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K-State Parents and Family Program

Young Alumni Spotlight: Andrew Waldman

Andrew WaldmanWe recently caught up with Andrew Waldman, 2014 graduate of Kansas State University, to discuss the opportunities at K-State that helped him be successful in his career. Andrew, a Shawnee native, received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. He now works for Deloitte Consulting.

Describe your transition from college to career. What were some of the major adjustments?
I actually had an unexpectedly quick transition! I wasn’t able to finish my Master’s thesis in May like I had planned, so I had to delay my graduation until August. I wrote and defended my thesis that summer while also completing a full-time internship at my fraternity’s Administrative Office. I finished my internship in Ohio on August 15, and moved back to Kansas over the weekend to start my first day at Deloitte on August 18. It was chaos. But I’d say the biggest adjustment was (and still is) learning how to balance a career with my personal life. There is literally always more work to do, but most of the time it’s not worth sacrificing quality time with friends and family on the weekends. The work will still be there on Monday.

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The Cats’ Cupboard Grand “CAN” Opening Was a Tasty Success!

The recently announced logo for the Cats’ Cupboard. This logo was voted on by K-State students, faculty and staff.

This semester was a big one for our NEW campus food pantry. Cats’ Cupboard celebrated it’s grand “CAN” opening in October alongside students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Supporters all across campus stopped by to see the pantry space, donate to the pantry, hear from students and faculty that helped start the pantry, and help promote this resource for students! 

As you might recall, we previously had a feature on Erin Bishop, the food pantry coordinator, and how she carries out the vision of the food pantry. That mission is to prevent food insecurity from being a barrier to student success. Awareness, as well as access to healthy food, is essential to her role and the role of the pantry moving forward. The collaborative effort of student life and academia will lead the way for practicing real change and enhancing K-State’s land-grant mission.

With space in the basement of Fairchild hall (009), a central location on campus, the shelves are stocked and the accessibility of food and other necessary items is now there for students.

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Be ready for sickness: steps to prepare for when your student becomes ill

The 2016 National College Health Assessment concluded that over 50 percent of college students sought out treatment, over the course of a year, for illnesses ranging from allergies and back pain to strep throat and ear infections. It’s inevitable that at some point in college, your child will get sick. When they do feel ill, Lafene Health Center is ready to help. Lafene Health Center

Located on campus, west of Kramer Dining Center, Lafene is conveniently located for a quick visit with a professional staff member. Lafene has services ranging from allergy and immunizations, X-ray’s, a women’s health clinic, and physical therapy to name a few.

The biggest difference between Lafene Health Center and a private doctor’s office is the cost. Students at K-State pay a specified privilege fee each semester which helps subsidize the cost of student health services. Most of the time, a short appointment without equipment or labs will be at low cost or no charge. Additionally, services including the pharmacy, laboratory, X-Ray’s, Physical Therapy, etc. are charged to students (mainly via health insurance) at a much reduced rate.

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Guest Post: How to Be A Thrifty Giver During the Holidays

This content was originally posted on the K-State Powercat Financial Services Blog on November 6, 2017 and was written by Gretchen Holthaus. Powercat Financial Services is a peer-to-peer program where students studying financial planning or financial services offer counseling to fellow students on budgeting, saving, credit, student loan repayment and transitioning to work. 

K-State Parents and Family Association wants to advise students and parents on some smart money habits throughout the holiday season. Time with students, and family, is special and we hope this article is useful as we celebrate the holidays! 

giftsDuring the holidays money can be tight— especially with all the pressure to get everyone you know a nice and meaningful gift. Below are some helpful tips for you and your wallet during the holidays.

Make a List and Check it Twice

First, list out all the people you’d like to get gifts for. After you do that, look through it again. Are there people on there that you maybe have lost touch with or don’t talk to as much anymore? If you are working with a tight budget during the holidays, it will be beneficial shortening this list to those you still have strong relationships with.

Another way to shorten your list would be to start a Secret Santa. Instead of you and your friends getting a gift for every single person, start a Secret Santa. This will limit the number of gift purchases while also allowing you to focus on getting a nice gift for one person instead of however many smaller gifts to stay in budget.

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Work with Our Dining Family

As a new semester begins, K-State Housing & Dining Services is recruiting students to work in the dining centers.

Did you know?
• Students don’t have to work a tremendous number of hours. New freshmen will not be scheduled more than 12 hours a week. Many students choose to work only 6 hours per week then pick up substitute shifts when they want to.

• Working in the dining center provides an extension of K-State’s educational environment. Only a few hours of work a week provides social opportunities that often last a lifetime. Students learn many valuable work skills, including communication, decision making, judgement, leadership, teamwork, and dedication. These skills are central to success in the careers students are aspiring to have. In fact, many of these valuable work skills are communicated in resumes and interviews that freshmen will need all too soon. Students begin at $8.00/ hour, but more important than the wage is the educational benefit work provides.

• We believe students’ academic success is the top goal and we assign work schedules to support this belief. Student schedules are made around class schedules and never would we expect a student to skip class because of a job. Nor do we expect that they be here during breaks such as Thanksgiving, semester, and spring.

• Research has shown that students do better academically when they have to balance schedules and be organized. Based on the research results, it is likely that working a few hours a week can create an environment that improves study skills, time management, and thus academic success. Of course, the research is not suggesting cause and effect but there is a correlation between academic success and managing time effectively.

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Meet K-State Food Pantry Coordinator Erin Bishop

Food Pantry Coordinator Erin Bishop

The floors have been waxed and buffed, there’s new paint on the walls, desks, chairs, and a magazine rack have all been selected from the university surplus website.  A student is working away on a website and a social media strategy is being developed. New K-State Food Pantry Coordinator, Erin Bishop,  has finished all these tasks, along with a list of other items, all within her first two weeks on the job.

Erin earned two degrees from K-State, and considers herself a lifelong Wildcat.  She proudly shares that her grandmother lived in Van Zile Hall during WWII.  Since graduating with her master’s degree in 2008, Erin has worked in mental wellness, substance abuse counseling, and academic advising.  In addition, she found that her work with K-State Research and Extension and UFM Community Learning Center fueled her passion for volunteer service, community gardens, and ensuring student success by breaking down barriers that impede their learning and success.

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It’s Time for the K-State Career Fair

The Kansas State University All-University Career Fair is next month! This opportunity, open to students of all majors and disciplines, is a great way to connect with hundreds of employers looking to hire K-Staters! 

The Career Fair is hosted from September 19-September 21 and students will have the chance to be recruited for full time jobs, internships, and co-op positions.

Students will need to join Handshake, the Career Center’s recruiting and career services platform for K-State students, alumni and employers. Students and alumni can use Handshake to easily connect with employers, search for jobs and internships, review career fair/event information, and manage on-campus interviewing.

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From Homeless and Hungry to K-State Hero

Content provided by The Manhattan Mercury

Sarah Barrett literally followed her dreams and came to Kansas State University.

“I had a dream three weeks before (high school) graduation and I decided to switch … to K-State,” she said. “I went to my guidance counselor the next day and she told me I missed basically all the deadlines, but everyone worked with me and I came to school.”

That was back in 2004.

She now works at the university as a Cleary Act federal compliance coordinator, making sure the university reports crimes properly, helps with federal aid, grants and “continues the mission of serving students,” she said.

However, she also recently turned her personal struggles into her passion and second aspect of her job.

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K-State 360 is Here!

Your students will have experiences outside of the classroom while attending Kansas State University and we want them to be meaningful. K-State 360 is a way to make those experiences count for something.

Students can track areas in which they are developing skills in teamwork, diversity, leadership, problem solving, communication, and career development. K-State 360 is designed to give students a competitive edge for future success.

It’s simple: a student can easily sign up and check-in through their smart phone and record their attended events and activities on campus. Upon completion of the program they will receive a co-curricular transcript to share with future employers, graduate or professional schools and will receive K-State 360 alumni benefits. Continue reading “K-State 360 is Here!”

2017 Kyle Pelton Student Employee of the Year Award Celebration

This article was provided by Ashley Bailey and the K-State Career Center. 

Kansas State University student employees, supervisors, family and friends gathered April 11 to recognize more than 40 K-Staters who were nominated for the Student Employee of the Year award.

Dominique Hoover was named student employee of the year by the K-State Career Center

Before announcing the 2017 winner, Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students, recognized the family of the late Kyle Pelton, the 2016 Student Employee of the Year. Pelton’s post-graduation employer, Textron Aviation, was also acknowledged and presented a $1,000 lead gift that will help fund a a permanent display for all past and future award winners. In addition to the gift, the award will now be known as the Kyle Pelton Student Employee of the Year award.

Shortly following the gift revealing, Dominique Hoover, student facility manager for K-State’s Recreational Services, was named the 2017 Kyle Pelton Student Employee of the Year. Hoover is a senior in mechanical engineering and from Hutchinson, Kansas.

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