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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

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Source: Nick Gay, ngay@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415, bbohn@k-state.edu

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

K-STATE STUDENT FROM LENEXA EARNS $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP FROM STUDENTS IN FREE ENTERPRISE FOR LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATION SKILLS

MANHATTAN -- Strong leadership skills and a demonstrated interest in free enterprise have earned a Kansas State University student a prestigious $10,000 scholarship from Students in Free Enterprise.

Nick Gay, senior in electrical engineering, Lenexa, has been selected as the winner of the Jules and Gwen Knapp Students in Free Enterprise Ambassador Scholarship. Gay was one of three finalists for the award, which was presented at the organization's national exposition May 13-15 in Chicago.

Along with the $10,000 scholarship, Gay will receive training from Students in Free Enterprise USA. As the Knapp Students in Free Enterprise Ambassador, he also may be asked to represent the organization on various campuses and at events throughout the academic year.

The purpose of the scholarship, the largest awarded by the organization, is to recognize the leadership, teamwork and communications skills developed in students who are members of Students in Free Enterprise. The international nonprofit organization is active on more than 1,400 university campuses in 47 countries. Students in Free Enterprise teams create economic opportunities in their communities by organizing outreach projects that focus on market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills and business ethics.

Eligibility requirements for the scholarship include being a current college student, a registered team member of the organization and having and maintaining at least a 3.25 grade point average. Gay also had to submit one-page essays on how the organization has changed his life and on how he has changed someone's life through his involvement in Students in Free Enterprise.

Gay has been a member of Students in Free Enterprise for two and one-half years, including a year at his former school, Graceland University.

"Students in Free Enterprise has helped me by giving me an opportunity to be put in a leadership position," said Gay, who serves as president of the K-State chapter. "SIFE is different than other student organizations in that you choose how involved you want to be by picking projects you would like to work on.

"Currently, SIFE completes about 10 or so projects each year that get us involved within the K-State campus and the local community," he said. "Having much experience in SIFE, I knew taking the leadership role as president would not only benefit the organization, but myself in working with a great group of students who are the cream of the crop in persistent attitude."

Among the projects Gay has lead for the K-State chapter include the Global Xchange Game, which involved teaching market economics, imports/exports and currency exchange to sixth-graders at Manhattan's Marlatt Elementary School. In the fall, Gay will be part of the chapter's Edison Project.

"The project is with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce and Westar Energy to promote energy efficiency to local businesses," he said. "If possible, we also would like to work with K-State to promote this as well."

In 2009, the K-State chapter will have a Big 12 entrepreneurship symposium and a case competition, which Gay said should benefit both the chapter and the university.

A panel that included some national board members of Students in Free Enterprise and the scholarship's namesakes, Jules and Gwen Knapp, selected the scholarship recipient. Gay said his interview with the panel surprised him.

"I really enjoyed it. It wasn't like I expected at all," he said. "The interview seemed like a regular conversation going back and forth, sparking new questions to be asked both of me and by me. The Knapps are great people, too, who love giving back to students who show ambition in the future. They have been involved with SIFE for many years and are happy to continue to give."

Gay thinks the skills he has gained through involvement with Students in Free Enterprise will serve him well in meeting his career goals.

"Although I am not certain how my career will turn out, I can see myself working as an electrical engineer for five to 10 years, then either moving to business management type of work or even running an engineering consulting firm," he said. "Either way, I plan to pursue managerial duties further in my career."

Gay is the son of Bob Gay, Edmond, Okla., and Joanna Pyle, Lenexa. He also is a 2005 graduate of Shawnee Mission West High School.