K-State Current - March 22, 2017
K-State Current is a weekly news update for the Kansas Board of Regents in an effort to apprise the Regents on a few of the many successes and achievements made by K-State faculty, staff and students.
K-State News
K-State has most beautiful campus in Kansas
Which college is the fairest of them all? According to Travel + Leisure, Kansas State University is the most beautiful college in Kansas.
The resource provides travel tips, ideas, videos and rankings from around the world. For this list, it selected the most beautiful college in each state based on several criteria:
- Setting and scenery.
- Building design.
- Upkeep of campus grounds.
Kansas State University was selected because of its extensive green space — more than 2,000 acres — and limestone buildings.
The recognition comes during a time of transition, as many areas of campus are under construction. Current and recent construction projects include:
• Seaton Complex, which houses the College of Architecture, Planning & Design.
• The K-State Student Union, which was recently ranked as the No. 1 union in Kansas.
• The Berney Family Welcome Center, which recently was the Judges Choice winner for state building awards by the Associated General Contractors of Kansas Inc.
• Engineering Hall, which was runner-up in the contest held by the Associated General Contractors of Kansas Inc.
"It's not surprising to us that K-State was selected as having the most beautiful college campus in our state," said Pat Bosco, vice president of student life. "It's the sensation we all experience driving into Manhattan from any direction — the valley, lots of native limestone and grasses, and all things purple.
K-State Student Union ranked No. 1 in Kansas and among 25 best in nation
Kansas State University has the best student union in Kansas and the second best in the Big 12 Conference, according to CollegeRank.net, which has ranked the top 25 student unions in the country.
The organization provides information about student life at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. For this ranking, it selected the 25 best student unions in the nation based on four criteria:
- Aesthetic design and architecture.
- Student offerings in campus life.
- Events and traditions.
- Proximity to other campus features.
The K-State Student Union's inclusion on the top 25 list of student unions in the nation during a time of transition as the Union is undergoing a $32 million renovation.
"This recognition confirms that, even during a major renovation, we are committed to making good things happen," said Bill Smriga, Union executive director.
The renovation is primarily funded by a student privilege fee increase of $20 per semester approved by the student body in 2013. Construction started in September 2015 and is expected to be complete in fall 2017.
The renovation is providing increased visibility, updated designs and larger spaces for several organizations and offerings, including the Office of Student Activities and Services, the Veterans Center, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Powercat Financial, the Union Bowling Center, Cat Tech, the Little Theatre, the copy center, catering kitchens, restaurants and several offices.
Three additional dining venues will open as the renovation continues: A branch of the locally owned Radina's Coffeehouse and Roastery is scheduled to open by April 1; Call Hall at the Union is expected to open in the summer; and a sports pub, Union Station by JP's, which will be operated by Housing and Dining Services, is set to open in the fall. A renovation celebration is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 13.
"We look forward to officially unveiling the renovated Union at our celebration so students, faculty, administrators, alumni and guests can discover the facilities, services and activities available at the Union," Smriga said.
The Union has remained open during the renovation, and it even increased its hours in 2016. Because the Union already employed night staff, Smriga said the increase in hours was made possible by keeping the doors unlocked and adding a few security measures.
"Keeping the Union open at night ensures that students' work is not disrupted, so they can hunker down and keep studying in one place, all night if necessary," Smriga said.
Smriga said the Union's design and architecture create a welcoming first impression that synergizes with Bosco Student Plaza and the new Berney Family Welcome Center to convey the message that Kansas State University is a vibrant academic place.
The Union showcases student life throughout the building, from Lunchtime Lounge musical performances in the Union courtyard and relaxation areas to student organization offices. The Union Program Council offers hundreds of activities and events yearlong to educate, enlighten and entertain students, Smriga said.
The Union is adjacent to the parking garage; the Berney Family Welcome Center; the under-construction building of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design; and other prominent campus facilities. Inside the Union, popular dining options and lounge areas are organized to enhance social connections and provide a comfortable, warm environment.
"The Union is the place where the K-State family meets to enjoy the various facilities, study in a quiet spot or just have fun," Smriga said.
Faculty Highlights
Esmaeily elected to fellow status in national engineering society
Asad Esmaeily, professor of civil engineering, has been elected to fellow status by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The honor is held by fewer than 3.5 percent of society members, and is awarded to those who "have made celebrated contributions and developed creative solutions that change lives around the world."
Esmaeily has been active in the society's institutes and technical committees for more than 15 years, organizing and chairing multiple conference sessions and symposia; serving as chair, vice chair and voting member of technical committees; and acting as associate editor and editorial board member of the organization's journal Bridge Engineering, as well as guest editor of the Journal of Engineering Mechanics. A reviewer of various technical journals, he received the society's 2010 Outstanding Reviewer award.
Joining the College of Engineering faculty in 2002, Esmaeily was tenured and promoted to associate professor in 2008 and full professor in 2014. He has served as faculty adviser for the steel bridge and balsa bridge teams, and has been long-time faculty adviser for the concrete canoe team and K-State's American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter, receiving the society's Outstanding Advisor of the Year Award in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
He received both bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from Tehran University, as well as a doctorate and master's degree in civil and structural engineering, and a master's in electrical engineering, all from the University of Southern California. He is a licensed professional engineer in California.
K-State Polytechnic program and alumni featured in Airport Cooperative Research Program
Tara Harl, associate professor in K-State Polytechnic's College of Technology and Aviation, is leading a groundbreaking Airport Management program that encompasses real-world experiences by using cutting-edge reports or bringing industry professionals into labs.
The program integrates research reports and webinars from the Airport Cooperative Research Program, or ACRP.
Harl's curriculum, noted in a recent article by the Airport Cooperative Research Program, describes how ACRP research has helped students in the airport management program grow both academically and professionally.
"Our instructors do not rely on traditional textbooks; they rely on ACRP research reports to serve the role of the textbook," Harl said in the publication.
Interviews with Elizabeth Nelson and Michael Parker, 2015 graduates of the program, highlight how K-State Polytechnic's integration within the curriculum of ACRP has contributed to their own personal and professional success.
K-State Student News
K-State Animal Science Students Headed to National Competition
A team of Kansas State University (K-State) animal sciences and industry (ASI) students won the 2017 Midwest Regional Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon hosted in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, March 12-15. The team competed against 12 teams from other universities.
Team members included: Jenna Chance, ASI sophomore, Lebanon, Indiana; Cameron Hayden, ASI junior, Cassopolis, Michigan; Taylor Ochsner, ASI junior, Andover, Kansas; and MaRyka Smith, ASI senior, Hoyt, Kansas. The team is advised by Karol Fike, K-State ASI faculty member and quadrathlon coordinator.
Teams participate in four events: laboratory practicum, written exam, oral presentation and quiz bowl. In the laboratory practicum, the team demonstrates its ability to perform animal management-related skills. The work at each station usually involves a species such as beef or swine or a discipline area such as nutrition or meats.
The written exam questions may involve any area related to animal production and products. Each team works on one exam, dividing the questions as they wish.
In the oral presentation, the students may choose from a list of topics related to animal agriculture. They have 60 minutes to prepare the presentation. This is an exercise in cooperative problem solving.
In the Quiz Bowl, questions may be on any topic that relates to animal agriculture and that are answerable in a short period of time.
K-State won the laboratory practicum and written exam, placed fourth in the quiz bowl and fifth in the oral presentation to best the field of 13 teams.
K-State's team is sponsored by Fourth and Pomeroy Associates Inc. of Clay Center, Kansas. Joe Ebert, vice president and general manager, is a 1971 K-State ASI graduate, and Jim Brown, retired president, is a 1959 graduate in feed science and management.
The regional competition followed a local animal sciences academic quadrathlon in February at K-State, where 18 teams made up of K-State students competed to move on to the regional competition. The team will represent K-State and the Midwest Region at the national competition this July in Baltimore, Maryland, held in conjunction with the American Society of Animal Science national meetings.
Pictured is the champion team with team sponsors (l to r) are Jim & Carol Brown, Fourth & Pomeroy president; Joe Ebert, Fourth & Pomeroy vice president and general manager; MaRyka Smith, ASI senior from Hoyt, Kansas; Cameron Hayden, ASI junior from Cassopolis, Michigan; Taylor Ochsner, ASI junior from Andover, Kansas; Jenna Chance, ASI sophomore from Lebanon, Indiana; Zita Milligan, Fourth & Pomeroy CFO; and Karol Fike, KSU ASI faculty member and quadrathlon coordinator.
Kansas Association of Broadcasters recognizes K-Staters for excellence in TV and radio
Students in the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications have been recognized by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for their outstanding efforts in broadcast communication. In all, K-State featured 26 individual student winners in 25 separate entries.
Student entries were produced and aired on broadcast, cable, or webcast during the 2016 calendar year. Entries were judged on excellence, believability, creativity and effectiveness. K-State students recognized by the association this year:
Undergraduate-Radio
James Copeland won second place for "News Promo," and Brennan Flanagan received an honorable mention for "Thankful Liner" in the promotional audio or video category.
Copeland and Lucas Peterson won first place for "Weekend News Roundup"; Nick Fief won second place for "Mental Health Roundtable" and Shawn Gelushia received an honorable mention for "LGBT Issues Show" in the public affairs program category.
KSDB staff won first place for "2016 Election Night," and Sara Green won second place for "KSDB News Update" in the complete live newscast category.
Jon Parton won second place for "Forum News" in the hard news package category.
Grant Nicholson won second place for "Craig Bolerjack Interview" in the complete sports feature category.
Copeland received an honorable mention for "KSDB 67th Special" in the radio documentary category.
KSDB Staff won first place for "KSDB Radio Playhouse," and Rachel Tucker and Emily Porter received an honorable mention for "Sounds of Broadway" in the entertainment program category.
David Dougherty and Bridget Lynch won second place for "KSDB Lemonade Stand/Scavenger Hunt" in the promotion event/activity category.
KSDB staff won first place for "Kansas State University, ksdbfm.org" in the station website category.
Undergraduate-TV
Kaitlyn Heier, Gretchen Koenen and Juan Cisneros won first place for "MHK All Day 11-11-16" in the complete taped newscast category.
Braxton Jones and Clarissa Weers received an honorable mention for "Founders Hill Fire" in the enterprise news package category.
Avery Osen received an honorable mention for "Sports with Avery Osen" in the sportscast category.
Osen also received first place for "Avery Osen News Anchoring" in the DJ personality for radio or news anchor for TV category.
Callie Ogborn won first place for "A Grassland Bird's Changing World" in the documentary category.
Graduate-Radio
Blane Worley won first place for "KSDB News Update" in the complete live newscast category.
Worley also won first place for "KSDB Classroom Series - Pale Tongue 'Cosmic Knowledge'" in the entertainment program category.
Intern-TV
Max Stewart won first place for "Vote, Respect, Engage," and Matthew Vohs, Bailey Brown and Stewart won second place for "K-State Today | Jan 30 - Feb 5" in the promotional audio or video category.
Clarissa Weers, Zach Radabaugh, Safiya Woodard and the Wildcat Watch crew won first place for "OPUS 2016 | Sky Orchid performance," and Weers, Tana Akers and Meagan Miller won second place for "Wildcat Weekly | Dancing with the K-State Stars" in the entertainment program category.
Winners will be recognized at the annual Kansas Association of Broadcasters Student Seminar luncheon on Tuesday, April 4, in Topeka. The seminar will include panels and round-table discussions to acquaint students with the future of broadcasting, career opportunities and the real world of broadcasting. A job fair for graduating college seniors will be available.
