K-State honoring former Kansas City executive with Medal of Excellence at Graduate School commencement ceremony

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News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Thursday, April 26, 2007 K-STATE COMMENCEMENT

K-STATE HONORING FORMER KANSAS CITY EXECUTIVE WITH MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE AT GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University graduate who forged a successful career in the Kansas City financial community will be honored by his alma mater.

Dennis von Waaden, Austin, Texas, who built a career as an account executive and fund manager for American Century Investments, will receive K-State's Medal of Excellence at commencement for the Graduate School, 1 p.m. Friday, May 11, in Bramlage Coliseum. The Medal of Excellence is the university's highest honor.

"Dennis von Waaden has proven himself to be a distinguished graduate of the College of Business Administration and a true friend of K-State," said K-State President Jon Wefald. "In honor of his brilliant and successful career, his dedication to his community and his generous gifts of time and treasure to so many K-State programs, we are thrilled to present him with the university's Medal of Excellence."

After graduating from K-State in 1962 with a degree in accounting, von Waaden served as an account executive and fund manager for American Century Investments, which has headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.

Throughout the years, he and his wife, Sally, have given their time and money to various K-State colleges, departments and activities, including numerous scholarships, professorships, excellence funds and projects. Among their main contributions are the von Waaden Chair for Investment Management, the von Waaden Investment Management Scholarship and the dean's discretionary fund for College of Business Administration. The von Waadens also contributed $250,000 to establish an investment fund for the college that allows students to make all investment decisions for the fund.

Von Waaden has served on the advisory boards for the College of Business Administration and the college's department of accounting. He also has served on the Kansas State University Foundation's executive committee and board of trustees, of which he is chair.

"Dennis and Sally von Waaden are wonderful people who have had a tremendous impact on the College of Business Administration," said Yar M. Ebadi, dean of the college. "Their commitment to the success of the college has played a major role in developing excellence in all of our programs. Their generous, continued support for our students, faculty and staff has served to inspire us to greater levels of achievement.

"Dennis and Sally von Waaden are most deserving of this prestigious honor. I greatly appreciate all they have done and continue to do to advance our college and Kansas State University," he said.