Blue Key Class of 2025-2026

Braden Adams
President
Major: Computer Science
Minor: Leadership Studies
Hometown: Abilene, Kansas
Braden is a member of the Student Alumni Board, Engineering Ambassadors, and has also served on the Student Governing Association Cabinet. He also serves as Program Manager for the K-State Satellite Team, volunteers with the Manhattan Big Brothers Big Sisters program as a mentor, is a student leader in K-State Christian Challenge, and plays in the University Christian Church band.
Zoey Pudenz
Vice President
Major: Professional Strategic Selling and Marketing
Minor: Leadership Studies
Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas
Zoey is involved in Student Governing Association where she currently serves as Student Body Vice President. She is also an active member of Student Alumni Board, Sales Ambassadors, and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority where she served at Chapter President.
Lizzie Schafer
Director of Strategic Communications
Major: Animal Science with a Communications Focus
Hometown: Owaneco, Illinois
Lizzie works for Kansas State HD.TV and helps broadcast home sports games. She also serves as the Kansas State Rowing Team videographer and runs her own agriculture promotions business called Elizabeth's Edits. In addition, she creates videos for the Lynne F. Solon Foundation that provides support and scholarships to youth living with Type 1 Diabetes and other special needs. She grew up on a grain and livestock farm in central Illinois and competed on a livestock judging team at Butler Community College prior to attending Kansas State University.
Hannah Whetstone
Director of Membership
Major: News and Sports Media
Minor: Leadership Studies, Professional Strategic Selling Certificate
Hometown: Howard, Kansas
Hannah is involved in the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and currently serves as Chapter President. She is passionate about her work as a sideline reporter for the Big 12 Network. Hannah is also actively involved in Wildcat 91.9 FM and Student Alumni Board.
Andrew Le
Director of LeadX
Major: Political Science + Global Food Systems Leadership
Minor: Leadership Studies, certificate in Interdisciplinary Conflict Resolution
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
Andrew is involved in the Student Governing Association and currently serves as the Speaker pro tempore of the Student Senate. He is an active member of the Student Alumni Board, Food Security Scholars, Asian American Student Union, and is a trumpet player in the Pride of Wildcat Land, the Kansas State University Marching Band. He is also a 2025 Flinchbaugh Food and Agriculture Policy Fellow where he worked on policy issues at a state and federal level.
Landon Menees
Director of Personal and Professional Development
Major: Personal Financial Planning
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Landon is the current President of the Financial Planning Association at Kansas State University. He also serves as the Mentorship Chair of the Delta Chi Fraternity. Landon is a member of the K-State Club Tennis team.
Kiersten Schmalz
Director of Retreats and Team Training
Major: Business Management and Business Marketing
Minor: Psychology and Leadership Studies
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Kiersten has been involved in Greek Life, Quest, Silver Key, and Chimes. She served as a Staley School of Leadership Ambassador as well as an SSRO and SAAC. She is also a Division 1 athlete on the Women’s Rowing Team.
Emily Jones
Director of Team Recognition and Service
Major: Integrative Human Sciences
Minors: Conflict Analysis and Trauma Studies, Children in Group Settings, Interdisciplinary Conflict Resolution, Well Being, Pre-Couple and Family Therapy
Hometown: Washington, Kansas
Emily currently serves as one of the 2025 Student Ambassadors. She is also an active member of her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, Student Alumni Board, and is an ambassador for her college.
Lakota Persing
Director of Alumni and Nationals
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders
Minor: Human Development and Family Sciences, Leadership Studies, and Well-Being
Certifications: Early Childhood Consultation and Child Welfare
Hometown: Hugoton, KS
Lakota is currently involved in Snyder Fellow, Student Alumni Board, Student Foundation, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Collegiate 4-H, and Kansas State Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She plans to continue her education and become a Speech Language Pathologist.
Isaiah Choma
Co-Director of Quest Freshman Honorary
Major: Biomedical Engineering with an Emphasis in Medical Sales
Minor: Math
Certifcates: Sales and Film
Hometown: Manhattan, Kansas
Isaiah serves as a Senator for National Society of Black Engineers. He is also an active member of Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society, a current Cargil and Koch Scholar. He is the founder a boy's nonprofit called Wechiau Boys Conference, an annual 1 week conference in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Which provides 3 hot meals a day, new clothing, uniforms, flip flops/sandals, toiletries, and health care cards.
Jack O'Malley
Co-Director of Quest Freshman Honorary
Major: Organizational Management
Minor: Leadership Studies
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
Jack is currently serving as President of FarmHouse Fraternity. He has been actively engaged in Student Governing Association, where he previously served as Student Body Vice President. Jack is also involved in Student Alumni Board.
Preston Dunn
Director of Leadership Programming
Major: Animal Science and Agricultural Economics
Minor: Business
Hometown: St. John, Kansas
Preston is a member of FarmHouse Fraternity, where he has served two terms on the executive board. He is also involved on campus as a member of the Student Alumni Board, a competitor on the Kansas State Livestock Judging Team, and a student fellow in the Center for Risk Management Education and Research. Beyond campus, Preston stays active by traveling on both domestic and international school and industry trips. He also manages his own equipment sales and auction services business, Wild Horse Enterprises.
Eva Naab
Director of Scholarships & Mistler Fellows
Major: Psychology and History
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
During her time at K-State, she has been involved in several organizations, including Pi Beta Phi, Arts and Science Ambassadors, AKPsi, and others. After graduation she plans to attend law school.
Austin Mills
Co-Director of Catalyst: A Self-Development Experience
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Shawnee, Kansas
Austin is an active member of the K-State marching band where he serves as the head section leader for the Tenor Saxophone section. He is also involved around campus in Engineering Ambassadors, Student Alumni Board, and Tau Beta Pi.
Cami Fulton
Co-Director of Catalyst: A Self-Development Experience
Major: Educational Studies
Minor: Biology + Gerontology
Hometown: Loup City, Nebraska
Cami is actively involved in the Student Alumni Board and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Beyond her academic commitments, she is dedicated to her professional growth, working as a Certified Nurse Aide and Medication Aide in the Manhattan area. She plans to pursue a career in nursing.