April 26, 2017
K-State awards Medal of Excellence to Gib and Brenda Compton in recognition of their service
Gib and Brenda Compton, Wichita, were awarded the Kansas State University Medal of Excellence at the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees spring meeting April 21. This award recognizes outstanding trustees of the KSU Foundation who have advanced the university through exceptional service, leadership and philanthropic contributions.
The Comptons, both K-State graduates, exemplify all three roles of a KSU Foundation trustee — advocate, ambassador and investor.
"When deciding who would be the first trustee recipients of the K-State Medal of Excellence, Gib and Brenda Compton immediately came to mind because of the many ways they serve all aspects of the university," said Greg Willems, president and CEO of the KSU Foundation. "The university would not be where it is today without the generous contributions of alumni and friends. But, philanthropy that is linked with service, linked with leadership — that has a value to the institution that can be truly transformational. That is what the Comptons bring to K-State."
"We are excited to present this award to recognize trustees who give extraordinary service to K-State," said K-State President Richard Myers. "It is volunteers and philanthropic leaders like the Comptons who help make the K-State experience outstanding and will propel K-State toward an even more exceptional future."
As advocates and ambassadors, Gib has served on the College of Engineering and construction science advisory councils. He is a past member of the K-State Alumni Association board of directors. Together, they are serving on Innovation and Inspiration Campaign committees for the College of Education and the Alumni Association. They are members of the development council for the College of Education and are members of the K-State Alumni Association, Wichita Alumni Club and Wichita Catbackers. They participate in Wildcats for Higher Education and were honored in 2015 with the Director's Award for Loyalty and Service to the K-State Marching Band.
As investors, the Comptons have established 12 named funds and scholarships in the College of Education, College of Engineering, and across the academy through funds for Athletics, the K-State Alumni Association and the marching band. They are members of the various giving societies at K-State, including President's Club, Land Grant Legacy Society, 1863 Circle and the National Leadership Circle. They are Seaton Society Founds in the College of Engineering and Bluemont Visionaries in the College of Education.
"The Comptons have set a high bar for where I want to be years down the road," said Nate Sterns, senior in construction science and management, Shawnee, and a Compton scholarship recipient. "Before I came to K-State, I had no idea who the Comptons were and that's because they are so generous but they're behind the scenes. I want to do that someday. If my life allows me to be as generous as they have been to K-State, I will be very happy. I can't thank the Comptons enough."
Philanthropic contributions to K-State are coordinated by the Kansas State University Foundation, the official fundraising organization of the institution and a separate 501(c)(3). The foundation is leading Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion for student success, faculty development, facility enhancement and programmatic success.