Board
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A newsletter for current and past members of the K-State Alumni Association Board of Directors “Enhancing our Kansas State University family through lifelong involvement” Greetings, once again! What an incredible year for K-State! It fills me with pride when I reflect on the accomplishments of our Wildcat family and when I see the enthusiasm for K-State at events worldwide! It is an honor to serve as president and CEO of the Association, and our staff is pleased to provide programs that keep alumni and friends engaged and informed about all the great things happening at the university and the Association. K-State is setting records and growing! In academics, research, enrollment, athletics and philanthropy, word is out that your alma mater is experiencing tremendous success through the visionary leadership of our administration, the devotion of faculty and staff and the ongoing support of alumni and friends. Association
programs continue to grow as well, as we experienced a 12 percent increase in event attendance this past year. I also am pleased to recognize the staff of the KSU Foundation as they surpassed the $100 million mark in private fundraising for the first time, by securing more than $107 million this fiscal year. Please take time to share your thoughts about this newsletter, our programs, our website www.k-state.com, or anything you feel would improve upon our service to you. You can email me at arenz@kstate.com, or call me directly at (785) 532-5050. We value your opinion and look forward to hearing from you. As always, thank you for your support. I hope to see you at an event soon! Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86 President and CEO
BUILDING A BETTER KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
he K-State Alumni Association remains a key partner in efforts to enhance the future of our beloved university. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, Association President and CEO Amy Button Renz works directly with the campus leadership team to collaboratively establish goals for new and on-going initiatives that will move K-State toward our goal of becoming a top 50 public research university by 2025. K-State President Kirk H. Schulz has established three initiatives for the Association this coming year: • Increase engagement activities for alumni and students by 5 percent from 55,923 to 58,700. • Double the number of international alumni club events from five to 10. • Re-establish the Multicultural Alumni Council and target efforts to assist in reaching out to multicultural alumni and friends. A formalized launch of K-State 2025 will be announced soon. The Association leadership and staff are pleased to be a part of this visionary plan and look forward to assisting the university as they implement the programs that will elevate our university to top 50 status.
SUMMER 2011
Another important component of the plan is to address deferred maintenance and infrastructure issues. Progress is being made in many areas through construction or renovation projects this summer, which have been financed through a variety of resources including deferred maintenance funds, federal stimulus funds and energy savings contracts. Large capital projects will be completed using private, departmental, student supported or NBAF funding. Listed below are some of the projects currently underway: • Updates to Willard Hall • Memorial Stadium updates • Purple Mask Theater relocation Construction and renovation continues into the next phase at the Jardine Apartment Complex.
• Wireless network upgrades • Technology updates/extensive remodeling to 105 Umberger Hall • Expansion of the Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex • A new Basketball Training Facility • Next phase of construction and renovation at the Jardine Apartment Complex • Construction of a new Southeast Kansas Extension and Research Facility • A new Sheep and Meat Goat Facility • Expansion of the Student Life Center at the Salina campus • Addition of restrooms to the upper level/east side of Bill Snyder Family Stadium David Mayes ‘96, K-State Alumni Association
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Programs Focus
Growth in multicultural programming he Association is continuing to lead the parade in multicultural alumni relationship building and engagement. This year the Association has co-hosted four multicultural alumni events, which have reached out to multicultural alumni in select cities. The events have served as a vehicle to connect alumni with their alma mater. Another program the Association is working on to enhance multicultural alumni participation is the Multicultural Alumni Council. This council has been brought back and restructured with the first MAC meeting in September. Ian Bautista ’94 will be the chair of the MAC. He is a former board member, serving from 2005-09. Current member, David Brown ’77, will serve as board liaison to the council.
Courtesy photo
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Latino K-State alumni gather at a multicultural event in Kansas City in the spring.
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Welcomes
Goodbyes
Aubrey Abbott Patterson ’98 Hutchinson, Kan.
Aaron Austin ’97 Lubbock, Texas
Linda Cook ’77 Kansas City, Mo.
Barbara Bachman ’81 Centralia, Kan.
Mindy Highberger 2011-2012 Student Alumni Board President Westphalia, Kan.
Kelsie Ball ’11 2010-2011 Student Alumni Board President Eureka, Kan.
Edgar Ramirez ’04 Fort Myers, Fla.
Jarold (Jerry) Boettcher ’63 Manhattan, Kan.
Mary Jo Rupp Myers ’64 Arlington, Va.
Martha Cornwell-Riddell ’75 Georgetown, Ky. Jill Gerlach ’76, ’81 Overland Park, Kan.
“Generations of Success”
Nathan (Nate) Spriggs 2011-2012 Student Body President Riverton, Kan.
K-State’s sesquicentennial celebration Feb. – Oct. 2013
Dan Yunk ’71, ’75, ’87 Manhattan, Kan.
Dates to Note Black Alumni/Greek Reunion Weekend Oct. 14-16, 2011
Homecoming 2011 Oct. 23-29, 2011
Latino Alumni Reunion Sept. 14-16, 2012
10-year anniversary celebration of the K-State Alumni Center Oct. 13-14, 2012
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Danny Unruh ’11 2010-2011 Student Body President Manhattan, Kan. SUMMER 2011
Chair’s Corner My involvement with the K-State Alumni Association began as an undergraduate. That “K-State mystique” grew through my involvement as a member of the Student Alumni Board, then as a student worker for the Todd Johnson ’94 Association. As a K-State Student Ambassador, I was afforded the opportunity to express my purple passion to prospective students, families, friends and alumni. As each of you, I was honored to accept an appointment to serve as a member of the board of directors, and now as chair to give back to the organization that has afforded me so much. So what have I learned? The board is committed to our mission of “Enhancing our Kansas State University family through lifelong involvement,” and we are committed to working with our many partners — (central administration, faculty, staff, students, K-State Athletics, the KSU Foundation and the larger K-State community) — to achieve this mission. Likewise, we are committed to leveraging our strengths to help others achieve their missions. In particular, the Association is in regular coordination and strategic conversation with K-State President Kirk H. Schulz and his cabinet to advance initiative 2025, which will be vital to the future of our university. During my term as chair, I want to charge members of the board and our staff with expanding upon these efforts. Our executive committee will engage in conversations/share visions with the Foundation to expand the synergies that exist between our leadership groups, and we will partner to enhance the future of K-State, as a joint meeting of the alumni board and the foundation board will occur next March. All this is done in the spirit of providing value to today’s students who become alumni tomorrow. We are committed to lifelong involvement that benefits our alma mater, and together we can make a difference for generations to come. Wildcat Proud! — Todd Johnson ’94 SUMMER 2011
TRADITION FOUNDERS UPDATE K-State alumni and friends continue to generously support the Association’s programming efforts through annual contributions to the Tradition Founders Fund. We are pleased to share that more than $383,000 was contributed to the 2010-2011 campaign. This is an all-time high for contributions received and represents a 5 percent increase over last year’s campaign. We also received 61 leadership gifts of $1,000 or more, which qualified those donors for Founders Circle recognition. The Association’s annual fund supports our programming efforts as monies raised are designated to the general operating budget. To learn more about the fund, or other giving opportunities, please contact Amy Button Renz, president and CEO, at (800) 600-2586 or arenz@k-state.com.
K-S-U WILDCATS! K K-State Athletics experienced record success this year as a school-record s five Wildcat squads advanced to postseason play, placing K-State among the se nation’s elite programs. na K-State was one of just six schools nationally to put its football team in a na bowl bow game, both its basketball teams in the NCAA Tournament and its baseball team iin an NCAA Regional. Additionally, the women’s wome equestrian team finished fourth at the Varsity Equestrian National ChampionVa ships and a Reserve National Championship was won by the Western team. An A unofficial “state championship” was realized, as well as our ’Cats held a comreali bined 13-1 record against the Jayhawks in head-to-head competition this year. Eat ’em headup, eat ea ’em up, K-S-U! The on-field success also was experienced in the classroom as our student-athletes have been recognized with the No. 1 graduation rate in the Big 12 for four straight years. The 2012 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be in Manhattan May 11-13, 2012. The event will feature world-class athletes who will compete in the Olympic trials and London games. It will provide K-State the opportunity to showcase our campus and the Manhattan community.
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Kudos & Congrats Kent Bradley ’88, was elected as the 2011-2012 chair-elect of the K-State Alumni Board of Directors. He will assume the role of chair in June 2012. Aaron Otto ’98, is the new city administrator for the city of Roeland Park, Kan. He began the position in late July after serving in the state treasurer’s office since 2009. Prior to that, Otto was legislative liaison for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and chief of staff to former Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson. Jim Johnson ’84, was inducted into the College of Engineering Hall of Fame at Kansas State University. He also has been named the 2011 College of Engineering Advisory Council chair. Milt Ahlerich ’68, retired from his position as vice president of security for the NFL after 15 years of service. Randy Anderes ’80, was named community bank president for INTRUST Bank’s Manhattan, Kan., branch. Lee Borck ’70, was inducted into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame in July 2011. Kirk H. Schulz was presented with the Virginia Tech 2011 Graduate Alumni Achievement Award during commencement exercises in May 2011. Doris Wright Carroll ’74, ’76, has established a K-State College of Education Multicultural Technology Award that bears her name, to be awarded for the first time this fall. Ed Skoog ’93, returned to the K-State campus in April to present a reading of his poetry collection. Carl Gerlach ’76, was named K-State’s representative on the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle Authority, a cooperative partnership between K-State Olathe, the University of Kansas’ Edwards campus and the KU Medical Center, which aims to create economic stimulus and enhance the quality of life in Johnson County, the state of Kansas and the Midwest.
Did You Know?
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lumni, friends and corporate partners set a new record by contributing more than $107 million toward K-State programs this past fiscal year. Private philanthropic support remains vital The staffofofK-State the K-State Association of the toFrom: the future asAlumni just one-quarter university’s budget is now funded by the state.
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Ron Iman ’62, ’70, ’73, was elected to serve as the 2011 chair-elect of the Arts and Sciences Council at K-State. Bernard Franklin ’76, ’96, has returned to K-State. He began his role of special assistant to the vice president July 1, and will assist with coordinating student recruitment efforts in the greater Kansas City area and fostering relationships with students, families and educational partners. He was recognized in February by MidAmerica Nazarene University with the 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Living Legacy Award.
In Memoriam It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the recent passing of five former board members. Mary Dexter Boyd ’34, died Jan. 26, 2011 in Hill City, Kan. She served on the board from 1979-82. She was editor of the Jewell County Record for 19 years until the paper was sold in 1991. Survivors include two daughters and two sons. Her grandson, Steve Logback ’90, is assistant vice president and director of communications for the Association. John Perrier ’39, died April 30, 2011 in Dodge City, Kan. He served on the board from 1952-55. In 1990, he was named the Alumni Fellow for K-State’s College of Agriculture. He established Perrier Feed Lot in 1960, which is still in operation. Survivors include a daughter and a son. Raymond (Ray) Bert ’39, died Sept. 13, 2010 in Larned, Kan. Ray served on the board from 1972-74. He cofounded Bert & Wetta Sales, manufacturers of dehydrated alfalfa meal, in 1946. His wife, Rachael Congdon Bert ’40, died March 24, 2011. Survivors include a daughter and four sons. Richard Vincent (Vince) Wells ’52, died Feb. 25, 2011 in Albuquerque, N.M. He served on the board from 1972-74. He was president/founder of Wells Enterprises, Inc. Survivors include his wife, Delores Huggins Wells ’54, a daughter and a son. Jerome L. Chandler ’52, died July 23, 2011 in Tucson, Ariz. He served on the board from 1976-79. He was a leader in the banking industry. Survivors include his wife, Lois Gillan Chandler ’52, a daughter and a son.
We would like to mention your news in a future issue of Board Matters. Please email items you would like to share to Lynn Beier at lbeier@k-state.com.