2003 IT Awards

Dr. Unger has exhibited, over an extended period of time, the types of vision, leadership, accomplishments, and recognition among peers that achieve a scope that extends beyond a single IT unit on campus. The accomplishments of Dr. Unger are the mark against which all future nominees will be measured.

During his comments at the January 8, 2003 Information Technology All Unit Retreat, former Provost James R. Coffman commended those who were nominated for special recognition during the year for their efforts and service in the field of information technology.

He went on to retrace the IT accomplishments at K-State during the tenure of Dr. Elizabeth Unger as the Vice Provost for Academic Services and Technology and Dean of Continuing Education, citing such accomplishments as the:

design, equipping and operation of 29 high tech classrooms, lecture halls and laboratories
creation of K-State Online
Infocommons
Integrated Information Initiative
LASER Project
KEAS
groundbreaking uses of the Internet2
recognition by Yahoo! Magazine of K-State’s accomplishments by placing KSU in the upper third it’s top 100 “wired” universities in the nation

Dr. Coffman went on to observe, “…that these extraordinary accomplishments don’t just happen. As you know by your awards and recognition process, it takes talented and energetic professionals with the best interest of the university in mind to get things done. But most of all it takes a true visionary to lead the effort.”

In recognizing Dr. Unger’s extraordinary vision and leadership, Dr. Coffman bestowed the first ever “Kansas State University Information Technology Leadership Award” to Dr. Elizabeth Unger.

Dr. Coffman went on to suggest that, “should this award be bestowed again in the future … from this point forward, it be called, the “Elizabeth Unger Information Technology Leadership Award at Kansas State University”.