Awards honor community service by K-State students, staff, faculty

Media Relations and Marketing
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-0117
Phone: 785-532-6415
Fax: 785-532-6418

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Monica Parrish, 785-532-5701, monicap@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Andy Badeker, 785-532-1545, abadeker@k-state.edu

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

AWARDS HONOR COMMUNITY SERVICE BY K-STATE STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY

MANHATTAN -- Volunteer efforts have paid off in more than warm feelings for several K-Staters. A local bank and Kansas State University's civic leadership program are rewarding them with a little money to assist worthy causes in Manhattan and beyond.

Community First National Bank partnered with K-State's civic leadership program and provost's office to present four Inspire by Example awards for community service. The awards recognize a tradition of volunteerism at K-State as well as the skills that students, faculty and staff devote to meeting critical needs in their communities.

The awards demonstrate the benefits that students, faculty and staff can bring to campus groups and other local organizations. Awards were based on relevant and meaningful service and an awareness of community needs. Recipients' work also was to involve diverse populations and to demonstrate exemplary commitment and sustainable, innovative effort.

K-State honored the award winners and community organizations April 16 at the K-State leadership studies and programs' Spring Celebration. Award recipients received a plaque, and Community First National Bank donated $250 to a service agency selected by each recipient.

* This year's student award went to Alexandria Serra, senior in kinesiology, Joshua, Texas, for her promotion of physical activity and healthful diet among underserved populations, particularly the "Faithful Footsteps" activity program for Hispanic Catholics. Her award donation will go to the Lovelight project of The Light Center in Baldwin City. Lovelight's goal is to ease the AIDS orphan crisis in South Africa.

* The student group award went to the K-State chapter of the Associated General Contractors, made up of students in the department of architectural engineering and construction science and management. The group was selected for its many volunteer projects such as renovating school playgrounds and adding a wheelchair ramp to the home of a disabled child. The group will use the award donation to further its work around Manhattan and Junction City.

* The faculty award went to Greg Stephens, associate professor in technology management at Kansas State University at Salina, for his long involvement in promoting sustainable agriculture, organic marketing cooperatives and rural heritage. His award donation will go to Yesteryear Museum, a volunteer-driven, agriculturally based living history museum in Salina.

* The staff award went to Tonya Wessel apartment living coordinator at K-State housing and dining services, for her work with the Global Women's Society at K-State's Jardine Apartment Complex. Wessel was praised for her ability to lead by the example of her unflagging service. Her award donation will go to Jardine's Conversational English Coffee Talk, which fosters language skills and mutual support among residents of diverse backgrounds and nationalities.