Kansas State University

Why I chose K-State
I was recruited at an event in Kansas City called Festival of Nations. At the event I had the opportunity to meet with admissions representatives as well as current student ambassadors. It was really the interactions with the students that sealed the deal for me. Their passion for their university, as well as their honest belief that K-State has a place for everyone, was very inspiring.

How I knew K-State was right for me
This moment happened during the first weekend of school. I attended K-State's Black Student Union's Welcome Back Barbeque. It was there that upperclassmen, community members, faculty and staff really embraced me and showed me I had people around who wanted to see me succeeded. Any anxiety I had about being on my own and away from home for the first time disappeared after that event.

The most common question prospective students ask
The most common question is, "How can I get scholarships?" I think this is a great question and I love hearing it because it helps me to focus students on the things they need to do to be competitive for scholarship dollars.

What surprises people the most about K-State
I believe the diversity of our student body surprises people. We have people from every county in the state and every state in the country. There are people from all races and ethnic background. You never know who you will meet at K-State.

How purple is your wardrobe?
I definitely own a lot of purple. I currently have about five purple shirts and 12 purple ties. A weird quirk of mines is naming my ties!

Where I take out-of-town guests
I like to take people to Hibachi Hut in Aggieville. They have New Orleans-style food that is phenomenal and their bread pudding will change your life, guaranteed!

My favorite student organization
My fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha was crucial in my leadership development. It was through the fraternity that my public speaking was fine-tuned, my event planning skills were developed and my leadership was defined. Through the skills I learned with Alpha, I was able to impact all of my other organizations in a positive manner.

How to establish good relationships with professors
Make an effort to connect with those professors and mentors. They all want to be helpful but you must meet them in the middle. So please visit office hours, send emails, and stay connected. These relationships will be important for your professional life even after college graduation.

Something all students must do while at K-State
Participate in the homecoming activities that the campus and Manhattan community put on. The whole town turns purple to cheer on the Cats!

Fun activities students should take advantage of
The Union Program Council always hosts great events and most of them are free. As a freshman, my friends and I went to UPC's After Hours programming every Friday. Laser tag, magic shows, grocery bingo and video game tournaments are just a few of the activities we participated in — all for free!

Roommate advice
Respect the space, opinions and ideals of those you live with. I personally never had a bad situation with my roommates because we all followed these rules.

My favorite college hangout
Buffalo Wild Wings, because of the discounted wings on Tuesday and because they always play the basketball games I want to watch.