December 7, 2020
Three K-Staters receive awards from Kansas Association of Colleges and Employers
Three members of the K-State community were recently recognized by the Kansas Association of Colleges and Employers as award winners during its annual conference.
Andrew Kohls, assistant director with the Career Center, received the Brad Barackman Bridge Award. The award was developed to recognize an association member who implemented an outstanding program that serves as an effective "bridge" between employers and career services. Kohls set up and worked on the first virtual summer drive-in conference. He took on the leadership role and worked well with the technology team to promote the event. Kohls also has made great contributions on the conference planning team and the associate's Board.
Rebecca Gould, career coach with the College of Business Administration's Career Development, was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award. The award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions by a member who is in their first year of membership. Gould stepped up this year on the Conference Planning Committee. COVID threw a wrench in many of the plans for the annual conference — originally planned for Manhattan — and she was able to quickly adapt and pivot to help with anything that was needed, most notably the conference evaluation. Gould is always willing to help pitch in when necessary, answer questions and provide Wildcat spirit.
Kerri Keller, executive director of the Career Center, was awarded the Larry Hannah Career Services Director Award. The award is given in recognition of a career services director who made an outstanding contribution to the Kansas Association of Colleges and Employers during the past year. Through a year filled with stress, uncertainty, a budget crises and pandemic, Keller kept her staff steady as the team shifted to remote work. Keller instituted a "Shark Tank" activity for her team to help create solutions for the office. She also led her team through their first virtual All-University Career Fair. Even in the midst of a changing work environment, Keller continues to encourage her staff to not only be members of the Kansas Association of Colleges and Employers but to get actively involved through committees and conferences.
The Kansas Association of Colleges and Employers is a professional association of employers and career services personnel who work with college relations, recruitment, cooperative education, internships and career development throughout the state of Kansas and nearby region.