Source: James Hohenbary, 785-532-6904
Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008
K-STATE NOMINATES FOUR STUDENTS FOR TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIPS
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University is nominating four students to compete for $30,000 Harry S. Truman scholarships.
James Hohenbary, assistant dean for scholarship development, said the nominees are Daniel Kirksey, Auburn; Kyle Malone, Dodge City; Zachary Maier, Ottawa; and Katie Beye, Stilwell.
Truman finalists will be selected Feb. 19. Students selected as finalists will interview in Kansas City in mid-March. Winners will be announced by early April.
Kirksey is a senior in English literature and philosophy. He is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key International honor societies. He also has served vice president of the K-State Philosophy Club. He is a Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Scholar. He also has received the Kansas Board of Regents Military Scholarship, Phi Kappa Phi undergraduate scholarship, K-State department of philosophy scholarship and the Brian and Martha Cappel Scholarship from the K-State department of English. Kirksey has presented research concerning problems in the contemporary discourse of freewill/determinism under the direction of Marcelo Sabates, head of K-State's department of philosophy, at the University of California, Berkeley; University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and at the Heartland McNair Research Conference. Kirksey served as a staff sergeant with the U.S. Air Force's 190th Air Refueling Wing, Civil Engineering Squadron, and has received the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon and Iraq Campaign Ribbon. He also has served as a court appointed special advocate. A 2003 graduate of Washburn Rural High School, he is the son of Randy and Orienta Kirksey, Auburn.
Malone is a senior in political science with a secondary degree in international studies. He is the recipient of several scholarships, including the Louis H. Douglas Scholarship and the Ed McCoy Jr. Memorial Scholarship, both from the K-State department of political science, and a Kansas State University Foundation Scholarship. Malone is a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity and works as a career specialist at K-State's Academic and Career Information Center. He has been active in student leadership at the K-State Student Union, serving as president of the Union Program Council, vice president of the Union Corporation Board and as a member of the Union Governing Board. For his work with the Union, Malone received the 2007 Association of College Unions International Region 11 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Achievement Award.
Malone, who also has attended Keimyung University in Daegu, South Korea, is a 2004 graduate of Dodge City High School and is the son of Terry and Gretchen Malone, Dodge City.
Maier is a senior in computer engineering with a minor in political science. He was selected as a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Scholar in 2006. The two-year scholarship is worth around $35,000. He has been involved with undergraduate research in K-State's Visual Cognition Laboratory. Maier is active in Wildcats Forever and is vice president of both the K-State Student Alumni Association and K-State's chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers professional society. His is lead mentor of the New Student Assembly class. He also was a member of the Greater Kansas City FIRST Robotics Regional Planning Committee. He has received a K-State Presidential Scholarship, John Deere Engineering Scholarship, Henry and Helen Green Scholarship and the Byrd Scholarship. A 2004 graduate of Central Heights High School, he is the son of Timothy and Alison Maier, Ottawa.
Beye is a junior in political science, specializing in international relations. A National Merit Scholarship recipient, she also has received K-State's Presidential and Putnam scholarships, as well as the Dennis K. Tapsak Memorial Scholarship and the Wallace Memorial Scholarship. Beye is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She has served as president of Chimes, the junior honorary; served as a K-State student senator; was co-selections chair of the K-State Student Foundation; and is a member of the Order of Omega, the Greek honorary. She also has been an intern with the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority. A 2005 graduate of Blue Valley High School, she is the daughter of Bruce and Karen Beye, Stilwell.
Truman scholarships are used for graduate studies. Scholars are selected primarily on the basis of leadership potential and communications skills; intellectual strength and analytical ability; and likelihood of "making a difference" in public service.
K-State is first in the nation among public universities in producing Truman scholars -- 30 and one alternate -- since the first awards were made in 1977.