Archive for April 2005

04/22/05 — KSU engineering professor provides scholarship for electrical and computer engineering

Dr. Donald Lenhert, Manhattan, Kan., has made a gift of $134,532 to the Kansas State University Foundation to establish the Dr. Donald Lenhert Electrical and Computer Engineering Scholarship.

The recipients of this scholarship will be juniors or seniors enrolled in the electrical or computer engineering major in the College of Engineering at K-State. Students must possess a 3.0 grade point average in their respective major to earn and maintain the scholarship, which is renewable for successive years until recipients graduate.

Lenhert earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at K-State in 1956 and became a registered professional engineer. While in college, he was a member of student government, Sigma Tau-Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi honorary societies. Lenhert then earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Syracuse (N.Y.) University, in 1958. He completed a doctorate in electrical engineering at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, in 1966. Lenhert has been a professor at Kansas State University since 1966. He is also a test consultant for Motorola Advanced Vehicle Systems Division SPS, Austin, Texas. He is a member of Presidents Club, a KSU Foundation leadership organization for friends and alumni of K-State.

“I wanted to be able to help future students at the level where parents aren’t able to afford to pay for college,” Lenhert said. “Scholarships were important for me as a student and I enjoy being able to provide the same opportunity to new generations of students.”

“Dr. Lenhert has made many contributions to our department for a number of years,” said Anil Pahwa, interim head of the computer and electrical engineering department. “This scholarship ensures that his legacy will continue by helping us recruit and retain highly qualified students into our program. I personally thank Dr. Lenhert for his generosity.”

Top

04/20/05 —Riley County donors help K-State Telefund top $1.34 million in 26th year

Kansas State University alumni and friends from Riley County helped the world’s largest all-volunteer telephone campaign for higher education mark its 26 th anniversary by raising more than $1.34 million.

During 24 calling sessions in January and February, 1,501 student callers received 18,408 pledges worth $1,341,435 to provide scholarships and educational benefits in the nine academic colleges.

Dubbed “Phone Story ’05, To Infinity & Beyond,” Telefund 2005 received 1,020 pledges worth $ 75,750 from Riley County. Telefund received gifts from all 105 Kansas counties, all 50 states plus Canada and Puerto Rico. In Kansas, the totals were 9,616 pledges worth $629,472.

The volunteer format of K-State’s Telefund is unique among collegiate telephone campaigns. A combination of enthusiastic students, dedicated alumni and extraordinary business support allows Telefund to thrive. The Telefund pledge total first passed $1 million in 1998. Since 1980, Telefund has received 434,098 pledges worth $19,809,021 and involved more than 20,000 volunteer student callers.

The ceremonial conclusion of Telefund 2005 was the Kellogg’s Grand Prize Bash held April 8 when six randomly selected student callers were honored. The top two Grand Prizes were a new Nissan Frontier, provided by the Wichita Area Big Wheels, and the $1,000 MASTER Teacher/DeBruyn Family Scholarship.

K-State is a perennial Big 12 Conference leader based on percentage of alumni supporting their alma mater, and Telefund, which annually generates about 20,000 gifts, is a major factor. Most colleges and universities employ telephone campaigns, but most depend upon paid callers, automated dialing systems and a year-round format. Despite its low-tech, seemingly antiquated format, Telefund remains one of the nation’s leading campaigns based on dollars pledged and donors involved. K-State currently ranks No. 1 nationally with 32 percent alumni participation.

Telefund 2005 County Totals

Top

04/06/05 — von Waadens’ gift is an investment in KSU’s College of Business Administration

Students enrolled in Finance 653 – Security and Portfolio Analysis — at K-State’s College of Business Administration, have a $300,000 assignment — invest it in the stock market.

Dennis and Sally von Waaden, Austin, Texas, recently made a commitment of $400,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation, part of which will serve as investment funds and cover operating expenses for students in the portfolio analysis class. The remaining $100,000 will be designated as discretionary funds for the business college. The von Waadens have previously donated part of a retirement account as an initial investment fund for the class and have made numerous contributions to scholarships, professorships, excellence funds and projects during the last 20 years.

“We saw the opportunity to provide real hands-on money management,” Dennis von Waaden said. “Sally and I said this is the students’ money to manage and it’s the university’s money to take care of. We would like to have a situation where this is used for education and in the long term, we hope it will benefit the university.”

Eric Higgins, Ph.D., associate professor of finance, teaches the class. “Over the last two years, the students have added more than $75,000 to the original $250,000 portfolio the von Waadens gave us,” Higgins said. “On invested funds, the students’ rate of return has exceeded returns on both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Standard and Poor’s 500 Average.”

“There are schools with similar programs, but ours is unique in that it’s primarily targeted to undergraduate students,” said Anand Desai, Ph.D., head of the Department of Finance. “Around the Big 12, they generally have just their MBA students manage class portfolios. We are unique in giving undergraduates an opportunity to manage funds and pick investments. We can’t thank the von Waadens enough for their support.”

Dennis von Waaden graduated from K-State in 1962 with a degree in accounting. Sally von Waaden also attended K-State. The von Waadens are both members of the KSU Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Dennis von Waaden is a member of its executive committee and investment committee.

Top

04/06/05 — Professor establishes international travel fund for faculty members

Esther M. Maddux, Manhattan, Kan., has made a commitment of $50,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation to establish the Esther M. Maddux International Travel Fund.

The purpose of this fund is to honor Esther M. Maddux, KSU professor of family studies and human services, and to support international travel for faculty in the College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University. The fund will provide the dean of the College of Human Ecology with the opportunity to support faculty members pursuing an international experience to enrich their area of expertise.

“Many human ecology faculty members are international leaders in their disciplines,” said Carol Kellett, dean of the College of Human Ecology. “This fund will position K-State as a university that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for families and communities around the world.”

Maddux is a native of Dublin, Ga. She graduated from the University of Georgia, Athens, with a bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1972 and went on to earn a master’s degree in family economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1973, and a doctorate in family resource management from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., in 1979. Maddux is a former faculty member in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia and financial adviser of AIG Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company in Athens. Maddux is currently a professor in the Personal Financial Planning Unit in the School of Family Studies and Human Services.

Maddux said, “Funds from this scholarship will enable faculty to participate in educational and scholarly pursuits to foster a healthy global community.”

Top

04/06/05 — Iowa couple commits gift to K-State Perpetual Pet Care Program

Rick J. and Patti J. Love, Neola, Iowa, have made a commitment of $50,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation to establish the Rick J. and Patti J. Love Fund.

The purpose of this fund is to provide medical care and treatment to the Love family’s animal companions through the Perpetual Pet Care Program. When the Loves’ animal companions no longer need care, the Rick J. and Patti J. Love Endowment will be established to support the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State.

Rick and Patti Love chose to establish this fund after visiting K-State four years ago. Upon advice from their local veterinarian, the Loves brought their dog to K-State for a surgical examination. They were impressed with the care their dog received at K-State and decided to enroll their pets in the Perpetual Pet Care Program.

Rick Love is a native of Redfield, Iowa. He was a crew chief for F-4 airplanes in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Rick is currently a facility manager for Garrett Aviation in Omaha, Neb. Patti Love is a native of Neola and was a technician for Midwest Bio-Pharma, a hog vaccine lab. She is currently a homemaker.

The Loves are members of Presidents Club, a KSU Foundation leadership organization for friends and alumni of K-State.

Rick and Patti Love said, “We brought our dog Princess down to K-State for a surgical examination which revealed that she needed knee surgery. We had the first knee done during that visit, and then made a return trip shortly thereafter for the other knee. We were both extremely impressed with the attention and care we were given. We will never forget the care given to our loved one.”

“Gifts like this are invaluable to the teaching hospital,” said Roger Fingland, director of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. “We understand that pets are part of the family, and in increasing numbers, families are making long-term plans for their animals. We are overjoyed to be part of the Loves’ plan and can assure them that their gift will make a difference in the lives of students and animals.”

Top

04/01/05 — Lambert receives E. Walter Morrison Award

Dr. Dorinda Lambert, Manhattan, Kan., was recently named the 2005 recipient of the E. Walter Morrison Award. The award provides $1,000 to a member of the KSU campus community (student, faculty, staff, alumni, etc.) who, through his or her contributions to the university, best exemplifies the integrity and perseverance of E. Walter Morrison.

Dr. Lambert has been the associate director and clinical coordinator at University Counseling Services since 1985. Dr. Lambert counsels and supervises other counselors, helps students through therapy and is a member of several community efforts, such as Regional AIDS and crisis committees. In an effort to prevent the violence and injustice she has witnessed, Dr. Lambert agreed to be lead spokesperson for the Campaign for Nonviolence.

“For 20 years, Dori Lambert has been a compassionate, dedicated, tireless professional who put forth great effort to champion the causes of students and citizens who are often underrepresented, unfairly treated and yet have needed a champion,” said Dr. Fred Newton, director of University Counseling Services. “She has chaired two very significant committees: the Communicable Disease Committee, when education of the HIV/AIDS concern was paramount, and the Campaign for Nonviolence, which brought a “soul” of caring and community to the campus through such activities as “safe zone” peer advocates, while informing and training many people on the nonviolent way. What makes Dori Lambert exceptional is her willingness to model excellence and provide of herself without thought for personal recognition or gain. She is a humble servant who leads by example. I can think of no one more deserving of the E. Walter Morrison Award.”

The E. Walter Morrison Award honors Morrison’s dedication to his church, community and the milling industry. Morrison created the Morrison Milling Company in 1936 and spent more than 25 years of his career in Kansas. He died in 1994. His son, E. Walter Morrison Jr., graduated from Kansas State Agricultural College in 1942 with a bachelor’s degree in milling science and management.

Dr. Lambert said, “I am but one of many members of the campus community who are dedicated to making this a safe and equitable environment for students, staff and faculty while also looking to the impact we can all have on creating peaceful and progressive communities here and in the world. I have accepted this award on behalf of all those who have worked alongside me in this effort.”

The E. Walter Morrison Award is administered by the KSU Student Foundation, a student organization affiliated with the KSU Foundation. The student foundation acts as a link between the KSU Foundation and the K-State student body to encourage charitable giving to the university after graduation.

Top

04/01/05 — Kansas State University Foundation announces staff appointment

The Kansas State University Foundation has named Nancy DeWeese, Manhattan, Kan., to the position of director of donor relations and Presidents Club. DeWeese has been employed with the foundation since February 1999 and has served as director of development for the colleges of Education and Architecture, Planning, and Design. Prior to joining the foundation, she taught business education at the secondary and post-secondary level for 20 years.

Top