GFKS_v6

Volume 3, Issue 1 Fall 2011

Reaching outPhilanthropy expands

study-abroad experiences

Good for K-State celebrates the many ways that private philanthropy advances our university and sustains its future as a vital, thriving institution.

The Wright touchBy Andrew Zender

One of K-State’s greatest strengths is the wide range of cultures and people that are part of the university community. Doris Wright Carroll, associate professor in special education, counseling and student affairs, recognizes the importance of a multicultural campus and has taken an active role to enhance opportunities for K-State students from diverse backgrounds.

Ten years ago, she and her family created the Lawrence G. Wright Scholarship in recognition of her father’s diversity work with the Santa Fe Railroad in Topeka, Kan., an award that has been given to an undergraduate multicultural student every year since 2002. This fall, Carroll established the Doris Wright Carroll Multicultural Technology Award, which provides the Lawrence G. Wright scholar with a new laptop.

Johnathan Lynk, a junior from Olathe, Kan., studying secondary education with an emphasis in social studies, is the first to receive the new technology award, which is the only one of its kind in the College of Education.

“I couldn’t be more thankful for this award, which allows me to be a lot more mobile as a student than I ever was before,” Lynk said. “Not only will I have a new laptop to utilize during classes and lectures to take notes and research, but the latest software and programs will set me up for success in future projects and presentations.”

“Knowing and working with technology is such a vital part of the classroom and the world,” Lynk said. “That someone wants to invest in my success here at K-State makes me feel important, re-energized and ready to take on another year at K-State full of challenges and opportunities.”

How you can helpFor more information on how you can support the College of Education, including multicultural initiatives, contact Marty Kramer at 785-532-7578 or [email protected]. n

Fall 2011

2 GoodShot New pianos strike a chord in the Department

of Music

4 GoodWord Shipping off to a different kind of bootcamp

6 A tale of three cities Three students have the best of times during a

semester abroad

10 Small but stunning How one room connects campus to the world

12 A head start on tomorrow Budding engineers gain real-world experience

14 Life, literature and artichokes Scholarship honors a professor’s “living room

lectures”

16 Good for All The 1863 Circle recognizes leadership in

annual giving

18 GoodPlan Scholarship transforms a loss into a legacy

20 GoodNews

22 GoodBye

23 2011 Annual Report

Good for K-State is published for the

thousands of alumni and friends who advance

K-State through philanthropy. Thank you for all you do for K-State!

Welcome to Good for K-State, a magazine devoted to the inspiration and impact of private philanthropy for Kansas State University. We invite your comments, questions and ideas. Just send an e-mail to [email protected]. We are eager to hear from you and welcome your participation!

Editorial teamJulie Lea, editor Shanna Williams, writerSusan Wolf Berhow, writer Andrew Zender, writerKim Downing, editorial assistant Kim Zerfas, lead designerShaun Kirmer, designer

PhotographersMatt Binter, David Mayes

Good for K-State is published by the Kansas State University Foundation, 2323 Anderson Ave., Suite 500, Manhattan, KS 66502-2911.

COVER PHOTO: COURTESY OF ELYSE BUCKLEYBACK COVER PHOTO: K-STATE PHOTO SERVICES 100%

Doris Wright Carroll and Johnathan Lynk

PHOTO: MATT BINTER

| GoodX | | GoodShot |

All keyed upBy Andrew Zender

In the Wilson Chamber Music Room, the Steinway piano is being played by Janka Krajciova, second-year master’s student in music from Slovakia.

PHOTO: DAVID MAYES

2 Good for K-State | Fall 2011

How you can helpEvery week, approximately 3,500 students representing every college and department at K-State come through the doors of McCain Auditorium to make music. Your support helps student-musicians have access to the best facilities possible. Find out how you can help by contacting Tracy Robinson at 785-532-7568 or [email protected]. n

Every year, thousands of patrons come to McCain Auditorium for concerts and other events presented by the K-State Department of Music, K-State Singers

and other groups. What they may not know is that up until mid-2011, most of the equipment and practice rooms in McCain dated back to 1970, when the facility reopened after it was ravaged by a fire five years earlier.

Gifts of $25,000 from Georgia Chandler ’48, Wichita, Kan., and Judge Terry Bullock ’61, Topeka, Kan., have been instrumental in upgrading the department’s facilities with 11 new Kawai upright pianos, and renovating two piano wings that now bear the donors’ names.

“It has been a wonderful experience — everyone has been so gracious with their thanks,” Chandler said. “One of my sons was a member of K-State Singers and is now on the music department’s advisory council. He helped point out the department’s needs and I’m so glad I could help.”

“I came to K-State on a music scholarship, and being a member of the K-State Singers was one of my fondest memories of college,” Bullock said. “Music has always brought me great joy, and I feel the same joy in giving back to a program that was so important to me.”

Further enhancing the department is a new Steinway grand piano, donated by Carver Wilson, Kula, Hawaii, Susan Bowditch, Westport Island, Maine, and Kathleen Selvidge, Topeka, Kan., three siblings who grew up in Manhattan taking private music lessons from K-State faculty. The Steinway, their mother’s prized possession, now resides in a newly renovated chamber music room named for their parents, Doris M. and C. Peairs Wilson, who met at K-State.

“We couldn’t have felt better about the gift,” Bowditch said. “As a family, we’ve always been associated with K-State and hold the university in grateful hearts. This was a very special opportunity to give something back.”

“For her to have this piano was a lifelong achievement, something very meaningful. I think that captures what music can mean to people,” Wilson said. “Our family roots in Manhattan are deep, and the joy of leaving a legacy here was a powerful experience, one that is rare in life.”

Gary Mortenson, head of the Department of Music, reflected on the impact of these gifts. “‘Music for life’ is our motto, and because of donors like these who never forgot the influence music had on their lives, we’re able to instill that same passion and appreciation in future generations of students.”

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Back from bootcamp

Putting leadership lessons to workBy Andrew Zender

Ruddy Yañez, a junior from Tribune, Kan., majoring in family studies and human services, was one of three K-State students who attended the Leadership Honors Bootcamp in May 2011. She shared reflections on this one-of-a-kind experience.

| GoodWord |


K-State was seen as the “go-to” university as Carolyn Jackson was growing up in Inman, Kan. A 1975 graduate of the College of Human Ecology, she credits K-State with helping her build a solid foundation of skills, leadership and confidence to adapt to new and vastly different environments — all of which have played a major role in her transition from small-town Kansas to thriving in the Washington, D.C. area.

Jackson directs the Leadership Honors Bootcamp program in Arlington, Va., a series of intensive five-day programs for university students where participants from across the country gain rich new insights into leadership theories and have the opportunity to interact with professionals who provide real-life examples of how they’ve successfully applied leadership concepts to their own lives and careers.

“Whether I was attending 4-H Roundup or going with my folks to visit the agriculture experiment station, the K-State campus became my learning laboratory,” Jackson said. “And that’s the premise of Leadership Honors Bootcamp — to put leadership theories into practice.”

Jackson started the program in 2000 and nearly 30 K-State students have attended the program since its inception. A third of those students’ participation has been made possible with assistance from the Carolyn Jackson Leadership Fund, which she established in 2009.

“I wanted others to have the same opportunities that I believe have given me a competitive advantage in my career,” Jackson said. “People I know through K-State have become a large part of my ‘personal board of directors,’ those I seek out for advice and wise counsel. If giving back to K-State can help others develop that special inner circle of lifelong colleagues and personal friends, then I’m glad to be able to do that.”

How you can helpTo learn more about how you can help send another K-State student to leadership bootcamp or support other programs in the College of Human Ecology, contact Jennifer Rettele-Thomas at 785-532-7592 or [email protected]. n

I believe that these opportunities help us grow as students and become well-rounded people. This program is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain experience and knowledge — and hopefully return with a new outlook on life, having explored new perspectives with other students from around the country. The Leadership Honors Bootcamp allowed me to freely explore my leadership abilities, and without donors, this life-changing experience would not have been possible. Their generous contributions show how much they truly care about helping K-State students.

Ruddy YañezJunior, family studies and human services

PHOTO: DAVID MAYES

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By Andrew Zender

Left and right: Randi Clark and her classmates enjoyed an expansive view of Carcassone, France, from the inside of a medieval castle. Center: When she wasn’t immersed in the agriculture of Ireland, Jodie Dugan walked this charming street in Dublin.


Year after year, thousands of students come to K-State and thrive in the small-town atmosphere and tight-knit university community — yet many of them find themselves whisked away to distant lands where everyday experiences involve visiting an ancient monument, traversing a stunning landscape or sampling a rich array of exotic culinary delicacies.

And it’s because of donors and alumni like Roger and Ruth Wolfe, Hiawatha, Kan., that students are able to supplement their K-State education with a study-abroad experience. Inspired by their own extensive travels across the globe, the Wolfes wanted to help provide that same experience for students. When they began making plans to create a scholarship at K-State, they wanted to support something new — and the Roger and Ruth Wolfe International Study Program Award was established.

“For students, the opportunity to study abroad will broaden their horizons and enhance their global perspective,” Roger said. “It’s better for young people to be exposed to and understand other cultures and the world earlier in life rather than later.”

“These experiences are about being fully immersed in a culture on a daily basis,” Ruth said. It’s about getting to know people and seeing how they work and live.”

The Wolfes’ endowed scholarship has helped K-State advance its international offerings — and they hope that their giving will inspire the next generation to keep the momentum going.

“Looking down the road, we hope that the scholarship recipients will see how much they benefitted from their experiences,” Roger said. “And that their experiences will inspire them to provide the same.”

Randi Clark, Elyse Buckley and Jodie Dugan are three of the more than 60 students who have studied abroad since 1997 as a result of the Wolfes’ generosity. Their stories are as diverse as the cultures in which they were immersed.

Randi ClarkSenior, agronomySome of the greatest adventures we take in life only happen when we surrender our reluctance to venture into the unknown — but when we find a host that guides the way along new paths, it deeply enriches our experience and opens our eyes to a world we may never have known.

Such is the case for Randi Clark, Monroe, Iowa, who appreciated the hospitality of her host father in Toulouse, France, so much that she still keeps in touch with him via Skype — and is planning a return trip in the future to see the wonderful people and culture she encountered while studying at École d’ Ingénieurs de Purpan during summer 2010.

For Clark, interacting with individuals from other countries is no foreign concept. Having worked as a community assistant at Moore Hall for two years, she helped many international students acclimate to their new surroundings and experienced firsthand the barriers

that language and culture often create. But it was that time in France that helped her truly realize and appreciate the challenges and opportunities that come with being a stranger in a strange land.

“My host family was especially great,” Clark said. “The friendships we made with people we met — and the things we learned that we never would have known had we not visited — were like no other.”

Clark’s courses ran the gamut from French language to vinology and animal and crop production. Outside of the classroom, her list of favorite extracurricular activities represents a true abundance of riches: tours of French vineyards, hiking through the Pyrenees Mountains, a trip to Barcelona, Spain, and flying in a plane over the French countryside.

“When people travel overseas, sightseeing is just one part of it,” Clark said. “But when you integrate yourself entirely into a new world like you would your own, it’s the experience of a lifetime.”

And like many other students without a scholarship or other form of financial aid, the opportunity to study abroad simply wouldn’t be possible. It’s only through the support of donors that students are able to pursue the dream of spending a semester outside the United States.

“This scholarship allowed me to taste new foods, learn a new language and live in a different culture — eye-opening things I never thought I’d be

— continued on next page

Top right: The sky’s the limit as Randi Clark takes the controls of a plane flying over the farm she worked in Montaubon, France. Right: Clark “holds up” the three wise men at the Gaudi Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain.

COURTESY PHOTOS

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able to do,” Clark said. “I am forever indebted to the Wolfes, who made it possible for me to go. I will never be able to thank them enough for the experience that they allowed me to have.”

Elyse BuckleySenior, food scienceIf you ask Elyse Buckley about her travels abroad in 2011, you just might get the impression that she’s somewhat of an epicurean. After all, it was a desire to get immersed in the Italian approach to food, wine and agriculture — all while seeing beautiful places — that sparked this full-fledged foodie to spend the spring semester studying in Florence, Italy.

Buckley, a native of Manhattan, Kan., is no stranger to study-abroad experiences. During the summer of 2008, just after her freshman year at K-State, she received her first Wolfe scholarship to attend an agricultural engineering school in Toulouse, France, and engage in a winery internship in Bordeaux.

A summer in France is sure to be enough to whet anyone’s appetite for more international travel, and Buckley needed another taste. After being awarded the scholarship a second time, she was off to Lorenzo de’ Medici for a semester of courses on the Italian language, cooking and wine, watercolor painting and sustainable agriculture.

“I had no idea there is such a wide variation in Italian food,” Buckley said. “Learning about trademarked cheeses, dishes and wines special to each region was a neat way to experience and appreciate the distinct cultures throughout the country.”

“I also liked seeing and learning how the local farming system efficiently supplies fresh markets at reasonable prices,” Buckley added. “I learned

about many other issues Italy and the United States face with regards to food production that will directly or indirectly affect the future supply, such as water rights, worker rights, production methods and land usage by foreign ownership. It was fascinating.”

Buckley traveled extensively throughout the country, taking day trips to Pisa, Siena, Pompeii, Vesuvius, Cinque Terre, The Vatican, Venice, the Amalfi coast and Sicily. Outside of Italy, she embarked on outings to Amsterdam, Germany, Brussels, Belgium, Istanbul, France, Czech Republic and Greece, where she kayaked among islands over clear, blue waters, camped on the beach, and ate authentic Greek meals in tiny seaside villages.

In eight months, Buckley was able to pack in what seems like a life’s worth of travel, and while she’s also glad to return home to family and friends — she’s grateful to have had the opportunity to take such an adventure because of her scholarship.

“After living and traveling abroad for eight months, I’m looking forward to catching up with family and friends,” Buckley said. “My time overseas made me treasure the close relationships I have with them — but I’ll never forget my time abroad. I plan to travel more in years to come.”

“I was fortunate to have received this scholarship twice. It really helped open my eyes to all the different cultures and ways of life there are in the world.”

Jodie DuganSenior, agribusinessSmall world. It’s an oft-used phrase, an abbreviated way to point out the remarkable connections, coincidences and correlations that tie the people and places we know to those outside of our recognizable realm. Yet it continues to ring true; for Jodie Dugan, Chapman, Kan., it was meeting an Australian student — while studying in Ireland — who had not only heard of Manhattan, Kan., but had even visited the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kan.

While encounters like these make it seem that the world is growing smaller, students like Dugan remind us that there is still much to be discovered and experienced beyond our borders. And when she opened the letter informing her that she’d been awarded a Wolfe scholarship to study abroad in spring 2011, the emotions came sweeping over her like the waves washing over an Irish bluff — first disbelief, then relief, then sheer joy and intense anticipation for the great journey that lie ahead.

While traveling in Turkey, Elyse Buckley observed curators at the Hagia Sophia restoring the building’s original mosaics, which were plastered over by the Ottoman Turks when they converted it from a cathedral to a mosque in 1453. The Sophia was a cathedral from 350–1453 and a mosque until 1931. It reopened to the public in 1935 as a museum.

A tale of three cities


From January through May, traveling with another K-Stater, she toured the country and became engrossed in the agricultural academics at University College Dublin (UCD) in Belfield, Ireland. During a two-week break, Dugan jetted over to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic — and made it back in time celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin.

“It was great to have the opportunity to see different cultures personally and gain knowledge of how they live their everyday lives,” Dugan said. “Instead of learning about it from a textbook, I was able to experience it firsthand. So far, it’s been the best experience of my life.”

K-State’s agriculture exchange program with UCD places an emphasis on agri-environmental economics and policy and international food marketing, blended with courses on Irish history and culture. Dugan’s experience took it a level deeper — over a weekend, she accompanied an Irish classmate to their family farm in Galway and got her hands dirty helping with chores and herding sheep.

“The people were amazing; very hospitable and welcoming,” Dugan said. “I loved being able to see different views of agriculture in another country, and just how important a role it plays in everyone’s life.”

It had always been in the back of Dugan’s mind that she’d study abroad, but she initially had reservations, questioning her ability to live outside of her comfort zone and the financial capacity to make it happen. Being awarded the Wolfe scholarship eased her burdens and made it possible for her to pursue this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“This scholarship truly meant a lot to me and made a great impact on my life,” Dugan said. “It’s wonderful to know that there are people like Roger and Ruth who make this possible.”

“Because of this experience, I feel that I can do anything I set out to accomplish. Everything was an opportunity to learn about myself and what matters most to me in life.”

How you can helpSince creating the scholarship, Roger and Ruth Wolfe have continued to make annual contributions to award at least five scholarships a year, allowing them the opportunity to meet some of the recipients, experience their enthusiasm and learn about their trips. Through a combination of an outright gift and a deferred gift, they’ve ensured that generations of K-State students will embark on life-changing study-abroad experiences. If you are interested in establishing a study-abroad scholarship in any K-State college, please contact Fred Cholick at 785-532-7566 or [email protected]. n

Study abroad at K-StateMarcelo Sabates, interim associate provost for international programs, believes that students in today’s work force can only be competitive if they are exposed to the world. “Study abroad is a premier way of achieving that — it opens students’ minds to new perspectives and ways of life,” Sabates said. “In many cases, it is a life-changing experience.”

According to K-State’s Office of International Programs, more than 500 K-State students study abroad each year through any of the 50-plus exchange programs with foreign institutions around the world. Among the most frequently visited parts of the globe are Australia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Spain.

Karli Webster, K-State director of study abroad, says that the impact of a study-abroad experience can vary greatly from one student to another, but one thing is constant: studying abroad is a surefire way for a student to broaden his or her perspective and develop a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of our world.

“Once students make a personal connection to people of different cultures, instead of just seeing them as ‘the other,’ it helps them to open their minds,” Webster said. “They learn to understand how all cultures, countries and economies can affect one another.”

Kansas State University’s 2025 visionary plan includes internationalization as one of the eight common elements to be considered in all themes within the plan. Study-abroad initiatives are an essential part of undergraduate education, and private support of these programs continues to be essential. More information is available at www.k-state.edu/studyabroad.

Jodie Dugan (left) and K-State companion Grace Bokelman at Lough Tay, a small scenic lake made to look like a pint of Guinness in the Wicklow Mountains of Wicklow County, Ireland.

A T A G L A N C E

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To the untrained eye, it might look like your average conference room. But take a closer look. Those aren’t just flat-screen monitors. They’re super-high-def, 63-inch flat-screen monitors. The room doesn’t just have one camera, it has three. Those things hanging from the ceiling? Super-sensitive microphones. Those window shades? Room darkening. Furniture? Capable of transforming into numerous seating arrangements. Walls? Covered in acoustic panels.

In short, it’s the most tricked-out classroom/seminar room/conference room you’ll find in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Coles Hall.

The newly dedicated Lechtenberg Family Learning Center was made possible through a donation from Kelly Lechtenberg, a 1987 K-State doctor of veterinary medicine graduate, and his wife Marcie. Lechtenberg is the founder and CEO of Midwest Veterinary Services, Central States Research Centre and Logan Valley Feeders in Oakland, Neb. The room’s upgraded technology accommodates video and audio conferencing and includes Skype technology, polycom and many other features for conferences and small-size classroom lectures.

You might read the word “small” and think the impact of the room is limited. And you would be wrong. “It’s in use almost every day,” said Dr. M.M. Chengappa, University Distinguished Professor and head of the Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology. “Before, it was a conference room, and it wasn’t used very much. Now, it’s booked solid for next semester.”

Why? It’s not just the gee whiz, way-cool technology of it. It’s because it’s capable of connecting the faculty and students with anyone, anywhere. It’s because you can teach, collaborate and learn without being hemmed in by the standard logistical challenges of time, distance and expense. It’s because the technology helps the teaching come alive.

To the faculty and students who use it, it’s a game changer. It’s changed the way classes are taught and the way the department collaborates beyond the K-State campus. It’s used for everything from classes, special trainings, interviews with prospective faculty and residency candidates, defense committee meetings and more.

University Distinguished Professor Michael Dryden is among the faculty members using the new space. Dryden teaches a specialized 35-hour training course called “Wildcat Parasitology,” an advanced clinical-training program for veterinarians. Dryden appreciates the new technology since his subject matter is often very small, requiring the very best high-definition equipment to share images with students.

“In parasitology, the quality of the image is important,” said Dryden. “With this new technology, it’s stunning to project these images on those monitors.”

Justin Kastner and Abbey Nutsch, both assistant professors in food safety and security, use the space to teach a research and writing class. They say having a classroom that allows them to easily access web resources and collaborate with off-campus experts makes using it a wonderful experience. Nutsch says that it’s not just the utility of the room, but the impression it makes on others.

“If a professor is lecturing from a crumbling classroom, that shines through, even online,” said Nutsch. “To have a modern facility like this really does enhance the whole student experience.”

How you can helpIf you would like to make a difference in the College of Veterinary Medicine, contact Chris Gruber at 785-532-4465 or [email protected]. n

SMALL BUT

stunningA small space in Coles Hall is having a big impact,

thanks to the generosity of one K-State family

By Susan Wolf Berhow


The Lechtenberg Family Learning Center is changing the way faculty members like Michael Dryden, Abbey Nutsch and Justin Kastner teach and how their students learn.

PHOTO: MATT BINTER

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By Shanna Williams

It may seem difficult at first, but try to picture daily life without a supply of gasoline to fuel your car. Or natural gas to heat your home. It’s not all that improbable — after all, they’re called nonrenewable resources for a reason.

But imagine being way ahead of the curve when all of this finally happens. While the world scrambles to evaluate, upgrade and acclimate, you’re going on with business as usual. Why? Because you had the foresight to do all of this before it became a threat to your daily operation and you had a fantastic team of talented K-State engineering students to help get it done.

Dow Corning Corporation has a decades-long relationship with K-State, providing a foundation to develop a project to evaluate the feasibility of sustainable energy options at their plant in Campinas, Brazil. With the Campinas site already drawing the majority of its energy from renewable energy sources, the students’ challenge was to develop a methodology which could be used to improve the company’s energy sustainability options. The company donated $25,000 to establish the Dow Corning Center for Sustainable Energy Student Fund. The fund will support the education of undergraduates with a focus on creating an opportunity for the engineering students to work on real-world challenges.

“It was a fairly competitive application process,” explained Mary Rezac, ConocoPhillips Professor of Sustainable Energy and professor of chemical engineering. “We wanted a good mix of chemical and mechanical engineering students. They were screened by their interest in the project and experience working on a team. We knew this project would require a lot of cooperation.”

Four students were chosen to work on the project: Scott Haner, chemical engineering, Overland Park, Kan.; Katelyn Kuecker, chemical engineering, Arkansas City, Kan.; Clinton Proctor, mechanical engineering, Goddard, Kan.; and Laura Wolters, chemical engineering, Atwood, Kan.

Not your typical classworkThe group weighed the feasibility of alternative energy sources, including wind power for electricity, solar power for heat and electricity, and biomass for electricity.

As the project progressed, they began to draw on each others’ knowledge and problem-solving skills. Rather than feeling like the odd man out, Proctor — the only mechanical engineering student in the group — found himself learning things he may not have otherwise.

“I’ve learned a lot about chemical engineering that I never knew about,” Proctor said. “Things about silicone and Dow Corning’s operations.”

It wouldn’t be long, however, before all four students would understand that while those areas of special knowledge helped in certain areas, it was their shared ability as problem solvers that was most helpful, as much of the information that they’d encountered had yet to be covered extensively in class.

“A lot of the work isn’t chemical engineering-specific,” Haner said. “We’ve worked with some things such as solar thermal in class, but for the most part, it’s just being logical.”

“It’s been more of the opposite, where the project is ahead of the classwork,” Kuecker said. “We’ll be in class and think, ‘Oh, we worked on that with Dow Corning.’”

Looking at the big pictureHalfway through the project, the group was able to present some of what they’d learned at K-State’s Open House, bringing together their corporate experience and the university’s land-grant mission of outreach and education. The group created a poster that outlined how they determined the feasibility of alternative energy sources at the site, and were on hand to explain the process to prospective students, campus visitors and judging teams.

“A lot of these energy sources are available on a smaller scale, like for your house, for example,” Wolters said. “So we’re showing that you can take these technologies and apply them on a larger scale.”


“None of these options are meant to take them off the [power] grid,” Haner explained to a judging team. “Certain alternative energy sources like solar are a worthwhile investment, but the plant also operates at night, and they have a rainy season, so it’s not feasible all the time. It’s designed to help them save money on operational costs and rely less on traditional sources of energy.”

Dow Corning staff members have played a big role in helping guide the students in their project. Paul Fisher, global business development specialist, was able to provide constructive criticism from an industry standpoint. “Paul had some really good insight on different resources that we hadn’t thought of using, and different ways to present our information,” Wolters said.

“It is great to see new engineers apply their knowledge and skills to help solve some of the challenges within industry,” Fisher said. “Project-based learning activities are excellent opportunities for the engineers to gain experience and enhance their training and communication skills.”

“He really wants us to succeed at our final presentation, where we’ll fly to Michigan and present our information to a group of key stakeholders at Dow Corning Corporation,” Kuecker said.

“What we’re trying to do is develop a plan where they can look at any plant, take the path that we followed through this problem and apply it to any facility,” Proctor said.

Challenges and opportunitiesWith the project nearly at an end, the group was asked to discuss the most difficult and the most interesting parts of the project. The difficult part? Communicating with Dow Corning employees from Brazil. The most interesting? Communicating with Dow Corning employees from Brazil!

“Sometimes the language barrier was an issue,” Kuecker said. “They speak Portuguese, so sometimes they wouldn’t understand what we were trying to say, or we would have no idea what they were talking about. But then you get to tell your classmates, ‘I was talking to these engineers in Brazil this morning…’”

“The only way we could get information from the engineers in Brazil was through teleconferences,” Proctor said. “And it’s been hard to go back and forth several times and try to understand something as technical as implementing a solar power system. But it’s a great challenge and it’s really cool to know that they’re relying on us for this information.”

No matter where they go from here, each of the group members understands that the value of the project is something that will stay with them as they begin their careers as engineers.

“The starting point for this project was very vague,” Wolters said. “Defining what we were trying to solve, figuring out the scope of the problem, and then working on it, is something I know I’ll continue to enjoy doing.”

“It’s not an experience you get every day, to come together as a group of students and solve a problem that they would otherwise ask their engineers to solve,” Proctor said. “Instead they support us and ask us to solve it. It’s a really neat opportunity.”

How you can helpA corporate partnership with K-State is a win-win situation. You can make an impact at K-State while gaining access to some of the brightest young talent in your industry’s future. To learn more, contact Mitzi Richards at 785-532-7507 or [email protected], or Debbie Kirchhoff at 913-307-7310 or [email protected]. n

Clinton Proctor, Scott Haner, Katelyn Kuecker and Laura Wolters present their project at open house.

PHOTO: DAVID MAYES


Brewster Rogerson arrived in Manhattan, Kan., on a hot May evening in 1954. It was the first time he’d ever set foot in the Midwest, and he stayed for the next 27 years.

Rogerson had earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, and his doctoral degree from Princeton University.

As told by the now-retired English professor, it’s a simple, straightforward story. But Rogerson, whose tenure at K-State lasted nearly 30 years, became one of the most respected teachers in the department’s history. He was so influential, in fact, that two of his former students decided to establish a scholarship at K-State in his honor.

Jim Vroonland, a native of Hull, Iowa, and Jewell (LeMahieu) Vroonland, originally from Cedar Grove, Wisc., met as students at Central College in Pella, Iowa. They chose K-State for their graduate work at the urging of one of their English professors, herself a K-State graduate. Jim and Jewell earned both their master’s degrees and doctorates from K-State’s English Department, and credit much of their good experience to professor Rogerson.

“We did our best work for him out of respect and admiration — and maybe a bit of terror as well,” Jewell said.

“He really taught us to deconstruct and analyze things,” Jim said. “It’s a skill you can apply to any number of areas of your life.”

Rogerson encouraged his students to approach literature with the critical tools and rigor common to all researchers. But for some students, including the Vroonlands, the time spent outside the classroom with Rogerson had just as much influence on their lives.

“We were invited to join a play-reading group that met at professor Rogerson’s home on Friday nights,” Jewell said. “He introduced us to lots of plays over several years, and he generously shared the private world he had created in his home, surrounded by books, art, music (especially opera), and the beginnings of the clematis hybridizing project that became his passion after he retired from K-State. He served us our first taste of steamed artichokes and béarnaise sauce — and he opened our eyes to the fact that we have an incredible array of options throughout our lives if we’re willing to invest our time and energy as he did.”

“He was more than a teacher, especially in terms of helping students

Brewster Rogerson, 1961

Endowed scholarship honors professor who opened a

window to the worldBy Shanna Williams

Life, literatureand artichokes


succeed,” Jim said. “We suspect that he played an important role in helping Jewell and me secure fellowships so we could focus on our dissertations.”

After leaving K-State, Jim and Jewell spent many years teaching in Ohio. Both made career changes. Jewell transitioned into administration and eventually established a consulting business, and Jim went back to school and became a certified public accountant. But their fondness for K-State remained constant.

The Vroonlands initially established the Brewster Rogerson Scholarship in English Literature with an expendable gift of $25,000. The scholarship was created to support undergraduate students enrolled in English at K-State.

“We want to show our gratitude to the people of Kansas and to the university — and support what it continues to do for today’s students,” Jim said.

“Professor Rogerson’s commitment to students was extraordinary. We want to honor that commitment — and we also want to say that good teachers really matter,” Jewell said.

After hearing about the scholarship fund established by the Vroonlands, Gail McClure, a 1967 K-State graduate, decided to endow the fund with an additional contribution of $30,000, and expanded the support to include graduate students as well. McClure is hoping other former students of Rogerson’s will follow suit.

“Dr. Rogerson was the best teacher I ever had,” McClure said. “The gift the Vroonlands made seemed like a very fitting tribute, and I wanted to build on what they had done. My gift is given as a challenge to classmates to contribute and honor Dr. Rogerson and help students majoring in English.”

With only eight endowed scholarships in the department, the scholarship serves as both a boon to current and future K-State English majors, and a touching gesture to the man who inspired it.

“It’s deeply gratifying to be honored as a memorable teacher, especially so many years after the fact,” Rogerson said. “I tried to teach students more than just subject matter. I wanted them to mistrust clichés, to value clear thinking and a scholarly habit of mind, no matter what the subject.”

How you can helpIf you’re a former student of Professor Rogerson’s and would like to contribute to the scholarship in his honor, visit www.found.ksu.edu/rogerson. For more information about establishing scholarships, contact Tracy Robinson at 785-532-7568 or [email protected]. n

Editor’s note: We are sad to note the passing of Jim Vroonland, who died unexpectedly in late September.

Kelsey Hixson-Bowles and Mitchell Widener are the first two K-State English majors to benefit from Rogerson’s legacy, and were awarded the scholarship for the fall 2011 semester.

Kelsey Hixson-Bowles, senior in English (creative writing), Olathe, Kan.“I plan to pursue a career as a writer, however, I love the academic atmosphere you find on university campuses so much and would love to return as a professor of creative writing and/or a writing center director. To be awarded this scholarship in its inaugural year is an honor, and I’m flattered to be recognized and awarded for my achievements. After I learned of the award, I was told stories about Dr. Rogerson and especially about the soirees he used to host. I would love to have been invited to one of those!”

Mitchell Widener, senior in English (literature), Wichita, Kan.“My main career goal is to gain admission to law school. To obtain a law degree, one must obtain a mastery of the English language. It’s very gratifying to have my work rewarded in this way, and it’s very reassuring to know that former members of the K-State community still care deeply about the students and the school.”

PHOTO: DAVID MAYES


| Good For All |

A history of philanthropyHere are a few highlights of K-State’s giving heritage:

1944The Endowment Association (later to be known as the Kansas State University Foundation) is established.

1945Endowment Association reports $15,000 in cash gifts. The first list of donors began with the entry, “A private in the Army — $1,000.”

1958Thanks to private donations, the Smith Scholarship House opens. In its first year, 45 students were selected to live there based on outstanding academic record and financial need.

1968The university’s endowment reaches the $1 million mark.

1980The first calling campaign — Telefund — grosses $140,000 in pledges, eventually becoming a $1.5 million annual campaign.

1988Bramlage Coliseum opens, thanks in part to $8.2 million in private gifts.

Recognizing leadership in annual giving


1990The Essential Edge Campaign is launched, K-State’s first comprehensive campaign that went on to raise more than $163 million in private gifts for the academic colleges, university libraries, athletics and the Beach Museum of Art.

2001On the heels of a $50-million scholarship campaign, K-State alumni are ranked fourth in the nation for number of alumni making gifts,

with 23 percent of alumni giving back to the university.

2007K-State celebrates the end of the Changing Lives Campaign. More than 116,600 K-State alumni helped raise a total of $529.5 million for the university. In the same year, students launch K-State Proud, the first-ever all-university student-led campaign at K-State.

2009In his last year as K-State president, Jon Wefald launches the K-State Annual Fund to fund student scholarships and faculty support.

2011A new record: $107 million in private gifts to K-State. (See annual report beginning on page 23.)

In 1863, less than a year after President Abraham Lincoln created land-grant universities through the signing of the Morrill Act, the state of Kansas officially established Kansas State Agricultural College, later to be known as Kansas State University. In the decades that have followed, loyal alumni and friends helped the university expand and succeed, generation after generation.

As we approach K-State’s sesquicentennial, you can support the university at a higher level and inspire others to do the same. The 1863 Circle is K-State’s annual giving society that recognizes K-Staters with leadership giving of $1,000 or more annually. Your gift supplies K-State

students, faculty and staff with essential resources to succeed. Best of all, you decide how your gift makes a difference. Whether your passion is a particular academic program, student life, athletics or something else altogether, you choose the area — or areas — where you’d like to make a difference.

How you can helpTo join the 587 K-State families who are already part of the 1863 Circle this year, visit our website at www.found.ksu.edu/1863. n

PHOTO: ROYAL PURPLE YEARBOOK, 1909


| GoodPlan |

One of the keys to finding joy in life is learning how to find grace while grieving, to transform tragedy into triumph. Such is the story of David Earle, whose life was defined by friendship and fellowship — and whose untimely death has since inspired a generation of designers, builders, creators and dreamers.

Those who knew David remember a young man who had the qualities of which Calvin Coolidge spoke. As a champion in academics and athletics, David’s straight-A’s in school and prowess in the pool earned him opportunities to take his talents to the next level. But as a young man of deep resolve and profound passion, committed to his family, friends and his goals, David had his sights set on something else: becoming an architect.

With focus, confidence and a dream in his heart, he passed on his swimming scholarships in favor of enrolling in the interior architecture program at K-State. An exemplary student and engaged citizen, he received the Emil Fischer Scholarship, served as an officer in the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, volunteered for

Manhattan’s Amateur Athletic Union swim team — and as was standard with David, devoted much of his time to helping those around him.

During an internship in the summer prior to his senior year, David died in a tragic worksite accident. One week following his death, David’s parents, Dick and Jeanne Earle, Louisburg, Kan., received word that he had been awarded the Joy Anne Balderson Memorial Scholarship. Later, he was given a posthumous degree, and they were inspired to do something that would honor David and his passion for life — and the David R. Earle Memorial Scholarship was created.

Fast-forward to present day: 27 students from the College of Architecture, Planning and Design have been awarded the scholarship. And now by including K-State in their estate plans with a $500,000 bequest, the Earles have not only ensured that David’s scholarship will be permanently endowed — the college will be able to increase the amount and number of scholarships it awards students.

Tim de Noble, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design,

believes that David’s legacy has lived on beautifully through the support of his parents. “People with philanthropic hearts like the Earles have made it possible for us to grow scholarship opportunities and help produce that next designer who will make a difference in the world.”

To Dick and Jeanne, there’s been no greater reward and no better way to carry forward David’s legacy than to make available scholarships every year to students, to build relationships with them — and to maintain them over a lifetime.

“When you see the quality of the students, their dedication and what they’re accomplishing, it’s just fantastic,” Dick said. “Many of them still keep in touch and it’s a thrill to hear from them every year, to hear about their latest achievements and know that they’re succeeding.”

“We’ve seen something in each of the recipients that mirrors the qualities that David represented,” Jeanne said. “We love to hear about graduations, jobs, marriages, children and other life accomplishments. It’s like we’ve built a family of 27 kids.”

By Andrew Zender

into alegacyTurning a loss

inscription on the david r. earle memorial scholarship award:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

calvin coolidge, 30th president of the united states of america


How you can helpIf you’ve enjoyed watching K-State grow over the years and would like to know more about how you can provide for the future, contact one of our Gift Planning Department professionals at 785-532-7531 or [email protected]. n

Earle scholars, yesterday and todayThe David R. Earle Memorial Scholarship has been awarded 27 times since 1985. The recipients have gone on to distinguished careers that are not just recognized by K-State, but also nationally by industry organizations, design publications and peer groups.

Katrina Lewis, K-State assistant professor of interior architecture and product design, received the scholarship in 1995. Her academic and professional endeavors have taken her across the globe to more than 30 countries for a variety of teaching, presenting and consulting opportunities.

“As a current K-State faculty member, I reflect on my time as a student and realize this scholarship has come ‘full circle’,” Lewis said. “The Earles’ generosity is just as important to students today and future generations as it was to me then, and I’ll always be very humbled and honored to have received it.”

Gina Garcia, a junior from Salina, Kan., said that the Earle scholarship has been helpful with paying for her school supplies. “It’s an honor to receive this scholarship — it allowed me to get all of the computer software I needed for school,” Garcia said. “Making scholarships available to students is the greatest gift in helping them continue school and learn.”

Katrina Lewis (left) and Gina Garcia.

PHOTO: MATT BINTER


| GoodNews |

New basketball training facility a slam dunkK-State donors with the assist

Built on a championship heritage, supported by passionate fans and electrified by the energy of the game-day atmosphere in Manhattan, K-State’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have enjoyed unprecedented national excitement and visibility in recent years. But, as the last school in the Big 12 conference without a full-time dedicated practice facility, something’s been missing from K-State basketball: a home for the programs, a place to call their own.

Now things are about to change: with construction under way on a 50,000-square-foot K-State Basketball Training Facility, the men’s and women’s programs are about to enter a new phase of growth and enhancement, where players and coaches will have access to the tools and resources necessary to cultivate future success.

With a formal groundbreaking ceremony in February 2011 officially tipping off the project, the construction is estimated to take 12 to 18 months, with completion anticipated in spring 2012. The new facility will include two full-size practice courts, locker rooms for players and coaches, players’ lounges, coaches’ offices, a theater-style team film room, a 2,500-square-foot weight room and sports medicine center, and an entrance atrium and viewing deck.

Greenwood County Alumni Club — 64 years strong!Wildcats across the nation are passionate about their alma mater, and it shows: In 2010, alumni clubs awarded $45,000 in scholarship funds. Among the 100-plus clubs, alumni in Greenwood County, Kan., gathered for the 64th straight year to connect with friends, both familiar and new, get the scoop on campus news — and raise money for a scholarship awarded annually to students from the county.

Jamie Ball, Eureka, Kan., a former scholarship recipient currently

attending the University of Kansas School of Medicine, believes the Greenwood County scholarship was highly influential in her success. “This scholarship opened up many opportunities for me on campus,” Ball said. “It made it possible for me to graduate with as little debt as possible.”

Gavin Hargrave, associate director of programs for the K-State Alumni Association, says that alumni clubs serve an important role in bringing alumni and friends together for timely university updates, social outings and keeping them connected to their alma mater. “Clubs also provide vital scholarship assistance for their local students,” Hargrave said.

“As an alumna, it’s important to remember all of the help that I received when I was a student and to pay that forward to future K-Staters,” Ball said. “Scholarships are a great way to help give back to a university that gave so much to me.”

How you can helpIf you are interested in establishing a club scholarship for K-State students, please contact K-State Alumni Association President and CEO Amy Button Renz at 785-532-5050 or [email protected]. To find a club near you, check out the alumni association website at www.k-state.com. n

Main entry atrium, ground floor

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“Assisting our student-athletes and maximizing their growth with first-class training facilities is what the K-State experience is all about,” said Frank Martin, men’s head basketball coach. “This building will allow our basketball program to continue to compete and solidify who we will be 20 years from now.”

“This facility will open a tremendous door of opportunity for individual player and team development,” said Deb Patterson, women’s head basketball coach. “I look forward to seeing the joy and pride in our players’ eyes each day as they walk into a first-class facility comparable with those of our Big 12 peers.”

As excitement for the project builds, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics looks forward to elevating its status as a first-rate program at a world-class university, one that recruits and retains top-notch student-athletes and coaches.

“This is not just about a building — it’s about a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage our strengths,” said

John Currie, director of athletics. “This project marks a moment in time that will springboard our basketball programs back into a permanent leadership position in intercollegiate athletics.”

How you can helpThe K-State Basketball Training Facility represents a commitment from our university and athletic department leadership — and key stakeholders like you — to provide the resources necessary to enhance our student-athletes’ experience and win championships. More than $15 million in pledges have been received toward the $17.6 million estimated project cost. To learn how you can support this initiative, please call Laird Veatch at 785-532-5282 or visit www.kstatesports.com, where you can also view progress on the facility via a construction webcam. All donations to the K-State Basketball Training Facility will be recognized inside the facility. n

2011 All-University Campaign for K-State kicks off with spirit, ice cream

More than 600 K-State faculty and staff helped kick off the 2011 All-University Campaign for K-State in September with ice cream and lots of purple pride. Even Willie was on hand to celebrate the sixth year of the internal fundraising effort run by campus faculty and staff volunteers.

The annual campaign emphasizes participation and encourages faculty and staff to support the areas of the university they care about most. Last year, more than 1,800 faculty and staff members contributed to

507 foundation funds, resulting in a record-breaking 37 percent participation rate.

The campaign includes all K-State employees, including those on the Manhattan, K-State Salina and K-State Olathe campuses, as well as K-State Alumni Association, Kansas State University Foundation and K-State Athletics.

To learn more about the campaign, visit the All-University Campaign website at www.K-StateAUC.org. n

Aerial view from the southeast

PHOTO: COURTESY K-STATE ATHLETICS


| GoodBye |

PHOTO: DAVID MAYES

There was no homework and no tests, but a booth at the annual Week of Welcome provided a

great opportunity for a lesson in K-State Proud 101. New students were greeted by campaign leaders with buttons, fact cards, posters and popcorn to introduce them to the K-State Proud campaign and all the ways they can get involved. Last year, the student-led campaign generated $117,618, bringing the total for the first five years to more than $450,000.

The campaign features a K-State Proud T-shirt that contributors receive for a minimum donation of $10. Students, faculty, staff and alumni are encouraged to wear the T-shirt to express their K-State pride, and especially to a men’s basketball game where the campaign total is announced each year. Last year’s

announcement came on Feb. 19, when the black K-State Proud T-shirts were worn to blackout Bramlage.

“The K-State Proud T-shirt is a great way for the K-State community to show its pride, but K-State Proud is much more than a T-shirt,” said Frank Tracz, director of bands and last year’s honorary co-chair of K-State Proud. “All contributions to K-State Proud fund two types of student opportunity awards, the K-State Proud Award and the K-State Hero Award. In the fall of 2010, 35 student opportunity awards were given. The average award amount was $1,500 and the average awarded per week was $4,000.”

K-State Proud awards provide financial assistance for students who have demonstrated extreme financial hardship or those who need

temporary financial assistance. Special consideration is given to students whose future at K-State may be in jeopardy and to students who have exhausted all other forms of financial assistance.

K-State Hero awards recognize students who have shown an outstanding commitment to K-State through campus leadership, community service or other areas of student life.

“In its first five years, K-State Proud has built a solid foundation to continue to grow the culture of student philanthropy at K-State,” said Nick Moeder, president of the K-State Student Foundation. “In addition to alumni, friends, faculty and staff members who give back to the university, students are donors too!” n

Rachel King, Wichita, Kan., greets a group of new K-Staters with a K-State Proud poster showing the first five years of campaign logos.


Dear friends:

In the midst of a down economy and challenging fiscal times, alumni, friends and corporate partners of Kansas State University demonstrated their commitment and escalated their philanthropic support of K-State to new heights, contributing $107 million to the university through the Kansas State University Foundation during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011. This figure sets a new record in fundraising activity in the 67-year history of the foundation, surpassing the previous record of $99.5 million in fiscal year 2008.

Highlights from the past fiscal year included:

• The foundation’s endowment pool achieved an investment return of 19.28 percent. The pool was valued at $337 million on June 30.

• We received four gifts of $5 million or more and nine gifts between $1 and $5 million.

• We secured pledges for three endowed Presidential Scholarships, which are intended to be equivalent to a full-ride, in-state scholarship and are renewable for four or five years.

• Six endowed professorships or chairs were established.

• Ninety-eight scholarships were established.

Today, K-State is at the threshold of a bold new vision: We will become a top 50 public research university by 2025. Philanthropic support from loyal alumni and friends, who share a passion to see K-State advance, will be crucial to achieving this transformational goal.

We are honored to extend our gratitude to each of you for making a difference for K-State students, faculty and staff. Again this past year, the university family proved that their hearts are fully committed to ensuring K-State’s future as a vibrant, thriving institution.

Duane Cantrell, chairmanKSU Foundation Board of Directors

Lee Harris, chairmanKSU Foundation Board of Trustees

Fred Cholick, president and CEOKSU Foundation

Learn more about K-State’s 2025 Visionary Plan by visiting: www.k-state.edu/2025

Duane Cantrell

Lee Harris

Fred Cholick

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2011 Annual Report


KSU Foundation Board of DirectorsAs of June 30, 2011

The Kansas State University Foundation was established in 1944 as the official fundraising organization for Kansas State University. It is a separate, independent entity chartered by the state of Kansas as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education corporation. Gifts made to support K-State through the KSU Foundation are used according to the donor’s wishes, and may not be reallocated by the state. Gifts to the foundation are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

A volunteer board of trustees governs the foundation. A 15-member board of directors elected from the membership of the board meets quarterly to consider strategic and policy issues, and is authorized to act on the trustees’ behalf. Directors, along with additional trustees, also serve on committees to provide guidance and oversight to foundation staff. Committee reports, as well as a directory of foundation trustees, can be found on our website: www.found.ksu.edu/trustees.

Total gift activity from 2007–2011Dollars in millions

Cash

Deferred

Total gift activity in FY 2011: $107.2 million

Outright contributions in FY 2011: $67.2 million

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

20112010200920082007

$39.8

$51.7

$39.1

$60.4

$25.4

$56.1

$29

$61.9

$40

$67.2

$91.5

$99.5

$81.5

$90.9

$107.2

$40 millionin pledges and other deferred gifts will come to K-State at a later time. $67.2

millionwas given

outright in cash,

securities or other cash

equivalents.

$18.3 millionof the outright gifts were endowed. Distributions from endowed funds do not begin until earnings are available, usually in the year after the gift is received.

$48.9 millionwas expendable

and available immediately to the university. Expendable funds are not always fully spent in the year they are

received.

John AllenLeawood, Kansas

Janet AyresScottsdale, Arizona

Rand BerneyBartlesville, Oklahoma

Lee BorckManhattan, Kansas

Duane CantrellChairmanBoard of DirectorsTopeka, Kansas


Charlie ChandlerWichita, Kansas

Randy CoonrodTreasurerBoard of TrusteesWichita, Kansas

Curtis FrasierVice ChairmanBoard of DirectorsBeloit, Kansas

Lee HarrisChairmanBoard of TrusteesLeawood, Kansas

Stephen LacyDes Moines, Iowa

Kevin LockettLeawood, Kansas

Earl McVickerVice ChairmanBoard of TrusteesHutchinson, Kansas

Audrey MrossChairmanK-State Alumni Association Board of DirectorsDallas, Texas

Gen. Richard Myers (Ret.)SecretaryBoard of TrusteesArlington, Virginia

Bill SanfordNaples, Florida

Ex OfficioFred CholickPresident and CEOKSU Foundation

John CurrieDirector of AthleticsKansas State University

April MasonProvost and Senior Vice PresidentKansas State University

Gina MillerPresidentLivestock and Meat Industry Council

Kirk SchulzPresidentKansas State University

Funds provided to K-State from 2007–2011Dollars in millions

Capital improvements

Faculty and administrative support

Athletics

Academic support

Scholarships

$34.1 millionwas from expendable

accounts.

$13.4 millionwas from distributions from endowed funds established in previous years.

Each year, distributions from endowed funds established in previous years, plus expendable gifts established during the fiscal year, are provided to K-State for use according to donor designation. The university does not always expend the total amount provided by the foundation due to the status of current capital improvement projects, or the ability to fulfill donor designations within the year the funds are provided. In fiscal year 2011, $47.5 million was provided to the university.

$47.5 million provided to K-State in FY 2011

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

20112010200920082007

$56.7

$48.3 $46.5

$54.8

$47.5


The global economy and the endowment pool portfolio continued a strong recovery during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011. All four quarters produced good positive returns, with the market value ending the year again above the pool historic book value.

After meeting throughout the summer of 2010, a Sustainability Task Force brought forth recommendations to restructure endowment pool distributions so that the underlying endowed accounts would have a greater chance of being sustainable. The Board of Directors adopted and staff implemented the task force’s 10-year three-step plan. Step one was to reduce the maximum distribution to purpose, the distribution to the foundation operating budget and the deans’ discretionary distribution so total distributions would not exceed 5.90 percent.

Step two was to create two reserves, one to continue distributions from underwater accounts dedicated to scholarships and faculty salary support and the other to supplement the foundation operating budget. The reserves will provide supplemental support when the endowment pool experiences reductions of from 10 to 20 percent; when reductions less than 10 percent occur, the university and foundation will address reduced distributions from underwater accounts through budget adjustments.

Step three was for the Asset Management Committee (AMC) to attempt to find additional cost-effective strategies, beyond existing portfolio diversifying and hedging strategies, to reduce the potential for portfolio drawdowns in excess of 20 percent. The chairman of the AMC appointed a risk-assessment subcommittee to work with staff in identifying dominant portfolio risks with the objective of selecting a strategy that would help reduce future portfolio drawdowns. Final recommendations will be presented to the AMC at its November meeting.

Board approvals were received to form three new entities to enhance the KSU Foundation governance

structure and better prepare to engage in new entrepreneurial activities to assist the university in fulfilling its mission. A real-estate foundation will isolate real-estate-related liabilities in a separate, smaller entity so that possible environmental, construction, public injury and similar liabilities could not impact KSU Foundation assets. The real-estate foundation will receive, manage and liquidate all future real-estate contributions. An LLC, a subsidiary of the real-estate foundation, will hold current and future real estate held for investment to benefit K-State or the foundation.

The third entity, a for-profit asset management company wholly owned by the KSU Foundation, will manage the assets of the foundations. It will also provide investment services to other tax-exempt organizations for a fee, including a pilot program approved by the Kansas legislature to invest core working capital for the university. The company will generate revenue that further diversifies the KSU Foundation operating budget, offload the asset management department expenses and provide a vehicle to implement future entrepreneurial initiatives to assist the university in fulfilling its mission.

The endowment pool definedThe endowment pool is a combination of endowed accounts designated as permanent, quasi and term endowments as well as long-term

investments of other foundation pooled funds and university affiliates. Participants own shares in the pool and receive distributions that provide programmatic support. The pool pays all its investment expenses and reports performance on a net of expenses basis.

Investment governanceThe Asset Management Committee, a committee of the Board of Directors, is responsible for establishing the policies and procedures that govern foundation asset management, subject to board approval. The policies establish the asset allocations of the investment pools and govern manager selection and portfolio re-balancing. Staff is charged with implementing the policies and reports results back to the committee and board. A table that graphically displays the decision-making authorities of all the parties involved in the investment function can be viewed at www.found.ksu.edu/investments/oversight.html.

Endowment pool asset allocationAs a response to the foundation’s global investment philosophy, the endowment-pool asset allocation is divided into four purpose-based categories instead of traditional asset classes. The global equities component, whose primary purpose is return generation, contains long-only, long/short and private capital (venture capital, buyouts, international private

Endowment pool posts a 19.28 percent return and ends year valued at $337 million

Diversifying strategies 6.72% Global equities 68.91%

Inflation hedge 16.27%Real estate, commodities, energy

Deflation hedge 8.10%Fixed income

Endowment pool asset allocation

Global equities 9.85%

U.S. equities 2.91%

International equities 8.03%

Emerging markets equities 13.85%

Private capital 17.95%

Distressed debt 4.54%

Long/short hedge funds 11.79%


capital and distressed debt) equity strategies. The diversifying strategies component dampens portfolio volatility by including strategies with equity-like returns with low correlations to equities and utilizes hedge fund managers running arbitrage and trend-following strategies.

Since unexpected inflationary and deflationary events are significant risks to endowment pools, the portfolio contains inflation and deflation hedges. The inflation hedge contains investments in real assets, such as real estate, timber, agricultural land, commodities and energy, which respond to inflationary pressures and provide liquidity during those events. The deflation hedge contains fixed income investments, such as government and high-grade corporate bonds and cash, to protect the portfolio against and provide liquidity during equity-market drawdowns.

Endowment pool performance analysisThe performance graph (above) provides a visual of the endowment-pool performance over multiple periods and as compared to the pool’s custom benchmark and the pool absolute objective expressed in the 10-year return period. While the portfolio return exceeded the custom benchmark in fiscal year 2007, and again in fiscal year 2010, over a five-year period the pool underperformed its benchmark. During the credit crisis of

2008–2009, when most investments became correlated, the diversifying strategies in the portfolio failed to provide adequate downside protection. Then, during the liquidity-driven recovery of fiscal year 2011, when investors wanted exposure to the markets with little regard for company quality, the pool again underperformed despite an excellent return on an absolute basis.

The absolute objective graph (below) tracks the endowment pool’s progress in achieving its absolute objective of maintaining the purchasing power of the endowed accounts over time by producing returns equaling or exceeding investment management expenses, plus total distributions, plus inflation. The purple line represents the

historic book value of contributions and the black line represents those contributions inflated by the annual CPI. The blue line represents the market value of the endowment pool, as it has gone from an excess over inflated contributed value as recently as 2007 to an underwater status in 2009 and 2010 to a return above contributed book value in 2011.

Additional informationPerformance data is updated on the investments portion of the KSU Foundation website approximately six weeks after the end of each quarter; policies are updated as changes occur. See www.found.ksu.edu and select “Our financials,” then “Investments.”

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

10-year5-year3-year1-year

19.28%

21.83%

1.01%

4.58% 4.53%

6.27% 6.28% 6.24%

8.44%

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

$350

$400

$450

6/30/116/30/106/30/096/30/086/30/076/30/066/30/056/30/046/30/036/30/026/30/01

Endowment pool absolute objectiveDollars in millions

Endowment pool performance analysisAs of June 30, 2011

Endowment pool

Relative objective

Absolute objective

The relative objective of the endowment is to seek competitive investment performance compared to appropriate capital market measures, such as securities indices.

The absolute objective of the endowment is to seek an average total annual real return equal to or exceeding the distribution policy rate; specifically the CPI plus the distribution policy rate. This objective shall be measured over annualized, rolling 10-year time periods. The intent of this objective is to preserve, over time, the principal value of assets as measured in real, inflation-adjusted terms.

Endowment market value 6/30/11: $337,459,676

Contributions historic book value + CPI (qtr lag) Contributions historic book value Endowment market value


Kansas State University FoundationConsolidated Statement of Financial Position

June 30, 2011

ASSETSCash and cash equivalents $37,870,197

Investments 436,603,621

Pledges receivable – net of allowance and discounts 35,371,627

Receivables from estates 5,675,902

Loans receivable 551,318

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,494,830 1,475,549

Golf course property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $806,644 8,276,682

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies 4,002,380

Other assets and accrued investment income 2,282,919

TOTAL ASSETS $532,110,195

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

LiabilitiesAccounts payable, deposits and other liabilities $576,262

Accrued liabilities 1,687,630

Assets held for others 8,852,999

Unitrust and annuity liabilities 20,785,752

Long-term debt 3,816,639

Total liabilities 35,719,282

Net assetsUnrestricted net assets 51,878,978

Temporarily restricted net assets 180,470,222

Permanently restricted net assets 264,041,713

Total net assets 496,390,913

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $532,110,195

Financials


Kansas State University FoundationConsolidated Statement of Activities

Year ended June 30, 2011

Temporarily Permanently Unrestricted restricted restricted Total

REVENUES, GAINS AND OTHER SUPPORTContributions $599,917 $62,698,991 $17,298,326 $80,597,234

Investment income 2,839,232 698,884 93,954 3,632,070

Net realized and unrealized gains on investments 22,248,847 33,030,592 647,153 55,926,592

Other support

Operational service charges, management fees and other 3,522,335 – – 3,522,335

Receipts for grants, research, supplies, travel and other university departmental activities and funding allotments, etc. 165,433 4,080,158 – 4,245,591

Actuarial gains (losses) on unitrusts and annuity obligations (419,939) (1,807,303) 4,186,980 1,959,738

Net assets released from restrictions and change in donor designation 47,653,272 (48,150,887) 497,615 –

Total revenues, gains and other support 76,609,097 50,550,435 22,724,028 149,883,560

EXPENSES AND SUPPORTDirect university support

Scholarships and other student awards 9,136,317 – – 9,136,317

Academic 5,442,469 – – 5,442,469

Administrative — faculty and student support 30,519,260 – – 30,519,260

Capital improvements 2,449,238 – – 2,449,238

Subtotal 47,547,284 – – 47,547,284

Investment — loan interest expense and write-off 352,020 – – 352,020

Foundation administration 4,206,405 – – 4,206,405

Foundation fundraising 6,212,199 – – 6,212,199

Total expenses and support 58,317,908 – – 58,317,908

Change in net assets 18,291,189 50,550,435 22,724,028 91,565,652

Net assets, beginning of year, as previously reported 8,980,343 63,604,089 332,240,829 404,825,261

Restatement of net assets (note 15) 24,607,446 66,315,698 (90,923,144) –

Net assets, beginning of year, restated 33,587,789 129,919,787 241,317,685 404,825,261

Net assets, end of year $51,878,978 $180,470,222 $264,041,713 $496,390,913

The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and the Consolidated Statement of Activities are excerpted from the Kansas State University Foundation’s 2011 financial statements, which were audited by BKD, LLC. For a complete copy, please view online at www.found.ksu.edu or send a request to the Accounting Department, KSU Foundation, 2323 Anderson Ave., Ste. 500, Manhattan, KS 66502-2911.

2323 Anderson Avenue, Suite 500Manhattan, Kansas 66502-2911

Nonprofit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDParsons, KS

Permit No. 181

2011Annual Report

inside

Our missionThe mission of the Kansas State University Foundation is to secure and prudently manage private gifts in support of Kansas State University and foster a culture that unites philanthropic desires with university priorities.

Our visionThe Kansas State University Foundation is helping to build the world’s finest land-grant university.

Our valuesRespect, diligence and integrity guide our interactions, decisions and work.

Operating principlesWe will be guided by best practices in donor-centered fundraising.

We will promote and demonstrate the value of philanthropy to K-State.

We will dedicate ourselves to providing a high level of service.

We will engage the university, K-State Alumni Association and K-State Athletics in fulfilling our mission.

We will engage volunteers in fulfilling our mission.

We will value the role of each employee and help each employee achieve their full potential.

We will represent the KSU Foundation in a professional manner.

We will work as a team, promoting and valuing interactive work between our departments.

We will be guided by accurate information and data that is focused on donor needs.

We will operate in a fiscally responsible manner.

We will manage contributions in a fiscally responsible manner.

We will work with our university partners to ensure adherence to donor designations.

The KSU Foundation

Advancing K-State through philanthropy

Documents

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