Archive for April 2006

04/25/06 — Former students, family and friends honor K-State professor with $500,000 endowed chair

Former students, along with family and friends of Roger Trenary have contributed gifts totaling more than $500,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation Changing Lives Campaign to establish the Roger Trenary Chair in Economics at Kansas State University.

The purpose of this chair is to recognize Trenary’s outstanding contributions to teaching at Kansas State University and to recruit and retain an economics professor of exceptional talent to teach undergraduate courses in economics with emphasis on lower-level principles courses in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Roger Trenary has been recognized for his teaching with numerous awards, including the Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence in 1998 and the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher Award in 1982. He won the Stamey Award for outstanding teaching in the College of Arts and Sciences four times and is listed in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” His innovative teaching techniques include experimental economics, televised instruction and the use of Web pages.

Trenary also has served as director of undergraduate studies and as lead adviser of the undergraduate program in the K-State Department of Economics. He has authored study guides for two principles of economics textbooks and has consulted on the development of numerous other books and educational projects. He has served as a consultant for Education Testing Service and chaired the macroeconomic section of the CLEP Test Development committee for ETS. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1968 and master’s degree in 1972 from Wayne State University in Detroit.

“Over the past 29 years, Roger has taught some 24,000 students at Kansas State University, quite possibly the most ever taught by a single professor at KSU,” said Lloyd Thomas, head of the Department of Economics. “His teaching both enlightened and inspired thousands of students, many of whom have gone on to successful careers and have strong feelings of gratitude and affection for Roger. Given what Roger has meant to them, these students decided that it was not acceptable that Trenary’s name could ever disappear from memory on the K-State campus. It is a remarkable tribute to Roger that his former students, with help from friends, colleagues and family, essentially created the Trenary Chair in Economics.”

“This effort to honor Roger Trenary has been successful because so many of his students have been impacted by having him as a professor, a mentor, and a friend,” said Michael Goss, a 1981 K-State graduate in economics and chief operating officer of Bain Capital, LLC, in Boston, Mass. “He's a great example of how teachers can change the lives of their students. And I think we, as former students, wanted to call attention to that.”

The KSU Foundation’s Changing Lives Campaign for Kansas State University is a comprehensive $500 million campaign that will infuse new funds into virtually every dimension of the university. The KSU Foundation coordinates fundraising efforts with alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to secure private support for Kansas State University.

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04/21/06 —Brokenickys establish fund for K-State Athletics strength and conditioning program

Phil and Karen Brokenicky, Manhattan, Kan., have made a gift of $50,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation Changing Lives Campaign to establish the Brokenicky Family Endowed Athletic Fund.

This fund will be used at the discretion of the strength and conditioning coach for the operations of the K‑State Athletics strength and conditioning center.

“We appreciate so much the generosity of Phil and Karen in financially assisting our PowerCat Strength program,” said Rod Cole, strength and conditioning coach at K-State. “Their gift will benefit our strength program each year by funding projects that will improve the service we can provide for our student-athletes. We are blessed and honored that the Brokenickys would be so kind to support Kansas State PowerCat Strength.”

Phil Brokenicky is a native of Blue Rapids, Kan. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1971 and an MBA in 1972, both from K-State. While in college, Brokenicky was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi business honorary society. Karen (Smerchek) Brokenicky is also a native of Blue Rapids and attended K-State. The Brokenickys are owners of New Horizons RV Corp., in Junction City, Kan.

“Coach Cole was instrumental in our son’s (Cole Brokenicky) decision to walk on to the KSU football team and continues to be a tremendously positive influence on not only Cole’s life, but the life of many more of the student-athletes he works with every day,” Phil Brokenicky said. “We wanted our contribution to be a tribute to Coach Cole for the outstanding job he does in shaping the lives of these young people. He builds not only strong bodies, but strong character as well.”

The KSU Foundation’s Changing Lives Campaign for Kansas State University is a comprehensive $500 million campaign that will infuse new funds into virtually every dimension of the university. The KSU Foundation coordinates fundraising efforts with alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to secure private support for Kansas State University.

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04/19/06 — Riley County Students Earn K-State Telefund Honors

The Kansas State University Foundation Telefund 2006, the world’s largest all-volunteer telephone campaign for higher education, has announced the names of 116 students who have won prizes and scholarships based on their participation as Telefund callers.

Six grand prizes were awarded at the Kellogg’s Telefund 2006 Grand Prize Bash on the K-State campus. Stephanie Roberts, Topeka, won a new Nissan Frontier King Cab truck, the ninth vehicle donated by the Wichita Area Big Wheels. Brian Gengler, Overland Park, Kan., received the $1,000 MASTER Teacher/DeBruyn Family Scholarship. Erin Reusser, Wichita, was awarded a $750 Fred Vandegrift Memorial Scholarship. Chris Bird, Olathe, won a $500 Parents Telefund Scholarship. Janine Feldkamp, Seneca, Kan., was drawn as the winner of the Bockers II Picnic for 30 with two Country Stampede passes and Kristen Schulte, Pemberville, Ohio, was the recipient of the Dr Pepper Sports Package.

The Parents Telefund Scholarship Fund, which received nearly $20,000 in pledges this year, is a fund established through pledges from student callers’ parents and other family members.

Leyla Celebiz and Trevor Ahring, Manhattan ; and Melody Mustaine, Randolph ; and Jaime Bohnenblust, Riley, each won a $250 Parents Telefund Scholarship.

During the 23 calling sessions in January and February, 17,493 alumni and friends pledged $1,410,560 to provide scholarships and educational benefits in the nine colleges. To recognize and encourage Telefund volunteers, businesses from Manhattan, Salina and throughout the nation donated more than $60,000 in prizes. Overall 1,350 student callers, representing all nine academic colleges, volunteered during Telefund.

“Considering the economic and geo-political challenges facing our nation, the success of Telefund 2006 is absolutely amazing,” said Gordon Dowell, director of annual giving and Telefund. “The pledge and participation totals speak volumes about alumni pride, student leadership and generous support from the business community.”

In its 27-year history, K-State’s all-volunteer campaign has raised more than $21.1 million for student scholarships, student projects, faculty development and educational materials.

$250 Parents Scholarship Winners

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04/07/06 — Frey family establishes fund for conference room

Dr. Russ and Pat Frey have made a gift of $50,000 to the Kansas State University Foundation Changing Lives Campaign to establish the Dr. Russ and Pat Frey Conference Center for the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University.

The purpose of this gift is to establish a state-of-the-art communication center within the college and to help underwrite the ongoing needs of the center. The facility is equipped with a multimedia technology system that is instrumental for meetings, demonstrations, guest seminars, classes and research projects both in house and through satellite technologies..

Dr. Frey was born in Manhattan, Kan., in February 1930. At the age of 22, he received his veterinary degree from K-State, making him one of the youngest to receive the degree at that time. He completed his senior year of veterinary school while serving in the U.S. Air Force Veterinary Corp and worked as a veterinarian on an Air Force base in Germany for two years. After his time in the military, he moved to South Dakota to practice in a large animal clinic. In 1960, he returned to K-State where he began a 40-year career. He earned a doctorate in physiology in 1970 from K-State and served as head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology for 15 years. Toward the end of his teaching career, he served two terms as a Riley County commissioner. He retired from teaching in 2001. Pat Harbes Frey also attended K-State. She is a member of the KSU Foundation’s President’s Club, a KSU Foundation leadership organization for friends and alumni of K-State.

“It has meant so much that the conference center is being used and appreciated by the College of Veterinary Medicine and also the Manhattan community,” said Pat Frey. “I think it is exciting that our initial gift will continue to maintain the facility and support his dream of giving faculty, students and the community access to the cutting-edge communications technology.”

“Dr. Frey was a master educator and communicator,” said Ralph Richardson, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “His vision for the creation of a state-of-the art conferencing center that would enhance communications at K-State and throughout the veterinary profession has become a reality. The Frey Conference Center has made a tremendously positive impact on our college. This sustaining gift will assure that we will be able to remain on the cutting edge of conferencing technology and effectiveness. We deeply appreciate the legacy that this family has left to K-State and to the College of Veterinary Medicine.”

The KSU Foundation’s Changing Lives Campaign for Kansas State University is a comprehensive $500 million campaign that will infuse new funds into virtually every dimension of the university. The KSU Foundation coordinates fundraising efforts with alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to secure private support for Kansas State University.

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04/04/06 — KSU Foundation romotes Chapman and Gruber to new staff positions

The KSU Foundation, Manhattan, Kan., announces the promotions of two staff members: Tim Chapman, Wamego, Kan., and Chris Gruber, Manhattan.

Chapman has been named senior director of principal gifts. He was previously senior director of development for the College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to joining the foundation in October 1999, Chapman worked as director of development for St. John’s Military School in Salina, Kan. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, in 1999.

Gruber has been promoted to the position of director of development for the College of Veterinary Medicine. Previously he was the development officer for the same college. Prior to joining the foundation in December 2004, Gruber was the director of foster care recruitment and training at Saint Francis Academy in Salina since June 1998. During his six and a half years at Saint Francis Academy, he also served as community outreach assistant program director and coordinator. Gruber earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Kansas Wesleyan University, in 1995.

The KSU Foundation coordinates fundraising efforts with alumni, friends, corporations and foundations to secure private support for Kansas State University.

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