Kansas State University

Is the Fall semester really almost over?  You have all worked so hard this semester, now it’s time to show your professors what you know by acing your final exams!  The Pilots Program wishes you the best of luck on your finals. Enjoy the long-anticipated winter break.  We are so proud of each of you and hope you are proud of yourselves for rising to the challenge of completing your first semester.  Please continue reading to stay updated on the dates for the final exams and some extra goodies to get your holiday break off to a great start!

Happy Holidays and best wishes from the Pilots Staff,

Rebeca, Nilima, Nidhi, R.J., and Jill

Important Dates to Jot Down:

• Friday, December 11: Learning Assessment 2 Due/Last Day of Classes
• December 14-18: Fall 2015 Term Exams
• Saturday, December 19: Residence Halls Close
• Wednesday, December 23: Term Final Grades Available in KSIS
• Sunday, January 17: Residence Halls Open
• Monday, January 18: M.L. King Jr. Day – University Holiday – No Class
• Tuesday, January 19: Spring 2016 Term Begins
• Monday, January 25: Last day to add a course without instructor’s permission
• Monday, February 8: Last day to drop a class for 100% refund
• Monday, February 15: Last day to drop a class for 50% refund
• Tuesday, February 23: Last day to drop a class without a W recorded

COMM 106 Public Speaking: Monday, December 14 at 7:30 am

Math 010 Intermediate Algebra: Monday, Dec. 14 at 4:10 (Cardwell 103)

SOCIO 211 Intro to Sociology: Tuesday, Dec. 15 – Online

Opens at 7:00 am and closes at 11:59 pm.

HIST 252 History of the U.S. since 1877: Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 9:40 am.

Math 100 College Algebra (Traditional): Wednesday Dec. 16 at 6:20 pm. (Waters 348)

MATH 100 College Algebra (Studio): Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 6:20 pm. (Ackert 231)

PSYCH 110 Intro to Psychology: Thursday, Dec. 17 at 4:10 pm

GEOG 100 World Regional Geography: Friday, Dec. 18 at 11:50 am.

**If there is no location listed next to the class, the final exam will be in the same classroom as your regular session class.

It’s the end of the semester. This time of year is full of football games, crisp weather, holiday decorations, and…exams.  Despite all the fun activities the end of the semester has to provide, it is also the time of projects, papers, and exams worth a sizable amount of your final grade.  Fear not!  Here are some tried and tested tips that will help you get through.

Continue reading “Study Tips and Stress Reducers for Your Finals Week” →

November honored even more of our incredible students. This month we recognized Anna Meagher, Lewis Galloway, and Kelsey Drewelow as Student of the Week!   

This is a time of year when many are looking to give back and others are in need of a little help. Here are a few ways you can give and receive this holiday season:

Giving in the Manhattan Area

• Flint Hills Breadbasket is holding its annual Mayor’s Christmas Holiday Food and Fund Drive. Monetary donations and food donations will be accepted. The Breadbasket also hosts volunteers throughout the year, and you may contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (785) 537-0730 to discuss opportunities.
• It costs approximately $40 to provide a food basket for a family of four. If you would like to make a donation, please make checks payable to:The Mayor’s Holiday Food and Fund Drive
  905 Yuma
  Manhattan, KS 66502

Giving in the KC Area

• Adopt a family through Operation Breakthrough by providing three new, unwrapped gifts for each child in the family, which will likely be the only gift the child(ren) will receive. Call (816) 329-5222 for more information.
• Harvesters—Kansas City’s only food bank—gladly accepts donations of time, food, and money in order to help serve over 388,000 people each year in the Kansas City area.
• Give the gift of Christmas through the Angel Tree program by adopting a child and purchasing Christmas gifts for him or her.

Giving in the Wichita Area

• The Wichita Children’s Home is always in need of volunteers and donations to support children it serves. You can make a donation or apply to volunteer to cook a meal or spend time with the kids.
• The Kansas Food Bank accepts food and monetary donations throughout the year, as well as volunteers.
• Participate in the Angel Tree program and provide gifts to a child who would otherwise be left out on Christmas.

Giving in other Areas

• The Salvation Army’s Share the Warmth program helps families in Kansas with paying their winter heating bills. Donations may be made to the Salvation Army.
• Food pantries all over Kansas are in need of food and monetary donations and volunteers. http://www.foodpantries.org/st/kansas and click on the city names on the right-hand side to find the contact information for the nearest food pantry. Ask the pantry what its needs are and volunteer or donate to make a difference in your area!
• Make a difference in the lives of individuals and families who are at risk of entering the cycle of poverty by donating to www.modestneeds.org.

Receiving in the Manhattan Area

• Flint Hills Breadbasket coordinates several food assistance programs in the Manhattan area. Call (785) 537-0730 to see if you, your family, or someone you know can receive food assistance from the Breadbasket.
• Bread of Hope is a food distributor that provides groceries at a discounted price to anyone at any income level. Food orders may be placed online and food may be picked up at the nearest host site. (Compassionate Ministries in Junction City is the host site for the Manhattan area.)

Receiving in the KC Area

• Request Christmas toys for a child through Toys for Tots by selecting your state and county here, then clicking “Request a Toy” to find the contact person for your area.
• Harvesters is Kansas City’s only food bank, providing food assistance to individuals and families throughout the community. Type in your zip code here to find the nearest services.
• Energy assistance from LIHEAP is available for eligible individuals and families. Applications for the program can be found here.

Receiving in the Wichita Area

• Gaballi provides discounted groceries for anyone at any income level. Food orders are placed online and orders are picked up at the nearest host site. (The Benton Church in Benton, KS, is the host site for the Wichita area.)
• Sign up for Mission of Hope Christmas Assistance through the Salvation Army if you or someone you know is struggling to make ends meet this holiday season.
• The Kansas Food Bank provides hunger relief to individuals and families in the Wichita area and across Kansas. Call (316) 265-3663 for more information.

Receiving in Other Areas

• Individuals or families struggling to pay heating bills may contact the Salvation Army’s Share the Warmth program toll-free at 1-877-566-2769, extension 402 to receive an application for utility assistance.
• There are food pantries in all areas of Kansas that help with food assistance. Go to http://www.foodpantries.org/st/kansas and click on the city names on the right-hand side to find the contact information for the nearest food pantry.
• Eligible individuals and families can apply for a Modest Needs grant to help restore financial self-sufficiency.

*If you or someone you know is looking to volunteer OR is in need of assistance at any time of the year, please visit www.211.org. Simply type in your zip code, click “Search for Community Services,” and look through the organizations and programs in your area.

Congrats to our very own COMM 106 instructor, Katrina Hanna, on being awarded Kansas State University’s Graduate Student Council Award for Graduate Student Teaching Excellence by a Master’s student!  Way to go, Katrina!

A big congratulations to Pilots sophomore, Katia Chavira, and freshman, Dirsitu Hassan on be awarded the Garmin Scholarship!  We’re so proud of your hard work!

As this semester comes to a close, we must bid farewell to two of our beloved PAs, Dayton Crist and Madison Sha.  Although we’re sad to see them go, we can rest assured they’ll be making a significant impact outside of K-State.

Dayton will be returning home to Garden City to begin his student teaching in high school mathematics. After graduation he plans to come back to the Eastern side of Kansas and become a high school teacher and football/wrestling coach. One day he hope to return to school to pursue a Masters degree in administration to become an athletic director, principal, or possibly a superintendent.

Madi is starting her own company in Kansas City to provide families with adopted and foster children as well as children with special needs dance therapy. Madi has danced her entire life and is overjoyed by children and always looks for ways to help others. Her and her younger sister were both adopted as well, these are the things that fuel the passion for her companies development.  Madi has chosen to name her studio, “Ohana Dance Co.”  While the options in Kansas city are plentiful, Madi eventually hopes to partner with the Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders to create performance experiences for the families that impact the community at large.

Katia was born in New Mexico and moved to southwest Kansas when she was just four years old.  She attended numerous schools in southwest Kansas and Oklahoma as her family moved around the area to find work at dairy farms.  Katia came to Kansas State University through a College Assistance Migrant Program that is available to students from migrant and seasonal farm working families.  This scholarship program provides financial assistance for students to attend and succeed in college.   Continue reading “Sophomore Spotlight: Katia Chavira” →