Summer 2014
TODAY
SAB
K-State Student Alumni Board alumni newsletter
By Jordan Pieschl, vice president of campus programming This spring marked Student Alumni Board’s second annual Distinguished Young Alumni program, which recognizes two K-State graduates who are younger than 35 and are using the scholarship, leadership and service experience they acquired at K-State to excel in their professions and contribute to their communities. Award recipients Molly Hamm ’10 and Matt Wolters ’03 arrived on campus Feb. 24 and spent three days interacting with students Despite having through organizational meetings, a packed informal classroom schedule, [the presentations and DYA recipients] a formal keynote. They visited classconsistently rooms and took demonstrated part in meetings relevant to their genuine care degrees, leaderand curiosity ship experiences in meeting and careers. Hamm, a 2010 students.” College of Educa— Hope Faflick, SAB member tion graduate and project coordinator for The DREAM Project in the Dominican Republic, spent much of her time on campus in the College of Education and School of Leadership Studies. Wolters, a 2003 College of Agriculture graduate and owner of SureFire Ag Systems, interacted with students in the College of Agriculture and School of Leadership Studies. SAB member Hope Faflick visited with the recipients throughout the week and
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David Mayes ‘96, K-State Alumni Association
SAB, K-State honor Distinguished Young Alumni
The recipients of the 2014 Distinguished Young Alumni awards, Molly Hamm ’10 (front row, left) and Matt Wolters ’03 (front row, right), are joined by members of K-State Alumni Association’s Student Alumni Board at the Feb. 25 award ceremony.
saw great value in those interactions. “Despite having a packed schedule, they consistently demonstrated genuine care and curiosity in meeting students,” Faflick said. “They even offered to be a resource to us as we begin looking for jobs and other professional opportunities.” On Feb. 25, K-State students and faculty gathered in Forum Hall in the K-State Student Union to listen as both recipients delivered keynote addresses related to how their K-State experiences have led to their successful careers. The keynotes were followed by individual question-andanswer periods.
“Meeting Molly and hearing her story was incredibly encouraging,” Faflick said. “Her passion for education, fondness for her time at K-State and eagerness to challenge students to become the best they can be made the time I got to spend with her one of my favorite K-State experiences.” The recipients also enjoyed breakfast at the President’s Residence as well as a dinner with family, mentors and members of SAB. Hamm and Wolters will be invited back to campus to the university convocation in August.
For more information on the Distinguished Young Alumni program or to nominate a graduate for the 2015 award, visit www.k-state.com/DYA. Nominations will be accepted online. [1]