 9, 2021.

William E. “Bill” Keller ’51 (AG), ’59 (AS), Houston, Texas, July 12, 2021.

Fred B. Warren ’51 (AG), Springfield, Virginia, June 7, 2021.

Richard L. Worley ’51 (AG), Osborne, Kansas, July 20, 2021.

52 53

David A. Houser ’52 (APD), Topeka, Kansas, June 6, 2021.

Harriett J. “Jean” Bilson McCarley ’53 (HHS), San Diego, California, Nov. 28, 2020.

Donald D. Carr ’53, ’58 (AS), Zionsville, Indiana, June 20, 2021.

William J. “Bill” Fetter ’53 (AG), North Mankato, Minnesota, May 18, 2021.

Milan L. Henne ’53 (AG), Gypsum, Kansas, June 27, 2021.

Dr. Glen E. Hurley ’53 (AS, VM), Courtland, Minnesota, June 20, 2021.

Leon B. Paine ’53 (AS), Paola, Kansas, May 19, 2021.

Jerome C. “Jerry” Schnittker ’53 (BA), Great Bend, Kansas, June 29, 2021.

Betty Scott Ashlock ’53 (HHS), Fairview, North Carolina, Dec. 9, 2020.

Russell H. “Hugh” Warren ’53 (AG), Greeley, Colorado, June 22, 2021.

Jeannine Wedell Shadwick ’53 (AS), Greeley, Colorado, Aug. 8, 2021. Former Alumni Association board member.

IN MEMORIAM

54

Janice C. Alcorn Dunwell, Ph.D. ’54 (HHS), Lawrence, Kansas, April 28, 2021.

Bonnie L. Allen Barr ’54 (AS), Spring Valley, California, May 11, 2021.

Col. (Ret. U.S. Air Force) Claude E. “Gene” Armstead ’54 (AG), Fairfax, Virginia, April 27, 2021.

Dr. Lawrence L. Evans ’54 (AS), Kansas City, Missouri, April 3, 2021.

Doris P. “Pauline” Holmes Draut ’54 (ED), Wichita, Kansas, June 3, 2021.

E. Dolores Hurtig Gowdy ’54 (HHS), Lansing, Kansas, July 8, 2021.

Elden W. Martin, Ph.D. ’54, ’59 (AS), Bowling Green, Ohio, July 10, 2021.

William C. Motes, Ph.D. ’54, ’58 (AG), Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 10, 2021.

James R. Nuttle ’54 (AG), El Dorado, Kansas, June 30, 2021.

Dr. John J. Swanson Jr. ’54 (AS, VM), Kansas City, Kansas, May 16, 2021.

Steve S. Szabo, Ph.D. ’54 (AG), Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 2, 2021.

Mary E. Yoder Howell ’54 (AS), McPherson, Kansas, July 27, 2021.

55

Dr. Winfred A. Andrews ’55 (AS, VM), Basehor, Kansas, Jan. 10, 2021.

Donald L. “Don” Cordes ’55 (BA), Wichita, Kansas, May 29, 2021.

Attilio Guarnieri ’55 (BA), Marietta, Georgia, April 27, 2021.

Mariellen J. Jones Appleby ’55 (HHS), Winfield, Kansas, July 6, 2021. Former Alumni Association board member.

David E. Ohse ’55 (BA), West Plains, Missouri, May

12, 2021.

John R. Piatt ’55 (EN), Corpus Christi, Texas, May 18, 2021.

David L. Schneider ’55 (AS), Wakeeney, Kansas, July 1, 2021.

John R. Stack ’55 (APD, EN), Leawood, Kansas, July 12, 2021.

56

George W. Atkeson ’56 (AG), Indianapolis, Indiana, Dec. 9, 2020.

Earl W. Creel ’56 (EN), Wichita, Kansas, June 1, 2021.

James F. Dotson ’56 (BA), Tucson, Arizona, Aug. 21, 2020.

Stanley L. “Stan” Larson ’56 (AG), ’73 (ED), Lawrence, Kansas, May 2, 2021.

Maj. Gen. (Ret. U.S. Air Force) Harvey J. McCarter ’56 (EN), Fairview, Texas, July 14, 2021.

Lawrence L. Nelson ’56 (EN), Denver, Colorado, May 21, 2021.

Lorna G. Plummer Brammell ’56 (BA), Vail, Missouri, June 5, 2021.

Curtis N. “Curt” Shipley ’56 (AS), El Dorado, Kansas, June 30, 2021.

Marvalie A. Tibbs Johnson ’56 (ED), Silver Lake, Kansas, June 9, 2021.

Arnold G. VonSoosten ’56 (EN), Girard, Kansas, July 19, 2021.

57

William A. “Bill” Crawford ’57 (AS), Haverford, Pennsylvania, June 30, 2020.

Danny “Dan” Porter ’57 (EN), St. Louis, Missouri, Feb. 7, 2021.

Norman L. Raberding ’57 (APD, EN), Verona, Wisconsin, July 23, 2021.

Georganna Small Ewing ’57 (HHS), Montgomery, Texas, March 12, 2021.

Glada M. Thompson Isaacson ’57 (HHS), Scandia, Kansas, Aug. 5, 2021.

Robert W. Watkins ’57 (EN), Las Cruces, New Mexico, June 26, 2021.

Paul M. Willis ’57 (AS), Salina, Kansas, July 11, 2021.

58

Albert W. Bahr ’58 (EN), Chesterfield, Missouri, April 21, 2020.

William J. “Bill” Barenberg ’58 (EN), Overland Park, Kansas, May 7, 2021.

Col. (Ret. U.S. Air Force) Gilmore M. “Gil” Dahl ’58, ’59 (AG), Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, June 2, 2021.

Dr. Delvin D. Duntz ’58 (VM, AS), Wichita, Kansas, June 12, 2021.

John C. Floyd ’58 (AG), Sedan, Kansas, May 15, 2021.

Frank E. Green ’58 (EN), Overland Park, Kansas, Sept. 20, 2020.

Ralph B. Handlin ’58 (EN), Webb City, Missouri, April 27, 2021.

David H. Huebner, Ph.D. ’58, ’64 (AS), Fort Worth, Texas, May 12, 2021.

Neldon L. “Ned” Jarvis, Ph.D. ’58 (AG), Clermont, Florida, April 18, 2021.

Darlene Larkin Slate ’58 (HHS), Montgomery, Alabama, June 12, 2021.

Gerald D. “Gerry” Mase ’58 (EN), Houston, Texas, July 5, 2021.

Frances M. “Fran” Meegan Walsh ’58 (AS), Manhattan, Kansas, June 19, 2021.

James P. “Phil” Mitchell ’58 (BA), Kansas City, Missouri, June 28, 2021.

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IN MEMORIAM Ellis D. Rainsberger Sr. ’58 (AS), Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 17, 2021.

Clarence E. Schmidt ’58 (AG), Caldwell, Kansas, July 19, 2021.

John J. Shoal ’58 (AS), Columbia Falls, Montana, May 16, 2021.

Charles M. Stover ’58 (BA), Salina, Kansas, June 15, 2020.

59

Beverley M. “Bev” Bell Ross ’59 (ED), Ames, Iowa, July 6, 2021.

Larry M. Boone, Ph.D. ’59, ’60 (AG), Tucson, Arizona, July 8, 2021.

James A. “Jim” Brown ’59 (AG), Clay Center, Kansas, July 26, 2021.

Betsy Burnham Young ’59 (ED), Manhattan, Kansas, June 23, 2021.

Esther L. Dahl ’59 (AS), Hillsboro, Oregon, June 25, 2021.

Barbara C. Gilliland Lasater ’59 (HHS), Independence, Kansas, May 18, 2021.

Gerald L. Greene, Ph.D. ’59, ’61 (AG), North Newton, Kansas, May 12, 2021.

Clarence D. Guldner ’59 (AG), Clay Center, Kansas, June 11, 2021.

Donald G. “Don” Morris ’59 (BA), Cameron Park, California, May 10, 2021.

Dr. Bradley P. “Brad” Neer ’57 (AS), ’59 (VM), Manhattan, Kansas, Sept. 1, 2020.

Myron G. Parry ’59 (EN), Rolla, Missouri, May 6, 2021.

Donald L. Stuteville, Ph.D. ’59, ’61 (AG), Manhattan, Kansas, June 9, 2021.

70

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60

Bonnie Bryan Reetz ’60 (HHS), Hiawatha, Kansas, May 2, 2021.

Dr. David M. Carlson ’60 (AS, VM), Greenfield, Illinois, June 8, 2021.

Charles W. “Walter” Couch ’60 (AG), Ford, Kansas, July 22, 2021.

Alan E. Crow ’60 (BA), Surprise, Arizona, April 11, 2021.

Curtis L. “Curt” Eicher ’60 (AG), Colby, Kansas, June 5, 2021.

Gary G. Goetsch ’60 (EN), Orlando, Florida, April 4, 2021.

Robert L. Harris, Ph.D. ’60 (AG), College Station, Texas, May 15, 2021.

Lester F. “Les” Luehring ’60 (EN), Rio Rancho, New Mexico, May 9, 2021.

Claude D. Roswurm ’60 (AG), Washington, Oklahoma, July 4, 2021.

Marla Simmons Nanninga ’60 (HHS), Gaithersburg, Maryland, May 2, 2021.

Harold L. Swearingen ’60 (EN), Independence, Kansas, June 12, 2021.

Robert R. Watkins ’60 (BA), Lubbock, Texas, May 9, 2021.

61

Roberta “Bo” Hostinsky Wright ’61 (HHS), Lynchburg, Virginia, July 19, 2021.

Jay D. King ’61 (EN), Strongsville, Ohio, April 22, 2021.

Stephen M. Poort, Ph.D. ’61 (ED), Germantown, Tennessee, July 14, 2021.

Jonanne Powell Rose ’61 (HHS), Kansas City, Kansas, Jan. 2, 2021.

Max E. Turner ’61 (AG), ’65 (ED), Burlington,

Kansas, June 24, 2021.

62

Dr. Oscar F. Clabaugh ’53, ’62 (AS), ’62 (VM), Oskaloosa, Kansas, July 10, 2021.

Norman L. Marston, Ph.D. ’62, ’66 (AG), Columbia, Missouri, July 12, 2021.

Gordon G. Mikesell ’62 (BA), Wichita, Kansas, June 13, 2021.

63

James A. Lindahl ’63 (AG), Tappahannock, Virginia, April 29, 2021.

C. Wayne Rush ’63 (AS), Rome, Georgia, May 24, 2021.

Gerald L. “Jerry” Schamahorn ’63 (AS), San Marcos, California, Jan. 2, 2021.

C. Vernon Thorwald ’63 (EN), Aurora, Colorado, May 23, 2021.

64 65

Linda E. Fletcher Goodwin ’64 (HHS), St. Charles, Illinois, Aug. 5, 2020.

Larry L. Chase ’65 (AS), Stockton, California, May 13, 2020.

Karen D. “Diane” Curl Glaser ’65 (ED), Peabody, Kansas, July 16, 2021.

Douglas E. Dempsey ’65 (EN), Bellvue, Colorado, June 24, 2021.

Karen A. Dickson Nielsen ’65 (HHS), Fargo, North Dakota, June 6, 2021.

Carolyn H. Hamlin Koftan ’65, ’81 (ED), St. Joseph, Missouri, July 25, 2021.

Thomas D. Jacob ’65, ’67 (APD), Wichita, Kansas, July 18, 2021.

Willis I. Peterson ’65 (AG), Marion, Kansas, July

IN MEMORIAM

K - S TAT E R

71

IN MEMORIAM CHILDREN AT PLAY

Thomas G. Bunting, Ph.D. ’67 (AS), Olive Branch, Mississippi, May 8, 2021.

Dr. William L. “Lonnie” Dillon ’67 (AS), Parsons, Kansas, July 23, 2021.

Dr. Jack S. Dunham ’65 (AS), ’67 (VM), Bonner Springs, Kansas, June 25, 2020.

Charles D. Emel ’67 (BA), Hendersonville, North Carolina, April 23, 2021.

George R. “Ron” Harper ’67 (AS), Cascade, Idaho, June 7, 2021.

John A. Neal Jr. ’67 (EN), Seminole, Florida, May 19, 2021.

Beverly A. “Bev” Slattery Hartford, Ph.D. ’67 (AS), Bloomington, Indiana, June 13, 2021.

68

Lydia V. Aseneta ’68 (AS), Downey, California, Jan. 24, 2021.

James N. “Jim” Briggs ’68 (AS), Ellensburg, Washington, June 16, 2021.

Johnny A. Crawshaw ’68 (AG), Clay Center, Kansas, May 9, 2021.

Jane E. Dannefer Zacharias ’68, ’74 (AS), Clay Center, Kansas, May 2, 2021.

Marsha L. Stevens Stout ’68 (AS), Bend, Oregon, May 12, 2021.

Sandra D. “Sandy” Tollefson Sleichter ’68 (HHS), Abilene, Kansas, July 23, 2021.

In this 1961 Royal Purple photo, family and child development majors observe the play habits of preschool children in a laboratory located at Justin Hall.

8, 2021.

John W. Riggs ’65 (APD), Lindsborg, Kansas, July 7, 2021.

James D. “Doug” Weathers ’65 (BA), Smyrna, Tennessee, June 12, 2021.

John M. “Monty” Williamson ’65 (BA), Manhattan, Kansas, May 6, 2021.

66

Dr. Donald L. Harris ’64 (AS), ’66 (VM), Neillsville, Wisconsin, Nov. 28, 2020.

Homer L. Higdon ’66 (AG), Rockport, Texas, April 29, 2021.

Bethold J. “B J” Hirt, Ph.D. ’66, ’69 (AS), Lincoln, Nebraska, May 21, 2021.

Sue E. Meyer Suppiger ’66 (ED), Redding, Califor-

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nia, Nov. 5, 2020.

Jack E. Moore ’66 (EN), Corona, California, June 11, 2021.

Charles A. “Charley” Smith, Ph.D. ’66 (AS), Fountain Valley, California, Feb. 10, 2021.

Dr. Herschel A. Stacey ’52 (AG), ’66 (VM), North Platte, Nebraska, May 13, 2021.

Joseph E. Suppiger, Ph.D. ’66 (AS), Redding, California, June 12, 2021.

67

Robert D. “Bob” Ames ’67 (AG), Chanute, Kansas, July 18, 2021.

Hamumantha R. Bapu ’67 (EN), Chicago, Illinois, July 2, 2021.

69

Lucille E. “Lucy” Dick Harper ’69 (ED), Goodyear, Arizona, May 29, 2021.

William R. “Bill” Glace ’69 (AG), Sabetha, Kansas, Aug. 4, 2021.

Lynne M. Larsen ’69 (AS), Aurora, Colorado, April 14, 2021.

Albert “Earl” Polk ’69 (AG), Burrton, Kansas, July 7, 2021.

Craig S. Rowlen ’69 (BA), Arvada, Colorado, April 15, 2021.

Jerry L. Unzicker ’69 (EN), Gilbert, Arizona, May 23, 2021.

Russell T. Winsor ’69 (AG), Grantville, Kansas, June 18, 2021.

70

Robert E. “Bob” Black ’70 (AS, EN), Scammon, Kansas, June 13, 2021.

Wanda B. Devin McRae ’70 (ED), Junction City, Kansas, May 19, 2021.

Karolynn A. Fisher ’70 (AS), Lawrence, Kansas, Jan. 24, 2021.

IN MEMORIAM Robert E. “Bob” Gartner ’70 (AS), Lohman, Missouri, July 23, 2021.

Judy D. Kirk Gordon ’70 (ED), The Colony, Texas, June 14, 2021.

Sharon L. Kootz Vance ’70 (HHS), Ellsworth, Kansas, April 30, 2021.

Dennis D. McWilliams ’70 (AG), Salina, Kansas, July 3, 2021.

Martha J. Reck ’70 (HHS), Topeka, Kansas, June 24, 2021.

Olive W. Shoup Hooper ’70 (HHS), Manhattan, Kansas, May 2, 2021.

Michael R. “Mike” Swanson ’70 (AG), ’78 (BA), Carmel, Indiana, June 10, 2021.

Joan E. Walters Teply ’70 (AS), Lenexa, Kansas, April 16, 2021.

71

D. Rick Cornwell ’72 (AG), St. John, Kansas, May 17, 2021.

Dr. Lannie L. Hanel ’69 (AS), ’71 (VM), Courtland, Kansas, June 24, 2021.

John R. Heritage ’71 (AS), Manhattan, Kansas, July 20, 2021.

Jane L. Miller Schaaf ’71 (HHS), Vancouver, Washington, June 19, 2021.

Catherine H. “Kitty” Nagle Tippery ’71 (AS), Aurora, Colorado, July 10, 2021.

Dr. Rodney J. “Rod” Schieffer ’69 (AS), ’71 (VM), Leawood, Kansas, May 29, 2021.

Verna M. Sullivan Marler ’71, ’77 (HHS), Scottsdale, Arizona, March 1, 2021.

Larry A. Towns ’71 (AG), Colby, Kansas, July 5, 2021.

72

Lynn S. Bates, Ph.D. ’72 (AG), Manhattan, Kansas, May 6, 2021.

C. Mack Bolyard ’72 (AG), Omaha, Nebraska, May 28, 2021.

Robert L. Duane ’72 (BA), ’75 (APD), Naples, Florida, May 2, 2021.

Cynthia “Cindy” George Simmons ’72, ’75 (HHS), San Antonio, Texas, June 21, 2021.

Warren R. Janke ’72 (EN, APD), Los Lunas, New Mexico, June 25, 2021.

R. Kent Polfer ’72 (AS), ’72, ’73 (BA), Overland Park, Kansas, May 19, 2021.

Robert E. “Bob” Watson ’72 (AG), Formoso, Kansas, May 3, 2021.

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Patricia J. Evanhoe Stephenson ’73 (HHS), Topeka, Kansas, May 30, 2021.

Paula McVay Quinley ’73 (ED), Topeka, Kansas, July 13, 2021.

Robert L. “Bob” Steimel ’73 (BA), Concordia, Kansas, April 23, 2021.

Danny M. “Dan” Thibault ’73 (HHS), Kent, Washington, June 20, 2021.

74

Larry L. Cable ’74 (BA), Sedalia, Colorado, June 5, 2021.

Mary F. Kelly Strausbaugh ’74 (HHS, AS), Bucyrus, Kansas, April 18, 2021.

W. Richard Marteney ’74 (AG), Riley, Kansas, May 19, 2021.

Jacob A. Weber ’74 (AG), Columbus, Kansas, June 18, 2021.

75

Birdex Copeland Jr., Ph.D. ’75 (ED), Grambling, Louisiana, June 2, 2020.

Martha A. Fordham Hofmann ’75 (ED), McPherson, Kansas, July 26, 2021.

D. LeAnn House, Ph.D. ’75 (AS), Duluth, Minnesota, June 11, 2021.

Radha P. Krishnan, Ph.D. ’75 (EN), Oak Ridge, Tennessee, May 28, 2020.

Michael D. “Mick” Lynch ’75 (BA), Wichita, Kansas, June 5, 2021.

Sue A. Masters Peckham ’75 (ED), Leavenworth, Kansas, July 27, 2021.

Dorothy K. McGowen Carmichael ’75 (ED), Salina, Kansas, May 10, 2021.

Marion K. Roberts, Ph.D. ’75 (AS), Lawrence, Kansas, July 17, 2021.

76

Mark A. Endecott ’76 (APD), Lee’s Summit, Missouri, June 10, 2021.

David F. Osborne ’76 (EN), Topeka, Kansas, July 15, 2021.

Joan Westmorland Cloutier ’76 (AS), Shawnee, Kansas, June 21, 2021.

77

Qumare A. “Mikki” Alexander Morehead, Ph.D. ’77 (ED), Pine Bluff, Arkansas, June 13,

2021.

James R. “Rick” Boatright Jr. ’77 (ED), Topeka, Kansas, July 22, 2021.

Bradley E. Clark ’77 (AS), Olathe, Kansas, July 14, 2021.

Betty J. Delfs Bowling ’77 (ED), Topeka, Kansas, July 3, 2021.

Roxanne M. Jacobs Dowling ’77 (AG), Dodge City, Kansas, June 17, 2021.

Cynthia G. “Cindy” Olson Welsh ’77 (HHS), Torrance, California, July 17, 2021.

Randy J. O’Neal ’77 (AS), Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Feb. 10, 2021.

David L. Stucker ’77, ’80 (EN), Chapin, South Carolina, July 8, 2021.

78

Gay V. Crawford ’78 (BA, AS), Topeka, Kansas, May 16, 2021.

Timothy C. “Tim” Klahr ’78 (ED), Grandview, Missouri, June 23, 2021.

Karla K. Phares Eilert ’78 (HHS), Benton, Kansas, June 28, 2021.

Jay D. Siebert, Ph.D. ’78 (AG), Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, June 3, 2021.

79

Peter C. Buck ’79 (APD), Midland, Texas, June 3, 2021.

Joanne M. Egelhoff Nielsen ’79 (AG), Kansas City, Missouri, May 22, 2021.

Dennis W. Garr ’79 (AG), Springdale, Arkansas, July 1, 2021.

Sylvia R. Ludwig ’79 (AS), Beloit, Kansas, June 13, 2021.

80

Dr. Gary L. Baehler ’80 (AG, VM), Hesston, Kansas, May 23, 2021.

Phyllis Guthrie Tiffany, Ph.D. ’80 (HHS), Lawrence, Kansas, April 26, 2021.

Cheryl L. Hart ’80 (BA), Terre Haute, Indiana, May 27, 2021.

Susan J. Kenny, Ph.D. ’80 (AS), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, July 2, 2021.

Norma J. McKnight Roberts ’80, ’83 (HHS), Coffeyville, Kansas, June 1, 2021.

Cheryl D. Stimach ’80 (HHS), Kansas City, Kansas, June 29, 2021.

Monica J. Sullivan ’80 (ED), Overland Park, Kansas, March 23, 2021.

Myrna M. Wegner, Ph.D. ’80 (ED), Topeka, Kansas, June 19, 2021.

81

Joseph M. “Marty” Moore ’81 (AG), Cleveland, Ohio, June 28, 2021.

Bela Szabados ’81 (ED), Jefferson City, Missouri,

Keep K-State blooming When you support The Gardens, you’re fostering opportunities for education, research and enjoyment. Learn how you can help at k-state.edu/gardens/support or call 785-532-3271.

Visitors enjoy free parking, admission and the beauty of nature.

1500 Denison Ave. Manhattan, KS 66506

K - S TAT E R

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IN MEMORIAM STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

May 23, 2021.

Joan L. Turner Dodd ’81 (ED), Junction City, Kansas, July 21, 2021.

82

Kerry M. Gasper ’82 (BA), Topeka, Kansas, May 25, 2021.

Robert A. Marihugh ’82 (TC), Alamo, Texas, July 31, 2021.

Phyllis M. Oberle Johnson ’82 (ED), Midlothian, Virginia, Feb. 25, 2021.

86

Linda Bushman Hale ’86 (ED), Lacey, Washington, April 17, 2021.

Dr. George R. Collins ’86 (ED), Augusta, Georgia, May 3, 2021.

87

84

88 89

Phillip T. Bertels ’84 (BA), St. Marys, Kansas, June 12, 2021.

Dr. Bradley W. “Brad” Fenwick ’77 (AS), ’81, ’84 (VM), Manhattan, Kansas, July 22, 2021.

Scott D. Johnson ’84 (AG), St. Joseph, Missouri, June 5, 2021.

Randy J. Rohleder ’84 (AG), Gorham, Kansas, June 3, 2021.

Masoud Sabounchi ’84 (EN), Littleton, Colorado, July 11, 2021.

WINTER 2021

William J. “Bill” Coons, Ph.D. ’85, ’92 (AS), Victoria, Texas, April 8, 2021.

Komalam Krishnan Jairaj, Ph.D. ’85 (HHS), Austin, Texas, May 3, 2021.

Bernard L. “Bernie” White ’85 (ED), Belleville, Kansas, May 28, 2021.

83

Todd C. Bird ’83 (EN, AS), Emporia, Kansas, July 13, 2021.

Jean C. Cathcart ’83 (EN), Charlotte, North Carolina, May 11, 2021.

Steven G. Lesslie ’83 (AS), Topeka, Kansas, June 11, 2021.

Reginald C. “Reg” Wescott Jr. ’83 (AG), Auburn, Kansas, July 20, 2021.

Thomas S. White, Ph.D. ’83 (AS), El Dorado, Kansas, July 21, 2021.

74

85

Stephen R. Clancy ’87 (EN), Shawnee, Missouri, March 5, 2021.

Beverly A. Clinton Fink ’87 (ED), Manhattan, Kansas, June 22, 2021.

Dr. Matthew C. Garver ’87 (AG), ’91 (VM), Albia, Iowa, June 20, 2021.

George T. Hill ’87 (AS, EN), Fontana, Kansas, June 29, 2021.

Gisele K. McMinimy ’87 (AG), Wichita, Kansas, June 4, 2021.

Arthur J. Rathbun Jr. ’88 (ED), Manhattan, Kansas, Aug. 1, 2021.

Robert A. Clasen ’89 (AS), Belton, Missouri, July 12, 2021.

Carl D. Sanders ’89 (ED), Russell, Kansas, June 13, 2021.

Tara S. Shideler Azwell, Ph.D. ’89 (ED), Osage City, Kansas, July 20, 2021.

Stephen D. Vasey ’89 (ED), Olsburg, Kansas, July 2, 2021.

IN MEMORIAM

90 92 94 95 96

Kevin J. O’Rourke ’90 (EN), Addison, Texas, June 8, 2021.

Edgar E. Wright ’92 (ED), Concordia, Kansas, May 17, 2021.

William N. Price ’94 (AS), Akron, Ohio, May 2, 2021.

Darryl W. Johnson ’95 (ED), Kansas City, Missouri, July 23, 2021.

Mark D. Brightbill ’96 (TC), Salina, Kansas, May 21, 2021.

John J. Green ’96 (EN), Concord, Tennessee, May 11, 2021.

Brady C. Stout ’96 (AG), Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, July 24, 2021.

98 02

David B. Droegemueller ’98 (EN), Owasso, Oklahoma, July 18, 2021.

Adam N. Denlinger ’02 (AS, BA), Olathe, Kansas, July 9, 2021.

Jessica R. Mink Nelson ’02 (ED), Great Bend, Kansas, May 19, 2021.

05 07

Summer A. Fort Bennett ’05 (AS), Junction City, Kansas, June 1, 2021.

Benjamin D. “Ben” Higgins ’07 (AS), West Hollywood, California, June 13, 2021.

Jonathan S. Thomforde ’07 (AG), Fort Myers, Florida, April 10, 2021.

09 12 13 14 15 18

R. Sue Hansen Salem, Ph.D. ’09 (ED), Topeka, Kansas, July 5, 2021.

Joshua P. Stock ’12 (TC), Wichita, Kansas, July 27, 2021.

Dr. Victoria M. “Tori” Beale ’13 (VM), Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Sept. 4, 2020.

William E. “Bill” Cashero ’14 (AS), Neodesha, Kansas, May 30, 2021.

Nicholas J. “Nick” Hibbert ’15 (TC), Cimarron, Kansas, May 17, 2021.

Diamond C. Brown ’18 (AG), Crookston, Nebraska, May 11, 2021.

FORMER STUDENTS

Mary A. Amis Kohfeld, Logan, Utah, April 29, 2021.

Constance “Connie” Armitage Robertson, Fort Collins, Colorado, June 26, 2021.

Lauradelle “Laura” Fearing Warne, Camdenton, Missouri, July 1, 2021.

Roland L. Glessner, Junction City, Kansas, July 16, 2021.

Thomas R. “Tom” Johnson, Minneapolis, Kansas, June 10, 2021.

Regina Kobuszewski, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Aug. 2, 2020.

Louise K. Kuhn Barrett, Denver, Colorado, July 20, 2021.

Patricia A. “Pat” Laney Keller, Littleton, Colorado, July 14, 2021.

Jack Lasater, Independence, Kansas, Oct. 11, 2020.

Rodney L. Lesh, Pratt, Kansas, June 13, 2021.

Burnalee Loomis Scheuerman, Topeka, Kansas, July 14, 2021.

Howard N. Marcus, Wichita, Kansas, June 12, 2021.

George S. McCandless, Wichita, Kansas, July 2, 2021.

Marylee Meals Phinney, Clifton, Texas, Dec. 15, 2020.

David Nely, Salina, Kansas, April 24, 2021.

Vincent J. Pieschl Jr., Minneapolis, Kansas, Oct. 6, 2020.

Patricia “Pat” Pugh Wurster, Parkville, Missouri, June 15, 2021.

Frances Ramsay Holcombe, Manhattan, Kansas, June 21, 2021.

Ruth Rhea Wells, Denver, Colorado, April 27, 2021.

Jean Risser Newcomb, Cedar Hill, Texas, Nov. 29, 2020.

James L. “Jim” Scott, Granbury, Texas, June 15, 2021.

Myrth J. Shoemaker Stephens, Palm Coast, Florida, Dec. 1, 2020.

Harlan L. Shogren, Lindsborg, Kansas, Nov. 18, 2020.

Reginald L. “Reggie” Singletary Sr., Tampa, Kansas, April 10, 2021.

Shirley A. Stanbery Craig, Amarillo, Texas, March 10, 2021.

Winifred “Wini” Steiner Carter, Little Rock, Arkansas, May 21, 2021.

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IN MEMORIAM Sharon Talbott Goss, Prairie Village, Kansas, May 28, 2021.

FACULTY/STAFF Kelvin T. “Tod” Kerstetter, Ph.D., Manhattan, Kansas, July 12, 2021.

Gerald R. Reeck, Ph.D., Manhattan, Kansas, July 1, 2021.

Lynn Shelton, Winnetka, California, July 4, 2021.

Seung Y. So, Manhattan, Kansas, July 7, 2021.

Robert J. “Bob” Tackett, Wamego, Kansas, May 23, 2021.

Warren N. White Jr., Ph.D., Manhattan, Kansas, May 24, 2021.

FRIENDS Sharon J. Amos, Council Grove, Kansas, Jan. 3, 2021.

Nancy “Sue” Anderson, Lawrence, Kansas, Feb. 20, 2021.

Jean Andres, Kansas City, Missouri, June 24, 2020.

Angela M. Anstaett, Manhattan, Kansas, Aug. 3, 2021.

Emma D. Apps, Topeka, Kansas, Feb. 11, 2021.

David J. Atkinson, Salina, Kansas, Jan. 6, 2021.

Virginia C. Barlow, Wichita, Kansas, Jan. 1, 2021.

Pamalyn S. “Pam” Barnes, Caney, Kansas, June 8, 2021.

Mary A. Bartholomew, Bisbee, Arizona, Feb. 24, 2021.

Dennis D. Bejot, Seward, Nebraska, May 8, 2021.

Jack Bernritter, Havensville, Kansas, Feb. 20, 2021.

Kenneth D. “Jack” Blackwood, Clay Center, Kansas, June 19, 2021.

Kay M. Blattner, Manhattan, Kansas, June 21, 2021.

Mary Beth Bonnell, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Dec. 6, 2020.

Jose Borjon, Topeka, Kansas, Feb. 6, 2021.

Randall M. “Mike” Bradbury, Manhattan, Kansas, May 19, 2021.

Dr. Fay Bradley, Independence, Kansas, Jan. 14, 2021.

Bonnie M. Bradney McNeil, Morrison, Colorado, May 12, 2021.

Charles W. “C W” Brazeal, Williamsburg, Kansas, Sept. 5, 2020.

Cole D. Broockerd, Spring Hill, Kansas, Dec. 2, 2020.

Mariam L. Buseman, Olathe, Kansas, Oct. 11, 2020.

Gordon L. Bute, Sherburn, Minnesota, June 16, 2021.

Dr. Jerome M. Carrico, Beloit, Kansas, March 13, 2021.

Robert W. “Bob” Carter, Phoenix, Arizona, May 21, 2021.

Jean K. Charles, Republic, Kansas, March 8, 2021.

Katherine E. Clark, Holton, Kansas, Oct. 5, 2020.

Peggy D. Colby, St. Augustine, Florida, May 29, 2020.

Robert R. Cook, Manhattan, Kansas, Oct. 3, 2020.

Billie M. Coover, Topeka, Kansas, July 24, 2021.

Richard S. Cross, Russell, Kansas, April 10, 2021.

Judy M. Cutright, Topeka, Kansas, June 7, 2021.

Eldon V. Danenhauer, Topeka, Kansas, June 23, 2021.

Donald E. “Don” Douglas, Tecumseh, Kansas, March 12, 2021.

Mary A. Douthett Robinson, Wichita, Kansas, May 27, 2020.

Laura L. “Laurie” Ellis Wiggins, Wyoming, Michigan, June 20, 2020.

Clyde R. Ferguson, Ph.D., Manhattan, Kansas, July 15, 2021.

Mary Jane Fleenor, Topeka, Kansas, June 29, 2021.

Viola M. “Vi” Fogerson, Manhattan, Kansas, Sept.

6, 2020.

Elaine M. Fooshee, Wichita, Kansas, May 31, 2021.

Kenneth F. Frost, Topeka, Kansas, June 16, 2021.

Rita Gilbreath, Salina, Kansas, Nov. 22, 2020.

Ernestine “Ernie” Gilliland, Boulder, Colorado, Aug. 3, 2020.

Kelly D. Givens, Edmond, Oklahoma, Sept. 21, 2020.

Wanda E. Hafner, Leonardville, Kansas, July 14, 2021.

Duane E. Hale, Manhattan, Kansas, July 23, 2021.

Norma J. Haller, Manhattan, Kansas, Nov. 27, 2020.

William P. “Bill” Hand, Newton, Kansas, June 28, 2021.

Elaine D. Harder, Junction City, Kansas, Feb. 11, 2021.

Theodore “Ted” Harder Jr., Salina, Kansas, March 5, 2021.

Lily C. Harkness, Manhattan, Kansas, Dec. 31, 2020.

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WINTER 2021

IN MEMORIAM Roger W. Hartsook, Emporia, Kansas, Oct. 25, 2020.

Stanley K. “Stan” Hartwich, Onaga, Kansas, Aug. 6, 2021.

Margaret Heflin Gentges, Arlington, Virginia, March 24, 2021.

Charles H. “Charlie” Heideman, Topeka, Kansas, Nov. 24, 2020.

Randal “Randy” Helus, Kanopolis, Kansas, May 29, 2021.

Jan C. Hendrix, Topeka, Kansas, Jan. 17, 2021.

Clifton L. “Clif” Hess, Topeka, Kansas, Nov. 20, 2020.

Marcia M. Hinrikus, Salina, Kansas, March 31, 2021.

Loren Holm, White City, Kansas, May 2, 2021.

Eleanor L. Hoskinson, Augusta, Kansas, July 21, 2021.

Yao L. Hsu, Topeka, Kansas, Sept. 7, 2020.

Lawrence P. “Larry” Huninghake, Salina, Kansas, July 2, 2021.

Raymond P. Innes, Olsburg, Kansas, Feb. 3, 2021.

Charles R. “Chuck” Jackson, Manhattan, Kansas, July 20, 2021.

Linda L. Jacobsen, Axtell, Nebraska, July 29, 2020.

Elizabeth T. Janousek, Ellsworth, Kansas, Oct. 13, 2020.

Marilyn K. Joerg, Randall, Kansas, April 28, 2021.

Maurice E. “Moe” Johnson, Austin, Texas, May 18, 2020.

Gial F. Kaegi, Wichita, Kansas, June 7, 2021.

Howard L. Kempke, Marquette, Kansas, April 23, 2021.

Elizabeth J. Kimbrough, Dublin, Texas, April 26, 2021.

Phyllis A. Kissick, Wichita, Kansas, July 31, 2020.

Allen A. Kleinbeck, Liberty, Missouri, Nov. 8, 2020.

James R. “Jim” Knight, Spring Hill, Kansas, May 8, 2020.

Kenneth E. “Kenny” Knight, Lyons, Kansas, May 30, 2021.

Judith “Judy” Kraft, Tulsa, Oklahoma, July 5, 2021.

Rita M. Krieg Dorgan, Bloomfield, Connecticut, May 20, 2020.

John Kudlacek, Topeka, Kansas, May 4, 2021.

Dr. Song-Ping Lee, Topeka, Kansas, Nov. 5, 2020.

Jack E. Ludwig, Salina, Kansas, May 11, 2021.

Lucy S. Macek, Sunrise Beach, Missouri, June 20, 2021.

Charles L. “Charlie” Mansfield, Clay Center, Kansas, Nov. 14, 2020.

Linda I. McDiffett, Lenexa, Kansas, June 8, 2021.

Michael S. “Mike” McGinley, Kismet, Kansas, June 2, 2021.

Janice McKinney, Salina, Kansas, Aug. 1, 2020.

Ruth A. McNish, Marysville, Kansas, Dec. 3, 2020.

Clifton E. “Cliff” Meloan, Manhattan, Kansas, June 10, 2021.

James M. “Jim” Milliken, St. Francis, Kansas, May 15, 2021.

Geraldine H. Mills, Chapman, Kansas, May 8, 2021.

Karolyn Moors, Galva, Kansas, Nov. 18, 2020.

R F “Bud” Morrison, Omaha, Nebraska, May 16, 2020.

Karl Nilsen, Mesa, Washington, Nov. 20, 2020.

CoNette L. Nofzinger Archer, Wichita, Kansas, July 20, 2021.

Robert M. “Bob” Ohlde, Linn, Kansas, May 23, 2021.

Clayton R. Olson, Junction City, Kansas, Oct. 12, 2020.

Rebecca M. Ott, Mulvane, Kansas, July 13, 2021.

Joan K. Percy, Manhattan, Kansas, July 7, 2021.

William H. “Bill” Peterson, Abilene, Kansas, June 12, 2020.

Salvador B. Quirarte, Topeka, Kansas, Nov. 27, 2020.

Shirley A. Raney, Ellsworth, Kansas, Feb. 1, 2021.

Shirley B. Raney, Yucaipa, California, April 1, 2021.

Joan “Pattie” Ransom, Lawrence, Kansas, Dec. 31, 2020.

Steven K. “Steve” Rasmusson, Lyndon, Kansas, Sept. 19, 2020.

Okheem Riley, Manhattan, Kansas, June 4, 2021.

Anna L. Roediger, Mayetta, Kansas, Sept. 4, 2020.

Phyllis J. Ross, Dodge City, Kansas, Oct. 20, 2020.

Norma J. Rossi, Wichita, Kansas, June 6, 2021.

Allan Rothlisberg, Junction City, Kansas, May 4, 2021.

Howard L. Roudybush, Wetmore, Kansas, Nov. 25, 2020.

Anthony F. “Tony” Schneweis, Manhattan, Kansas, June 30, 2021.

James J. “Jimmy” Sester, Wamego, Kansas, June 26, 2021.

Mervin M. “Mark” Sexton, Manhattan, Kansas, June 14, 2021.

Lewis Shepard, Ogden, Kansas, May 29, 2021.

Kenneth F. Sherraden, Chapman, Kansas, Dec. 17, 2020.

Shirley K. Shrole, Salina, Kansas, Feb. 23, 2021.

Margaret L. “Peggy” Siegrist, Council Grove, Kansas, March 5, 2021.

Wayne E. Smith, Delphos, Kansas, June 12, 2020.

Ginger Smithson Garwick, Manhattan, Kansas, Nov. 11, 2020.

Charles D. “Chuck” Sodergren, Topeka, Kansas, Feb. 15, 2021.

Nadine G. Spence, McPherson, Kansas, Nov. 20, 2020.

Marilyn J. Stauffer, Salina, Kansas, March 22, 2021.

Georgene G. Surber, Belleville, Kansas, May 10, 2021.

Doris M. Swartz, Manhattan, Kansas, July 2, 2021.

Sandra M. Swick, Salina, Kansas, March 7, 2021.

Carlene R. Taylor, Abilene, Kansas, Feb. 18, 2021.

Wesley E. “Wes” Teel Jr., Salina, Kansas, May 28, 2021.

Robert M. Thomas Jr., New York, New York, March 28, 2021.

Clarence E. Thompson, Abilene, Kansas, Nov. 27, 2020.

Glen E. Thrash, Andover, Kansas, Nov. 22, 2020.

Jon E. “Ric” Tribble, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 3, 2021.

Thomas E. “Tom” Turner, St. Marys, Kansas, Feb. 8, 2021.

Jo Ann Unrein, Russell, Kansas, Nov. 22, 2020.

Robert K. “Bob” Weary Jr., Evergreen, Colorado, July 16, 2021.

Bill Webber, Manhattan, Kansas, Feb. 15, 2021.

Bruce E. Weeks, Prairie Village, Kansas, Feb. 8, 2021.

Steven L. Weis, Salina, Kansas, Feb. 11, 2021.

Tamara A. “Tammy” Weller, Winfield, Kansas, Feb. 26, 2021.

Caleb T. White, Abilene, Kansas, Sept. 29, 2020.

Audrey A. Wichman Luckeroth, Lawrence, Kansas, May 21, 2021.

Myrial Wiebe, Burns, Kansas, Aug. 20, 2020.

Donald A. Wilson, Topeka, Kansas, May 14, 2021.

Richard A. “Dick” Woodall, Wakeeney, Kansas, April 3, 2021.

Donald “Don” Yoder, Garden Plain, Kansas, May 1, 2021.

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CLOSE-UP: OFFICE OF THE RESEARCH VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH

State of possibilities Helping Kansas prosper

BY ERIN STAUFFER PENNINGTON ’08, OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH

Kansas State University is embarking on a comprehensive plan to increase economic prosperity for people and businesses in the state of Kansas by leveraging its strengths in food and agriculture systems innovation; digital agriculture and advanced analytics; biosecurity and biodefense; and Extension and outreach.

“With appropriate external funding, by 2029 this plan will have created 3,000 jobs and $3 billion in direct investments in the state,” said David Rosowsky, vice president for research.

Read just a few examples of the university’s recent research that aims to both improve our lives and the state we call home.

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WINTER 2021

CLOSE-UP: OFFICE OF THE CLOSE-UP: VICE PRESIDENT OFFICE OF FOR RESEARCH RESEARCH Food and agriculture systems innovation USDA GRANT TO IMPROVE ESTIMATION OF EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

Vahid Rahmani ’14, assistant professor in the Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, has received a U.S. Department of Agriculture — Research Education and Economics grant to improve evapotranspiration and soil moisture information across the U.S. Rahmani is the K-State lead on the nearly $500,000 three-year project with Steven Quiring, professor and the lead at Ohio State University. The pair will partner in conducting research on “Leveraging Machine Learning to HighResolution Soil Moisture and Evapotranspiration Data to Support Farm-Scale Decision Making.”

This project addresses the critical need to enhance accuracy and utility of national evapotranspiration and soil moisture products by integrating new data sources and downscaling them to farm-scale.

“We will apply state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques using a wide range of observed and remote sensing information,” Rahmani said. “Our efforts will contribute to advancing algorithms used for estimating evapotranspiration and soil moisture with higher spatial and temporal resolution for the contiguous United States.”

The expected end result will be an operational cloud-based software system that will generate national-scale, daily gridded products using the latest available data.

Biosecurity and biodefense

NEW $3.7 MILLION NIH GRANT SUPPORTS COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH INTO COVID-19 TREATMENT

As the fight against COVID-19 continues, K-State has received a five-year, $3.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to research a new treatment method for the virus.

Kyeong-Ok “KC” Chang, a virologist in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is the principal investigator for the project, “Small Molecule Inhibitors Against 3C-Like Protease of SARS-CoV-2.” The project’s goal is to complete development of a drug for preclinical studies, ultimately leading to a COVID19-specific antiviral therapeutic treatment.

“There is currently an urgent and unmet need for the discovery and development of antiviral therapeutics for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19,” Chang said.

The group has been working on antiviral drug development against both human and animal coronaviruses for over a decade, with a focus on protease inhibitors.

Digital agriculture and advanced analytics

K-State 105: Extension and outreach

A K-State team of researchers in agricultural engineering has been recognized for an idea that will use robotic machines to collect data that can help farmers make better decisions when planting crops.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers awarded its annual Rain Bird Engineering Concept of the Year award to K-State associate professors Ajay Sharda and Dan Flippo ’94, who have led the project from development to filing a patent and integrating their idea into on-farm machinery.

“In farming, data is a most precious commodity,” said Sharda, noting that current methods to collect research data on the effectiveness of machines to plant seeds relies heavily on manpower.

The K-State researchers have proposed automating this process by developing a prototype for seed location and sensing, which they tested in field conditions. The system they are developing incorporates a color camera, laser line scanner and a global navigation satellite systems unit to collect real-time data.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration awarded K-State a grant to modernize and retool the university’s Technology Development Institute, or TDI, to better assist manufacturers struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The grant will be matched with $425,000 from TDI for a total project of $2.1 million.

The grant will be used to expand the institute’s ability to provide cuttingedge technologies needed to design, fabricate and launch new products. This equipment also will ensure that existing manufacturers have the ability to access equipment that may help them to reduce costs and become more efficient with the limited labor availability in today’s current manufacturing environment.

“We are extremely pleased that the Economic Development Administration has chosen to support our efforts to support the growth of manufacturers and entrepreneurs across the state of Kansas. We believe that this investment will pay dividends for years to come in helping to develop and launch new products and technologies which have a positive impact on the Kansas economy,” said Jeff Tucker ’87, TDI executive director.

RESEARCHERS CONTINUE SHARPENING IDEA TO CAPTURE DATA ON PLANTING FARM CROPS

UNIVERSITY RECEIVES CARES ACT FUNDS TO SUPPORT KANSAS MANUFACTURERS COPING WITH PANDEMIC

Learn more about K-State’s plan for economic prosperity at k-state.edu/economic-prosperity.

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Photo by David Mayes ’96, KSU Foundation

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LAST LOOK MCCAIN DEDICATION McCain Auditorium recently celebrated newly renovated and additional space to the structure. Renovations include new lobby, box office, meeting and performance spaces. Learn more at mccain.k-state.edu.

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K-S-U Photos

K-STATERS STRIKE THE K-S-U POSE AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD 1 ROME, ITALY Lynne Kiriakos Fruechting ’81, Grant Fruechting ’18, Terry Fruechting ’79 and Anna Winkler Fruechting ’17 2 THE SPORK ON K-STATE’S MANHATTAN CAMPUS Lina Sattarin, Kim Ralston ’07 and Camila Gonzalez 3 TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND Jason Strachman Miller ’11 (Stay Puft Ghost) and his sons Kai, 5, Alex, 3 (Ghostbusters) 4 CLAY CENTER, KANSAS Copper Phillips, 4, Bethaney Wallace Phillips ’10 and Colt Phillips, 2

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5 PIKES PEAK, COLORADO John Rogers ’17, Karen Rogers and Paul Rogers 6 MOUNT CONSTITUTION, ORCAS ISLAND, WASHINGTON Mya Jones, Roxanna Khatamian Jones ’96 and Dylan Jones

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7 CONEY ISLAND, NEW YORK DeAnn Becker Bennett ’93, Kaitlyn Bennett and Taylor Bennett

SHARE YOUR K-S-U PHOTO

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Email k-stater@k-state.com

• Photos must be high-resolution (300 dpi).

• Please include the names of those in the photo (from left) and each person’s class year(s) (if applicable). Also, tell us where the photo was taken.

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• Submission does not ensure publication.

• Photos depicting minors must include a note of parental consent in order to be published.

DRIVE WITH PRIDE! Ordering a K-State License Plate is easier than ever.

For more information, go to: K-STATE.COM/DRIVE Plates are available in Kansas, Maryland and Texas!

Motorcycle plates available in Kansas!

Support future K-Staters How do I get a plate?

Show your purple pride...

New tags can be purchased in your county treasurer’s office, where you will pay a one-time production charge of $45*, an annual tax-deductible donation of $50 that will go to the K-State Alumni Association, plus your annual tag registration fee and taxes.

and invest in the university’s future. The royalties paid on K-State License Plates have raised more than $5.5 million for student scholarships and recognition of achievements. We have more than 11,000 plates on the road.

* Subject to change

Sponsored by:

785-532-6260 |

K-STATE.COM/DRIVE K - S TAT E R

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K-State Alumni Association 100 Alumni Center 1720 Anderson Avenue Manhattan, KS 66506-1001

THANK YOU

ember for being a m

You help make the K-State Alumni Association

No. 1 in the Big 12

for the percentage of graduates who are members.

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