Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Dave and Kristen Dreiling, Manhattan, have made a $500,000 gift to support the new building for the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University.

The proposed new building plan has 140,000 square feet of space featuring tiered classrooms, a large showcase lecture hall, computer labs, a financial research lab and an executive conference room. The plans include dedicated space for entrepreneurship and sales education, as well as space for study, collaboration and networking throughout the building. The goal is to deliver the brightest future possible for business students, including collaboration with industry and networking opportunities from the start of their college careers.

Dave Dreiling graduated from Kansas State University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He is the owner of GTM Sportswear, a national provider of sportswear for college, school and club sports teams, outfitting more than 1.1 million teams since 1989. He is on the Business Advisory Council for the College of Business Administration and in 2011 was inducted into the college's Business Leaders Hall of Fame, named Distinguished Business Leader of the Year and university's Entrepreneur of the Year. He also serves on the board of trustees of the Kansas State University Foundation and on the K-State Parent and Family Advisory Board.

Kristen Dreiling graduated from Kansas State University in 1989 with a degree in apparel and textile marketing. She currently serves on the board of trustees of the KSU Foundation and the K-State Parent and Family Advisory Board. She is an active member of the community, serving on committees of several community and educational institutions.

"For us, it's about leadership," Dave Dreiling said. "Under President Schulz and Dean Malekzadeh, they have the right plan and are putting the right people in place to substantially elevate the bar with our College of Business Administration at K-State. Having enough of, and the right kind of, space to facilitate this plan is critical to the plan itself. A new building is way past due and will help put us on track for the college to be a real powerhouse, not just in the state of Kansas, but throughout the Midwest."

The Dreilings are members of the KSU Foundation's President's Club, a philanthropic leadership organization for friends and alumni of Kansas State University, and the Land Grant Legacy Society, which honors those who have included the university in their estate plans. They have served Kansas State University in a number of capacities and support many programs and colleges across the university.

"Dave and Kristen Dreiling's engagement in the college has benefited countless numbers of students through the years," said Ali Malekzadeh, Edgerley family dean of the College of Business Administration. "Dave's career, which started while he was still a student in the CBA, is a showcase of the type of applied learning we are implementing here. His leadership and support for this project show his commitment to our students, our college and K-State. We are fortunate and grateful to have alumni and friends such as the Dreilings."

"The Dreilings are very successful and generous K-State alumni, not only with their monetary gifts, but with their time," said Kirk Schulz, president of Kansas State University. "Their contribution to the new building and Dave's mentoring of young entrepreneurs will help move K-State and the College of Business Administration toward our goal of being a Top 50 public research university by 2025. We are extremely grateful for all Dave and Kristen do for K-State."

Philanthropic contributions to Kansas State University are coordinated by the KSU 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.