One is not enough: Soon-to-be graduate leaving K-State at Salina with six degrees

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Source: Will Klein, 620-820-4100, castor@k-state.edu
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News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-826-2642, kmayes@salina.k-state.edu

Thursday, May 3, 2007

ONE IS NOT ENOUGH: SOON-TO-BE GRADUATE LEAVING K-STATE AT SALINA WITH SIX DEGREES

SALINA -- Making history is nothing new for Will Klein, a soon-to-be graduate of Kansas State University at Salina.

Klein, Burrton, was one of a handful of K-State at Salina students selected for the ground crew when Steve Fossett took the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer around the world nonstop in 2005 without refueling. Later that summer, Klein was invited to co-pilot Virgin Atlantic's replica World War I era Vickers Vimy bomber from Salina to Oshkosh, Wis.

This time, all Klein is doing is graduating -- in a big way.

When Klein walks across the stage at commencement for K-State at Salina, he will earn six degrees: bachelor's degrees in professional pilot, aviation maintenance and technology management, as well as associate degrees in applied business, aviation maintenance and professional pilot. He's also completed a minor in business.

Commencement for K-State at Salina is at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at the Kansas Highway Patrol Training Center, Administration Building J, 2025 East Iron, Salina.

Klein's reason for so many degrees? Practicality.

"I know that aviation can be cyclic and fickle," he said. "Not only can the industry fluctuate – such as after Sept. 11 – but if there were any problems with my health I could lose my ability to make a career out of flying airplanes. The technology management degree and business associate degree will give me something more to fall back on.

"The aviation maintenance degree will as well, but more than anything I wanted to be a well-rounded and more knowledgeable pilot and airman," Klein said. "My maintenance training has really supplemented my flight training and made me a better flight instructor as well as a better pilot."

After graduation, Klein will go on to FlightSafety International in Wichita to train for a year as a co-pilot in a multitude of simulators. Then, it's off to find that perfect job.

Klein said that his accomplishments show potential employers that he can multitask while maintaining quality. "I have earned six degrees in six years, all while working as a flight instructor for K-State, building more than 1,200 hrs of flight time and maintaining everything else in my life," he said.