Source: Becky Sullivan, 785-532-7093, beckys@found.ksu.edu
Website: http://www.k-stateproud.org/

Monday, Feb. 14, 2011

STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS: K-STATE PROUD 2011 KICKS OFF

MANHATTAN -- The K-State Proud Campaign -- an all-university, student-led campaign to raise funds for student awards -- will kick off its campaign week of students helping students Monday, Feb. 14, at Kansas State University.

Students, faculty and friends can pick up a K-State Proud T-shirt on the Manhattan and Salina campuses when they contribute $10 or more. The T-shirts are available at an information table next to the food court at the K-State Student Union on the Manhattan campus from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 14-18. They will be available on the Salina campus in the College Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at the Student Life Center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17.

During the campaign week, the K-State Proud information table on the Manhattan campus will also feature the following:

* Monday, Feb. 14: Student Opportunity Awards education and nomination information.

* Tuesday, Feb. 15: Photo opportunity with Willie the Wildcat.

Wednesday, Feb. 16: Meet the K-State athletic coaches.

Thursday, Feb. 17:  Get men's basketball coach Frank Martin's autograph during lunch and enter to win a signed basketball.

Friday, Feb. 18:  Enjoy cookies and ice cream.

The K-State Proud campaign week will end with the K-State versus Oklahoma men's basketball game Saturday, Feb. 19. Fans are encouraged to wear their K-State Proud T-shirts to the game and create a blackout in Bramlage. Doors will open early for students at 1:15 p.m. A pep rally celebrating a week of students helping students will follow, and campaign leaders will announce the total of donations made during campaign week just before tip-off.

All K-State Proud donations are used to fund two student awards: Student Opportunity Awards and Student Hero Awards. Student Opportunity Awards are given to students who have exhausted all forms of financial assistance. More than $345,000 has been awarded to students in need over the past four years of the campaign. The Hero Award is a $500 award given to five outstanding student leaders at K-State each semester. The award recognizes students at K-State who are working to make a difference, and thanks them for their investment in the university.

This year's campaign goals are to raise $100,000 and improve student participation by 30 percent. The campaign is guided by the leadership of the K-State Student Foundation; an advisory board of K-State students; four student co-chairs; and an honorary chair. Student co-chairs are: Ariel Sinha, junior in public relations, Gardner; John Grice, senior in political science, Manhattan; Becky Sullivan, senior in agricultural communications and journalism, Paola; and Phil Harner, senior in industrial engineering, St. George.

The honorary chair for this year's campaign is Frank Tracz, K-State professor of music and director of bands.

The K-State Proud Campaign is sponsored by Cox Communications, Wichita, and GTM Sportswear, Manhattan.

More information is available at the K-State Proud website, http://www.k-stateproud.org. A video about the campaign is available on K-State's YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/KState.

The K-State Student Foundation raises awareness among current and future alumni about the importance of giving back to K-State and of cultivating philanthropy across the university.