Making a Difference

Category: Spring 2014

Reaching out in Kansas City

K-State First Lady Noel Schulz served as a guest speaker for Olathe events for 1863 Circle members and Land Grand Legacy Society members.

KSU Foundation hosted two special events at the K-State Olathe campus recently, both with the goal of appreciating the loyal alumni and friends in the Kansas City area who help make K-State great.

The first-ever 1863 Circle events were held March 31 on the K-State Olathe campus. Special guests included K-State first lady Noel Schulz, as well as faculty and staff members from the Olathe campus. A breakfast and evening reception were held to accommodate this growing group, which has nearly 5,000 members.

The main focus was celebrating 1863 Circle members, current and future, and their impact on K-State.

“The purpose of the events was really two-fold,” said Jenna Harmison, development officer for the 1863 Circle. “The events allowed us the opportunity to recognize our members of 1863 Circle, as well as to grow the circle by raising awareness in the Kansas City area.”

In its third year, the 1863 Circle is K-State’s annual giving recognition society showcasing the generosity of alumni and friends with giving of $1,000 or more annually. Similar events are planned for Wichita, Salina, Topeka and southwest Kansas.

On the same day, Kansas City-area members of Land Grant Legacy Society were also honored at a luncheon on the K-State Olathe campus.

“Our annual luncheon on the Manhattan campus is always a wonderful opportunity to recognize our loyal donors who have included K-State in their estate plans,” said Kent Sedlacek, senior director of gift planning. “This was the first time we’ve taken the luncheon on the road, and it was great to see so many K-Staters connect on our newest campus.”

Like the 1863 Circle, Land Grant Legacy Society is a growing group, with more than 900 K-Staters from across the country as members.

Noel Schulz, who served as a guest speaker at the events, enjoyed the opportunity to reach out to K-Staters in the Kansas City area.

“Members of 1863 Circle and Land Grant Legacy Society are vital to the future of K-State, and their support touches the lives of our students and faculty every day,” she said. “With their help, we are making progress toward our K-State 2025 vision. It was a great honor to spend a day with these special K-Staters and thank them for all they do for the university.”

Find out more about donor recognition societies

At the Land Grant Legacy Society luncheon on the K-State Olathe campus, students Connor Kraus (left), a sophomore in Family Studies and Human Services from Topeka, and Ariel Mendiola (right), a senior in political science and criminology from De Soto, provided updates from a student perspective.

Yes, we’re PROUD!

In the eighth year of the student-led K-State Proud campaign, a record-breaking $133,645 was raised to benefit Student Opportunity Awards. The grand total now stands at just over $833,000!

Everyone who donates a minimum amount of $20 receives a campaign T-shirt, which also promotes the K-State brand. Cox Communications and GTM provide important corporate sponsorship each year.

Since the first year of the campaign, students have established a culture of philanthropy by promoting the idea of “students helping students,” through Student Opportunity Awards, more than 450 of which have now been awarded to students. Learn more about the awards and meet some of the award recipients.

Find out more about K-State Proud