K-State recognizes 13 outstanding graduating seniors

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Source: Pat Bosco, 785-532-6237, bosco@k-state.edu
Editor's note: Photos are available by request from media relations; call 785-532-6415 or e-mail media@k-state.edu.
News release prepared by: Michelle Hall, 785-532-6415

Friday, April 21, 2006

K-STATE RECOGNIZES 13 OUTSTANDING GRADUATING SENIORS

MANHATTAN -- Thirteen graduating seniors have been honored with the Kansas State University Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. The awards are sponsored by Kansas Gas Service and are presented by Pat Bosco, K-State associate vice president for institutional advancement and dean of student life.

The award was inaugurated in 1999 and is presented each spring to graduating seniors who have made a significant contribution to student life at K-State. Students were nominated based on their experiences at K-State that have had a broad impact on at least two areas of student life, have demonstrated the ability to have an impact on others who were different from themselves and have initiated or enhanced programs and services which improved the quality of student life. Directors and staff members in institutional advancement nominated and selected possible recipients. After reviewing the candidates, Bosco made the final selection.

"Each of these remarkable K-State students has made our university a better place, especially in our student life areas," Bosco said. "These seniors have made a difference."

Recipients were recognized and received a plaque at a reception in their honor. Each plaque featured the student's picture taken at a favorite campus location.

Kansas Gas Service has sponsored the awards for the past six years. Steve Johnson, manager of government affairs, said this year's recipients are an outstanding group of well-rounded individuals.

"We think this is a great way to support and honor students in any endeavor," Johnson said. "It is an opportunity to honor some of the best students at the university."

Recipients of the 2006 awards, all seniors graduating in the spring, summer or fall, are:

* Laura Buessing, kinesiology and pre-physical therapy, Baileyville, is vice president of membership for the Student Alumni Board, and has served as president of Chimes honorary and as treasurer of Silver Key honorary. She also is a member of Mortar Board, Golden Key, Kinesiology Student Association, Kappa Omicron Nu honorary and K-State Singers, and is a campus tour guide and orientation leader. She has volunteered with Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross blood drive, Second Helping and at local nursing homes. She has helped to build homes in Reynosa, Mexico, and has volunteered with Telefund. Her future plans include working toward a doctorate of physical therapy at the University of Kansas medical school and practicing in a rural setting with the possibility of opening her own physical therapy clinic.

* Jolene Goodheart Peterson, education-mathematics with a minor in leadership studies, Bison, has served as a Wildcat Warm-Up student director, Leadership Studies and Programs Ambassador, orientation leader and as an Engineering Ambassador. She has worked as a resident assistant and has volunteered with the Kansas Association for Youth Leadership Camp and GirlSpeak! (Tomorrow's Leaders Today). She plans to teach mathematics in secondary education while beginning a master's degree in college student personnel or a related field.

* Kourtney Bettinger, Spanish, pre-medicine, international studies and Latin American studies, Louisburg, received a $30,000 Harry S. Truman scholarship this spring for graduate study. She has served as president of the Student Alumni Board and of Rotaract Club, and as student coordinator for the community service program's International Summer Teams. She is a member of the Union Governing Board, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, honoraries Mortar Board, Sigma Delta Pi, Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, and has served twice on community service program International Summer Teams in Mexico. Bettinger will take part in a Rotary New Generations Exchange to Lima, Peru, this summer, before studying at the Universidad Internacional in Cuernavaca, Mexico, in the fall. She plans to return to Latin America in January with the Peace Corps as a health education volunteer, before pursuing medical school with the goal of working in pediatric health in Latin America.

* Michael Burns, agricultural economics, Jetmore, was K-State's student body president for the 2005-06 school year, and also has served as president of the Agricultural Education Club, and as vice president of Blue Key honorary. He has served on various committees and councils around and for the university, including the Student Advisory Committee to the Kansas Board of Regents, co-chair of the Student Senate Special Committee to Study Long-Term Tuition Strategies and as Privilege Fee Committee chair. He was the 2005 William L. Muir and John T. Muir Alpha Tau Omega Blue Key Leadership Scholarship recipient and has served as a College of Agriculture Ambassador. Burns plans to begin work on a master's degree in agricultural economics at K-State in the fall. He is considering pursuing a doctorate in agricultural economics or in educational administration. His long-term goals include a career in university administration/academia or in politics.

* Craig A. Wanklyn, architectural engineering with a minor in leadership studies, Lakin, is a member of honoraries Phi Alpha Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi, the Architectural Engineering Institute, Illuminating Engineering Society, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, the National Residence Hall Honorary and K-State Association of Residence Halls. He has been an Engineering Ambassador, a resident assistant and Moore Hall Governing Board president. Wanklyn has received various awards from the K-State Association of Residence Halls and the National Residence Hall Honorary, including the national student of the month and K-State student of the year and resident assistant of the year. He has volunteered with Boys and Girls Club, Relay for Life and Flint Hills Breadbasket. Wanklyn plans to move to Denver, Colo., after graduation and work as a design engineer for M-E Engineers.

* Lee Andrew Rivers, kinesiology and pre-nursing, Manhattan, is a member of the Multicultural Student Honor Society, serving as vice president in 2004-05 and public relations coordinator in 2002-03. He has served as president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and has been a K-State Multicultural Ambassador and member of the Kinesiology Student Association. Rivers has served as a student peer adviser for the office of international programs, as a student service technician for housing and dining services and as a student volunteer for international studies. He has served as a member of ministry teams in St. Louis, Mo., and in Bolivia. Rivers plans to pursue a master's degree in college student personnel services at Central Missouri State University while working as a graduate assistant in admissions.

* Shane E. Thoreson, kinesiology and pre-medicine, Marysville, is a member of the K-State Singers, where he has served as business manager, and FarmHouse fraternity, where he has been philanthropy and community service chair. He is a member of honoraries Chimes, Mortar Board and Silver Key, where he served as president. He has participated in Telefund. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Academic Decathlon and Helping International Students. Thoreson has participated in a mission trip to Reynosa, Mexico, and was a summer camp teacher in Izamal, Mexico. He will attend the University of Kansas medical school in the fall and plans to become a family practice physician.

* Patrick Dean Rinearson, professional pilot with a minor in business, Olathe, worked with Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer Mission Control. He is a member of the K-State Flight Team and served as captain from 2004-05. He has been involved in student government at K-State at Salina, serving as secretary, senator and Manhattan-Salina relations director. He is a College of Technology and Aviation Ambassador and has served as a student coordinator at the K-State at Salina Fly-In. Rinearson was Salina campus newspaper editor in 2003. He plans to continue as a flight instructor on the K-State at Salina campus and pursue a career in corporate aviation.

* Patrick C. Simpson III, biology and pre-medicine with a minor in leadership studies, Olathe, is a member of Mortar Board, where he has served as leadership team leader, and the National Residence Hall Honorary. He has been a resident assistant for three years and served on the staff for the Residence Hall Summer Conference. He is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Research Scholar. Simpson is a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He has volunteered with the Manhattan animal shelter, the Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and Tuttle Creek Day of Service. He hopes to be accepted to a one-year service program through AmeriCorps and ultimately attend medical school.

* Whitney Lynn Coen, agricultural economics with a minor in leadership studies, Ottawa, is president of Mortar Board honorary and also has served as vice president for development of the Student Alumni Board and as recruitment vice president and membership education vice president of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She was a College of Agriculture senator and senate intern. She has participated in many community service activities through her sorority and campus honoraries, including volunteering with Special Olympics, creating packets for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief and reading to youth at Manhattan Day Care.

* Nacole Boan, political science with minors in history and leadership studies, Spring Hill, is the academic affairs and university relations chair for the Student Governing Association, president of Union Program Council and vice president of the Union Governing Board. She has been a two-term senator for the Student Governing Association and is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, where she has served as alumni relations director. Through Union Program Council, she has helped to organize and facilitate an annual children's carnival as a safe trick-or-treating experience for local children. After graduation, Boan plans to complete a master's degree in political science focusing on either public policy or campaign strategy.

* Andy Kowal, human resources management with a minor in leadership studies, Wichita, is a member of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, Interfraternity Council, Up 'Til Dawn executive board and Order of Omega. He is part of the Developing Scholars Program and has worked with K-State orientation and enrollment and Wildcat Warm-Up. He is a member of the Student Friends of the Beach Museum of Art. Kowal has participated in the St. Isidore spring break alternative trip. Next year Kowal will work as a leadership consultant for Phi Kappa Theta fraternity at its headquarters in Indianapolis. In this position he will travel around the country working with and consulting undergraduate chapters. He intends to pursue a graduate degree in college student personnel and would like to work in higher education administration.

* Angela N. Nichols, kinesiology with a minor in leadership studies, Wichita, is a member of the Black Student Union, a Mortar Board service team leader and the Leadership Studies and Programs lead intern. She has received the Joey Lee Garman Scholarship for Commitment to Social Justice, participated in the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant, and is a member of the Multicultural Student Honor Society. Nichols served as co-coordinator of the "Hurricane Katrina: Help from the Heartland" alternative spring break in New Orleans and has tutored at the Douglass Community Center and served as AmeriCorps volunteer coordinator. She will begin serving as an admissions representative for K-State in July and plans to earn a master's degree in educational administration.