April 26, 2017
Staley School of Leadership Studies celebrates outstanding students and community partners
The Staley School of Leadership Studies hosted its annual Celebrating Service and Leadership event on April 23. This event honors individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional service, leadership and civic engagement at K-State, in the Manhattan community, and beyond.
Several students were recognized for their leadership in the Staley School and the community. Six students received the Pat J. Bosco Leadership Studies Outstanding Graduating Senior Award: Katie Gehrt, senior in education, De Soto; Caden Laptad, senior in education and mathematics, Olathe; Maddie Musil, senior in political science and international studies, Overland Park; Gabe Gutierrez, senior in management, Victoria; Emily Swan, senior in communication studies, Roswell, Georgia; and Emily Stolfus senior in elementary education and international studies, St. Joseph, Missouri.
Bre Lombard, senior in marketing, Northwood, Iowa, received the Nonprofit Leadership Outstanding Graduating Senior Award for academic and leadership excellence in the nonprofit leadership focus.
Zev Allen, senior in life sciences, Solider, received the Outstanding Civic Engagement Award for excellence in community engagement and strong commitment to service is.
In an effort to recognize K-State and Manhattan service partners, the Outstanding Community Service Award is designed to honor individuals and groups who have contributed to the greater Manhattan community through their service and leadership. Erin Hildreth, senior in mass communications and gerontology, El Dorado, is recognized as the Outstanding K-State Student Volunteer for her service as a technology assistant at the Riley County Senior Center.
The Outstanding K-State Student Organization was awarded to Associated General Contractors Student Chapter. Read more about their outstanding work.
Receiving the Outstanding Community Service Partner award: the city of Manhattan's Parks and Recreation and Codes Services departments for their partnerships with the Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows program and HandsOn Kansas State as well as their ongoing support and commitment to making Manhattan a great place to live.
The Outstanding Service Champion is awarded to Debbie Nuss for her work with Everybody Counts. Everybody Counts, operating under the umbrella of the Riley County Council of Social Service Agencies, is a grassroots effort that came about in response to an informational report to the USD 383 Board of Education in September 2013 indicating that more than 250 students were self-reporting to be experiencing homelessness. She also serves as vice chair for Riley County Council of Social Service Agencies, member of Public Health Advisory Council, member of the Manhattan Juneteenth Council, and member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Committee.
Receiving the Candi Hironaka Outstanding LEAD 212 Class Leader award are Shunyce Battles senior in Psychology, Kansas City; Bailey Porter, junior in biochemistry, Overland Park; and Kayla Wilkinson senior in biochemistry, Riley.
Receiving the Rost Award, which honors an outstanding faculty member in leadership studies, is Andrew Wefald for his dedication to his students in and out of the classroom.
To conclude the event, Usha Reddi, mayor of Manhattan, was awarded the Susan M. Scott Community Leadership Award for her years of dedication, passionate service and leadership that she has contributed as an active and engaged member of the Manhattan community. The Susan M. Scott Community Leadership Award was established in Scott's name to recognize and celebrate her leadership as the founding director of what is now the Staley School of Leadership Studies. The award is given to recipients who demonstrate leadership focused on bringing progressive change to communities.
Keep up to date with students, faculty and staff in the Staley School of Leadership Studies by following our blog, The Loop.