Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University awarded five undergraduate students $5,000 Mark Chapman Scholarships.

Recipients include: Abby Works, senior in chemistry and food science, Iola; Christina Peterson, junior in biology and psychology, Lindsborg; Aubrey Illig, sophomore in graphic design, Overland Park; and Hope Faflick, senior in political science, international studies and pre-law, and Robert "Bobby" Scharping, sophomore in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, both from Wichita.

The Chapman Scholars Program allows outstanding students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences to develop and pursue opportunities in support of their educational and career goals. The Chapman Scholars Program awards five scholarships annually. Scholars use $3,000 of the award for summer projects or activities related to their career aspirations, including research projects, international experiences and community service projects. Recipients use the rest of the funding for the following academic year.

"Mark Chapman funded this program to help ambitious students get meaningful summer experience after their first or second year of college, when it is often more difficult to land paid internships or find funding for significant extracurricular activities," said Jim Hohenbary, assistant dean for nationally competitive scholarships in the College of Arts and Sciences. "We have been truly impressed by the intrepid, diverse and beneficial projects that our students have undertaken since the program was established in 2008, and this year's Chapman Scholars certainly met those expectations."

The students' summer projects included:

Works worked with Allen County's Kansas Rural Health Initiative Circles out of Poverty program, which provides educational classes and mentors to provide resources and strategies to help individuals escape poverty. She also volunteered for an eye clinic mission to Paraguay as part of the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity organization. As part of the mission, her group treated and provided glasses to more than 3,500 patients in underserved populations. Works is the chief of staff for the Student Governing Association and a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, the Kansas State University Student Foundation, K-State Alumni Association Student Alumni Board and the K-State Proud Advisory Board. In addition to the Chapman Scholarship, she has received a Putnam Scholarship, AXA Achievement Scholarship and a Whitehead Scholarship. A graduate of Iola High School, she is the daughter Fred and Judy Works, Iola.

Peterson worked with Mary Cain, associate professor of psychological sciences, to research the effects of addiction and drug abuse. She conducted lab tests for Cain and developed an undergraduate research project she is continuing to work on this semester. Peterson is the president of the Association of Residence Halls, secretary for the executive board of the Honors Program and a Putnam Scholar. In addition to the Chapman Scholarship, she has received an Andrew C. Bell Scholarship, a Mabel Strong Scholarship and a Sherrid Cancer Center Scholarship. A graduate of Washburn Rural High School, she is the daughter of Corey and Denise Peterson, Lindsborg.

Illig studied at the India Institute of Technology, Bombay, in Mumbai, India. She was involved in the institute's Communication Design Principles workshop, where she studied how culture plays a part in the way people communication through photography and design. Illig had the opportunity to visit with Indian classmates and professors, attend lectures and explore the city of Mumbai/Bombay to take more than 4,000 photos, which represent the culture and her experiences. She is spirit sign homecoming chair for her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. In addition to the Chapman Scholarship, she has received a Medallion Scholarship, art scholarship and two Navy Supply Corps Foundation scholarships. A graduate of Blue Valley High School, she is the daughter of and Keith Illig and Michelle "Diane" Illig, both from Overland Park.

Faflick worked with the DeBoer Family Foundation in Wichita. The foundation's mission is "serving the world's most vulnerable," specifically those in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia. As part of the DeBoer Fellowship program team, Faflick researched and designed an assessment to measure success for the start-up program as well as developed curriculum and materials for public relations, communication and risk assessment. Faflick is the chapter president of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, a student senator for the Student Governing Association, and a member of the Kansas State University Student Foundation and the K-State Alumni Association's Student Alumni Board. In addition to the Chapman Scholarship, she has received a Putnam Scholarship, Kassebaum Scholarship and a Kansas State High School Activities Association Citizenship Scholarship. A graduate of Wichita High School East, she is the daughter of Bill and Diann Faflick, Wichita.

Scharping worked at the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center on Utila Island off the coast of Honduras. The center monitors sharks, researches the surrounding coral reef and promotes ecotourism, conservation and education. While Scharping assisted with a variety of the center's endeavors, he also started his own research project investigating the variables affecting brain coral ecology. He is a member of the university's water ski team. In addition to the Chapman Scholarship, he has received a Medallion Scholarship and a Student-Centered Tuition Enhancement Award. A graduate of Andover High School, he is the son of Julie and Jeff Scharping, Wichita.

The Mark Chapman Scholars Program was started by the Clay Center native, who graduated from Kansas State University in 1965 with a dual bachelor's degree in history and political science. While at the university, he lettered in football, track and softball, and was a member of Army ROTC and Acacia fraternity. Chapman later earned a juris doctorate from the University of Texas. He is a self-employed investor working in the areas of real estate, stocks, oil and gas.

To learn more about competing for future Chapman Scholarships or other scholarships while a student at Kansas State University, contact Jim Hohenbary at jimlth@k-state.edu.