News release prepared by: Greg Tammen, 785-532-2535, gtammen@k-state.edu

Monday, April 25, 2011

MEDIA ADVISORY: GOVERNOR, CONGRESSMAN TO HELP OPEN K-STATE OLATHE

MANHATTAN -- At 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will open Kansas State University's campus in Olathe. The event will include the following guest speakers:

* Dan Richardson, chief executive officer of K-State Olathe.

* Kirk Schulz, president of K-State.

* Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, a 1979 graduate of K-State who served as student body president from 1978-79.

* U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, who represents the state's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Johnson County.

* Ed Eilert, chair of the Johnson County Commission the Johnson County Education and Research Authority, known as JCERTA. Note that Eilert may be replaced by Mike Boehm, Lenexa mayor and co-chair of JCERTA.

* Michael Copeland, Olathe mayor.

K-State Olathe, which is just east of Kansas Highway 7 on College Boulevard in Olathe, pairs K-State's expertise in animal health, food safety and security, and related areas with students and industry in the Kansas City area. The campus will serve as a center for research, education and commercialization.

Students working toward their master's and doctorate degrees in biosciences and biotechnology will have the opportunity to work alongside scientists conducting research on the campus. In addition, K-State Olathe will also work with the Kansas City area companies in providing professional development training for employees.

K-State Olathe is part of the Johnson County Education and Research Triangle initiative, a cooperative effort with the University of Kansas that involves KU's Edwards Campus and the KU Medical Center.