September 2011 K-State Kudos
All-University
U.S. News and World Report rated K-State among the top 75 public universities in the nation in its 2012 edition of "Best Colleges." The College of Engineering's undergraduate program is among the top 40 public universities nationwide that offer doctorate degrees. K-State's engineering program was the highest ranked Kansas school.
The No. 1 college choice for Kansas high school graduates has set another enrollment record. This fall K-State has recorded its best enrollment yet, according to 20th-day figures announced by the Kansas Board of Regents. A record-breaking 23,863 students are attending K-State both on and off campus, up from 23,588 last year.
K-State's Large Animal Research Center was named one of the best design-build projects by the Design-Build Institute of America. The center is the second design-build project at K-State, and it's the second university building honored by the Design-Build Institute of America.
A K-State bachelor's degree in general business is the first 2+2 agreement in Kansas to be signed by all of the state's 19 community colleges. The agreement means students anywhere in Kansas can take the required courses at their nearby community college, transfer the credits to K-State and complete a bachelor's in business through K-State distance education.
AT&T has donated $15,000 to K-State for three programs that serve multicultural or first-generation students: Developing Scholars Program, Guide to Personal Success and Healthy Decisions. The programs offer students a working relationship with a faculty member on academic, social and financial matters, helping them find success in college and after they graduate.
K-State's master of business administration program was ranked No. 59 in the Aspen Global 100 ranking for the 2009-2010 school year. The Aspen Institute evaluates the way schools prepare students in environmental, social and ethical aspects of business.
Faculty
Youqi Wang, a professor of mechanical engineering, and Abbey Nutsch, assistant professor of food safety and security, were recently selected by the Ad Astra Kansas Initiative as among the state's top 150 scientists. The selection is part of the organization's celebration of the state's sesquicentennial. So far, 10 active faculty members at K-State have been selected among the state's top scientists.
Bonnie Lynn-Sherow, associate professor of history and director of the Chapman Center for Rural Studies, attended and graduated from the Higher Education Resource Services' Denver Summer Institute at the University of Denver. Higher Education Resource Services, also known as HERS, is the premier residential professional development program dedicated to advancing women leaders in higher education. Lynn-Sherow was one of only 72 people selected for the institute.
Marne Arthaud-Day, associate professor of management, has received an outstanding reviewer award from the Business Policy and Strategy Division of the Academy of Management. Only 5 percent of the division's 1,135 reviewers were recognized with this accolade.
Raymond Cloyd, professor and extension specialist in ornamental entomology, was awarded the 2011 Alex Laurie Award for Research and Education by the Society of American Florists at a recent ceremony in Palm Springs, Calif. The award is presented annually to an individual who has made broad scope, long-lasting contributions to research or education in the floriculture industry.
Naiqian Zhang, professor of biological and agricultural engineering, was recently named a fellow of the American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers. He was inducted during a ceremony at the society's annual international meeting in Louisville, Ky.
Sam Mwangi, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications, received the top faculty research paper award from the Communications Technology Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. Mwangi's paper examined how media companies are surviving the shift from traditional journalism to a more technological model.
Students:
Bethany Jochim, doctoral student in physics, is the recipient of the Leroy Apker Award, the top undergraduate honor awarded by the American Physical Society. As an undergraduate of Augustana College, Jochim did research work at K-State's J.M. Macdonald Laboratory.
Eric Grusenmeyer, a senior in architectural engineering, Smithville, Mo., received a $5,000 American Institute of Steel Construction Education Foundation Scholarship. It was one of nine awarded by the foundation for the 2011-2012 school year.
The K-State fountain wars competition team continued its string of top performances with another first-place finish at the recent American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers annual international meeting in Louisville, Ky. Fountain wars is a hands-on, real-time design competition where students design and model a fountain to complete technical tasks. The model is then built and tested under time limits at the competition.
Jocelyn Clemons and Kassie Curran from K-State were named 2011 American Royal Scholars in recognition of their academic achievements and community involvement.
Jenna Dockweiler is one of only six veterinary medicine students nationwide to receive a 2011-2012 scholarship from the American Kennel Club. Dockweiler, a master's student in veterinary biomedical sciences and a second-year student in the doctor of veterinary medicine program, was selected for the $2,500 American Kennel Club/Companion Animal Recovery Scholarship.
Christy Dowling, senior in biology, was crowned Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. Queen at National Czech Days.