K-State Current - April 7, 2021

K-State Current is a weekly news update for the Kansas Board of Regents to apprise the Regents on a few of the many successes and achievements made by K-State faculty, staff and students.

K-State News

$503,161 raised for Textbooks 2.0 through All In for K-State March 24, 2021, Kansas State University alumni, faculty, students, staff and friends gave $503,161 to help students save money on textbooks by supporting Textbooks 2.0 through All In for K-State, KSU Foundation’s second 24-hour fundraising sprint. Once deployed, this investment will save K-State students at least $5 million or more per year.

K-Staters from every state, Washington D.C. and as far away as Liverpool, England, came together — virtually — to make essential class materials more affordable for K-State students by supporting Textbooks 2.0. Textbooks 2.0 saves students money by replacing expensive traditional textbooks with open/alternative digital resources tailored to the class by the instructor and has saved K-State students $6.8 million in the last six years.

“Once again the K-State family rallied together to create an extraordinary opportunity to address affordability for students,” said Eric Holderness, associate vice president of development. “It is clear the culture of philanthropy is strong here at K-State and there is not a better display of that fact than what happened on March 24th. Thanks to all who made this year’s All In a resounding success.”

As Kansas State University’s strategic partner for philanthropy, the KSU Foundation inspires and guides philanthropy toward university priorities to boldly advance K-State family. Visit www.ksufoundation.org for more information.

Shelter medicine community outreach vehicle makes its maiden voyage A new vehicle with a special mission has recently returned to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. The Shelter Medicine Community Outreach Vehicle, also called Wellness on Wheels, or WOW, successfully completed its first trip on March 13 after more than two years of fundraising, design and production.

"Access to care is a major issue when it comes to community pet health," said Brad Crauer, director of the college's shelter medicine program. "The WOW vehicle is unique because it allows members of the K-State shelter medicine team to help people and their beloved pets receive basic veterinary care even though they may have limited financial resources, physical limitations to access to care or insufficient knowledge about the importance of veterinary care."

The WOW’s first stop was a wellness clinic at the Metro Lutheran Ministry Mission in Kansas City, Missouri, in partnership with the Community Veterinary Outreach program. Twenty-five patients from 18 different clients were served.

"WOW is currently getting outfitted with all the supplies needed for regular outreach clinics as well as being able to be deployed for disaster response," Crauer said. "In addition to routine exam and vaccine clinics, WOW has surgical, dental and, very soon, will have X-ray capabilities."

Accompanying Crauer on the trip was Brooke Davis, shelter medicine intern; Lara Plass, Community Veterinary Outreach president; Emma Winkley, K-State Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class 2020; and John Teeter, K-State Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class of 1981. Two veterinary students were along for the ride as well to gain hands-on shelter medicine experience: Hayley Barkoviak, fourth year, and Meagan O’Brien, second year.

"Teaching students practical skills in a community outreach model is the foundation of the K-State shelter medicine program and is consistent with our land-grant university mission," Crauer said. "On the WOW, routine client wellness exams will be the foundation. This will give students caseload experience, but with the added value of serving populations with distinct demographic differences from the majority of veterinary students."

Plans include another visit to the Metro Lutheran Ministry in May and a trip to the Santee Sioux Reservation in Nebraska with the Mobile Surgery Unit in April.

"I believe our consistent sustained effort will raise the bar of long-term care for individual pets, their families and their communities," Crauer said.

National Agricultural Biosecurity Center receives grants to improve animal disease response

Researchers at the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, or NABC, have been recently awarded three grants for research projects to protect animal health.

The first of these grants from the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or USDA APHIS, is an award for $199,340 under the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. The project will focus on the creation of a toolkit to enable livestock exhibition organizers, local emergency management officials and livestock owners to work together to develop comprehensive plans for the overall safety of the animals being exhibited.

"This project will address gaps in the current state of disease response while providing tools to those tasked with responding to an incident that likely falls well outside of their regular duties or training," said Adrian Self, operations research analyst for the NABC.

Researchers hope this planning toolkit will enhance the overall knowledge and awareness of the importance of biosecurity across a wide spectrum of livestock and commodity areas.

A second grant from USDA APHIS through its National Animal Health Laboratory Network, or NAHLN for $76,115 was awarded to the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, or KSVDL, who will be closely collaborating with the NABC and several other partners to design, refine, implement and assess response in a table-top exercise with a follow-up functional exercise of a simulated African Swine Fever outbreak.

These will be the first exercises to focus on the laboratory response by KSVDL in the face of an outbreak. The mock scenario will focus on delivery, processing and testing of simulated surge capacity numbers of samples, and communication with federal partners including the NAHLN and the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

This collaborative project will be shaped by representatives from KSVDL, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the NABC, the Biosecurity Research Institute, regional veterinarians and producer groups.

"KSVDL has been participating in foreign animal disease exercises for many years but this opportunity to conduct laboratory-focused exercises will be a first for us," said Kelli Almes, who serves as the foreign animal disease and outbreak section head at KSVDL. "We are very pleased to have this funding opportunity and the ability to work with such wonderful collaborators on this project."

A third grant for $25,000 is to initiate a research partnership with the Department of Homeland Security; Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office; the Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense, or FAV-D Branch; and Sandia National Laboratories, or SNL. The group will develop a strategy and program that will build readiness and resilience in food, agriculture, and veterinary systems by establishing a defensive program to address intentional and unintentional threats of a catastrophic nature.

"The development of an effective program for defending food, agriculture and veterinary systems requires a thorough understanding of the sectors, infrastructure, components, stakeholders, policies and existing programs that comprise or influence each system, in addition to the connections between them," said David Hogg, program manager for the NABC.

The NABC will collaborate with SNL on the development of a FAVD architecture description by providing subject matter expertise and contributing to the SNL team’s assessment of capabilities, gaps and needs.

"These projects demonstrate national recognition of K-State's strengths in agricultural biosecurity through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research," said Marty Vanier, director of NABC. "K-State's involvement in these projects will strengthen strategic partnerships and collaborations in the region as a model for multi-state and national participatory research and discovery."

K-State Faculty Highlights

Lavis receives National Educator of the Year Award

Cathie Lavis, professor of horticulture and natural resources, was named the National Association of Landscape Professionals 2021 Educator of the Year at the virtual National Collegiate Landscape Competition, March 15-19.

The award honors university faculty for excellence in mentoring students and serving the landscape industry nationally. The annual event attracted nearly a thousand students, faculty and industry leaders, 22 of whom were K-State landscape contracting team members.

K-Staters chose from 21 competitive events, interviewed for internships and completed online workshops.

K-State Student News

K-State Polytechnic aviation student initiates student mentorship program

College mentoring programs traditionally pair students with professional mentors who assist with academic and personal growth. Trey Varner, a senior aviation student from Russell, is modifying this concept as he develops the Wildcat Mentor Program at the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus. His approach focuses on student-to-student mentorship where experienced aviation students are matched with new students.

Varner's vision for the student-led program evolved when he recognized students needed a lifeline to learn more about their degree program. Specifically, he wanted to help students enrolled in the aviation program. By pairing new students with upperclassmen, Varner predicts those individuals will be more successful academically and socially. In turn, mentors will develop better leadership and interactive skills.

"When I came to K-State, I would have greatly benefited from a program like this," Varner said.

He introduced the concept to Julie Rowe, who serves as the campus diversity, inclusion and access coordinator. Rowe recognized the mentorship program as a valuable resource for student success and retention. She agreed to serve as an advisor, providing insight about university structure, policies and goals.

"Getting an initiative off the ground provides many opportunities to learn how the world works," Rowe said. "My job is to help Trey figure out how to turn a passion/idea into reality."

Together Rowe and Varner are creating a mentor handbook, recruiting mentors and facilitating training sessions. At least 10 students have agreed to serve as mentors and will assist with a soft rollout during the spring 2021 semester. The Wildcat Mentor Program is projected to be fully operational in the 2021-2022 academic year.

Program goals are twofold. New students will be matched with experienced students for academic, social and career guidance. In addition, social events sponsored by the program will help build a sense of community for the entire campus. The program will also help students set themselves apart when they are ready to enter the aviation industry.

"Leadership and community service are both important to companies hiring our graduates," Rowe said. "Students who have been mentors can speak to those attributes."

According to the Wildcat Mentor Program handbook, a mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor. Mentors are expected to provide wisdom, technical knowledge, assistance, resources, support, empathy and respect. Students will be taught critical skills, including how to effectively instruct, inspire and critique. They will also learn the importance of managing risks and establishing campus and industry relationships. Overall, a quality mentor will help new students understand how their ambitions fit into education, life and career choices.

Rowe noted mentorship programs are well researched and proven to be successful.

"The university is committed to providing as many resources as possible to help students succeed," she said. "Mentorship is one of those resources. There is nothing like peer-to-peer mentorship."

Initially, mentorship training will be facilitated by Rowe and Varner. Ongoing sessions will focus on identifying quality mentoring skills, developing critical competencies through group exercises and introducing students to industry partners. Additionally, several students will be identified to manage the program after Varner graduates.

Varner aspires to work for a corporate or private company as a professional pilot. He says the most influential mentor in his life was his grandfather.

"He showed me what it was like to be a strong and confident worker, how to be the best and to excel at anything I put my mind to," Varner said. "But he always made sure to have time to have a little fun and excitement in his life."

What advice would Varner give incoming students? “Study, study, study! But also make sure to take time for yourself," he said. "Aviation is tough and can be taxing on the mind, so don't overdo it."

Varner hopes the Wildcat Mentor Program will be enhanced over the years with mentees advancing to mentors. He also trusts his ultimate goal will be achieved: creating student-to-student relationships that will contribute to student retention, graduation and successful entry into the aviation industry.

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