Purple Praise: May 2025

Kudos and celebrations of student, faculty and staff achievements

K-State’s talented students, faculty and staff are frequently recognized for their exceptional scholarship, teaching and research or creative inquiry. Let’s celebrate their accomplishments.

Kudos highlight notable professional and student achievements from outside the university, such as awards and honors; fellowships; performances; elections to regional and national boards or committees in professional organizations; and conference presentations. Self-nominations are accepted.

Submit by June 11 for the next feature.

Student success

Emmanuel Nwachukwu receives MANRRS honors

Emmanuel Nwachukwu, a master’s student in the department of horticulture and natural resources, has been selected as a recipient of the MANRRS Gold Scholarship 2025. This award was given to support bright students to attend and gain skills from the MANRRS conference. In addition to the scholarship, Nwachukwu's abstracts were selected from a large pool of submissions to participate in the MANRRS Research Poster and 3-Minute Thesis Competitions during the conference. He secured first place in the Graduate Research Poster Contest Division 1 and fourth place in the 3-Minute Thesis Contest, competing against 55 other applicants.

APDesign graduate students named 2025 Metropolis Future100 students

Maia Smith and Lily Turner, both fifth-year interior architecture students, have been honored as 2025 Metropolis Future100 students. Launched in 2021 by Metropolis magazine, the Future100 program recognizes the top 100 graduating students in architecture and interior design across the United States and Canada. This competitive program connects emerging talent with leading architecture and design firms throughout North America. “This recognition not only highlights Maia and Lilly’s creativity and promise as future leaders in the design industry but also reflects the excellence of the APDesign program and its dedicated faculty,” said Michael McClure, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning & Design.

Skinner named finalist in National ASID Student Portfolio Competition

Sammie Skinner, junior in interior design, has been named a finalist in the 2025 American Society of Interior Designers Student Portfolio Competition. The competition is one of the most prestigious student design contests in the nation and recognizes the best and most innovative work from interior design students across the United States. Finalists are selected based on submissions that demonstrate exceptional thought, creativity and design excellence. Skinner’s portfolio stood out among hundreds of entries, reflecting not only her strong design abilities but also her commitment to thoughtful, human-centered interior environments.

Graduate School empowers K-State STEM students in DC

The K-State Graduate School sponsored two graduate students to attend the 2025 Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering Workshop in Washington, D.C. Rañia Buenavista, doctoral student in grain science and industry, and Parker Poulos, doctoral student in physics, gained invaluable insights into the intersection of science and policy. The four-day workshop, organized by the AAAS Office of Government Relations, offered an inside look at the federal policymaking process, including congressional structure, the budget cycle, and science communication. Students also visited Capitol Hill to advocate for graduate research at K-State and the importance of federal science funding.

Landscape architecture students honored

Students in the department of landscape architecture and regional & community planning competed at the 2025 ASLA Central States Student Awards. This prestigious event recognizes excellence in design, planning, research and leadership among landscape architecture students across six central U.S. states. This year, K-State students received multiple Honor Awards across both the Design Unbuilt and Research categories, reflecting innovation, creativity and academic rigor.

The awarded projects include:

• "Reviving the Spirit: Yvonne Starks Wilson Park" — Honor Award in Design Unbuilt (student). Design team: Muhaiminul Islam, master's student; Joseph Hazard, junior; Stephanie Allen, senior; and Zander Kehoe, junior, all in landscape architecture. Associate professor Blake Belanger was studio professor.
• "The Marsh Meadow: A Sustainable Redevelopment of K-State Edwards Hall" — Honor Award in Design Unbuilt (student). Designer: Muhaiminul Islam. Associate professor Jessica Canfield and assistant professor Kirby Barrett were studio professors.
• "Unity Plaza: Celebrating the Oldest Democracy and Diversity" — Honor Award in Design Unbuilt (student). Designer: Muhaiminul Islam. Professor Anne Beamish and associate professor Jessica Canfield were studio professors.
• "The Campus Image: Using Social Media to Design for Place Attachment" — Honor Award in Research (student). Thesis by Blaine Hupe, master's graduate in landscape architecture. Associate professor Hyung Jin Kim was thesis advisor.

Faculty and staff achievements

K-State to be represented in the 2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report

Reena Khosla represented K-State in the 2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Data and Analytics Edition as an expert panelist. EDUCAUSE is a national publication that explores the strategies and future of data and analytics in higher education as an area of practice that is driving institutional excellence decision-making and strategic planning. Khosla serves as director of the Enterprise Data Warehouse in K-State's Office of Data, Assessment and Institutional Research. Her selection highlights K-State's growing leadership in data and analytics and ensures the university’s voice is part of the national conversation on trends, technologies and practices shaping the future of higher education analytics.

Matthew Brueseke named fellow of Society of Economic Geologists

Matthew Brueseke, professor and interim head of geology, has been named a fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists. He was recognized for research on links between mineral deposits and magmatism, developing K-State courses on mineral-energy-water resources, and training geologists to meet rising global demand for critical minerals. The society, with over 6,000 members in 100 countries, is a leading nonprofit advancing the understanding, development, and stewardship of Earth’s resources. It connects academia and industry, focusing on the minerals and metals essential to modern society.

Advisor Forum presents May Charlie Award

The K-State Advisor Forum announces Kimberly Voight, director of student services at K-State Olathe, as the honoree for the May Charlie award. "Kim is our director of student services and has never shied away from helping students with what they need," wrote nominator Lauren Racki. "We have had a rapidly increasing on-campus student population of GRAs and Kim has helped lead the charge in figuring out what students need and providing them with resources to get their questions answered. Her conversations have extended beyond their academic needs, but she has provided connections for local resources to help them get settled in Kansas City. Having Kim as a student advocate has created an environment of a 'white glove service' for our learners at Olathe."

History professor receives Faculty Development Award

David Defries, associate professor of history, has received a Faculty Development Award to attend the International Medieval Congress this July in the United Kingdom focused on "The Vikings as the Rod of God's Wrath in Early Medieval Flanders.” The funds will allow Professor Defries to participate in a panel he organized and moderate another panel organized by a colleague.

Loughmiller receives educator award from Associated Schools of Construction

Katie Loughmiller, associate professor and acting head of the GE Johnson Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science, has been named the 2025 International Outstanding Educator by the Associated Schools of Construction. The award honors excellence in teaching, contributions to construction education, service to ASC and dedication to the profession. A K-State alumna, Loughmiller spent 12 years in the industry before earning a master’s from North Dakota State University in 2015 and a doctorate from K-State in 2024. Her research interests include women in construction, scheduling, and cost control and finance.

Carlyon and Robinson selected as recipients of the March Staff Spotlight Award

Cynthia Carlyon, mathematics, and Roberta Robinson, K-State Olathe, have been selected as the March 2025 recipients of the Staff Spotlight Award. The Staff Spotlight Award highlights support and professional staff members each month for their service to the K-State community.

"As the math department lost three veteran staff members in 2024, Cindy had to step in and take a leading role, cover gaps, and spearhead the recruitment effort by leading two successful searches," Carlyon's nomination reads. "Cindy brings a positive attitude to the workplace. She has a sunny and easygoing personality and really cares about making the work environment a pleasant experience for everyone."

"Roberta Robinson is the heart of the K-State Olathe campus," Robinson's nomination reads. "Her deep institutional knowledge, combined with her unwavering dedication, kindness and professionalism, make her an invaluable asset to the university. She approaches every interaction with grace and respect, and her ability to manage complex HR responsibilities without assistance is nothing short of remarkable. She truly embodies what it means to serve with excellence.”

Anyone can nominate eligible employees. Nominees will be reviewed by a University Staff Leadership committee of professional and support staff representatives. Winners receive $100 from the President’s Office. Submit nominations online by the first of each month.

Send us your kudos!

Do you have a current K-State student, staff or faculty member you'd like to highlight? Submit their information by Wednesday, June 11, for consideration to include in next month's edition of Purple Praise.

Read past editions in the Purple Praise archives.