Tara Coleman
2020 was a year of many changes for our university common book program. Some were sudden due to the pandemic, while others had been in the works for a bit longer. One of our major changes, as part of our 10th anniversary in 2020, was to change the name of the program from the K-State Book Network to K-State First Book, or KSFB.
This year K-State read, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” by William Kamkwamba. The book tells the true story of William, a young man who entirely DIYs a windmill that brings electricity to his family and his village during a difficult economic and environmental time period (you may have seen the film on Netflix). The students, staff, and faculty that selected this book felt it told an inspiring story that would be relatable to students and cover subjects that are important to the K-State community.
When we announced this book, I was excited as I envisioned all the ways we would use the book. A film screening of the lawn in front of Hale Library, interactive activities building toys or small windmills out of spare parts, and bringing the K-State and local community onto campus to hear the author talk in real life.
Due to COVID-19, many of our plans were put on hold or shelved all together. After a short moment of groaning, everyone involved put their heads together and thought of ways of creating a common experience for the community virtually. In “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”, William thought outside of the box and didn’t let his lack of resources or access to people keep him from building his windmill. Much like William, we thought outside of the box and came up with ways to have communal experiences and connect with new people online.
This year all of our events were virtual. While I will always prefer in-person over a virtual event, the bright side of our virtual events meant that anyone with internet access could participate, which can be a challenge with in-person events. Many classes hosted viewing parties and everyone watched at the same time. While it wasn’t perfect, it was a safe way to be together!
Additionally, William Kamkwamba did a great author talk for K-State virtually! We were able to stream his presentation live on YouTube, which allowed people from anywhere to join the conversation. While I’m always excited to have an author visit with our students, my favorite part of our program is the faculty/staff lectures. I love learning from my colleagues at K-State. This year we discussed art, talked to people on the other side of the world, and heard about subjects close to home. Because everything was recorded, you can watch them too at our Past Lectures webpage. Our lineup of events this year are below:
- Beach Museum of Art Common Work of Art/K-State First Book Virtual Celebration
- “Resilience and Perseverance: How Engagement Transforms Lives” panel discussion
- “Perspectives of the Global Food System: From Kansas to Sub-Saharan Africa” panel discussion
- “Diversity in Kansas Farming” panel discussion
And finally, as part of our 10th Anniversary, and in recognition of two individuals who have been such strong advocates of our KSFB program and the whole first-year endeavor, we are renaming our K-State First Book student scholarship the Bill Miller and Debbie Leckron Miller K-State First Book Scholarship. Each year, students who have engaged with the book are eligible to apply, and we are glad to now be able to highlight how much Bill and Debbie support the program and student success through their generous gift.
Thank you for your support of K-State First through our first decade and into the next! If you would like to donate to our program and support student scholarships and student success initiatives, you can do so here.