Katherine Mielitz, a PFP 2014 doctoral cohort student, and Kevin West, a PFP master’s student, have been selected to receive Maurine Allison O’Bannon scholarships awarded by K-State’s Global Campus. The O’Bannon scholarships are offered biannually in memory of Maurine Allison O’Bannon, a 1915 graduate from McPherson, Kansas. This scholarship provides a $1,000 cash award to distance-based students enrolled in
undergraduate and graduate programs.
PhD student, Sarah Asebedo, CFP® and Martin Seay 
CFP®, assistant professor, won the Financial Planning Association’s (FPA) 2016 Montgomery-Warschauer award for their November 2015 Journal of Financial Planning article, “From functioning to flourishing: Applying positive psychology to financial planning.” Each year, the Montgomery-Warschauer award recognizes the paper deemed to have provided “the most outstanding contribution to the betterment of the [financial planning] profession.” Congrats to Sarah and Martin on this outstanding accomplishment!
Cole Foster is a personal financial planning major with a minor in business. Cole was co-president of the K-State Financial Planning Association and developed two unique fundraisers to benefit the local community. He was a member of a team that won the Financial Planning Association’s national financial planning competition in 2015. Cole spent two years as a lifegroup leader with Christian Challenge and is the recipient of the College of Human Ecology’s outstanding senior award for leadership.
Miranda McMahon is a personal financial planning major with a minor in business administration. Miranda was a member of the Financial Planning Association, K-State’s Financial Planning Association and the Professional Advantage Program through the College of Business. She is a peer counselor and a member of the Student Advisory Council for Powercat Financial Counseling. Miranda volunteers her financial expertise at Shepard’s Crossing, a local nonprofit and is the recipient of the College of Human Ecology’s outstanding senior award for engagement.
Hannah Rice is a personal financial planning major with a minor in business. Hannah has conducted research with faculty and a doctoral candidate regarding the integration of physical and mental wellness with money and finances. With this research, Hannah coauthored a chapter in a health and wellness book, WholeFIT: Wellness for Life. She was a member of a team that won the Financial Planning Association’s national financial planning competition in 2015, which took over six months of preparation. Hannah is the recipient of the College of Human Ecology’s outstanding senior award for research and creative scholarship.
The 
Tierra Dimond is the new PFP program coordinator after Kim Misenhelter’s retirement. Tierra is a Manhattan native, K-State alum and thrilled to be on campus working with students and faculty. Tierra enjoys attending K-State sporting events and performances and says, “I have many great memories of all things K-State since I was a child.” Tierra has two daughters who keep her busy with sports and horseback riding. She enjoys coaching their teams when she can, participating in outdoor activities and traveling. Helping students achieve their educational goals from a support position as well as working with K-State alumni are the things she most looks forward to in her new position as program coordinator.
Racquel H. Tibbetts, PhD, successfully defended her dissertation in December 2015 titled: “Examining how health and financial resources relate to stress.”