Dakota Cherney
Year in school: Senior
Major: Journalism and mass communications, minor in leadership studies
Hometown: Chester, Nebraska
Growing up, my dad, brother and I would always watch K-State football games on TV, and I fell in love with the university and the K-State family. I didn’t actually come to Manhattan until my first campus visit in 2018.
Why did you choose K-State?
Thinking back to my senior year of high school, I remember how excited, yet nervous, I was when it came to picking the university at which I was going to spend the next four years of my education. Throughout my senior year I visited a few colleges across the Midwest, but nothing really stuck out to me as a place I wanted to go to school. K-State was always a dream school of mine, but I just wasn't sure if I was going to ever make that dream come true. After applying and receiving some additional scholarships from the university I decided I would come to Manhattan for a campus visit and I am so thankful that I did.
Whenever I would hear of Kansas State University, I always would hear of this one word: family. I always thought that it was easy for any college to call themselves a family and I really didn't buy into it until the day I arrived on campus for my visit. My family and I were immediately welcomed with friendly, smiling faces, which made us super excited for our day.
On my campus tour, I had five random students stop us and welcome us to campus and I knew that the Office of Recruitment and Admissions could not pay that many students to be randomly planted along the tour route — ha! After that day, I didn't need to visit any other universities because I had found the one that I was looking for — a community of people to call my family and a place that would always feel like home — and I haven't regretted my decision since.
How are you involved at K-State?
I am a lead student ambassador for the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. I am also a two-time LEAD 212 class leader. I was a resident assistant in Marlatt Hall from 2020-2021. I serve as the public relations director for the student body president and vice president’s cabinet. I am on the public relations team at the Staley School of Leadership as the student videographer. I am involved with the K-State Student Section club hosted by K-State Athletics. I am also a teaching assistant for Dr. Mike Wesch’s introduction to anthropology class this semester.
What has been your favorite K-State experience?
My absolute favorite K-State experience is doing the Wabash Cannonball in Bill Snyder Family Stadium on game day. There is nothing better than being in the student section with hundreds of other K-State students, all doing the Wabash at the same time. I still get goosebumps each time the song is played. "Hey, hey, hey, hey, let's go state!"