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 COURTESY 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.