Connected 'Cats

About the Connected 'Cats

Student experience is a central component to the regional community visits. Students will be leading and connecting in a variety of ways before, during and after the visits.

A student group, Connected 'Cats, is the core of students who will provide leadership for the day. Connected 'Cats are student leaders who have a diverse range of K-State experiences, a meaningful connection to engaged community work and personal ties to the geographic regions where our community visits take place.

There are two roles for Connected 'Cats: student event leaders and interns. Both are integral to the planning and implementation of the presidential regional community events.

Meet the Connected 'Cats event leaders

For each community visit, student event leaders from that community tell their K-State stories and help to lead the day's events. These students have a personal connection to their assigned sites.


Allen County

Marissa Ramirez Valdez

Allison Heim

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Human development and family science
Hometown: Moran, Kansas

Learn more about Allison.

Joshua Diazdeleon

Brody Nemecek

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Animal Science — Business
Hometown: Iola, Kansas

Learn more about Brody.


Barton County and Ellis County

Rachel Sebesta

Rachel Sebesta

Year in school: Junior
Major:
Agricultural education and global food systems leadership; minors in agronomy and anthropology
Hometown: Wilson, Kansas

Learn more about Rachel.

Malik Jenkins

Jocelyn Rigler

Year in school: Sophomore
Major:
Biology with a specialty in human health on the pre-medicine track, and a psychology minor
Hometown: Hays, Kansas

Learn more about Jocelyn.

Phillips County, Norton County and Smith County

Tyler Burns

Kagan Keeten

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Agribusiness
Hometown: Glade, Kansas

Learn more about Kagan.

Mackenzie Waggoner

Meg Keeten

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Communications sciences and disorders with a minor in human development and family sciences
Hometown: Phillipsburg, Kansas

Learn more about Meg.


Jackson County

Jerilyn Nelson

Jerilyn Nelson

Year in school: First year doctor candidate
Major:
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine candidate at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Hometown: Soldier, Kansas

Learn more about Jerilyn.

Adelaide Easter

Jaye Hrencher

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Marketing, minors in graphic design and leadership studies
Hometown: Hiawatha, Kansas

Learn more about Jaye.

Reno County

Cara DeTar

Taylor Hedrick

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Animal sciences and industry, minor in leadership studies
Hometown: Pretty Prairie, Kansas

Learn more about Taylor.

Colben Dodson

Kyser Meininger

Year in school: Senior
Major: Biology
Hometown: Hutchinson, Kansas

Learn more about Kyser.


Seward County

Brady

Brady Kappelmann

Year in school: Sophomore
Major:
Marketing
Hometown: Liberal, Kansas

Learn more about Brady.

Jade Valdez Gomez

Bryan Symons

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Secondary education— social studies
Hometown: Liberal, Kansas

Learn more about Bryan.

 

Meet the Connected 'Cats interns

Connected 'Cats interns are returning student leaders who play an active role in planning and implementing all of the community visits throughout the fall and spring semesters. They engage campus and community partners to develop and deliver preparation to the K-State team. They also provide logistical support at the community visits and help with communications.

Adelaide Easter

Adelaide Easter

Year in school: Junior
Major:
Agricultural economics; global food systems leadership, minors in leadership and international agriculture
Hometown: Salina, Kansas

Learn more about Adelaide.

Adelaide Easter

Jaye Hrencher

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Marketing, minors in graphic design and leadership studies
Hometown: Hiawatha, Kansas

Learn more about Jaye.

Kaleo Vincent

Mackenzie Waggoner

Year in school: Senior
Major:
Agricultural communications and journalism, secondary majors in natural resources and environmental sciences
Hometown: Topeka, Kansas

Learn more about Mackenzie.