John and Renda Snyder, Des Moines, Iowa, have made a commitment of $100,000 to the College of Education at Kansas State University to establish the John and Renda Snyder Excellence Fund for Student Projects and Activities.

James and Patricia Guthrie, Silver Spring, Md., have made a commitment to the Department of Civil Engineering at Kansas State University to establish the Jim and Pat Guthrie Civil Engineering Scholarship.

A $5,000 gift to Kansas State University to support the Embarq Corporation Scholarship marked the corporation’s second birthday. Embarq and K-State leaders met May 15 at Embarq’s Junction City retail store for a reception and check presentation.

Mark A. Chapman, Cat Spring, Texas, has made a gift of $495,000 to the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University to establish the Chapman Center for Rural Studies. His gift includes funds both to renovate a space for the center as well as to make the center fully operational over the next three years.

Jim and Laura Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo., have made a commitment of $250,000 to the College of Engineering at Kansas State University to establish the GE Johnson Construction Science Excellence Fund.

Kansas State University President Jon Wefald announced today his plans to retire at the end of the 2008-09 academic year. Wefald has served as the 12th president of K-State since being appointed by the Kansas Board of Regents in July 1986.