PLAUDITS

 

MARTIN TO BE HONORED FOR DIVERSITY EFFORTS
Dawne Martin, the College of Business Administration's assistant to the dean for diversity, is being honored for her work with the Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty/Staff Award for Distinguished Services to Historically Underrepresented Students.

Since joining K-State's College of Business Administration in 1998, Martin has enthusiastically worked on issues of diversity.

She launched the Multicultural Business Association in 2002, served on the President's Commission on Multicultural Affairs and was a key player in the recent awarding of a $50,000 Wal-Mart/Semillas grant to implement a retention program for incoming Latino students at K-State. She has actively pursued and coordinated several diversity-related programs for K-State students, many of which have corporate sponsors. She helps recruit high school students from underrepresented backgrounds and mentors them after they arrive. She also continues to teach.

Since 2005 -- the year Martin became assistant to the dean for diversity -- the College of Business Administration has had a more than 33 percent increase in its number of multicultural students.

"The advancement the College of Business Administration has made in the area of diversity enhancement is, in large part, attributed to the commitment and service of Dr. Dawne Martin," said Yar M. Ebadi, dean of K-State's College of Business Administration. "She has contributed countless hours outside of the classroom to promote diversity at every level. Her impact in the area of diversity has led the college to establish a firm foundation of acceptance, respect and appreciation of people from multicultural backgrounds. It is on this foundation that all future opportunities for diversity enhancement will build."

The Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty/Staff Award for Distinguished Services to Historically Underrepresented Students was established in 1978 to recognize outstanding individual contributions to the development of high-quality education for students of color at K-State. It includes a plaque and $2,500.

"Dawne Martin is one of the most selfless, caring people on this campus. Her service to multicultural students began well before such duties became part of her job description and continues during the summers when she is not paid," said Myra Gordon, associate provost for diversity and dual career development. "Her work has contributed to the university's ability to attract substantial corporate funding for diversity programs and to multicultural student enrollment increases in her college and all across the university."

Martin will be honored at a reception from 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at the K-State Alumni Center. At that reception, Robert Gomez, senior in elementary education, and Deborah Muhwezi, senior in mass communications, also will receive the Commerce Bank Presidential Award for Enhancing Multiculturalism.

 

GROSS RENEWS MASTER CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ACCREDITATION FOR FOURTH TIME
William "Bill" Gross, chief pilot and professor of aviation at K-State at Salina, has renewed his Master Certified Flight Instructor accreditation for a fourth time.

Gross, who has held the professional accreditation continuously since 2003, is one of only 54 flight instructors worldwide to earn the credential four times. He also is one of only 19 master certified flight instructors in Kansas.

The national accreditation is recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration. Fewer than 700 of the approximately 93,000 certified flight instructors in the nation have achieved the master distinction. The designation must be renewed biennially and surpasses the FAA's requirements for renewal of the candidate's flight instructor certificate.

K-State at Salina has six faculty members who have earned this top designation. Along with Gross, they are Kurt Barnhart, professor and head of the department of aviation; Bernard King, associate professor of aviation; Troy Brockway, associate professor of aviation; Eric Shappee, associate professor of aviation; and Andrew Smith, assistant professor of aviation and the aviation maintenance training program lead.

Gross, who has been with K-State at Salina since 1987, has helped the program grow from three to more than 300 students. He has been an aviation instructor for nearly 35 years and oversees all flight training at K-State at Salina as well as its ground school.

Gross has bachelor's degrees in animal sciences and industry and in agriculture education, and a master's degree in agriculture education, all from K-State. He also is a member of the Kansas Pilots Association, the National Flight Instructors Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.