April 5, 2023
Military leaders visit with ROTC students on campus
Gen. Andrew Poppas, commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command and a K-State College of Education alumnus, spent time on campus with Marshall Stewart, K-State senior vice president for executive affairs, university engagement and partnerships, and chief of staff, and ROTC cadets and local military dignitaries including John V. Meyer III, Fort Riley commanding general.
The event was held March 30 and co-hosted by the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs and the College of Education. Art DeGroat, executive director of military affairs, collaborated with Dustin Meritt, professor of practice and chair of the College of Education military initiatives committee, to organize the visit.
According to DeGroat, Poppas shared strategic comments about our military, provided leadership advice to the Army ROTC cadets and learned more about K-State’s contributions as a land-grant institution serving our military in Kansas and the nation.
"Engagements like these with our nation’s senior military leaders inform, inspire, and focus our work as a leading land-grant institution in serving our military communities," DeGroat said. "Access to key leaders enables us to lead our peers in many ways."
Meritt said the event was inspirational for everyone.
"Having a four-star general sit and visit with our ROTC cadets is powerful evidence of K-State’s impact in the world," Meritt said. "For him to have earned a graduate degree from the College of Education at Fort Leavenworth also demonstrates the reach our university has and our role in leadership development. This was a special visit none of us will ever forget."