Commerce Bank Presidential Awards for Belonging

The Commerce Bank Presidential Faculty/Staff Award for Distinguished Services to Belonging was established in 1978 to recognize outstanding individual contributions to the development of quality education for students at Kansas State University.

The Commerce Bank Presidential Student Award for Distinguished Services in Belonging was established in the spring of 1997 to recognize outstanding individual contributions to enhancement within the student sector.

Commerce Bank Presidential Awards Selections committee members for 2025-2026 include:

  • Dr. Mirta Rodriguez Chavez, Committee Chair, Assistant Vice President, Student Belonging
  • Dr. Tamara Bauer, Director, Institute for Community Health & Well-being.
  • Dr. Maria Teresa DePaoli, Professor, Department of Modern Languages.
  • Mariya Vaughn, Assistant Director, K-State First.
  • Mitzi Farmer, Director of Academic Services, College of Architecture, Planning & Design.
  • Shana Bender, Director of Retention and Persistence, Academic and Career Engagement.

Award Applications:

Nominations are now closed.

2025-2026 Award Winners:

Faculty & Staff: Dr. Natasha Rozhkovskaya, Professor of Mathematics - Mathematics Department

Student: Endy Lopes Kailer, Ph.D. Candidate - Agronomy Department