Kansas State University

Amy is originally from Salina, KS. She graduated from Kansas State University in 2018 with a B.S. in Secondary Education with a minor in Leadership and Mathematics. During her time at K-State, she was very involved with he Pride of Wildcat Land and was a member of the Color Guard for 5 years. She served on the leadership team for 3 of those years including serving the role of head section leader her final year. She attributes much of her success to her time in the Marching Band. 

After Graduation, Amy stayed in Manhattan and took on a job as a Mathematics Teacher at Junction City High School. She continues to serve as a Math Teacher in Junction City teaching Algebra 2, Business Math, and Technical Mathematics 1 & 2. She is married to Stone Tighe who is retired from the Army and currently attending Kansas State University. They have bonded over their love for K-State football and rarely miss a game. Amy is incredibly grateful to be a part of such a wonderful program that brings so much joy to the University.

Education

B.S. Secondary Education, Kansas State University, 2018

Sara (Evans) Heptig is an Olathe, Kansas native and began dancing at the age of three. Growing up, she trained with many different dance educators at studios, conventions, camps, and workshops. In high school, she was a member of the Olathe North Eaglette Dance Team where she served as captain for two years. She went on to be a Kansas State University Classy Cat for four years and was an Assistant Section Leader her junior year and Section Leader her senior year. She graduated from K-State with a degree in Secondary Education in the area of Family and Consumer Science. She then returned to Olathe North and was the head coach of the Eaglettes for fourteen years. In her time there, she helped lead the team to many honors, including two National Champion titles in the Large Pom Division at NDA and DTU.

She began teaching dance and choreographing at age fifteen and has been hired by many schools and studios over the years. She continues to teach dance camps for high school and middle school teams in the midwest. She is the founder and director of the O.N.E. Love Movement which brings dancers together in a non- competitive environment. The O.N.E. Love Movements hosts master classes and the biggest event is the annual Dance Showcase. Community focus is something that is very important to Sara. Through Olathe North and the O.N.E. Love Movement, she has been able to spread service through dance. She helped create the Project Access Teen Group, where students with special needs have the opportunity to dance and perform with peers. She also created dance classes for elementary schools in the Olathe community where students might not otherwise have much exposure to the art of dance.

She is currently the manager of Camp and Competition Sales for Dance Team Union and has the honor of working with coaches and dancers across the country. She is married to Mike Heptig, who is also a K-State Alumni, and has one daughter, Brooklyn. Their family bleeds purple and Sara is grateful for the opportunity to give back to this amazingUniversity and Program.

In her time as the Classy Cat Coach, she has helped lead the team to the College Classic D1A Pom National Champion title in 2022 and 2023.

Education              

B.S. Secondary Education in Family and Consumer Science, Kansas State University, 2004

Heather Baker, from Mishawaka, IN, is entering her second year as a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the K-State band program. As a Ph. D candidate, she studies Curriculum and Instruction with a Music Cognate. Before moving to Kansas, Heather taught in the Indiana Public School system for 10 years.

Heather holds an undergraduate degree from Ball State University (Munice, IN) and a Master of Music Education degree from Vandercook College of Music (Chicago, IL).

A member of the National Band Association, Heather is an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma, and an alumnae member of the international music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota. Most recently, she was a 2024 Intern Scholar for the Technology In Music Education (TI:ME) Leadership Academy (San Antonio, TX) and a 2021 Outstanding Music Educator Award Recipient of Michiana’s Indiana Region. While teaching, her school system was recognized as a NAMM “Best Community for Music Education” from 2016-2022. Heather has been a member of the ConnSelmer Institute Volunteer team for over 15 years and was a “Hall of Fame” Award recipient in 2015.

Heather and her husband, Dan, have two children: Bryant (6) and Charleigh (4). Dan is a former high school choir director and works remotely as the Executive Producer of Heart of America Productions, LLC, hosting performance events for elite choirs in cities across America. The Bakers are very excited to enter their second year as part of the Wildcat Band Family.

Rich Ebersole

Graduate Assisstant 

rebersole@ksu.edu

Houston Fleischmann

Graduate Assistant

telee@ksu.edu

Tyler Lee is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is one of the graduate assistants at Kansas State University. Tyler earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Kansas State University (2019), and earned his Master’s of Music degree in Trombone Performance as well as his Graduate Certificate in Wind Band Conducting and Instrumental Studies from the University of Central Arkansas (2021,2022).

While at Kansas State University, Tyler participated in the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Pride of Wildcat Land, Cat Band, CJE, KSU Symphony Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, and Trombone Choir, as well as Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

During his time at the University of Central Arkansas, he served as a graduate assistant with the band area. He assisted with the day-to-day operation of the UCA band program and was on staff for the Bear Marching Band as well as the Purple Rage Basketball Band. He was also heavily involved in the trombone studio at UCA, performing with the Natural Slides trombone choir, the top trombone ensemble at UCA.

Tyler’s professional associations include the Arkansas Music Educators Association, Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Kansas Music Educators Association, College Band Director’s National Association, International Trombone Association, the Conductor’s Guild, and Kappa Kappa Psi – National Honorary Band Fraternity.

Sharyn Worcester is currently in the first year of her graduate studies, seeking a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a Cognate in Music. She has a diverse and extensive career in music education, performance, and adjudication throughout Kansas. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Masters of Music Education in Instrumental Conducting from Kansas State University where she studied under the direction of Dr. Frank Tracz, Director of Bands, and Dr. Jacqueline Fassler-Kerstetter, Associate Professor of Horn. Prior to continuing her studies, Sharyn served as the Lead Academic Advisor for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at K-State. In this role, she facilitated the academic progress for all undergraduate majors and minors in these degree tracks. As part of this work, in 2019, she presented “Music Beyond High School,” at the Kansas Music Educator’s Association In-Service Workshop to provide resources for educators to prepare their students for college music programs or careers. Additional duties included membership in the Music Course and Curriculum Committee and the Music Recruitment Committee, as well as advising Sigma Alpha Iota, the International Music Fraternity for Women. 

Prior to her appointment at K-State, Sharyn served nine years as Instrumental Music Director at Junction City High School where her teaching duties included marching band, concert band, wind ensemble, music theory, music appreciation, and piano classes. Her bands have performed across Kansas and the United States including the Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., the Fiesta Bowl Parade in Tempe, Arizona, and the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sharyn performs as a member of the horn sections in the Manhattan Municipal Band and the Salina Symphony. She has performed in a myriad of musical pit orchestras throughout Kansas, which most recently includes the Manhattan Art Center’s production of The Sound of Music.

Sharyn resides in Manhattan with her husband, Ben, their eleven-yearold son, Harley, and their husky/ shepherd, Riley.