Kansas State University

Attending a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meetings as a high school student is a highlight any future business major dreams about. For Michael Records, junior in finance from Wichita, attending these meetings were his first taste in business.

Records has been interested in Warren Buffet since his older brother introduced him to the business mogul when he was a high school junior. As a lifelong K-State fan, he found it hard not to study business here, but definitely weighed his options. After a campus visit, Records liked the people at K-State and realized how kind everyone is. That passion has rubbed off on Records, as he says, “I love it when people come up to me and ask questions because I like to help out whenever I can.”

As a business major, he has taken advantage of programs available to students. For the past two years Records has been working with his Executive Mentor, who works in San Diego. “My Executive Mentor has provided me with help in making business connections and networking with other business professionals,” said Records. “Business is about who you know and if you can make a connection with an employer and show them your character then you improve your chances in finding a job.”

During the summer of 2013, Records interned with Koch Industries in Wichita. As a procurement intern, he was tasked with increasing the efficiency of a plant, which involved decreasing inefficiencies in the ordering process. “There’s only so much you can learn in the classroom that will help you at your career,” he said. “Internships are vital in making your resume stand out to potential employers.”

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Student involvement is key to success as a college student at K-State. K-State offers about 500 different organizations that students can participate with and if an organization or club does not exist, students can start a new organization for their interest. Business majors have 20 different organizations to choose from.

In high school, students interested in business organizations can join DECA, FBLA, BPA, etc. At K-State, we offer clubs specific to each business major and special business honorary and professional business fraternity organizations.  By joining clubs and organizations, business students have a way to connect with other business and non-business majors. At the same time, they have items to add to their resume and can propel themselves into leadership roles within the organizations they are involved with.

Recruiters are looking for more than stellar academic students. They want to see students that are involved during college and can talk about some of the experiences gained from being involved with student organizations. Dedication to specific organizations and leadership within an organization can help students get internships and full-time positions.

The Fall Semester is ending quickly and you want to make sure your senior students that have applied to K-State are on track to meet important deadlines. The priority application deadline for scholarship consideration was November 17, so hopefully students completed their K-State application and scholarship supplement on-time! Between now and June Orientation, we have several dates students should be aware of.

Now-Spring: Students can complete a housing application after they receive their admittance letter to K-State. The first step is to complete a residence hall application and after that students will complete the residence hall contract. If your students are planning to live on-campus, they should consider completing a housing application as soon as they are admitted. More information on K-State living options can be found here.

By March 1, 2015: Students you educate that are considering K-State should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. The application becomes available at the beginning of January 2015 and will help students pay for their K-State education. Students may be eligible for grants, loans, and work-study programs. You can complete the FAFSA here.

April 2015: Admitted students planning to attend K-State in Fall 2015 will sign up to attend an orientation and enrollment date in June. During orientation day, students select courses, learn about K-State traditions, programs, and services available to them. More information on summer orientation can be found here.

Learning the ins and outs of business from an entrepreneurial parent is no easy task. For Sidney Diec, a junior from Wichita majoring in finance with a public relations minor, her father’s influence has led her down a successful path as a Kansas State business major.

Diec’s experience with business started at a young age, and while in high school she participated in two business organizations. Her high school coordinator was passionate about business and that’s what fueled some of her interest in the subject. The high school coordinator is also the one that opened her eyes to the opportunities at K-State.

Admittedly, most of her family sides with the big in-state rival, but her visit as a high school student sold her on K-State. She views her time at K-State and in Manhattan as an opportunity to experience the whole college experience away from her hometown. Diec has made the most of her opportunities by staying involved on campus.

She is a member of a sorority, the Student Finance Association, a Powercat Financial Advisory Board Member and an active participant with the Professional Advantage Program. She says the Professional Advantage Program drove her to do better in interviews and get good grades in class. She has also benefitted from her opportunity to work with an Executive Mentor.

Diec completed an internship with a local bank in high school and is matched up with the Chief Financial Officer at UMB Bank through the Executive Mentor Program. She says her mentor “is always willing to give advice and has really opened up his family to me. We meet on a regular basis and exchange emails regularly.” Diec is grateful that the mentors care about the success of current K-State business students by providing them with their time and advice. She hopes to serve as an active Executive Mentor in the future

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Just under a year ago the K-State College of Business Administration hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new business building. Fast forward a year later and we are starting construction on the new $60 million facility. The new business building is expected to open in summer 2016.

High school graduates for the class of 2015 will spend one year in our current building Calvin Hall, then complete the rest of their business courses in the new building. Students graduating from high school in spring 2016 or later will complete all their business coursework in the new business building.

The new business building is part of K-State’s future goal of becoming a top 50 public research institution by 2025. The new business building features nearly three times the space of our current building and helps lay the foundation for the future of business education at K-State.

Features expected in the new building include:

• 40+ Student study rooms
• Three 50-station computer labs
• 50-person financial research lab
• Dedicated space for student organizations
• Atrium with seating, networking space and coffee shop

Growing up in St. Francis, Kan., a small town of around 1,500 people, Tyler Larson always dreamed of attending Kansas State. Larson, a senior in finance had an interesting journey to K-State.

Larson began his college career at Fort Hays State University, but after two years there he decided to transfer to K-State. He originally was going to transfer into the architecture program, but after figuring out architecture wasn’t the right major for him he decided to switch to business. After taking some time off to complete Marine Corps Reservist duties, he started taking business courses in the spring of 2012.

With the Marine Corps station in Kansas City, it worked out for Larson to attend K-State. Since his arrival, he has quickly gotten involved with organizations. Larson is a member of the Student Finance Association, National Society of Collegiate Scholars (a community service group), theExecutive Mentor and Professional Advantage internal advisory boards,International Buddies (helps international students transition to K-State), and K-State Cross Fit Club. He also has two paid jobs, including one withPowercat Financial Counseling, which helps K-State students manage their personal finances.

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