Another exciting semester has begun with many new opportunities and awards for our graduate students. We began fall semester with the Graduate School Orientation sessions to welcome our new graduate students and provide them information to facilitate their success. More than 340 new graduate students participated in the on-campus orientation sessions that included the introductory session on August 19 where the students were provided key information to facilitate their success, learned about the opportunities offered by the Graduate Student Council and experienced situations that new graduate students often find themselves in through role playing by graduate students in Drama Therapy.
The students were greeted by Provost April Mason, Vice-President of Research Karen Burg, Associate Dean of the Graduate School Geraldine Craig and me. The Graduate School collaborated with on-campus partners and 11 off-campus businesses to share information about resources and opportunities available in Manhattan for graduate students and their families in our inaugural K-State and Little Apple Resource Fair. The Graduate School appreciates the contributions that everyone provided to welcome our new graduate students to campus and Manhattan. For our distance students we provided a virtual orientation.
On August 20, over 300 graduate teaching, graduate research and graduate assistants completed special training and learned about their important contributions they make to Kansas State University’s missions of teaching, research, service and outreach. Dr. Michael Herman, Associate Dean of Graduate School, facilitated the session with representatives from Human Capital Services.
Mr. Todd Holmberg hosted the graduate and international students on August 23 for an informative and entertaining evening where he introduced the students to what McCain is offering this year.
In this issue you will learn how the College of Education continues to provide graduate degrees to meet the needs of diverse students and how the support of Dr. Mike Holen and others influenced the success of our featured alumni, Dr. Edward Eddy, a 1982 doctoral graduate from the College of Education. Like Dr. Eddy, I know that many of you recall how influenced your major professor and other faculty were in your success while a student and during your career. K-State is fortunate to have outstanding mentors.
One such group is the University Distinguished Professors (UPD) who recently recognized three doctoral candidates with monetary awards to enhance their graduate experiences during their final year at K-State. Under the leadership of Dr. M.M. Chengappa, the UPDs established this UPD Graduate Student Award. Through their continued contributions and the support of the Vice President of Research, they are providing outstanding doctoral students the opportunity to obtain specialized research skills, travel to professional meetings and expand their dissertation research. The Graduate School awarded, for the first time this fall, the Marie R. Bonebrake Graduate Award from the income of an endowed fund that Mr. Case Bonebrake established to honor his late wife, who received a BS (1943) and an MS (1947) from K-State. These two awards along with the Al and RosaLee Sarachek Predoctoral Honors Fellowship and Travel Awards in Molecular Biology are important in providing much needed financial support for our outstanding graduate students. The Graduate School, the graduate programs and the colleges all have the goal of increasing scholarship support for our graduate students and I hope you will consider helping us by making an online gift or by contacting Tracy Robinson at the KSU Foundation at tracyr@found.ksu.edu or (785) 532-7568.
We hope that each of you will continue to stay connected with K-State. If you plan to be in Manhattan on November 21st, we invite you to join us for the Graduate School Tailgate in Cat Town prior to the Iowa State Game. Additional information is available in the newsletter and on our website. The Food Science Institute also invites alumni who obtained a graduate degree in Food Science to join them on Friday, October 16 from 3:30-7:30 pm at the K-State Alumni Center Banquet Room. I look forward to networking with alumni during the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference in Nashville October 3-6. Mark your calendar to attend the Graduate School Alumni Event on April 8-9, 2016.
Please know that the Graduate School team would enjoy visiting with you when you are on campus or by staying connected with you via email.
Enjoy the beautiful fall weather.