Source: Mitzi Richards, 785-532-7507, mitzir@found.ksu.edu
News tip/hometown connection: Albert, Andale, Concordia, Dodge City, El Dorado, Gardner, Harper, Hoyt, Hutchinson, Lenexa, Leoti, Manhattan, McPherson, Moundridge, Olathe, Ottawa, Overland Park, Rose Hill, Shawnee, Topeka, Wakefield and Wichita, Kan.; Huntington Beach, Calif., and Kansas City, Mo.
News release prepared by: Andrew Zender, 785-532-7648, andrewz@found.ksu.edu
Friday, April 20, 2012
They've got spirit: New, continuing and graduating ConocoPhillips spirit scholars recognized
MANHATTAN -- Twelve students are Kansas State University's newest ConocoPhillips SPIRIT Scholars. The program provides scholarships, educational opportunities and professional development for qualified students.
ConocoPhillips selected K-State to be part of its SPIRIT Scholars Program in 2007, which includes a five-year commitment of $1 million to K-State each year for scholarship support and mentorship in the colleges of Business Administration and Engineering. The funding also provides support for K-State's career and employment services, the president's office and student life and diversity initiatives.
"At ConocoPhillips we are proud of our long-standing relationship with Kansas State University and are pleased to have it as a part of our SPIRIT Scholars program," said Rand Berney, senior vice president for corporate shared services at ConocoPhillips, and executive contact for the partnership with K-State. "Many of our best and brightest employees around the world graduated from K-State and they are an essential and valued part of our success."
"K-State's partnership with ConocoPhillips has led to the development of some extraordinary young professionals as well as fantastic resources for K-State students across campus," said Kirk Schulz, president of Kansas State University. "ConocoPhillips' partnership with K-State supports our goal of becoming a top 50 public research university by 2025."
The new, continuing and graduating ConocoPhillips SPIRIT Scholars were recognized at an evening dinner and reception April 19 at K-State. A total of 31 students were honored at the event, including the 12 new SPIRIT Scholars, nine continuing SPIRIT Scholars and 10 graduating SPIRIT Scholars.
K-State ConocoPhillips SPIRIT scholars honored include:
Lauren Wissman, graduating scholar, Albert; Michael Baalmann, continuing scholar, Andale; Jake Morrissette, continuing scholar,Concordia; Spencer Kaufman, continuing scholar, Dodge City; Andrew Wagner, graduating scholar, El Dorado.
From Greater Kansas City: Quincey Johnson, new scholar, Gardner; Charles Shinogle, graduating scholar, Kansas City, Mo.; Chris Mehrer, new scholar, and Jessica Long, continuing scholar, both from Lenexa; Kaitlin Chipman, graduating scholar, Olathe; Samantha Riehl, new scholar, Overland Park; and Brad Schnefke, graduating scholar, Shawnee.
Cord Denton, continuing scholar,Harper; Mason Grittman, new scholar, Hoyt; Brandon Brunner, new scholar, Hutchinson; Trenton Wilke, continuing scholar, Leoti; Robert Powell, new scholar, Manhattan; Kari Wagoner, graduating scholar, McPherson; Reese Gehring, graduating scholar, Moundridge; Victor Ojeleye, graduating scholar, Ottawa; Emily Jones, graduating scholar, Rose Hill; Juan Flores, graduating scholar, Topeka; Johnathan Yarrow, new scholar, Wakefield.
From Wichita: Bronson Blackwell, Sarah Hernandez and Kristin Zemanick, all new scholars, and Sydney Case and Jacqueline Spahn, continuing scholars.
From out of state: Corey Glaser, new scholar, Huntington Beach, Calif.
From out of country: Cameron Harder, continuing scholar, Moscow, Russia.
Philanthropic contributions to K-State are coordinated by the Kansas State University Foundation. The foundation staff works with university partners to build lifelong relationships with alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students through involvement and investment in the university.
