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K-State Today

October 26, 2015

K-Staters receive National Role Model Awards

Submitted by Kansas State University Office of Diversity

Kansas State University faculty and staff members Bryon K. Williams, Brandon L. Clark and Dawne Martin have been selected to receive National Role Model Awards by Minority Access Inc.

Minority Access Inc. is an organization that is committed to increasing diversity, decreasing disparities and reducing incidences of environmental injustices. The mission of the organization is to assist colleges and universities in implementing programs and providing services to recruit, enhance and retain underserved and underrepresented populations.

The Role Model's Project is a program that honors professionals that are innovators in expanding education to underrepresented groups.

Clark has been recognized in the mentorship category for his work in advising student organizations Alpha Phi Alpha, Black Student Union and National Pan-Hellenic Council.

"I am extremely honored to receive the 2015 National Role Model Award," Clark said. "To be acknowledged in such a special way is something that I did not expect, but I am certainly grateful and humbled by this recognition. I love working with our K-State students, and I hope I always have a positive impact on every student that I serve."

Likewise, Williams has received the honor in the category of multicultural recruitment.

"K-State is at the forefront of providing access to a quality education to underserved populations," Williams said. "I am very fortunate to work at a university that is committed to its land-grant mission of access and prioritizes the recruitment and support of multicultural students. I am grateful to the vice president of student life, New Student Services, Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Diversity for allowing me to approach access in innovative and meaningful ways."

Finally, Martin is being recognized in the category of administration.

"It is such an honor to be nominated for this award, Martin said.  "Working with our multicultural students on a daily basis has been incredibly rewarding. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Myra Gordon, associate provost for diversity, for her vision and tireless effort to develop Project IMPACT, a comprehensive program to recruit and nurture multicultural students. My goal is to have our students succeed academically and professionally — and they are doing just that."

These three awards add to the numerous, national honors for diversity excellence that the university has received in the past three years.

"I couldn't be prouder of the work these three individuals do on a daily, often unseen and unsung, basis," Gordon said. "However, the proof of the effectiveness of their work can be seen readily in record multicultural student enrollments, unprecedented multicultural student graduations, and the 360-degrees excellence of our multicultural students. These individuals are true champions of diversity and their tireless efforts are worthy of national recognition."