Volume 8, Issue 1 Spring 2016

Building innovation and inspiration Farewell, First Family Dear K-State faculty, students, alumni and friends, Together, we have embarked on two bold missions. First, K-State is striving to be nationally recognized as a top 50 public research university by 2025. Second, we are raising $1 billion through the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign to move us closer to our 2025 goals. As of Moving April 1, we have raised $845 million. This generous investment in K-State is already fueling positive results by supporting groundbreaking research, helping students explore new opportunities and creating state-of-the-art facilities where innovative work is inspired. Many K-Staters have inspired this tremendous success, K-St ate notably Kirk and Noel Schulz. In the last seven years, forward their leadership has helped elevate the university and 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 to keep K-State strong!

Spring 2016 2 GoodWord A look at the philanthropic legacy of Kirk and Noel Schulz 6 GoodShot K-State’s glassblower — artist, inventor and mad scientist — enhances research at the university 8 GoodPlan Scholarships support student-researcher working to cure Alzheimer’s disease 10 Good for All Young alumni encourage support for a cause dear to their hearts 12 Building innovation and inspiration Four stories of philanthropy, passion and purpose 22 GoodNews 24 GoodBye New scholarship supports wounded warriors at K-State

COVER ILLUSTRATION: JACK WILSON PHOTO: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY its aspirations. I invite you to read a tribute to the Schulz Welcome to Good for K-State, a magazine devoted to the inspiration family on page 2. and impact of private philanthropy for Kansas State University. We invite your comments, questions and ideas. Just send an email to The university is on a vibrant path forward, and your [email protected]. We are eager to hear from you! support is central to our continued success. We hope facebook.com/ksufoundation twitter.com/KSU_Foundation this issue of Good for K-State inspires you to find new linkedin.com/company/kansas-state-university-foundation ways to advance K-State through philanthropy. To learn more, visit our campaign website at inspire.k-state.edu, Editorial team Susan Wolf Berhow, editor Hayli Morrison, writer or contact the KSU Foundation to see how you can give to Marisa Larson, managing editor/ Lauren Reardon, student the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign and invest in writer graphic designer the current and future success of K-State. n Mary Bourne, video producer Haley Sedlacek, student Kim Downing, editorial assistant graphic designer Emily Dye, student writer Jack Wilson, graphic designer Katie Howland, student video Kim Zerfas, graphic design assistant manager Rand Berney Good for K-State is published by the Kansas State University Co-chair, Innovation and Inspiration Campaign Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan, KS 66502-3373. | GoodWord |

Farewell, First Family

PHOTO: KSU DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

2 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 COURTESY PHOTO K-State’s positive momentum set in motion during Schulz presidency

n the past seven years, Kansas State University has reached some impressive milestones, many of them I thanks to the vision and leadership of outgoing president Kirk Schulz. Drs. Kirk and Noel Schulz will be leaving K-State in mid-May for Pullman, Washington, where Kirk will take over as president of Washington State University. Noel, who is the associate dean for research and graduate programs at K-State’s College of Engineering, will teach engineering in WSU’s Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. In 2009, Kirk was selected as the thirteenth president of Kansas State University. Soon after arriving, Kirk and Noel Schulz speaking at an 1863 Circle event. campus leaders developed plans to move K-State toward being nationally recognized as a top 50 public research them connect with K-Staters on personal visits or at university. In the ensuing years, K-State alumni, faculty, events. Their passion for the work being accomplished staff, students and friends have supported this initiative at K-State motivated so many to believe in the vision of with record fundraising success, which has fueled enhancing K-State’s status and made them proud to be advancements universitywide. In 2015, Kirk and Noel, part of the K-State family. I will miss working with them, working with KSU Foundation staff, generous donors and but am confident that we will continue to move K-State volunteers, helped the university raise $141.5 million, the forward with the outstanding faculty, staff and students third-highest figure in K-State history. Overall, K-State has on campus and the philanthropic investment of K-State topped $100 million in funds raised in four consecutive supporters.” fiscal years. The first family's leadership and passion for K-State have been instrumental in K-State’s recent The Schulz era not only elevated K-State, but positively fundraising success. impacted the state and region as well. “The Board of Regents is greatly appreciative of President Kirk Schulz and the time he spent at Kansas State University, where under his watch, K-State has achieved record levels in research expenditures, overall student enrollment and student body diversity,” said Shane Bangerter, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents. “K-State’s fundraising success over the past four years demonstrates an ongoing belief by countless individuals in the direction PHOTO: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY of this historic university. A true champion of strategic planning, President Schulz has done wonderful things for this university and the entire state of Kansas, setting the institution in the right direction to create the workforce tomorrow’s economy will need.” The Schulzes have enjoyed their time at K-State and being part of the K-State family. “The success that K-State has seen so far in reaching 2025 benchmarks is because of the wonderful faculty and staff who collaborated to create and implement the plan and Greg Willems (left), KSU Foundation president and CEO, and generous supporters investing in the future,” Kirk said. Kirk Schulz. “I am proud of all that we’ve accomplished so far and know that K-State will continue to succeed as it strives to “Kirk and Noel worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to be recognized as a top 50 public research university. The connect with alumni and friends of K-State to encourage outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of support for the university,” said Greg Willems, president the university will see to that. We leave knowing that the and CEO of the KSU Foundation. “I enjoyed watching university is in good hands.” n

www.found.ksu.edu 3 Philanthropic milestones of K-State 2025 and The Schulz era at K-State

In 2011, K-State launched a visionary plan for the university’s future: K-State 2025. With the goal of becoming a top 50 public research university by the year 2025, the plan has elevated the university’s research, faculty and staff support, engagement and extension, the undergraduate experience, the graduate scholarly experience, athletics and facilities.

Now, five years into the strategic plan developed with Kirk Schulz's leadership, gifts from alumni and friends have helped fuel tremendous progress. As we continue to build excitement for the university’s 2025 goals through the $1 billion Innovation and Inspiration Campaign, it is exciting to reflect upon how far we have come.

PHOTO: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY

4 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 Record fundraising success The surge of financial investment across the academy, athletics and the Alumni $141.5 Association is a testament to the pride and commitment of the K-State family. MILLION $168 million three-year fundraising average raised in $99.5 million raised in FY 2011, just before K-State 2025 launched FY 2015

Endowment growth With endowed funds, a portion of investment returns provides annual financial support $488.8 for the purpose each donor designates. However, for investment purposes, endowed MILLION funds are pooled together into an investment fund known as K-State’s endowment pool. Endowment growth sustains K-State long term, increases national prominence and endowment value indicates how much K-Staters care about helping future generations. end of FY 2015 $337.5 million endowment value in FY 2011, just before K-State 2025 launched

$15.4 Increased student support MILLION Private gifts to K-State strengthened the student experience by funding a record number in scholarships and of scholarships and student success programs. As college education costs skyrocket other student nationwide, K-State has managed to maintain competitive affordability and a quality awards raised in educational experience with help from philanthropy. FY 2015

27 Endowed faculty support new endowed faculty An outright or deferred gift to create endowed faculty funds will reward faculty funds committed with prestigious professional recognition, while helping them expand research and since K-State 2025 educational and programmatic opportunities for students. launched

Improved facilities 5+ Gifts from alumni and friends have proven critical to developing responsive, timely and major construction projects funded by strategic facilities to address K-State’s needs now and in the future. philanthropy in FY 2015

www.found.ksu.edu 5 K-State's scientific glassblower uses the tools of his trade to create unique laboratory apparatus for scientists. scienceart of PHOTO: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY Why a glassblower gives research an edge at K-State

ombining his love of science and creativity, Jim Hodgson serves as K-State’s scientific glassblower, but his path to this career was not straightforward. Hodgson graduated from K-State in 1982 with a degree in geology. After working for 11 years in oil exploration, Hodgson went in search of a new Ccareer where he could combine his childhood desires to be an inventor and a mad scientist. That’s when he remembered a Collegian article he’d read as a student about K-State’s scientific glassblower, Mitsugi Ohno. In 1961, K-State committed to having a scientific glassblower on campus and hired Mitsugi Ohno, who had been working at the University of Tokyo in Japan. While working at K-State, Ohno constructed the first true Klein bottle. The Klein bottle is a closed surface with only one side, formed by passing one end of a tube through the side of the tube and joining it to the other end. “I remembered the article in the Collegian about Mr. Ohno’s Klein bottle,” Hodgson said. “It seemed to me that scientific glassblowing might fulfill my creative desires and still allow me to use my scientific background.” While working toward his degree in scientific glass technology, Hodgson was able to work with Ohno during the summers. Hodgson eventually replaced Ohno, who retired in 1996. Having a scientific glassblower on campus is fairly unique and an attribute that attracts leading researchers to K-State. “Jim is able to construct any piece of glassware needed for general lab use or for very specific experiments requiring hand-tailored glassware,” said Dr. Ryan Rafferty, assistant professor of chemistry. “With Jim making pieces for our department, I can give feedback during the fabrication process, resulting in better glassware that will allow me to perform experiments and analysis I would not have been able to do without Jim on our staff. One reason I accepted my position at K-State was that our department has a glassblower that allows me to take my research to the next level.” While Hodgson’s designs elevate research at K-State, he also continues to learn and conduct research in his field by attending American Scientific Glassblowers Society conferences. His travel to these conferences is supported by philanthropic dollars. “Since a lot of the apparatus we glassblowers make is something that may never have been made before, there are always new techniques to learn,” Hodgson said. “The opportunity to meet with your colleagues, exchange ideas, solve problems and learn new techniques is invaluable. You never know what one new thing might make the difference in the success of a research project. I’m grateful to donors for their support.”

6 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 www.found.ksu.edu 7 | GoodShot |

How you can help To learn more about how you can support the College of Arts and Sciences, please contact Sheila Walker at 785-532-7511 or [email protected]. n

www.found.ksu.edu 7 | GoodPlan | missiona personal “The students keep you motivated because they get so Grandmother inspires excited about the work,” Roelofs said, recalling how his student researcher undergraduate research experience advanced his own career. “It also helps the graduate students learn how to mentor and train someone in the lab. I think it’s a very or Muriel Eaton, researching neurological proteins at positive experience for everyone.” Kansas State University is more than her part-time job For a launch pad for her future career. It is a personal Eaton’s K-State journey is made possible largely mission for the junior biochemistry major from Leawood, through scholarships supported by K-State alumni Kansas. and friends, including a scholarship gifted through the estate of June Hull Sherrid ’42. Eaton has been able to Though she was always interested in studying science, enjoy extracurricular involvement in Alpha Chi Sigma Eaton’s focus narrowed when doctors diagnosed her professional chemistry fraternity, the American Chemical grandmother with Alzheimer’s disease. After witnessing Society and Pershing Rifle Company G-7, where she serves the grueling mental, emotional and financial toll on as a rifleman. Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers, Eaton wanted to make a difference. “I wouldn’t have been able to come to K-State if it wasn’t for scholarships,” she said. “I’m very fortunate that I’m “Alzheimer’s is so widespread and it affects everybody,” able to do my research job, keep up with all my studies she said. “It’s really hard to watch people go through that.” and also get involved in everything K-State has to offer.” During a prospective tour of K-State, she met Dr. Jeroen Roelofs, assistant professor of biology, who researches proteasomes, which can be targeted for treatment of How you can help cancer and neurological diseases. Instantly interested in To learn more about how you can use your estate plan Roelofs’ research, Eaton began working as his laboratory to enhance the student experience at K-State, contact assistant the summer before her freshman year at K-State. the Gift Planning Department at 785-532-7531 or With significant help from philanthropic gifts to the [email protected]. n university, Roelofs often engages young people like Eaton in scientific research as early as possible. Muriel Eaton and Dr. Jeroen Roelofs

PHOTO: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY

8 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 www.found.ksu.edu 9 | GoodforAll | A PROUD

Newlyweds encourage gifts partnershipto K-State Proud hen newlyweds Sarah Proud shirts at a basketball game, Sarah and Casey look forward to and Casey Dwyer, of when you walk on campus and see continuing their legacy of giving W Indianapolis, Indiana, students walking to class in purple, and encourage others to join them created their wedding registry, when faculty and staff invest time in becoming young philanthropists. they went beyond the usual china, in helping students outside of the “When you see the direct impact of stemware and household goods. They classroom — that’s when you can feel your time, energy and donations, it’s asked their friends and family to philanthropy around you.” a no-brainer to continue donating as make a gift to K-State Proud, stating, alumni,” Sarah said. “We have the K-State Proud has also demonstrated “It would mean the world to us and, power to teach others, who may not the power of small donations from more importantly, would mean the have experienced anything like Proud many people. “K-State Proud shifted world to a hard-working student.” during their college career, about the my perception of philanthropy in importance of philanthropy. I would K-State Proud is a nationally- a big way,” Casey said. “Before my encourage other young alumni to recognized, student-led philanthropy first year as a volunteer, I thought of donate so that the next generation at K-State that helps students who philanthropists solely as wealthy, of K-State graduates can have an have exhausted all other forms of big-time donors. Proud really opened opportunity to make their mark on financial aid but still need assistance. my eyes to the potential of large the world, just like other donors did K-State Proud raises money during its groups who believe in a common for us.” annual campaign to provide Student purpose. In this case, our large group Opportunity Awards to students was the K-State student body and in need, often providing the funds our purpose was helping fellow How you can help necessary to help keep a student students. Donations might have been from having to drop out. smaller, but the number of donors To learn how you can support — the number of K-Staters who K-State Proud, please contact Both Sarah and Casey served on the believed in helping their peers — was Jenna Harmison at 785-532-7611 or K-State Proud campaign team and extraordinary.” [email protected]. n saw firsthand the impact their work was achieving. “One of the girls that had received an award was in several of my education classes,” Sarah said. “Knowing that K-State Proud helped her to continue pursuing a teaching degree helped me see the power of K-State Proud.” K-State Proud began 10 years ago, and in that time, a culture of philanthropy has grown on campus. “Working on the K-State Proud campaign showed me that philanthropy is also about connecting to others,” Sarah said. “My experience helped me feel the impact of people coming together to help others in need. When you hear

the roar of the crowd wearing K-State PHOTOS COURTESY

10 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 Casey ’13 and Sarah ’14 Dwyer on their wedding day, in front of Anderson Hall.

PROUD REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THE POTENTIAL OF LARGE GROUPS WHO BELIEVE IN A COMMON PURPOSE. — Casey Dwyer

www.found.ksu.edu 11 FOUR STORIES OF PHILANTHROPY, PASSION & PURPOSE

12 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 ILLUSTRATION: JACK WILSON

very day on the K-State campus, stories of innovation and inspiration Etake place — students discovering their life’s passion, researchers finding solutions to global issues, students and faculty using their skills to help others, and alumni and friends of K-State investing in K-State, making dreams come true.

In the following pages, you’ll read four stories demonstrating how philanthropic investments build innovation and inspire students and faculty to make a difference in the world.

From left, Alicia Hunter collaborates three-phase beautification project could be on the on design plans for Riley Avenue with horizon for Riley Avenue. The main thoroughfare Associate Professor Blake Belanger and fellow student Taylor Whitaker. for Ogden, Kansas, which serves as an access point for Fort Riley military base, is a focus of K-State student Alicia Hunter’s studies and professional internship. As an intern with the Flint Hills Metropolitan Inspir ing Planning Organization, Hunter has played a key role in redevelopment of the avenue. She enlisted fellow K-State regional and community planning students as collaborators on initial designs and will pursue Finding ways to make cancer treatment opportunitiesScholarship empowers student to construction of the designs through her internship. “There’s something about actually knowing what it’s like less toxic and more effective give community a fresh look on day-to-day tasks,” Hunter said. “The community gets to work with passionate, skilled volunteers, and I appreciate r. Annelise Nguyen is working to find improved ways of treating breast cancer. an opportunity to help others get experience on a project She and another K-State professor have patented a method that enhances cell they might not get elsewhere.” communications, improving the passage of chemotherapy drugs from one cell D Opportunity is a theme throughout Hunter’s academic to the next. This would decrease drug dosage levels and make cancer cells less resistant to drugs. career. She recently added a second internship with the Flint Hills Regional Council and plans to pick up a third Gifts investing in cancer research at K-State are helping Nguyen, associate this fall with the City of Manhattan, Kansas. When she professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of decided to study community planning, her journey to Veterinary Medicine, and other researchers make these important Kansas State University was aided by opportunities advances. “Philanthropy supports students in my lab who help me like the Ray Willis Regional and Community Planning answer these research questions and also buys lab technology,” Nguyen Scholarship. said. “Biomedical research is not cheap.” “I do depend on scholarships to be able to afford school,” The desire to find an alternative to costly animal-based research led to Hunter said, adding that she is grateful for the investment another patent at K-State. “The traditional approach of using hundreds of in her future career. mice for testing drug effectiveness in biological systems can cost thousands of dollars, so it’s quite expensive to test compounds that could potentially be a cancer Ray Willis, a 1971 graduate of drug,” Nguyen said. “We tried to find a viable alternative to animal-based research by K-State’s regional and community creating a micro-environment in a test tube that has the exact same environment as a planning program, created the living animal. In the process, we created PepGel, which provides a three-dimensional scholarship to help diversify environment where we can more accurately test how a compound will respond in a the program’s student body by clinical trial.” encouraging underrepresented populations. Now working in Nguyen’s research is partially supported by a recent gift from the Flossie E. West Chicago as director of community Memorial Trust in Augusta, Kansas. “The directive of the trust is to fund cancer planning and development for the research,” said Dave Bisagno, one of three managing trustees of the trust and a K-State U.S. Department of Housing and alumnus. “The founder of the trust set it up in honor of his wife, who had cancer. With Urban Development, Willis wanted my ties to K-State, I wanted to support the exciting research happening at K-State.” to give back to his alma mater and That support is making a difference now and well into the future. The Johnson Cancer make a difference for others. Research Center at K-State provides nearly $500,000 a year from privately donated “Mr. Willis’ endowed scholarship funds to support about 100 K-State cancer research teams. This funding often provides fund is a catalyst for the college to the leverage needed to win large grants that will provide dividends over the years in reach minority graduate students,” K-State’s fight against cancer. said Stephanie Rolley, department Nguyen uses donor funds to meet with other cancer researchers at conferences where head and professor in the Department of Landscape they can share their findings with each other and advance cancer research overall. These Architecture and Regional & Community Planning. funds also support the students in her lab who are doing important research alongside “Issues facing our communities must be addressed with Nguyen and other K-State cancer researchers. “I train more than 40 undergraduate and inclusiveness and that begins with a more diverse student graduate students,” Nguyen said. “They are the future of cancer research.” population.” How you can help How you can help To learn more about supporting students in the College Dr. Annelise Nguyen To support the Johnson Cancer Research Center at K-State, please contact Shelley Carver of Architecture, Planning and Design, contact Damon PHOTO: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY at 785-532-7510 or [email protected]. n Fairchild at 785-532-7524 or [email protected]. n PHOTOS: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY

14 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 www.found.ksu.edu 15 16 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 www.found.ksu.edu 17 Innovative research Inspiring opportunities Dr. Annelise Nguyen’s research is finding ways to make cancer K-State alumnus supports multicultural graduate students, treatments more effective and less toxic for patients. training a more diverse workforce to be involved in planning communities.

rom Seneca, Kansas, to New Orleans, Louisiana, to F Mobile, Alabama, Kansas “ We wanted State University engineering students have worked to restore homes and historic landmarks. Through it all, philanthropic gifts from alumni and Inspiring education her to know friends helped make it possible. how much we Students have the option to spend appreciated her spring or winter breaks participating in service-oriented trips led by efforts to get all Ray Buyle, associate professor of architectural engineering and ill and Bernie Hintz worked hard to put their five children five of us through construction science. Buyle helps through college, but also worked hard to teach their children K-State…” support these endeavors with annual Bhow to support themselves. funds from his Tointon Construction For 13 years, the Hintz kids shared a newspaper route in Salina, — Maureen Burson Management Chair, created through Kansas, delivering up to 100 newspapers every day after school and an endowed gift from K-State alumni early Sunday mornings, with help from their dad. Those earnings Bob and Betty Tointon. helped pay their way through Kansas State University, along with With Buyle’s guidance, students have scholarships they pursued with help from their mom. developed cost estimates and a list When Bernie Hintz turned 95 last November, her children decided of priorities for a historic museum Tanner Lund and to thank and honor her by creating the Hintz Family Scholarship restoration. They’ve built homes in Associate Professor Ray Buyle for finance and accounting students in the College of Business communities devastated Administration at Kansas State University. by Hurricane Katrina and remodeled adobe “We wanted her to know how much we appreciated her efforts to get homes in New Mexico. It was valuable experience. You get to work in all five of us through K-State as a way to have a good life and be able to By supporting activities the field on an actual project while giving back to help support our families,” said Maureen Burson ’75, the second oldest. like these, the faculty “We were blessed to have parents with strong values. It was very chair empowers Buyle the community.” important for us that she knew how much we appreciated the to expand the learning sacrifices she and Dad made,” said Jean Artz ’83, the youngest sibling. experience beyond Tanner Lund, Olathe, Kansas, junior in construction science and classroom and campus management, who participated in a service-oriented trip Bill and Bernie Hintz had children at K-State from 1969 through borders. 1983. Purple pride runs strong in the family, and the siblings gather annually for football tailgating. At their most recent tailgating “Having funds to do event, they welcomed the first two recipients of the Hintz Family Bradley Halbleib and Rachel Jackson these types of activities broadens Scholarship, Alec Main and Timothy Stricker. work on a construction site in our horizons, gives students the Alabama in January 2015. opportunity to see things they may “It was so exciting to meet them and hear where they want to go in not have seen before and helps their careers,” Jim Hintz ’77 said. “That brought it back to reality, to them see how their major applies in meet these guys who are going to be successful in life.” the real world,” Buyle said, adding Through their scholarship gift to K-State, Maureen, Jean, Jim and his appreciation for the Tointons’ brothers Greg ’72 and Al ’80 are continuing their parents’ legacy by generous investment. “I think it inspiring future generations to work hard and succeed. motivates other students, too, as they learn that these out-of-classroom “It was great being able to meet the family that gave me the experiences are available through our scholarship,” said Stricker, a sergeant in the Army Reserve who Innovative department.” will finish his accounting degree this spring. “Their scholarship investment has given me motivation to get through college and earn a job that will allow me to one day return the favor to future college How you can help students.” To learn more about supporting faculty in the College of How you can help outreach Engineering, please contact To learn more about supporting students in the College of Brett Larson at 785-532-7519 or Tanner Lund and Business Administration, contact Darin Russell at 785-532-7525 or Jorge Villalta From left: Jean Artz, Alan Hintz, Alec Main, Greg Hintz, Timothy Stricker, Jim Hintz

COURTESY PHOTOS COURTESY [email protected]. n COURTESY PHOTOS [email protected]. n and Maureen Burson gather at the annual Hintz Family K-State Tailgate.

18 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 www.found.ksu.edu 19 20 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 www.found.ksu.edu 21 Innovative outreach Inspiring education Dr. Ray Buyle takes his engineering students out in the field to Paying for five children to attend college was a family affair provide hands-on help to communities in need. for one K-State family. Those children, now grown, honor their parents by investing in the education of K-State students.

www.found.ksu.edu 13 Dr. Annelise Nguyen

PHOTO: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY

14 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 Finding ways to make cancer treatment less toxic and more effective

r. Annelise Nguyen is working to find improved ways of treating breast cancer. She and another K-State professor have patented a method that enhances cell Dcommunications, improving the passage of chemotherapy drugs from one cell to the next. This would decrease drug dosage levels and make cancer cells less resistant to drugs. Gifts investing in cancer research at K-State are helping Nguyen, associate professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and other researchers make these important advances. “Philanthropy supports students in my lab who help me answer these research questions and also buys lab technology,” Nguyen said. “Biomedical research is not cheap.” The desire to find an alternative to costly animal-based research led to another patent at K-State. “The traditional approach of using hundreds of mice for testing drug effectiveness in biological systems can cost thousands of dollars, so it’s quite expensive to test compounds that could potentially be a cancer drug,” Nguyen said. “We tried to find a viable alternative to animal-based research by creating a micro-environment in a test tube that has the exact same environment as a living animal. In the process, we created PepGel, which provides a three-dimensional environment where we can more accurately test how a compound will respond in a clinical trial.” Nguyen’s research is partially supported by a recent gift from the Flossie E. West Memorial Trust in Augusta, Kansas. “The directive of the trust is to fund cancer research,” said Dave Bisagno, one of three managing trustees of the trust and a K-State alumnus. “The founder of the trust set it up in honor of his wife, who had cancer. With my ties to K-State, I wanted to support the exciting research happening at K-State.” That support is making a difference now and well into the future. The Johnson Cancer Research Center at K-State provides nearly $500,000 a year from privately donated funds to support about 100 K-State cancer research teams. This funding often provides the leverage needed to win large grants that will provide dividends over the years in K-State’s fight against cancer. Nguyen uses donor funds to meet with other cancer researchers at conferences where they can share their findings with each other and advance cancer research overall. These funds also support the students in her lab who are doing important research alongside Nguyen and other K-State cancer researchers. “I train more than 40 undergraduate and graduate students,” Nguyen said. “They are the future of cancer research.”

How you can help To support the Johnson Cancer Research Center at K-State, please contact Shelley Carver at 785-532-7510 or [email protected]. n

www.found.ksu.edu 15 Inspir ing

opportunitiesScholarship empowers student to give community a fresh look

PHOTOS: DAVID MAYES PHOTOGRAPHY

16 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 From left, Alicia Hunter collaborates three-phase beautification project could be on the on design plans for Riley Avenue with horizon for Riley Avenue. The main thoroughfare Associate Professor Blake Belanger and fellow student Taylor Whitaker. for Ogden, Kansas, which serves as an access point for Fort Riley military base, is a focus of K-State student Alicia Hunter’s studies and professional internship. As an intern with the Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization, Hunter has played a key role in redevelopment of the avenue. She enlisted fellow K-State regional and community planning students as collaborators on initial designs and will pursue construction of the designs through her internship. “There’s something about actually knowing what it’s like on day-to-day tasks,” Hunter said. “The community gets to work with passionate, skilled volunteers, and I appreciate an opportunity to help others get experience on a project they might not get elsewhere.” Opportunity is a theme throughout Hunter’s academic career. She recently added a second internship with the Flint Hills Regional Council and plans to pick up a third this fall with the City of Manhattan, Kansas. When she decided to study community planning, her journey to Kansas State University was aided by opportunities like the Ray Willis Regional and Community Planning Scholarship. “I do depend on scholarships to be able to afford school,” Hunter said, adding that she is grateful for the investment in her future career. Ray Willis, a 1971 graduate of K-State’s regional and community planning program, created the scholarship to help diversify the program’s student body by encouraging underrepresented populations. Now working in Chicago as director of community planning and development for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Willis wanted to give back to his alma mater and make a difference for others. “Mr. Willis’ endowed scholarship fund is a catalyst for the college to reach minority graduate students,” said Stephanie Rolley, department head and professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning. “Issues facing our communities must be addressed with inclusiveness and that begins with a more diverse student population.” How you can help To learn more about supporting students in the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, contact Damon Fairchild at 785-532-7524 or [email protected]. n

www.found.ksu.edu 17 Bradley Halbleib and Rachel Jackson work on a construction site in Alabama in January 2015. Innovative outreach COURTESY PHOTOS COURTESY

18 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 rom Seneca, Kansas, to New Orleans, Louisiana, to F Mobile, Alabama, Kansas State University engineering students have worked to restore homes and historic landmarks. Through it all, philanthropic gifts from alumni and friends helped make it possible. Students have the option to spend spring or winter breaks participating in service-oriented trips led by Ray Buyle, associate professor of architectural engineering and construction science. Buyle helps support these endeavors with annual funds from his Tointon Construction Management Chair, created through an endowed gift from K-State alumni Bob and Betty Tointon. With Buyle’s guidance, students have developed cost estimates and a list of priorities for a historic museum Tanner Lund and restoration. They’ve built homes in Associate Professor Ray Buyle communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina and remodeled adobe homes in New Mexico. It was valuable experience. You get to work in By supporting activities the field on an actual project while giving back to like these, the faculty chair empowers Buyle the community.” to expand the learning experience beyond Tanner Lund, Olathe, Kansas, junior in construction science and classroom and campus management, who participated in a service-oriented trip borders. “Having funds to do these types of activities broadens our horizons, gives students the opportunity to see things they may not have seen before and helps them see how their major applies in the real world,” Buyle said, adding his appreciation for the Tointons’ generous investment. “I think it motivates other students, too, as they learn that these out-of-classroom experiences are available through our department.”

How you can help To learn more about supporting faculty in the College of Engineering, please contact Brett Larson at 785-532-7519 or Tanner Lund and Jorge Villalta [email protected]. n

www.found.ksu.edu 19 Inspiring education

ill and Bernie Hintz worked hard to put their five children through college, but also worked hard to teach their children Bhow to support themselves. For 13 years, the Hintz kids shared a newspaper route in Salina, Kansas, delivering up to 100 newspapers every day after school and early Sunday mornings, with help from their dad. Those earnings helped pay their way through Kansas State University, along with scholarships they pursued with help from their mom. When Bernie Hintz turned 95 last November, her children decided to thank and honor her by creating the Hintz Family Scholarship for finance and accounting students in the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University. “We wanted her to know how much we appreciated her efforts to get all five of us through K-State as a way to have a good life and be able to help support our families,” said Maureen Burson ’75, the second oldest. “We were blessed to have parents with strong values. It was very important for us that she knew how much we appreciated the sacrifices she and Dad made,” said Jean Artz ’83, the youngest sibling. Bill and Bernie Hintz had children at K-State from 1969 through 1983. Purple pride runs strong in the family, and the siblings gather annually for football tailgating. At their most recent tailgating event, they welcomed the first two recipients of the Hintz Family Scholarship, Alec Main and Timothy Stricker. “It was so exciting to meet them and hear where they want to go in their careers,” Jim Hintz ’77 said. “That brought it back to reality, to meet these guys who are going to be successful in life.” Through their scholarship gift to K-State, Maureen, Jean, Jim and brothers Greg ’72 and Al ’80 are continuing their parents’ legacy by inspiring future generations to work hard and succeed. “It was great being able to meet the family that gave me the scholarship,” said Stricker, a sergeant in the Army Reserve who will finish his accounting degree this spring. “Their scholarship investment has given me motivation to get through college and earn a job that will allow me to one day return the favor to future college students.” How you can help To learn more about supporting students in the College of Business Administration, contact Darin Russell at 785-532-7525 or COURTESY PHOTOS [email protected]. n

20 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 “We wanted her to know how much we appreciated her efforts to get all five of us through K-State…” — Maureen Burson

From left: Jean Artz, Alan Hintz, Alec Main, Greg Hintz, Timothy Stricker, Jim Hintz and Maureen Burson gather at the annual Hintz Family K-State Tailgate.

www.found.ksu.edu 21 | GoodNews |

COURTESY PHOTO K-State Proud total surpasses $1 million

K-State Proud, a student-led philanthropic campaign at Kansas State University, has raised $1,030,000 and helped more than 520 students in the past 10 years. K-State Proud is a nationally recognized fundraising campaign for K-State. Guided by the leadership of the K-State Student Foundation, the campaign encourages students to show their K-State pride through philanthropy. All campaign donations K-State Proud campaign leaders announced their 10-year fundraising total at the K-State vs. support Student Opportunity KU men’s basketball game, Saturday, February 20, 2016. Awards for K-State students who have exhausted all other forms of second to none nationally,” said students who have offered their financial aid. Greg Willems, president and CEO of service. We’re proud to be working “The KSU Student Foundation the KSU Foundation. “Surpassing with them to build a culture of and their K-State Proud campaign their million-dollar goal validates philanthropy that begins while they has created a level of engagement the vision and hard work of this are students and will continue for a for student philanthropy that is outstanding organization and the lifetime of supporting K-State.”

Alumni Association celebrates 10th annual Wabash CannonBall

Wabash CannonBall Kansas PHOTO: ALEXANDER’S FINE PORTRAIT DESIGN PORTRAIT FINE ALEXANDER’S PHOTO: City celebrated 10 years in style, drawing a crowd of nearly 800 K-Staters who raised about $275,000 for student scholarships. In the first nine years, the event built an endowment of more than $1.8 million and funded more than 300 scholarships for Kansas City-area high school students to attend K-State.

Steve Theede ’74, K-State First Lady Noel Schulz and Greg Willems, The popular K-State Alumni Association event was also KSU Foundation president and CEO, enjoyed the KC Wabash held in Houston, raising $46,000 for scholarships, and CannonBall. Wabash CannonBall Colorado is planned for August 12 at the Pinnacle Club in the Grand Hyatt Denver. For more information, call 800-600-ALUM (2586) or visit www.k-state.com/WabashCannonBallColorado.

22 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 KSU Foundation Board of Directors

The KSU Foundation is Janet Ayres Carl Ice Ex Officio members fortunate to have a large Scottsdale, Arizona Westlake, Texas body of trustees and Greg Willems Rand Berney Stephen Lacy directors who support President and CEO McKinney, Texas Des Moines, Iowa the university generously KSU Foundation Chairman, Board of Directors Vice Chairman, Board of and serve as ambassadors Directors Gen. Richard Myers (Ret.) in their communities. Jan Burton Chairman, Board of Trustees Trustees elect members of Boulder, Colorado Charlene Lake KSU Foundation the Board of Directors, who Secretary, Board of Directors Dallas, Texas serve as the foundation’s John Currie Charlie Chandler Kelly Lechtenberg governing body. Directors Director of Athletics Wichita, Kansas Oakland, Nebraska meet quarterly to consider Kansas State University strategic and policy issues Dave Everitt Travis Lenkner April Mason and also serve on standing Marco Island, Florida Chicago, Illinois Provost and Senior committees to provide Chairman, K-State Alumni Sharon Evers Vice President guidance and oversight to Association Board of Directors St. Joseph, Missouri Kansas State University foundation staff. Vice Chairman, Board of Kevin Lockett Amy Button Renz Trustees Leawood, Kansas President and CEO Mike Goss Steven Theede K-State Alumni Association Westport, Connecticut Houston, Texas Kirk H. Schulz Treasurer, Board of Directors Mary Vanier President Manhattan, Kansas Kansas State University

Phase 3B of Bill Snyder Family Stadium will debut this fall COURTESY PHOTOS COURTESY The latest phase of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium master plan will be completed by the home football opener this season on September 17, completing $180 million in total improvements to the stadium. All funds were privately raised with zero state tax, tuition or student dollars used. Phase 3B will complete the northeast corner of the stadium and provide fans with a fully enclosed stadium bowl and a 360-degree concourse. A new videoboard on the northeast corner will mirror the new system recently erected on the northwest corner of the stadium. There will also be a permanent showcase stage for the Pride of Wildcat Land Marching Band and new visiting team locker, training and officials areas. Green Bay Packers All-Pro wide receiver Jordy Nelson ’07 and his wife, Emily, have pledged a gift to K-State Athletics to help complete Phase 3B. The football team’s locker room in the Vanier Family Football Complex will be named the Nelson Family Locker Room in recognition of the couple’s contribution. K-State Athletics also named the West Stadium Club Level the Steve and Kay Theede Club in recognition of Steve and Kay Theede’s recent seven-figure donation to the project.

www.found.ksu.edu 23 PHOTO: KSU DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Serving those who served Kansas State University’s close proximity to Fort Riley means K-Staters are neighbors, coworkers and friends with military families, witnessing their many sacrifices daily. That proximity also helps K-State form strategic partnerships with Fort Riley to serve this unique sector of society.

Office of Military and Veterans Affairs Led by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Art DeGroat, this office supports military- relevant programs, scholarship, research, outreach and curriculum across all K-State campuses. Visit k-state.edu/militaryaffairs to learn more.

Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families Led by professor Briana Nelson Goff, Ph.D., a licensed clinical marriage Inspired by and family therapist in the College of Human Ecology, this institute serves the research, academic, outreach and clinical service needs of today’s military family. Visit militaryfamilies.k-state.edu to learn sacrifice more. New scholarship honors Non-Traditional and wounded warriors at K-State Veteran Student Services This office is a centralized resource for student veteran needs and also oversees the Veterans Center, a space for relaxing, collaborating and studying in the K-State Student Union.

24 Good for K-State | Spring 2016 | GoodBye |

Corey Van Otegham, of Victor, Iowa, said K-State’s Wounded Warrior Scholarship helped him transition from military life to civilian life and study agribusiness through K-State’s Global Campus.

COURTESY PHOTO

t’s often a point of pride when “I remember the sacrifices made for many years,” said Van Otegham, families can trace their lineage to by numerous uncles and cousins who was injured during a tour of Imilitary veterans. of mine during World War II and duty in Afghanistan. “It’s important the Korean War, who lacked the to give veterans opportunities early For Corey Van Otegham, an Iowa means and support to improve their following their service, so they have native completing a master’s of livelihood upon returning home to the skill set and tools necessary to agribusiness at a distance through civilian life,” Sam Peppiatt said. “The continue their success, but now as K-State Global Campus, that family obvious need to support some of our civilians.” history inspired him to join the Iowa returning veterans and families is Army National Guard. here again, as it was back then.” More than 1,000 miles away, Houston How you can help Van Otegham, the first recipient of residents Sam and Janet Peppiatt the Peppiatts’ Wounded Warrior To learn how you can invest in were inspired by their own family Scholarship, couldn’t agree more. scholarships for K-State Global history to create a scholarship Campus students or military supporting wounded military “Many veterans who have served veterans, please contact Matt veterans studying at K-State. in combat zones have to carry the White at 785-532-3646 or physical and mental burdens of war [email protected]. n NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID KANSAS CITY, MO 1800 Kimball Avenue, Suite 200 PERMIT 2404 Manhattan, Kansas 66502-3373

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

The Innovation and Inspiration Campaign is coming to Denver, Dallas RSVP for either of these events and Fort Worth. at inspire.k-state.edu/events Join your K-State family in a city near you for a special evening with K-State leaders and students to learn about Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University.

Learn more about the Innovation and Inspiration Campaign and how you can Denver: May 20, 2016 RSVP by May 13 make a difference at K-State.

inspire.k-state.edu Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex: June 3 and 4, 2016 RSVP by May 27