Student Highlights
Academic Year 2026-27
- UHP students, Jack Francis-Cummins (Civil Engineering/Spanish) and Baron Frye (Biology/Spanish) are quoted in this story about their faculty-led study in Spain during Summer 2026. Spanish in action.
- Good profile of Justin Kastner, UHP-affiliated faculty and professor of Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology. Heseltine and Schieferecke, shown therein, are both recent UHP alums. People with Purpose: Justin Kastner.
- Lauren Seybold, UHP student in Environmental Science, is featured in this article about her work related to ecology and climate change. Playing for the Prairie.
- Check out this great story about recent UHP alum, Jeremy Kamman. He is headed to France to study at Aix Marseille University as an inaugural Lafayette Fellow. K-State opens doors around the world for physicist Jeremy Kamman '24.
- A recent interdisciplinary study trip to Hope and Abilene, KS included a handful of UHP students. Lei Zhong, UHP senior in Bakery Science, is quoted in the article. Frontier Field Trip connects students with Kansas history, agriculture and community perspectives.
- Check out this article about Erik Stalcup, 2010 UHP graduate in Physics. Great to see UHP alums doing exciting work! NASA engineer and K-Stater already working on the next Artemis mission.
- UHP senior in Environmental Engineering, Rory Jenkins, was selected by her peers as one of three "Saints of Engineering" through Steel Ring Engineering Honor Society. Purple Praise.
- Erin Frenk, UHP senior in Chemistry, earned the 2026 University Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Student Research. Andrew Hope and Erin Frenk honored for outstanding contributions to mentorship and research. Erin will also serve as the student speaker at commencement this year for the Colleg of Arts and Sciences.
- UHP sophomore in Mechanical Engineering and Physics, Vivian Nguyen, has been awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, the premier undergraduate award nationally for STEM students. Research brings Goldwater scholar full circle.
- Check out the collaborative art piece -- Sun over the Planes -- that Honors students created in Dr. Rojkovskaia's Mathematics and Art section of UHP 189 last semester (Fall 2025). The lamp is currently on display at Rockhurst University as part of the Many Faces One Light exhibit.
- Read about the work of two UHP undergraduates for the American Society of Baking competition: Addison Brandau, junior in Food Science, and Lei Zhong, senior in Bakery Science. Champions are made in the lab.
- Congrats to UHP sophomores, Allie Cloyd, Environmental Science, and Antoinette Dadzie, Pre-Med Biology, for being two of five Chapman Scholars selected annually. K-State students prepare for careers with funded summer experiences.
- Max Roberts, senior in Finance, has been selected as the Student Commencement Speaker for the College of Business Administration for Fall 2025. Purple Praise: December 2025.
- Ben Rogers, senior in Electrical Engineering and Finance, and her teammates placed first in the Koch Risk Management Competition in November. Mackenzie Malson, senior in Agricultural Economics and her teammates placed second. Purple Praise: December 2025.
- Congrats to Ameerah Alfailakawi, junior in Pre-Med Biochemistry, one of two "People's Choice" winners for Best Poster Presentation at the annual Kansas Honors Connect Conference for her poster: Neuromodulators Influence Longevity in C. Elegans.
- Happy to report that four UHP students are among the newest cohort of Developing Scholars: Ava Gustin, freshman in Medical Laboratory Science; Holly Lane, sophomore in Biochemistry; Emily Espino-Mendoza, sophomore in Mechanical Engineering; and Kaytlin Skeans, sophomore in Animal Science & Industry. Students to gain research experience, mentorship through K-State Developing Scholars Program.
- Great profile of Adelaide Easter, May 2025 UHP graduate in Agricultural Economics and Global Food Systems Leadership, from the K-State Agriculturist magazine. Fueling change.
- Helen Winters, UHP senior in the Division of Biology, has been recognized as one of two Townley Family Scholarship recipients for her research on prairie grass adaptability. Wildcat undergraduates selected to conduct water research as Kansas Water Institute fellows.
- Ainsley Trunkhill, graduating UHP senior in Secondary Education, has been recognized with one of five Outstanding Undergraduate Student awards by the College of Education. K-State's future teachers recognized for outstanding achievements.
- Congratulations to Erin Frenk, UHP junior in Chemistry, on being awarded a nationally competitive Goldwater scholarship. K-State's newest Goldwater scholar to address water quality, environmental challenges.
- Graduating UHP senior in Agricultural Economics, Adelaide Easter, has been selected to be the student commencement speaker for the College of Agriculture. K-State spring commencement ceremonies to feature student speakers, musicians.
- UHP sophomore in Animal Science, Sydney Bellanger, has been awarded a $5000 Gilman scholarship in support of an international internship in Greece. K-State students study abroad with nationally competitive Gilman Scholarships.
- Two UHP students, Annika Lindt, junior in Medical Microbiology, for her poem, Invisible Finish Line, and Alexa Heseltine, senior in Medical Microbiology, for her essay, Undermining Public Health: Countering Religious Objections to Insurance Coverage for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, have been published in the Fall/Winter 2024-25 issue of Live Ideas.
- Adelaide Easter, UHP senior in Agricultural Economics and Global Food Systems Leadership, has been recognized as one of eleven Outstanding Graduating Seniors. K-State students recognized with Dean of Students Outstanding Graduating Senior Awards.
- Congrats to Blake Allen, UHP junior in Biochemistry: one of three recipients of an Outstanding Student Scholarship from Mortar Board Honor Society.
- Helen Winters, UHP senior in Fisheries, Wildlife, Conservation and Environmental Biology was recognized as one of four 2024 Chapman Scholars. Read about her summer work at Chapman scholarships support career-oriented summer learning experiences for students.
- Kudos to UHP students, Lakin Giager and Benton Kerr, both sophomores in Agronomy, as members of the 2024 National Championship Crop Judging Team. K-State Crops Judging Team wins 33rd National Championship.
- Six UHP students have been awarded basic cancer research grants in Spring 2025. Congrats to Hilary Tallman in Life Sciences, Amala John in Computer Science, Mohammad-Eiliya Davoudi in Chemistry, Tristan Newell in Microbiology, Ryan Pierce in Chemistry and Ashlee Wilkinson in Biochemistry. Johnson Cancer Research Center selects students for research awards.
- Congratulations to the first class of Campbell Scholars, an award reserved exclusively for members of the University Honors Program. Check out the full list of recipients at K-State University Honors Program welcomes inaugural cohort of Robert E. Campbell Scholars.
- Congrats to Maddie Baucom, senior in Biology, Allie Cloyd, sophomore in Environmental Science, and Vinny Sun, junior in Computer Science/Mathematics, each recipients of URAP awards for 2024-25. Students select for K-State Undergraduate Research Amplification Projects.
- Mara Aberle, junior in English, has received a $10,000 scholarship from the Patti Johnson Wilson Foundation of Tulsa, OK for the 2024-25 year. English major awarded Patti Johnson Wilson Scholarship.
- Congratulations to Adelaide Easter, UHP senior in Agricultural Economics, for winning the Morse Family and Community Public Policy Scholarship for the summer of 2024. Morse scholarship winner to develop food recovery efforts in Manhattan.
- Ashleigh Mauler and Stephen Warne, UHP seniors in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, have been selected to receive $10,000 awards through the DOE's University Nuclear Leadership Program. K-State students awarded nuclear engineering scholarships from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Happy to congratulate Jeremy Kamman, UHP senior in Physics and International Studies, on earning a Fulbright U.S. Student Grant to North Macedonia. K-State students to serve as US cultural, academic ambassadors through Fulbright Program awards.
- Take a moment to read about UHP annual student award winners for 2024: Mallory Applegate, Michael Bartkoski, Thaddaeus Blakley, and Helen Winters. University Honors Program celebrates award recipients.
- Helen Winters, UHP junior in Fisheries, Wildlife, Conservation and Environmental Biology has been awarded a Goldwater scholarship, the premier undergraduate award nationally for students in STEM disciplines. Kansas State University junior named Goldwater scholar.
- Jessie McClellan, graduating UHP senior in Geography, has been recognized for her research poster at the American Association of Geographers national conference in Hawaii. K-State geography major wins Undergraduate Student Poster Award at national conference.
- Congratulations to Adelaide Easter, a UHP senior in Agricultural Economics and Global Food Systems Leadership, on her national recognition as a Truman Scholar. K-State's 39th Truman scholar aims to address global food security.
- Two May 2024 UHP graduates, Carson Connard, senior in Mathematics, and Kale Stahl, senior in Applied Mathematics and Physics, have been awarded prestigious fellowships from the National Science Foundation. K-State students receive NSF Graduate Research Fellowship awards.
- Sabrina Veith, UHP senior in Biology, has been recognized for her excellence in tutoring. Kim Dierks Tutor of Distinction scholarship recipient selected.
- Elizabeth Chapman, Political Science, and Payton Lynn, Educational Studies, in addition to graduating from the UHP in May 2024, are also recipients of the Dean of Students Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. K-State students receive Dean of Students Outstanding Graduating Senior Awards.
- Check out the article about the research efforts of Erin Frenk, UHP junior in Chemistry, in the Spring 2024 issue of Seek Research Magazine. On a molecular level: undergraduate researcher investigates the potential of nanoporous materials.
- Kudos to Grace Schieferecke, Medical Microbiology, and Helen Winters, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology for being two of the five students who recently presented their work at the Capitol in Topeka. K-State students present posters to Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol.
- Three UHP students were recognized in January 2024 at the K-INBRE Symposium in Manhattan: Michael Bartkoski in Biochemistry and Microbiology, Halle Ness in Psychology, and Grace Schieferecke in Medical Microbiology. K-State students recognized for outstanding research at K-INBRE Symposium.
- Congratulations to Katey West, UHP sophomore in Political Science for placing second in the Live Ideas social science writing contest. Fall 2023 Live Ideas social science writing contest winners announced.
- Katie Janzen, UHP student in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, has been selected as a McNair Scholar for the upcoming year. 29th cohort of McNair Scholars selected.
- Thanks to six UHP students -- Abby Collins, Carson Connard, Nicholas Edwards, Susanna Jones, Payton Lynn, and Kale Stahl -- for representing the UHP at the Kansas Honors Connections student conference in Emporia, KS on November 18. University Honors Program students participate in statewide conference.
- Seven UHP students have received research awards from the Johnson Cancer Research Center: Ayianna Bailey, Michael Bartkoski, Caden Blake, Katherine Boston, Jane Eilers, Hilary Tallman and Emily Tolbert. Johnson Cancer Research Center presents K-State students with research awards.
- Check out our four terrific recipients of the Honors Outstanding Student awards: Sydney Hanson, Alexa Heseltine, Jack O'Malley and Hannah Trechter. University Honors Program recognizes award recipients.
- Maddie Wilson, junior in Mass Communications, was a member of the grand prize team (group research category) for the Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award for 2023. Mara Aberle, English, was recognized as honorable mention (individual freshman research category). Kirmser awards recognize K-State students for excellence in undergraduate research.
- Spring 2023 UHP graduate in Agronomy, Jenika Hazelbaker, will deliver the student commencement address for this year's commencement ceremony in the College of Agriculture. K-State commencement ceremonies to feature student speakers, musicians and vocalists.
- Excited to share that Tess Fairbanks, graduating UHP senior in Secondary Education and Spanish, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student grant to Argentina for 2024. K-State senior honored with Fulbright award.
- Jeremy Kamman, UHP senior in Physics, has received a RISE internship award through the DAAD to conduct computational materials research in Germany during summer 2023. K-State student to study physics in Germany through prestigious internship.
- Congratulations to Matthew Culbertson, UHP senior in Physics and Mechanical Engineering on his national recognition as a Goldwater Scholar. Culbertson named K-State's 84th Goldwater scholar.
- Two UHP students, Cameron Hoppas, Chemical Engineering, and Emma Worthington, Biological Systems Engineering, were inducted into Steel Ring Honor Society, which recognizes top seniors in the College of Engineering. K-State's Steel Ring Honor Society inducts new members.
- UHP senior in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, Thomas Leihsing, has been recognized for academic achievement with an Anderson Senior Award by the K-State Alumni Association. K-State Alumni Association honors Sixteen K-State students for excellence.
- Proud to see five UHP students -- Alyssa Boudreau, Jack O'Malley, Zoey Pudenz, Sarah Sinclair and Katie Zachgo -- inducted into Silver Key sophomore service honorary for 2023-24. K-State's Silver Key Sophomore Honorary inducts new members.
- Kudos to Eden Brockman, UHP senior in Journalism and Mass Communications for winning a fellowship to Germany from the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals. Brockman selected for Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals.
- Congratulations to UHP junior in Psychology, Jessica Binckley, on being elected Student Body Vice President for the upcoming year! Student Senate Leadership update.
- Eden Brockman, senior in Journalism and Mass Communication, and Chanae Parker, senior in Animal Science, were among five students from K-State to participate in the Kansas Undergraduate Research Days event. Support K-State students featured in Kansas Undergraduate Research Days.
- Congratulations to Sydney Hanson, senior in Personal Financial Planning. Work first undertaken as an Honors course contract was just published in the latest issue of the Journal of Financial Planning.
- Ashlyn Zachgo, UHP December 2022 graduate in Kinesiology, has been awarded one of three Engagement Awards from the College of Health and Human Sciences for "exemplary contributions that impact the well-being of the community." College of Health and Human Sciences announces senior awards and student commencement speaker
- Alynn Bratkiv, UHP December 2022 graduate in Elementary Education, has been recognized as a College of Education Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award recipient. College of Education announces outstanding student awards
- Cadence Ciesielski, UHP Spring 2022 graduate in Philosophy and Spanish, has been recognized nationally with a Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship and a Mortar Board Fellowship. Recent Kansas State University graduate receives Phi Kappa Phi, Mortar Board fellowships
- Two UHP students, Lori Leiszler and Jordan Dombrowski, received Outstanding Undergraduate Student awards from the College of Education. College of Education honors eight undergraduate students for excellence
- Grace Schieferecke, UHP freshman in medical microbiology, is the grand prize winner in the freshman individual research category of the Kirmser Undergraduate Research Awards. Kirmser Undergraduate Research Award 2022 winners selected
- Congratulations to the UHP students who have been selected as new members of Steel Ring: Julio Gutierrez, Kaitlin Colle, and Brett Funk. Steel Ring Honor Society inducts 24 new members
- Congratulations to Cole King and Grace Nelson for being named as one of the Division of Biology's Most Promising Students! Division of Biology names most promising students
- Kayla Craigmile, a UHP senior in Spanish, was selected as a Fulbright alternate to attend the University College of London's Institute of Education master's program in applied linguistics. Alumna, student each receive Fulbright US program recognition
- Congratulations to UHP student Ariana Brancato for being awarded a OURCI Research grant! OURCI selects spring 2022 grant awardees
- The University Honors Program has announced student award winners for 2022! Congratulations to the winners of the Outstanding First-Year Student Award, Anna Guhr and Diego Ortiz! Congratulations also to the winners of the Outstanding Student Award, Hannah Schoonover and Cheyanne Brunner! University Honors Program announces annual award winners
- The Staley School of Leadership Studies has recognized several students for excellence, including several UHP students. Congratulations to Cade Ciesielski for being recognized for the Pat J. Bosco Leadership Studies Outstanding Graduating Senior Ward, Lily Colburn for the Nonprofit Leadership Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, and Kinsley Searles for the Candi Hironaka Outstanding LEAD 212 Class Leader Award! Staley School recognizes campus and community members for excellence
- Congratulations to Eric Honas for being initiated into Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society! This is an honor society that celebrates scholastic excellence and reputable character. Keep on doing great things, Eric! Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society initiates 16 new members
- UHP Students Katie Hutson and Cadence Ciesielski were recognized by the K-State Alumni Association for their commitment to leadership and tireless efforts for this university. Katie won the LGBTQ+ Leadership Award, and Cadence won the Tony Jurich Community Commitment and Leadership Award. Great job to them both! K-State Alumni Association honors Sixteen K-State students for excellence
- Congratulations to the eight UHP students who were inducted into Silver Key Sophomore Honorary! These students are: Adelaide Easter, Alexa Heseltine, Abby Collins, Gracyn Martin, Skyler Johnston, Chanae Parker, Paige Vulgamore, and Evie Rodenaugh! We're so proud! Sophomore leadership honor society Silver Key selects 2022-2023 members
- Congrats to Collin Thompson, UHP senior in marketing, for his excellent showing at the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship! He ended up in the "Sweet 16", and served as the team coach. Great work! K-State student takes sixth at National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship
- Three UHP students were selected to join Student Alumni Board: Avery Johnson, Jessica Binckley, and Adelaide Easter.This small group of students promotes the university and the Alumni Association. K-State Alumni Association announces newest slate of members for Student Alumni Board
- Congratulations to UHP Students Jackson Allen, Levi Van Hoecke, and Kayla Craigmile for being the recipients of the spring 2022 Live Ideas scholarships! Jackson created an educational video on the Civil War, Levi conducted research related to C.S. Lewis, and Kayla developed writing on the use of humor in educational pedagogy. Five students receive spring 2022 Live Ideas scholarships
- UHP student Tess Fairbanks and Bailey Britton were awarded a $1000 Swogger Scholarship by the Primary Text Certificate program, and UHP students Cadence Ciesielski, Lori Ann Leiszler, Kinsley Searles, Levi Van Hoecke, and Bailey Britton were among those who participated in the Live Ideas Spring Institute, sponsored by the Live Ideas Undergraduate Journal, and received $250 scholarship for their participation. Students receive Live Ideas Scholarship, Congratulations to recipients of the Swogger Scholarship
- Kate Lewis, UHP sophomore in Animal Science, has co-authored For the common good: A lesson in public health leadership from Eyam, a blog article for the "The Loop" (the blog for the Staley School of Leadership Studies).
- Hailey Casey, Biology; Morgan Phillips, Life Science; Hieu Nguyen, Biology; Lucy Fischer, Animal Science; and Jane Eilers, Chemistry have all been awarded Cancer Research Awards from the Johnson Cancer Research Center. Johnson Cancer Research Center selects 27 students for research training awards.
- Four UHP students were recently inducted into Sigma Delta Pi: Cade Ciesielski, Jenika Hazelbaker, Tess Fairbanks, and Tori Ward. Modern Languages Inducts Students into National Collegiate Spanish Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi.
- Five UHP students in the College of Engineering -- Kaitlin Colle, Calvin Nelson, Brian Blood, Matthew Culbertson and John Eddy -- have been inducted into Tau Beta Pi. Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society welcomes 16 new initiates.
- Brian Blood, UHP student in Industrial Engineering, participated with other K-State finalists in this supply chain case competition: K-State business students reach finals in General Motors Supply Chain Case Competition.
- Liam McConnell, UHP student in Operations and Supply Chain Management, is the November Profile of the Month in Modern Languages. Read about his decision to study Chinese at K-State.
- Congratulations to Jaime Knight, Agronomy, and Hieu Nguyen, Biology, for being selected as 2022 McNair Scholars. 27th cohort of McNair Scholars selected.
- Stacia Mendoza, junior in Finance, has been chosen as one of two 2022 student ambassadors elected to represent the University at university activities and various Alumni Association events throughout the state. K-State students select 2022 Student Ambassadors.
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