TODAYK-State Student Alumni Board alumni newsletter SABSummer 2013

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Student Alumni Board honors young K-State graduatesBy Sam Kellerman, vice president of campus programming

In February, Student Alumni Board hosted the inaugural Distinguished Young Alumni Award (DYA) program.

Designed to recognize two Kansas State University alumni under the age of 30, the program was instituted as a way to connect some of the most recent and accomplished young graduates with current K-State students. After months of planning and preparation, SAB was thrilled to announce the award’s first recipients: 2013 honorees Nick Piper and Justine Sterling.

Both Piper and Sterling were invited to campus in late February to receive their awards and to meet with various student groups. Piper, a 2008 graduate, was unable to make it back from China for the awards presentation, but SAB had the privi-lege of hosting Sterling, a 2007 graduate, dur-ing her time in Manhat-tan, Kan.

The night before the presentation and awards ceremony, Sterling attended the K-State Proud basketball game in Bramlage Coliseum, where she received a warm welcome from students after being recognized as “Fan of the Game.”

The next morning, Sterling attended a breakfast with President Kirk Schulz at the President’s Residence, followed by meetings with student leaders, groups and classes across campus. She also met with numerous organizations she participated

in during her time on campus, including Ag Ambassadors, Blue Key Senior Honorary and Kansas FFA.

During her visit, Sterling also delivered a keynote presentation to about 200 stu-dents in Forum Hall. As she described her experiences as former White House intern and the current director of alumni rela-tions for the George W. Bush Presidential Center, she drew parallels between many of the challenges she faced in pursuing career ambitions and the growth students experience during their years at K-State. Sprinkled with anecdotes from her time spent with the Bush family and many other national and international dignitaries, Sterling’s speech was highly engaging and relatable.

Following the presentation, Sterling and her family attended a reception at the K-State Alumni Center, where Amy Button Renz, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association, presented her with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

Because of the overwhelmingly posi-tive response DYA has received, Steve Dandaneau, vice provost for undergradu-ate studies, has invited Piper and Sterling to campus to deliver convocation address-es in August. DYA has gained a strong foothold in its first year, and SAB mem-bers look forward to further developing the program over the next few years to establish it as a signature award offered by Student Alumni Board.

Justine Sterling (center), one of the two first recipients of the Distinguished Young Alumni Award,

stands with members of Student Alumni Board, which sponsors the DYA program.

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Nick PiperAlong with

Justine Sterling, Piper is a 2013 Distinguished Young Alumni

recipient.

For more information on the program or to nominate a graduate for the 2014 Distinguished Young Alumni award, visit www.k-state.com/DYA. Nominations will be available online beginning June 1.

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SAB helps K-State celebrate 150th anniversaryBy Annika Schneider, SAB secretary

Kansas State University’s 150th celebra-tion kicked off in February, and Student Alumni Board members have participated in many of the activities marking this milestone.

A grand exhibition in Ahearn Field House on Feb. 14 highlighted the univer-sity’s colleges, departments and several organizations. Guests were treated to performances by the K-State pep band and Symphony Orchestra, which per-formed a work commissioned for the event. K-State Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Pat Bosco, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and past K-State student body presidents addressed the crowd. Nate Spriggs, outgoing student body president and SAB member, spoke at the celebration as well as SAB alumnus and past Student Body President Dr. Kent Bradley.

On Feb. 15, the President’s Office hosted a gala in honor of K-State’s anni-versary. Grant Hill, also a member of SAB and outgoing student body vice president, spoke at the event. Several SAB members served as student hosts for the evening,

which was enjoyed by K-State alumni, fans and students.

K-State will continue to celebrate this milestone throughout the year, closing with

Homecoming week Oct. 20 to 26. To stay updated on all the Homecoming activities, visit the K-State Alumni Association’s web-site at www.k-state.com/homecoming.

Guests are treated to cupcakes and other treats at the grand exhibition in Ahearn Field House on

Feb. 14 celebrating K-State’s 150th anniversary.

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We want to keep you updated on everything happening with

the Student Alumni Board and K-State.Visit www.K-State.com/updateyourinfo

to provide us with your most up-to-date information.

Have you changed your email?Moved? Landed a new job?

CFor more about

Student Alumni Board,

visit www.k-state.com/SAB

Spring semester brings 14 new membersBy Tyler Johnson, vice president of membership

The K-State Alumni Association’s Student Alumni Board is happy to welcome its new-est 14 members.

Every year, SAB members begin their search for the students who will continue the legacy and tradition of the board. There were more than 100 applicants, but

these stellar students rose to the top.These K-State students have already

accomplished many great things outside SAB. There are orientation and enrollment leaders, Wildcat Warm-Up counselors, two members of K-State Singers, a state FFA president, an undergraduate Industrial Engineering Student of the Year and even

a skydiving fanatic. Each new member has a unique personality and talent that makes him or her the perfect addition to an al-ready incredible group of students.

SAB is looking forward to bringing this new class on board for another great year of recruiting future K-State students and connecting with alumni.

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new memBerS Of STuDenT Alumni BOArD

Kristen Svec, Overland Park, Kan., sophomore in chemical engineering, daughter of Bob and Cindy Svec Christa mcKittrick, Mission Hills, Kan., freshman in business administration, daughter of Rich and Bev McKittrick Ava Clark, Overland Park, Kan., freshman in industrial engineering, daughter of Patrick Clark and Cheryl Clark mackenzie mong, Littleton, Colo., sophomore in political science and philosophy/pre-law, daughter of Dan and Jeanine Mong emily Beneda, Wilson, Kan., freshman in food science, daughter of Ken and Marcie Beneda Katie Bolin, Overland Park, Kan., sophomore in kinesiology and pre-physical therapy, daughter of Andy and Michelle Bolin

Justin Smith, Overland Park, Kan., junior in advertising, son of Stephen and Cindy Smith magen witcher, Elkhart, Kan., sophomore in elementary education, daughter of Eric and Rena Witcher April lewis, Wichita, Kan., sophomore in public relations, daughter of Tom and Gwendalyn Lewis emily wheeler, Overland Park, Kan., freshman in marketing, daughter of Charlie and Karen Wheeler landon leiker, Marion, Kan., sophomore in communication studies, son of Lee and Diane Leiker Benjamin Brown, Appleton City, Mo., sophomore in agricultural economics, son of Don and Nancy Brown niklas Bergstrom, Topeka, Kan., junior in construction science and management, son of Steve and Jenny Bergstrom Chance Berndt, Herington, Kan., sophomore in marketing, son of Phil and Stacey Berndt

bottom row (from left): back row (from left):

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PreSiDenT’S gOODBYe

for Sophomores Only boasts most successful yearBy Heidi Hurtig, For Sophomores Only co-chair

This spring, the For Sophomores Only recruitment event had its most successful turnout with about 150 attendees.

The event, which teaches high school sophomores about the traditions of K-State and gives them a taste of college life, took place April 19-20 at the K-State Student Union.

This year, organizers revamped the Friday night activity, K-State 101. There were 12 activities for the students to interact with members of Student Alumni Board and to learn about traditions such as the Wabash Cannonball dance and the different lingo used across campus. Students had the opportunity to pitch a new business idea and predict what the future of K-State would look like in 2025. Finishing the night was a luau with music, games and snacks.

On Saturday morning, students took part in a college simulation, which allowed them to experience two full semesters in 40 minutes. Students grew academically, personally, socially and professionally in that time. By the end of the weekend, students were able to grasp all the chal-

lenges an average college student faces. At the end of the event, Frank Tracz,

K-State’s director of bands, delivered a

speech aimed at inspiring the sophomores and getting them excited to start college in a few years.

[ FROM THE PreSiDenT ]By Rachel King, President

As a freshman, every-one tells you that your time in college flies by in the blink of an eye. I wish more than anything that I could go back four years and tell my freshman self to take those words seriously.

My time at K-State has been fantas-tic, but far too short. And as I look back on my college career, I can easily say that Student Alumni Board is one of the things that I will miss the most.

SAB brings together the best and brightest on campus. It has been a privilege to serve with such passion-ate, dedicated, kind and successful K-Staters. As a new member, I looked to my fellow SAB members as the role models I aspired to be. As a graduat-

ing senior, I am fortunate enough to now call them all friends. SAB initially brings together strangers with a common love for K-State. In the end, it sends us off as lifelong friends.

It has been a busy and productive semester for us, and our progress shows no signs of slowing any time soon. We welcomed our first of two Distinguished Young Alumni award recipients, Justine Sterling, on campus in February. She gave a fantastic presentation about her success after graduation working on President George W. Bush’s staff, as well as interacting with SAB members during an ice cream social (nothing gets a Q&A started quite like Call Hall’s Purple Pride ice cream). We are preparing for next year’s DYA program and are excited to see what the future holds for this amazing program.

Our Wildcats Forever program con-tinues to grow, and we hosted our suc-

cessful recruiting events for prospective students — For Sophomores Only and Just for Juniors. We sent off K-State graduates at our annual Grad Bash event, where K-State’s newest alumni enjoyed food, prizes and music at the K-State Alumni Center as a welcome into the K-State Alumni Association. We also welcomed 14 new members to our SAB family this spring and cannot wait to show them all that our organization has to offer.

The future is bright for SAB, but that would not have been possible without the hard work of this year’s executive board and general members. I could not be more proud of all we have ac-complished, and I cannot wait to see all that our members will do in the future. I am leaving SAB with great sadness, but also with great pride and hope in all that is to come for this incredible organization.

High school sophomores have some fun at the For Sophomores Only recruiting event at K-State, which

took place April 19-20 at the K-State Student Union.

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SAB members bond during socialsBy Zach Boal, vice president of development

As Student Alumni Board’s outgoing vice president of development, I have had the pleasure of helping program some of the social aspects of SAB this year.

While SAB members are focused on professional connections with prospec-tive, current and former students, it is still a board comprising fun-loving college students. For that reason, this year’s ex-ecutive team provided ample opportuni-ties for SAB members to relax and enjoy time with their peers, and to show our appreciation for all the dedication and hard work they put in for Kansas State University.

We made a special effort to keep our meetings concise and efficient, but we also injected some fun into meetings by creating themes for each monthly gather-ing. Whether it was representing mem-bers of the “Manhattan Olympics 2012,” having a bowl game-themed meeting to celebrate the Wildcats’ trip to the Fiesta Bowl, or our end-of-year meeting where everyone wore pajamas, there was never a dull moment when members of Student Alumni Board convened.

We also organized more light-hearted activities for our members outside of meetings and professional events. We surprised members with a trip to the

K-State Student Union for some bowl-ing and billiards as a part of our spring retreat. While it was a great way to say thank you for the influence they’ve had on K-State, it also was a chance to see each other in a more casual environment and participate in a little friendly competition. We also reserved the Wildcat Creek min-iature golf course for our final meeting.

SAB has a mentorship program that pairs new members with an experienced member as those new members make the transition into the organization. Mentors sit by the new members at the first few meetings and are available to answer any questions they may have. This year we put a slightly different spin on the mentor program by creating a “family” system. Each new member still receives a mentor, but he or she is then incorporated into the “family” by connecting with the mentor’s mentor, and so on for as many generations who are still active in SAB. This change helps keep all SAB members active in the development of new mem-bers and provides a wider knowledge base for them in whatever questions or concerns may arise.

It’s been an honor to serve as an executive member of Student Alumni Board, and I am excited to see the group continue to grow.

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Thanks for all your support of the Tradition Founders Telefund!

SAB members raised more than $60,000 for the K-State Alumni

Association. It’s a record-breaking amount!

Donations to Tradition Founders help make programs possible!

• Student scholarships• Alumni Club events

• Multicultural programming• Alumni/Student awards

• Reunions• Career services

• The K-Stater magazine• And more!

Visit www.k-state.com/traditionfounders to give today!

Tradition Founders

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grAD BASH

willie the wildcat was on hand to take photos at Student Alumni Board’s grad Bash on may 9.

The event, which also featured food, entertainment and prizes, took place at the K-State Alumni Center on the Johnson Terrace. The event was for all K-State students graduating in may, August or December 2013.

An official K-State watch, diploma display, plus football and basketball tickets were just a few of the items graduating students had a chance to win at the event.