February 19, 2015
Community invited to Distinguished Young Alumni presentations Feb. 24
The K-State Student Alumni Board, a program of the K-State Alumni Association, will honor the 2015 Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipients Corey Fortin and Matt King on Feb. 24.
The award, established in 2012, recognizes two K-State graduates who are younger than 35 and are using the scholarship, leadership and service experience they acquired at K-State to excel in their professions and contribute to their communities.
Fortin and King will return to campus Feb. 23-25 to visit with student groups and university classes. The K-State community is invited to attend their keynote presentations Feb. 24 in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. Fortin's presentation will begin at 4 p.m. A casual reception will take place from 4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. outside Forum Hall, followed by King's presentation at 5:15 p.m.
"We encourage everyone to join us for the keynote presentations, which are sure to be inspiring to current students as well as alumni," said Amanda Lee, assistant director of student programs and Student Alumni Board adviser. "This year's recipients truly embody what it means to be a K-Stater and are not only succeeding professionally but also are using their time and talents to better their communities."
Fortin, a native of Oberlin, Kansas, is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service with the United States Agency for International Development in Uganda. USAID is the lead government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient democratic societies to realize their potential.
While at K-State, Fortin served as a member of Agriculture Ambassadors, Student Senate, Alpha Zeta agricultural honorary, Agriculture Council and 4-H, among other roles. He graduated from K-State in 2006 with degrees in agribusiness and animal sciences and industry. Fortin also earned a master's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas.
King, a native of Wichita, Kansas, is a fund analyst for the World Bank Group, an international development institution in Washington, D.C., that provides finance and technical assistance to developing countries. King helps manage two funds capitalized at $283 million that support energy access, renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects.
While at K-State, King was the co-founder of the nationally recognized K-State Proud campaign and president of Student Alumni Board, among other roles. He also was selected for Phi Beta Kappa national honor society. He graduated summa cum laude from K-State in 2007 with a degree in political science and natural resources and environmental sciences before continuing his education as a Fulbright Scholar at Oxford University, where he earned a master's degree in environmental change and management.
More information on the Distinguished Young Alumni program is available online.