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]
[ SABTODAY ]
Seniors lend a hand at Wabash CannonBall Photos by David Mayes ‘96, K-State Alumni Association
By Heidi Hurtig, vice president of development The 2014 SAB senior class traveled to Overland Park, Kan., in February to take part in the eighth annual Wabash Cannonball. Nearly 600 alumni, friends and supporters of K-State filled the ballroom for a fun evening. The tables were decked out in elegant purple décor along with a box of chocolates set at each place setting. SAB members greeted guests and showed them to their designated tables. During the gala, SAB members helped collect Fund a Wildcat envelopes and donation cards, the contents of which help fund the Wabash CannonBall scholarship fund. The scholarships are awarded to K-State students from the Kansas City area. This year, the event raised $245,000. After handing out prizes to donors in gratitude for their generous gifts, SAB finished the night leading the entire event in the Wabash Cannonball.
Top: SAB seniors (also shown at left with adviser Amanda Brookover ’08) lead the crowd in the Wabash Cannonball. Above: Chance Berndt collects Fund a Wildcat donation envelopes.
r u o y y Enjo efits! n e b r e memb
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[ SABTODAY ]
By Canaan Coker, vice president of membership After a rigorous three-round selection process – including an application round, an interview in front of faculty and staff and a presentation in front of the entire organization using the prompt “You are President Schulz for a day. Given the opportunity during your time in the office, what is one program you would develop to enhance the student experience?” – SAB has selected the 2014 new member class:
Amanda Brookover ’08, K-State Alumni Association
SAB welcomes 13 new members
bottom row (from left):
back row (from left):
Taylor Fry, Great Bend, Kan., freshman, business management and piano performance Caitlyn Webb, Colorado Springs, Colo, freshman, economics and international business/ pre-law Sierra Lekie, Lenexa, Kan., freshman, political science, economics and international studies Katie VanDever, Augusta, Kan., freshman, communication studies Madi Plankers, Olathe, Kan., freshman, finance and Spanish Morgan Mobley, Overland Park, Kan., freshman, broadcast journalism Mandy Marchesini, Loudonville, N.Y., freshman, hospitality management
Luke Schnefke, Shawnee, Kan., sophomore, mechanical engineering Kevin Klein, Lenexa, Kan., sophomore, mechanical engineering Samuel Edwards, Olathe, Kan., freshman, public relations Kyle Rohrmann, Fresno, Calif., freshman, business management and marketing Andy Hurtig, Wichita, Kan., sophomore, regional and community planning Zev Allen, Soldier, Kan., freshman, open option/premedicine
K-State alumna steps into role as new SAB adviser By Mollie Stephens, secretary In March, Student Alumni Board welcomed a new member class. But only a few months before, it also gained a new adviser. In January, Amanda Brookover ’08 joined the K-State Alumni Association as the assistant director of student programs and the new adviser for SAB. A native of Garden City, Kan., Brookover graduated from K-State in 2008 with a degree in family studies and human services. During her first run
as a Wildcat, Brookover was a member of Alpha Delta Pi, a leadership studies ambassador and a member of Student Alumni Board. After graduation, Brookover moved to Prague, Czech RepubAmanda lic, to teach English. Brookover ’08 After a year of teaching, she returned to the United States and received her master’s in counseling
For a list of all members, visit www.k-state.com/SAB
psychology from the University of Denver. While in Denver, Brookover met her fiancé, Andrew Lee, who also recently moved to Manhattan, Kan. Brookover and Lee will get married in September. Although Brookover is new to the Alumni Association, she already is a pro at her job. She guided SAB through the Distinguished Young Alumni program in February, the recruitment and new member selection process in March and Grad Bash in May. Good luck to SAB’s new adviser as she continues her first year back at K-State! [3]
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d l r o w e h t n i e r Whe
ARE SAB SENIORS? By Mollie Stephens, secretary
Zach Boal
Tyler Johnson
Last seen: Riding his bike to commencement Assumed location: University of Kansas Medical School
Last seen: Taco Lucha Assumed location: Prague, Czech Republic
Erin Clopine Last seen: Ann Taylor Outlet Assumed location: Koch Industries, Wichita
Grant Hill Last seen: Office of Student Activities and Services Assumed location: Cerner, Kansas City
Heidi Hurtig Last seen: Munich, Germany Assumed location: Cerner, Kansas City
Sam Kellerman Last seen: Sending emails to SAB Assumed location: Research College of Nursing, Kansas City
Kaitlin Long Last seen: Receiving an Anderson Senior Award Assumed location: Changing the world, location unknown
Jordan Priddle Last seen: With her nose in a book Assumed location: Hale Library, preparing for her second year as a grad student
Annika Schneider Last seen: McCain Auditorium Assumed location: Student teaching
Eli Schooley Last seen: Law firm in Overland Park, Kan. Assumed location: University of Virginia School of Law
Brett Seidl Last seen: Wearing the most purple on campus Assumed location: Delta Sigma Phi headquarters, Indianapolis
Justin Smith Last seen: Radina’s Coffeehouse Assumed location: Interning at Barkley, Kansas City
Mollie Stephens Last seen: Munich, Germany Assumed location: Starlight Theatre, Kansas City
Jake Unruh Last seen: Having lunch with President Schulz Assumed location: Ernst & Young, Kansas City
Andrew Waldman Last seen: Receiving an Engineering Knight of St. Patrick Award Assumed location: Deloitte Consulting, Kansas City
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education recognized Student Alumni Board with four awards at the CASE Affiliated Student Advancement Programs District VI conference in March: Outstanding Internal Program: SAB new member training Outstanding External Program: Distinguished Young Alumni Award Member of the Year: Samantha Kellerman, SAB president Adviser of the Year: Megan Brooker, former Alumni Association associate director of student programs and SAB adviser At right: SAB members April Lewis, Kristen Svec and Emily Wheeler hold the awards SAB won at the 2014 CASE ASAP District VI conference at Emporia State University.
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Amanda Brookover ’08, K-State Alumni Association
SAB earns awards at district conference
[ SABTODAY ]
President’s goodbye [ FROM THE PRESIDENT ] By Sam Kellerman, President
They say time flies when you’re having fun, and as far as I’m concerned, this statement describes my time in Student Alumni Board perfectly. It seems like just yesterday that I walked into the Tadtman Board Room to deliver the most nerve-racking two-minute presentation of my college career. And yet here I am, three years later, preparing to graduate and pass the torch. This semester has been a whirlwind, but I would venture to say it’s been one of the most exciting and rewarding semesters of my time in SAB. In January, we welcomed our new adviser, Amanda Brookover, and it was clear from the beginning she was the perfect person to manage our crazy group. Thrown into the position in the midst of SAB selections and Distin-
guished Young Alumni, Brookover endured a baptism by fire of sorts during her first month at the K-State Alumni Association, but she quickly proved to SAB that she would be a dedicated adviser and a tremendous asset to the group. In late February, we welcomed Molly Hamm and Matt Wolters back to campus as our Distinguished Young Alumni award recipients. Over three days, members of SAB served as hosts escorting them between various meetings and speaking engagements. By the end of the week, SAB’s hard work had paid off, and DYA was solidified as a signature program that would serve to connect young alumni to students for years to come. This semester, we also welcomed 13 new faces to the group. After six weeks of recruiting, reviewing applications and interviewing an incredibly competitive pool of applicants, we selected our new member class. With their selection and the election of the 2014-15 executive team – Adam Wilkerson (presi-
Teens get taste of college life at For Sophomores Only event By Kristen Svec, For Sophomores Only chair Student Alumni Board welcomed more than 125 high school sophomores and their parents to campus April 4-5 for the For Sophomores Only program. The event took place in conjunction with the AllUniversity Open House. Students spent Friday night participating in activities that aimed to help the sophomores become acclimated to K-State and college life. One activity was K-State 101 in which students visited 12 stations that promoted K-State spirit, team-building and SAB interaction. Students learned the Wabash Cannonball, presented a business idea and became familiar with campus lingo. The night finished with a social in the K-State Student Union complete with music, games, food and lots of dancing. After arriving bright and early Saturday morning, the students were able to get a true taste of what college was like by completing a college simulation.
Students experienced two full “semesters” in 40 minutes. After being asked to make social, professional and academic goals, the high schoolers were able to experience the ups and downs a college freshman may face. The weekend culminated with a speech by Frank Tracz, K-State’s director of bands, who provided parents and students with a taste of K-State spirit and the K-State family feeling. Students and parents were then encouraged to attend the All-University Open House to further explore all K-State has to offer. For the first time, the FSO program hosted a Twitter contest (@KStateSAB). Students were awarded prizes for best tweet, best hashtag and best group “selfie.” The contest was a hit with the sophomores and SAB members alike. SAB members look forward to continuously improving the program in order to build upon its extraordinarily success in years to come.
dent), Canaan Coker (vice president of campus programming), Kristen Svec (vice president of development), Emily Wheeler (vice president of membership) and April Lewis (secretary) – I have no doubt the upcoming year will be even more successful and exciting than the last. As an outgoing senior, I speak for all those graduating when I say we could not be more confident and excited to leave the future of SAB in their hands. And just like that, my last semester in SAB has come to a close. Words cannot describe what this organization has meant to me over the past three years. Through all the programming SAB provides, I have grown as a leader and as a person, but the people I have met along the way have shaped me into the individual I am today. To all past, present and incoming SAB members I have had the privilege of working with, thank you for defining my time at K-State. I’m truly grateful to have shared my college experience with each and every one of you.
Tradition Founders Thanks for all your support of the Tradition Founders Telefund! SAB K-State Alumni Association members raised Annual Fund more than $50,000 for the K-State Alumni Association.
Want to give?
Donations to Tradition Founders help make programs possible! Programs include student scholarships, Alumni Club events, multicultural programming, alumni/student awards, career services and the K-Stater magazine. Visit www.k-state.com/ traditionfounders to give today! [5]