“Every year, our students make us proud, and this year was no exception. They represented our program brilliantly across and beyond campus. The graduating class of May 2015 was a particularly strong cohort with many students with distinctive college career. We cannot wait to see what great heights they will achieve in their post-K-State careers.” – Hikaru Peterson, Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs.
The awards for this E-Newsletter includes honors College of Agriculture, the Alumni Association, Blue Key honor society, and many others.
Agricultural Economics selects three Outstanding Undergraduate Seniors
Reagan Kays, Logan Britton and Nicholas Wineinger are the department’s three outstanding undergraduate seniors for 2015. They were recognized at the 51st College of Agriculture Awards Assembly April 12 for their significant dedication to the department. Faculty members nominated and voted on the selection.
Faculty names Rundel as recipient of WAEA Outstanding Senior Award
Department faculty selected Brady Rundel as the recipient of the Western Agricultural Economics Association (WAEA) Outstanding Senior Award, that recognizes outstanding undergraduate seniors who have achieved academic excellence at their institution. One senior student is selected by each WAEA institution in the 19 western states of the United States, with each department determining its own institution winner. Award winners receive a complementary one-year WAEA membership, recognition in the WAEA awards program, and on the WAEA website. Rundel is pursuing his master’s degree in agricultural economics at K-State.
College of Agriculture ‘Ambassadors of the Year’ represent Agricultural Economics
Both recipients of the College of Agriculture Ambassador of the Year awards were earned by agricultural economics seniors. Logan Britton and Ben Brown 
received the recognition April 12 at the Ag Ambassador Banquet that proceeded the college’s awards assembly. The honor is awarded by the College of Agriculture Ambassadors, who nominate ambassadors of the month through the Ag Council’s Student of the Month program. Brown was nominated by Ag Ambassadors for Student of the Month in September while Britton was nominated in November and both won in their respective months. Ambassador of the Year is voted on by the ambassador organization prior to the banquet.
Logan Britton earns College of Agriculture Student of the Year
Logan Britton, who earned November Student of the Month, also received the College of Agriculture Student of the Year at the College of Agriculture Awards Assembly held April 12. Logan was selected from a pool of all of the Student of the Month nominees. Applications are judged by students on the Student and Faculty Awards Committee within the Ag Council.
K-State Global Campus: Reagan Kays earns Friend of Global Campus Award
Kansas State University Global Campus presented five awards to K-State faculty, staff and students at the 2015 K-State Global Campus Honors and Awards Reception April 30.
Reagan Kays was awarded the first-ever Friend of K-State Global Campus Award. Kays recently received his bachelors of science in agribusiness and served as 2014-2015 K-State student body president. He is a strong advocate for extending services to all students through the use of technology and developing resources to provide online tutoring to distance students.
The Friend of K-State Global Campus Award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the advancement of K-State Global Campus programs or services.
“The mission of K-State Global Campus is to provide a quality education to students regardless of their location,” said K-State Global Campus dean Sue Maes. “That mission would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff and students. We are pleased to be able to recognize those individuals who go above and beyond for distance education.”
http://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement.php?id=20354&category=kudos&referredBy=email
K-State Alumni Association honors two agricultural economics graduates
Students who demonstrate strong leadership were nominated by professors to be honored at the International Graduation Celebration on May 1 for outstanding international leadership, and on May 5 at the Multicultural Graduation Celebration for excellence in multicultural leadership.
Youwei Yang, Baiyin City, China, earned the inaugural International Leadership Award. Yang was one of four students to receive this award at the International Graduate Celebration. During his time at K-State, Yang has been a student ambassador for K-State Libraries, as well as the Student Governing Association International Affairs Director. Winners of this award not only demonstrate strong leadership but also excellence in academic achievements.
Justine Floyd, Wichita, received the Multicultural Leadership Award. Floyd was one of four graduates to receive this award for outstanding achievement and leadership during her time here at K-State. Floyd served as the Head Delegate for the Black Student Union, and as a member of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.
The Alumni Association honored a total of eight K-State graduates for excellence in leadership and achievement within multicultural and international organizations and communities during their time as a student.
Read more about the K-State Alumni Association Multicultural and International awards.
Agricultural economics students honored by Alumni Association
Eight graduating Kansas State University students, three of which are agricultural economics students, have been recognized by the K-State Alumni Association for outstanding achievements during their college careers. Amy Button Renz, president and CEO of the Alumni Association, presented the students with plaques during an awards luncheon on April 29 at the K-State Alumni Center.
The three agricultural economics recipients of awards from the Alumni Association are:
Nicholaus Herrmann, agricultural economics, Holcomb, Kansas, earned the Tony Jurich Community Commitment and Leadership Award. Herrmann worked in Nyeri, Kenya, at the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre and interned for U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. He is a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and served as an ambassador for the College of Agriculture. The award was established in honor of the late K-State professor Tony Jurich, who taught in the College of Human Ecology for more than 39 years before his death in 2010. It recognizes both graduate and undergraduate students who have demonstrated a commitment to community leadership and service through Jurich’s core leadership tenets.
Reagan Kays, agribusiness, Weir, Kansas, earned the
Anderson Senior Award for Outstanding Leadership. Kays served as the 2014-2015 student body president. During his presidency, funding was secured for campus-wide tutoring, the Lifeline 911 campus-wide policy was passed, and he has been instrumental in getting the Kansas Legislature to review this policy for statewide legislation. Kays also is a member of Blue Key Senior Honor Society and the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. The Anderson Senior Awards recognizes graduating seniors for academics, leadership, inspiration and service. The award was established in 1998.
Brady Rundel, agricultural economics, Colby, Kansas, earned the Anderson Award for Outstanding Academics. Rundel has served on the College of Agriculture Student Council Executive Committee and has been a member of the Kansas State National Agri-Marketing Association chapters. In addition, he was a Student Fellow for the Center for Risk Management Education and Research.
Faculty and peers nominate students for the awards and committees consisting of members of the Alumni Association board of directors and K-State students to select the recipients.
“It is an honor to recognize these exceptional students for their achievements at K-State,” said Michelle Elkins, associate director of awards and special events for the Alumni Association. “These award winners were selected from a group of remarkable candidates.”
Full news release available at http://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement.php?id=20075&category=kudos&referredBy=K-State%20Today%20Home
Contribution by Tim Schrag, K-State Alumni Association | tschrag@ksu.edu
Photo caption: Nicholaus Herrman, bachelor’s candidate in agricultural economics, Holcomb, Kansas, Brady Rundel, bachelor’s candidate in agricultural economics, Colby, Kansas, and Reagan Kays, bachelor’s candidate in agribusiness, Weir, Kansas, hold awards presented to them by the K-State Alumni Association April 29.
Agricultural economics sophomore joins Alpha Zeta
Alpha Zeta inducted four new members into the honorary in April including agricultural economics sophomore Bret Gum, Johnson, Kan. Gum joined the group following an application and interview process this spring. The inductees were selected based on a high level of scholarship, leadership, integrity and service in the College of Agriculture.
Other agricultural economics students in Alpha Zeta are Logan Britton, Caitlin Buelt, Lindsay Bulk, Dalton Hodgkinson, Gylee Martin, Emily Warriner, Morganne Wiltse and Youwei Yang.
Alpha Zeta, originated in 1897, is an honor fraternity for students in agriculture or natural resources that focuses on education and service.
For more information, please click here.
Blue Key awards scholarships to two agricultural economics students
The Kansas State University chapter of Blue Key, a senior honors society, recognized students for excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service. Two agricultural economics students displayed this great potential in their university and community contributions.
Jeffery Hadachek, sophomore in agricultural economics, received the Robert Lewis Sophomore Leadership Award. Hadachek was one of three students to receive an award for outstanding leadership. Winners of this award display great potential for future leadership roles and service to the university.
Youwei Yang, senior in agricultural economics, received the Chester E. Peters Student Development Award. The winners of the Chester E Peters scholarship have demonstrated high quality of leadership, service and moral integrity, as well as encouraged and supported fellow students at the university.
K-State’s chapter awards more than $20,000 in scholarships each year to honor student excellence in service, scholarship and leadership.
For more information about Blue Key scholarships winners go to http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/may15/bluekeyschols51315.html
Blue Key Recognizes Jason Troendle for leadership, service
On April 12, Blue Key, K-State’s senior honor society, recognized outgoing seniors for outstanding leadership.
Jason Troendle, agricultural economics, St. Charles, Minnesota, received the William L. Muir II and John T. Muir Alpha Tau Omega Blue Key Scholarship for excellence in scholarship, service, and leadership.
The Muir scholarship honors two past Blue Key members and brothers, John and William Muir. The selection committee is comprised of the dean of students, Blue Key advisers, a member of the Muir family, and an officer from K-State’s Alpha Tau Omega Student’s’ Aid Endowment Fund. Both Troendle and Jordan Marquess, senior in biology and pre-medicine, received plaques and a $1,000 scholarship for their leadership roles both at K-State and off campus.
Troendle demonstrated strong service and leadership throughout his time at K-State. Troendle was the personal and professional development chair for Blue Key, a student fellow at the Center for Risk Management and Education and Research, as well as the public relations chair and the strengths advocate public relations chair for the All-University Open House.
Troendle interned for Cargill Feed and Nutrition and the Kansas Department of Agriculture. He also served as the national secretary of the National FFA Organization.
Harner and Kays selected for Blue Key leadership
The Kansas State University chapter of Blue Key, a senior honorary, selected new members and appointed new positions Tuesday, May 26, 2015.
Elizabeth Harner, senior in agribusiness from St. George, is the new director of banquet and recognition. Garrett Kays, senior in agricultural economics from Weir, is the new President of K-State’s Blue Key chapter.
Blue Key honors students for excellence in service, scholarship and leadership. Two agricultural economics students were elected for new officer positions.
Students elected for officer positions within Blue Key are expected to hold two leadership positions in an organization. Organizations can be either student-run or community involvement opportunities. In addition to leadership experience, students are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average to be eligible for membership.
For more information, visit http://www.k-state.edu/bluekey/
Silver Key accepts two agricultural economics students into honorary
Connor Eilert, Beloit, and Abigail Friesen, Colby, were selected as 2015-2016 members of the Silver Key sophomore leadership honorary.
To be eligible for Silver Key, students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average, be 2014 high school graduates and be in their freshman year at the university. Silver Key provides service to the campus and the surrounding Manhattan community. Members organize and participate in a variety of community service projects each semester. Past projects have included Sleep Out for the Homeless, food drives, highway cleanup efforts, and providing child care to Fort Riley families.
The Organization was founded in the 1920s under the name Sparks and in 1995 became unique to the K-State campus under the name Silver Key.
http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/may15/silverkey5715.html
Abigail Friesen earns honorable mention for Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award
Abigail Friesen, freshman in agricultural economics, received honorable mention for her essay: “Informative report: Immigration and job opportunities” at the Kirmser Award ceremony on May 13. Friesen wrote the essay for her expository writing class, under the instruction of Erica Ruscio, Master’s student in English.
The Kirmser Undergraduate Research Awards recognize the work of undergraduate student scholarship. The award is presented by K-State Libraries and possible through a gift made by Philip and Jeune Kirmser. Sandy Chastan, the Kirmser’s daughter, made an appearance at the ceremony.
Kirmser Awards are divided into three categories and awarded to students engaging in academic research and inquiry. The three categories for research awards are: group work, individual freshman projects, and non-freshman individual projects.
Eighteen students won awards or received mention at the Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award Ceremony.
For more information about the Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award go to http://www.liv.k-state.kirmser-undergraduate-research-award-winners.
COA Awards Assembly recognizes agricultural economics students for involvement on campus
The College of Agriculture Awards Assembly, held April 12, recognized students for their awards, successes, and involvement on campus during the 2014 – 2015 school year. The assembly recognized agricultural economics students for many different facets of leadership, service, and action including judging teams, clubs, and academic triumphs. Agricultural economics senior and Ag Council President, Candice Wilson, served as the Master of Ceremonies. The recognitions from the assembly are:
- During the 2014-2015 school year, the Department of Agricultural Economics was represented by four College of Agriculture student senators in the Student Governing Association. These senators were: Logan Britton, Garrett Kays, Kurt Lockwood, and Wyatt Pracht. The 60 SGA student senators are the collective voice for their respective college. They serve a one year term and are eligible for re-election. http://www.k-state.edu/sga/
- Ben Brown served on the K-State Alumni Association Student Alumni Board for the academic year. The board coordinates events such as Wildcats Forever, Grad Bash, prospective student events, Distinguished Young Alumni, and others. http://www.k-state.com/s/1173/index4cont.aspx?sid=1173&gid=1&pgid=358
- The Student Foundation was also represented by students from the department. Reagan Kays and Garrett Kays served a term together during the academic year. The Student Foundation coordinates K-State Proud and other events. http://www.found.ksu.edu/student-foundation/
- Blue Key Senior Honorary had several agricultural economics students for the 2014-2015 academic year. In addition to other honors listed in this e-newsletter, they are: Ben Brown, Kurt Lockwood, and Jason Troendle. Blue Key students are recognized for their dedication to scholarship, leadership and service. http://www.k-state.edu/bluekey/
- Anna Setter was involved in Quest, Freshman Honorary, during the year. Quest members receive a Blue Key mentor and participate in service and social activities in their first year at college. http://www.k-state.edu/bluekey/activities/Quest.html
- Garrett Kays is a 2014 American Royal Scholar. Students selected for the scholarship participate in the American Royal to receive media training, assist with tours and teaching sessions and other events during the American Royal. The winners also receive $2,500. http://www.americanroyal.com/p/about/158
- The Livestock Judging team had three students from the Department of Agricultural Economics. Kaden Roush, Bailey McClelland, and Reed Gleason traveled to many competitions around the country with the team. Out of many individual placings, each earned at least one high overall score at a competition during the year. Roush received fifth overall at the Sioux Empire Stock Show, McClelland received high individual overall at the Mid-America Classic, and Gleason earned second overall at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic.
http://www.asi.k-state.edu/students-and-programs/judging-teams/livestock/archives.html
