Archive for August 2004

08/26/04 — KSU scholarship established as tribute to Coffmans

A scholarship fund honoring James and Sharon Coffman of Manhattan has been established at the Kansas State University Foundation. The Jim and Sharon Coffman Endowed Scholarship was established through contributions made by friends, students, faculty and staff in the amount of $20,000. Recipients of the scholarship may be enrolled in any curriculum at K-State.

Jim Coffman served 17 years as the provost for Kansas State University, retiring in July of this year. He and his wife, Sharon, have made their own contributions to the university, including support for Hale Library, the Beach Museum of Art, dance club, cancer research and other programs. The couple also honored Sharon Coffman’s parents by establishing the Glenn C. and Doris M. Neill Memorial Scholarship in the College of Agriculture.

Jim Coffman and Sharon (Neill) Coffman are both natives of Lyndon, Kan. He completed a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine in 1960 and doctor of veterinary medicine in 1962, both at K-State. Sharon Coffman also attended K-State. Coffman operated a private equine practice in Wichita until he joined the faculty at K-State in 1965 and then earned a master’s degree in clinical pathology in 1969. Coffman then started another equine practice in Oklahoma City and two years later joined the veterinary medicine faculty at the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 1971. He returned to K-State in 1981 as head of the Department of Surgery and Medicine. Coffman was promoted to dean of Veterinary Medicine in 1984 and then to provost in 1987. The Coffmans are members of Presidents Club, a KSU Foundation leadership organization for friends and alumni of K-State.

“Sharon and I very much appreciate the establishment of this scholarship, and the people who initiated it, for their commitment in all they do to make K-State a great student experience,” Jim Coffman said. “Jon Wefald’s leadership ushered in a major era of enhancement at KSU, with students first, and it was great to be a part of it. Our family bleeds purple — all three of our sons and two of our daughters-in-law graduated from K-State.”

“Jim and Sharon Coffman are extraordinary people who are an indelible part of our K-State family and tradition,” said Jon Wefald, president of Kansas State University. “This scholarship is a very fitting tribute, not only because of Jim’s outstanding contributions as our chief academic officer, but because he and Sharon are terrific friends to all K-Staters — from the administration, to faculty and staff, and to our students. The university benefits greatly from having additional general scholarships. This is a wonderful way to honor a great K-State couple.”

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08/17/04 — Alumni and Friends of K-State Make Record Contributions to the KSU Foundation

Alumni and friends of Kansas State University contributed a record $54.2 million in cash to the KSU Foundation during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2004.

According to Lee Borck, Larned, Kan., chairman of the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees, this year’s cash contributions surpassed last year’s cash total of $44.8 million by 21 percent. “It is a privilege to extend our gratitude to the 47,000 donors who made this success possible,” Borck said. “K-State alumni and friends are incredibly generous, and K-State would not be where it is today without that support.”

Deferred gifts and pledges of $16.7 million, combined with cash gifts, pushed total gift activity for the year to $70.9 million, the second largest overall total in the 60-year history of the KSU Foundation.

In fiscal year 2004, gifts to the foundation established 94 new scholarships and three faculty chairs. There were 18 gifts and pledges of $1 million or more.

Fiscal year 2004 also brought a more favorable investment climate, and the return on investment was 19.35 percent, the second-highest in foundation history. Total assets at the close of the year were $315 million.

Of the 47,000 donors who contributed to K-State last year, more than 21,000 of them made pledges through Telefund, the world’s largest all-volunteer telephone campaign for higher education. Gifts to Telefund totaled $1.6 million on pledges of $1.4 million, a 113 percent fulfillment rate.

“K-State is truly honored to have alumni and friends whose loyalty and generosity are unmatched,” said Jon Wefald, president of Kansas State University. “Less than one-third of the university’s operating budget now comes from the state. The remainder of the operating budget comes from three sources: tuition, grants and contracts, and private philanthropic support given through the KSU Foundation. The collaborative efforts of the donors, the university staff and the foundation staff are providing a margin of excellence at K-State.”

Kansas county gift totals for KSU Foundation fiscal year 2004

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08/12/04 — Former KSU professor remembered through gift for family studies assistantship

Barbara Poresky, Manhattan, Kan., has made a gift of $90,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation to establish the Robert H. Poresky Assistantship in Family Studies and Human Services in the College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University.

The purpose of this assistantship is to commemorate Robert Poresky, an assistant professor for 29 years in the School of Family Studies and Human Services. The recipients of the assistantship will be graduate students enrolled in the School of Family Studies and Human Services.

In addition to teaching, Robert Poresky was a licensed psychologist. He helped initiate the Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) lab at K-State, utilizing it for research on alcohol and drug treatment, and safety-belt usage in Kansas for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Poresky was also well-known for his research on the effect of pets or companion animals on child development. He graduated from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1963, a master’s degree in child development and family relations in 1967 and a doctorate in child development and family relations in 1969. Poresky died Nov. 13, 2001.

Barbara Poresky also attended Cornell, graduating from the College of Home Economics with a bachelor’s degree in 1964 and a master’s degree in 1970, both in textiles and clothing. She is employed at the Riley County Historical Museum.

“Bob and I both benefited from graduate assistantships when we were grad students,” Barbara Poresky said. “So many students are heavily in debt from student loans when they graduate that I thought this would be an appropriate way to give back.”

“Dr. Poresky had a strong interest in helping graduate students,” said Bill Meredith, director of the School of Family Studies and Human Services. “He employed a number of students on his grants, thereby making graduate education possible for many of them. The generous gift provided by his wife, Barbara, is a very fitting remembrance of Dr. Poresky. Through this gift, graduate students will continue receiving assistance for their educations as they did during his lifetime.”

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08/12/04 — KSU music department inherits two grand pianos from alumna

K-State’s music department is the beneficiary of a unique gift-in-kind of two Steinway concert grand pianos. Valued at $91,000, the gift was received from the estate of the late Marilyn Hoover, Lincoln, Neb. Hoover, who died in August 2003, made provisions for this gift through her will.

These two pianos are now being utilized by the music department for recitals and concerts by its students and faculty. One of the pianos, a 9-foot concert D, is located in the All Faiths Chapel which hosts about 25 to 30 faculty and/or student recitals per semester. The other piano, a 7-foot concert B, is being kept in a teaching studio in McCain Auditorium.

Marilyn Hoover and her husband, George, both grew up in Manhattan, Kan. Marilyn ( Moore) Hoover graduated from K-State in 1959 with a dual bachelor’s degree in interior decorating and music. George Hoover earned a doctor of veterinary medicine at K-State in 1959. While in college, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

George Hoover is a member of Presidents Club, a KSU Foundation leadership organization for friends and alumni of K-State.

“K-State was where Marilyn became a real musician,” George Hoover said. “She thought highly of the people in the music department, who were her friends and a big part of her life. She had this in mind for several years and knew that her pianos would be put to good use.”

“These pianos are unusually fine instruments,” said Robert Edwards, professor of music at K-State. “I was invited by Marilyn and George to see these pianos about 10 years ago. She was a discriminating musician and a fine teacher, and these were premium instruments in magnificent condition. I certainly sensed the couple’s loyalty to the university and the high regard for the education they received here. We are very fortunate to receive this gift.”

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08/05/04 — Oklahoman pledges $25,000 for entomology scholarship at KSU

Floyd A. Holmes, Grove, Okla., has made a commitment of $25,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation to establish the Floyd A. Holmes Scholarship.

The recipient of this scholarship will be a student properly enrolled in the Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University.

Holmes is a native of Prescott, Kan. He is a 1940 graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences. He earned a master’s degree in entomology in 1941. While in college, Holmes was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity that majoring in entomology at KSU gave me for my professional life,” Holmes said. “In 1940, I was granted the first commercial fellowship that had been awarded the department. It was awarded by the Hercules Powder Co. and it provided the means for me to complete my master’s degree. I just hope that my contribution can be as beneficial to other students.”

“Floyd Holmes (or F.A. as he prefers to be addressed) went on to a wonderful career after obtaining an M.S. in entomology at K-State,” said Sonny Ramaswamy, head of the Department of Entomology. “His creating a scholarship speaks of his generosity and interest in ensuring that future students have the same wonderful opportunities for graduate studies in entomology as he did during his sojourn at Kansas State. The current students, faculty and I appreciate F.A.’s generosity.”

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08/05/04 — KSU Foundation announces promotion

The Kansas State University Foundation has announced the promotion of Julie Lea to the position of vice president for communications and development services. Lea will head a new team comprised of the departments of annual giving, communications, donor relations and research.

Lea has served as director of communications at the foundation for the past five years. Prior to that, she was the director of community relations for Mercy Health Center in Manhattan.

Lea is a graduate of Kansas State University, with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

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