BUILD ON K-STATE'S 'LEGACY' WITH NEW LICENSE PLATE

 

The most popular university license plate in Kansas now has new meaning to the children and grandchildren of K-State alumni. Proceeds raised from the K-State License Plate program are expected to fund 75 K-State Alumni Association Legacy Scholarships next fall, with each award worth $1,000 each.

The state-issued license plates with the purple Powercat logo can be found on the back of nearly 3,000 cars, light trucks and farm vehicles in the state of Kansas.

"K-State has a thousand more plates on Kansas vehicles compared to the sales of the second leading university license plate," said Kelly Law, associate director of business development for the K-State Alumni Association. "Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1994, the K-State program commenced in 1997 and has raised $1.1 million for scholarships."

The alumni association administers the program for the university.

"Very simply, we market the program, do the necessary documentation for the county treasurers' offices and collect the $50 annual tax-deductible donations," Law said.

GETTING A K-STATE LICENSE PLATE IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3 Kansas residents, go to http://www.k-state.com/drive and click on "K-State License Plate." 1. Complete the online application and make the $50 tax-deductible contribution required by the Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles. You will receive a voucher in the mail within five business days. 2. Take your K-State license plate voucher, along with your license plate renewal form (from the Kansas Department of Revenue), proof of insurance and payment, which includes your vehicle taxes and a one-time production charge of $50.50 for your K-State License Plate, to your county treasurer or Department of Motor Vehicles office. 3. Your county treasurer or Department of Motor Vehicles office will present you with your K-State license plate. If you have any questions, please call 800-600-ALUM (2586) or 785-532-6260.

People who have the K-State plate on their vehicles say it is a good way to display their pride in the university and is an easy way to support scholarships.

The first-year cost is $100.50, which includes a $50 scholarship donation paid to the alumni association and $50.50 paid to the county treasurer's office for the custom plate fee. In subsequent years, the only cost is the annual $50 scholarship donation.

The association will mail registrants a proof-of-donation voucher to present at their county treasurer's office when they either pick up the plate for the first time or at their renewal time, said Dee Tebbutt, the alumni association staff member directly responsible for the clerical execution of the license plate program.

Individuals who wish to obtain the K-State license plate are referred to Tebbutt. Registrants may call, write, e-mail or visit the K-State Alumni Center to see her.

The association has made the K-State License Plate program a priority.

"We would like to double the number of K-State license plates," said Amy Button Renz, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association. "Alumni across Kansas and the nation have encouraged the university and association to address the tuition issues of legacy students, and this program will greatly assist us in those efforts."

One longtime legacy advocate, Shad Shadwick, Greeley, Colo., a 1954 K-State graduate and former alumni association board member, put it this way: "Many alumni would like their children and grandchildren to have the same affordable education and similar experiences as they received when they were K-State students."