May 8, 2024
Two students named Muir Alpha Tau Omega Blue Key Leadership scholarship winners
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From left: Jake Dederer and Sarak Kalman. Dederer and Kalman received William L. Muir II and John T. Muir Alpha Tau Omega Blue Key Leadership scholarships. |
Two members of Kansas State University's Blue Key Senior Honorary class of 2023-2024 are recipients of the William L. Muir II and John T. Muir Alpha Tau Omega Blue Key Leadership Scholarship for their commitment, dedication, support of others, unselfishness and willingness to help.
Each receiving $1,000 scholarships and plaques were Jake Dederer, senior in mechanical engineering, Wildwood, Missouri, and Sarah Kalman, senior in agricultural economics, Chico, California.
The Muir Alpha Tau Omega Blue Key scholarships were first presented in 1999 to honor two brothers and K-State alumni, William "Bill" Muir and John "Tom" Muir, who were members of the Blue Key classes of 1939 and 1940, respectively. Blue Key recognizes college students at senior institutions of higher education for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. Scholarship winners are selected by their fellow Blue Key class members.
Presenting the scholarships to Dederer and Kalman during the annual Blue Key banquet on May 5 was Bill Muir, president of the ATO Endowment Fund and retired K-State assistant vice president.
Dederer was the president for Blue Key. He has been president for College of Engineering Ambassadors, president and vice president of public relations for Delta Upsilon Fraternity and president of Steel Ring Engineering Senior Honor Society. Dederer has also devoted time to Big Brothers Big Sister. He has interned for Koch Ag and Energy Solutions as a rotating systems engineer. After concluding his service in Blue Key, Dederer will spend the upcoming academic year finishing his bachelor's degree and a Master of Business Administration from K-State.
Kalman was the director of nationals, scholarships and Mistler Fellows for Blue Key. She has been a member of the K-State Livestock Judging and Meat Animal Evaluation teams. Kalman has served as a student fellow in the Center for Risk Management Education and Research and a member of the National Agri-Marketing Association competition team. She has interned for Koch Fertilizer as a supply chain analyst. After graduating with honors this spring, Kalman will work for Balance4ward, a cattle feeding management company, in Omaha, Nebraska.