February 4, 2016
Kansas State University nominates four students for Truman Scholarship
Submitted by Division of Communications and Marketing
Kansas State University has nominated four students for the 2016 Harry S. Truman Scholarship. The nominees are Sierra Lekie, a junior in political science and economics, Lenexa; Ronald Sullivan, senior in international agribusiness, Paola; Jill Applegate, senior in political science and Spanish, Shawnee; and Caitlyn Webb, junior in economic and accounting, Colorado Spring, Colorado.
The Truman Scholarship recognizes college students with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in public service, government or the nonprofit sector. If awarded, it provides up to $30,000 in financial support for graduate education. The four nominated Kansas State University students will compete with more than 600 nominees from across the nation for the 60 scholarships awarded. Finalists will be announced Feb. 25, and scholars will be announced April 22.
To learn more about competing for future Truman Scholarships or other nationally competitive honors while a student at Kansas State University, contact Jim Hohenbary at jimlth@k-state.edu.
Lekie is the sustainability director for the Student Governing Association, co-chair for the For Sophomores Only program and alumni chair for the College of Arts & Sciences Ambassadors. She also has been an intern for the Student Governing Association, Grad Bash co-chair for the Student Alumni Board, February event chair for Silver Key Sophomore Honorary, and a member of the Quest Freshman Honorary, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and Model United Nations. In addition, she was a teaching assistant for the Political Inquiry and Analysis course taught by Sam Bell and an intern for Kansas Sen. Tom Holland and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. Lekie has received several awards and honors, including a Cargill Global Scholarship, Putnam Scholarship, McKelvie Scholarship for Government Service, Reba L. Cobb Memorial Scholarship for Political Science, Douglas E. and Victoria D. Hill Economics Scholarship, Ethel L. and Joe D. Hubert Scholarship in Arts & Sciences, Arts and Sciences Fund for Excellence scholarship, Katherine G. Malone and Janet B. Hollis Leadership Scholarship and Richter Family Beyond the Campus Scholarship.
Sullivan is the founder and president of Wildcats for International Development, a mentor for K-State's First Scholars Program, a violinist for St. Isidore's choir, grand knight for St. Isidore's Knight's of Columbus, and community service chair for St. Isidore's Student Leadership Team. In addition, Sullivan is a member of the States' 4-H International Exchange Program's board of directors and search committee member for the Southwest Kansas 4-H Youth Extension Specialist. He also was the president of International Buddies, selections chair for Chimes Junior Honorary, public relations chair for Phi Eta Sigma, and a member of Silver Key, College of Agriculture Ambassadors and the international service team to Mexico. In addition, he served on the 2015 International Leadership Association Case Study Competition team. Sullivan has received several awards and honors, including the Cargill Global Scholarship, 2015 Global Food Security Symposium Next Generation Delegate, UNL McKelvie Public Service Scholarship, Flinchbaugh Ag Policy Scholarship and Staley School of Leadership Studies-Student Spotlight recognition.
Applegate is a Bill Snyder Leadership Legacy fellow, a research assistant in the sociology department, an English as a second language teacher, a lecture coordinator for K-State Presidential Lecture Series and a member of the K-State Student Foundation and Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She was recruitment and marketing vice president for Alpha Delta Pi, project coordinator for K-State Proud, the Greek outreach coordinator for the Kays and Kennedy student body president and vice president campaign, and served on the 2015 International Leadership Association Case Study Competition Team. Applegate has received the Mortar Board Outstanding Junior Award, semester honors for seven consecutive semesters, the College of Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Award, Putnam Scholarship, Goss Discovery Study Abroad Scholarship and a Margaret E. Beeson Scholarship in Modern Languages. Applegate is working with Alisa Garni, assistant professor of sociology, to research migration and economic development in rural Kansas communities.
Webb is the president of Study Abroad Advocates, Grad Bash co-chair for the Student Alumni Board, and a member of the College of Business Administration Dean's Student Advisory Council Finance Committee, Mortar Board Senior Honorary Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma. In addition, she is a reading mentor for Schools of Hope. Webb has received several awards and honors, including Kansas State University Foundation Plus Scholarship, the Charles Davis Scholarship, Michael Greenwood Economics Scholarship, College of Business Administration Kendall Study Abroad Scholarship, Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Scholarship, Ted and Helene Varney Business Administration Award, Fort Carson Combined Scholarship for Military Children, Kay Meggers-Siemens Corporation Management Scholarship, Fairchild Terrace Scholarship, College of Business Administration Kendall Study Abroad Scholarship, ISA Program Provider Scholarship, KSU Global Education Initiative Scholarship, Blue Key Study Abroad Scholarship, Fort Riley Combined Scholarship, Roger Alan Parrish Scholarship and William Haak Foundation Scholarship.