Director LetterBuilding ProgressMichael C. Holen Award

Amy Button Renz International Service TeamsDeb Richard Lecture

Leaders in Residence Guest Lecture Series

SLS Teamwork Advancement Council NewsBuilding the Future:

Student Internships Feature

Look Across the Country:Leadership Conferences

Their StoriesStudents Leading Everyday

SLS RetreatSLS Ambassadors

Intro to Leadership StudiesClass Leaders Story

Sharing Stories: AHMI 2009New Faculty and StaffK-State Volunteer CenterFaculty and Staff Listing

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School of Leadership StudiesKansas State University

Issue 9, Spring 2009

The Loop

the loop contents

Mary Hale TolarInterim Director

We have much to learn from history, always. In these times of unprecedented challenges, leaders of government, education, and industry turn to history for models, inspiration, or for clues to discover the best way forward. And yet much of what we face is, well, unprecedented. Moving forward requires new learning.

The School of Leadership Studies regularly employs a process – a mantra, of sorts –

called the “yes, and…” It is a way of addressing a situation that affirms multiple contributions and perspectives. To ideas offered for consideration, we say “yes, and…” Responding with “no,” or “yes, but” ties us to the way things are, or have always been, and prevents us from reaching the way things could be.

The process has served us well as we have created new ways of teaching and learning leadership. We now offer the largest academic program on

campus, and are preparing to move into a new building in Spring 2010. These are exciting times!

As for looking to history, I say yes!, and…. The School looks to its history for the development of our mission, and the both intentional and unanticipated growth of our programs. From a recent evaluation of the first 10 years of the program, we can see what is essential, what is at our core, and to it we say yes!, and…. And we take stock of the circumstances

of our current environment, and see, embedded in the challenges, opportunities for exercising leadership and for creating new learning.

As you look through The Loop, you will see the many and varied ways in which our faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and most of all our students, are exercising leadership and creating new learning. These are unprecedented times, with unprecedented opportunity. Thank you for joining us as we move forward together!

finding opportunities in unprecedented times

A Golden Future

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Making Progresstracking a year of changes at the sls building site

s ince the groundbreaking on April 18, 2008, the construction process has swiftly progressed. (Photos clockwise from top right) | Alumni, students, faculty and donors shared the honors at the groundbreaking last April. | Mary Tolar and Lynda Bachelor discuss the building drawings at the building site during the auger pile test in February. | Lori Waddell, one of 60 or so students at the auger pile test, watches on as the tests proved to be successful, proving that the ground was strong enough to support the weight of the building. | The building site in January, across from Shellenberger Hall on Mid Campus Drive. | Students in construction science listen to details from an OPUS representative at the auger pile test. | Warren Staley addresses the audience present for the groundbreaking last April.

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K-State Media RelationsAmy Button Renz, president

and chief executive officer of the Kansas State University Alumni Association, is the 2009 recipient of the Michael C. Holen Outstanding Leadership Award from the School of Leadership Studies at K-State. The award will be presented at the School of Leadership Studies Recognition Celebration at 7 p.m. Monday, April 20, in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.

President Jon Wefald said, “Amy Button Renz is not only arguably the best alumni president in the history of K-State, but she has become one of the top alumni association presidents in the nation.”

“Amy is a third generation K-Stater,” said Bob Shoop, director of the Cargill Center for Ethical Leadership at K-State, and senior scholar in leadership studies. “Her career with the alumni association began in 1977 and she was named president and CEO in 1994. She has been very active in her professional organization, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. She received the Distinguished Service Award from CASE in

1995 and has served on the CASE International Board of Trustees. She was a member of the CASE Alumni Relations Commission and she has been a faculty member for CASE conferences and serves frequently as a speaker to student and university groups. In addition, she served as president of her peer organization, the Council of Alumni Association Executives, from 2001-2002.”

Button Renz is responsible for overall planning, supervision, evaluation, administrative and financial management of the K-State Alumni Association with a staff of 31, a $3.3 million budget, and the $12 million K-State Alumni Center. Her additional responsibilities include strategic planning, membership and the Tradition Founders annual giving program. She works closely with university administration, the Kansas State University Foundation and the athletics department.

Mike Holen, dean of the College of Education, described Button Renz as “the quintessential servant leader. In the minds of our alumni, Amy is correctly considered ‘Ms. K-State.’ Her dreams, her effort

and her influence created a truly impressive Alumni Center and a top quality alumni association -- both of which receive national honors for excellence.”

Button Renz is a past chair of the Riley County United Way, also serving as a campaign chair and is a past member of the United Way board of directors. She has also been active in groups within the K-State community.

She is a current member of the K-State Political Science Advisory Council, the Mike Ahearn Victory Campaign and the K-State College of Leadership Studies Advancement Council. She has honorary memberships in Mortar Board, Blue Key, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. She was the 2004 recipient of the Bob Krause Alpha Tau Omega Outstanding Campus Leader Award and in 2007, the Amy Button Renz American Humanics Scholarship at Kansas State University was established in honor of her dedication to nonprofit leadership.

“Amy is a strong advocate of our nonprofit leadership focus,” said Olivia Collins, director of the American Humanics program in the School of Leadership Studies.

“She has generously shared her knowledge and expertise with our students by participating on panels of nonprofit professionals and supervising and mentoring students in the leadership minor.”

Button Renz is a 1976 K-State political science graduate and obtained her master’s in public administration from K-State in 1986. She is married to Allen Renz, a 1987 K-State alumnus. They have three children who all hold degrees from K-State: Charles ‘92, Deambra ‘97 and Ashley ‘06, ‘08.

According to Mary Tolar, interim director of the School of Leadership Studies, “This award was established in 1999 to honor those who embody the School of Leadership Studies mission of developing knowledgeable, ethical, caring, inclusive leaders for a diverse world. We are delighted to honor her with the Holen Award.”

Past recipients of the outstanding leadership award are Buck O’Neil, Page and Nancy Twiss, Deb Patterson, Linda Thurston, James Coffman, Grace Hwang, Ruth Ann Wefald, Carol Gould, Atina Hanna and Suzanne Mayo-Theus.

Amy Button Renz

2009 Michael c. holen outstanding leadershiP award

K-State Alumni Association President and CEO

respected and renowned

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Meredith LynchK-State International Service

Teams have been sending students on summers of service for twenty years, and the tradition will continue this summer as fourteen students travel to developing communities in three countries for two months of volunteer service.

In Summer 2009, teams will be placed in Gaborone, Botswana; Nyeri, Kenya; and two teams in Puebla, Mexico. The teams are currently working together to prepare for their service,

including learning about the country, practicing the language and fundraising. Their projects will include youth and child development, health and nutrition and environmental projects.

The University of Botswana will host students in Gaborone for the third summer at this site. This year students plan to continue the previous projects, working at the Tlamelo feeding project, Old Naledi Education Centre and the Mokolodi Game Reserve. They are also looking into opportunities to work with

healthcare.This is also the third year

for the site in Puebla, Mexico, where students will live at a local university, UPAEP. Students will teach English at local schools and work with children at childcare facilities.

The Puebla teams are looking to expand their service sites to community centers in surrounding communities, healthcare projects and a group home for boys.

This summer, the International Service Teams will

add a new site in Nyeri, Kenya. Students at this site will live and work at the Community Youth Empowerment Center, which works with local children to teach them necessary life skills. The community is also working on developing eco-friendly housing, and students hope to be involved with this project as well.

International Service Teams are an opportunity for students to serve a community in need while also experiencing the world. For more information, please contact intlteam@ksu.edu.

Globe Trottingsuccessful suMMers flourish for international service teaMs

international service teaMs2008:

Puebla, MexicoBucerias, Mexico

Gaborone, Botswana

2009:Puebla, Mexico

Gaborone, BotswanaNyeri, Kenya

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Clockwise from above: Botswana team members Marinda Johnson, Danielle Wong, Quameeka Saunders, Jayne Long and Leslie Holtzen on a safari. | Jayne Long plays with two children in Gaborone, Botswana. | Mexican team members Kelli Allen and Adam Tank on a beach day in Bucerias. Opposite page: “Teacher Marinda” (Johnson) in the Old Naledi Education Centre in Puebla. | Schoolchildren in Botswana.

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Mike FinneganLast fall Deb Richard

presented to over 300 Leadership Students as part of the School of Leadership Studies lecture Series, “Leaders in Residence”. Deb sent a powerful message to our students to, “Dream Big, Dream Often, Dreams Do Come True”. She captured their attention by talking about “Crossroad” moments. As Deb explained, her crossroad moment came between her Junior and Senior year at the University of Florida. She had a decision to make…..go pro or come back and finish her senior year. Deb decided to stay and finish her senior year at the

University of Florida and led her team to a third consecutive SEC championship.

Her energy, insight, and storytelling ability connect with our students on an extremely high level. We teach our students leadership theories, models, and ideas while Deb tells our students how to apply and practice leadership through her own life experiences. We are extremely honored and humbled to have Deb as an adjunct faculty member. She is a positive role model who demonstrates to our students what it means to be Knowledgeable, Ethical, Caring, and Inclusive Leaders.

leaders in residence lecture seriesThe School of Leadership

Studies, Leaders in Residence Lecture Series, is pleased to have the support of the Stephens family of Greenwood County. With a generous donation from the family, the endowed funds will support this lecture series as leaders from around the country are brought to K-State to address Leadership Studies students.

The Stephens family values community involvement and leadership. They hope to continue to help students in their leadership experiences.

The Stephens family all have degrees from Kansas State University and have been involved in organizational and community activities. Don worked as an Extension 4-H agent after graduation, and has served on the County Farm Bureau, the Soil Conservation Service, and the Cattlemen’s Association boards and the Kansas legislature’s committee on wind power.

Jan has worked for Kansas State University Research and Extension all of her career, and has served as president of both the Kansas Association of Family and

Consumer Sciences and Kansas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Clint graduated from K-State in 2002 with a degree in Business and a minor in Leadership Studies. While at K-State he was a member of Blue Key Senior Honorary and received the Kansas Gas Service Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. He received his master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in Student Affairs, working as a Residence Hall director. Clint then served as student affairs coordinator at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and is currently working on his Ph.D. at Iowa State University.

Sara graduated from K-State in 2006 with a Human Ecology degree in Family Studies and Community Services and a minor in Leadership Studies with a non-profit focus. She was the first president of the K-State chapter of American Humanics Student Association and a member of Blue Key Senior Honorary. Sara is now pursuing her Masters in Public Administration at University of North Texas.

introducing the

The Stephens family on campus for Sara’s graduation from K-State in 2006.

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Advancement Council UpdateThe School of Leadership Studies Advancement Council is a group of alumni, business, civic and student leaders who are committed to the vitality of the School of Leadership Studies at Kansas State University. Led by Co-Chairs John and Lynn Carlin, the council was restructured in the fall 2008 to include project teams with team leaders. Three teams began working on different focus areas including communication, networking, and the Leaders in Residence program. Highlights of the upcoming spring meeting include an update on the building progress, an overview of the assessment performed by the Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation, and project updates including a communication plan developed by Dr. Todd Simon’s journalism

and mass communication students.

Teamwork.The School of Leadership Studies is fortunate to have outstanding adjunct instructors. We could not meet the demands of delivering the leadership studies curriculum without these wonderful adjuncts. We also are fortunate to have a supportive group of alumni, leadership

professionals and supporters on our Advancement Council.

We fully embrace the partnerships that has been developed with our adjunct instructors and Advancement Council members. They all represent a diverse group of professionals. Here are some of their

personal insights into being part of the Leadership Studies family.

“Teaching for the School of Leadership Studies means that I get to interact with students who are dynamic ‘leaders in training.’ I also get to be part of a caring, gifted group of dedicated professionals with a passion for students and leadership.

It is a wonderful experience!”Heather Reed, Director of Student Life

Leadership in Practice

“I am assisting Heather Reed in teaching EDLST 405, Leadership in Practice. The students in class seem to enjoy the discussion, interaction, and thought-provoking ideas shared in class. I am impressed with the way the students process information to make sense of the leadership concepts Heather and I introduce in class. The format of the class is good because the students have a real practicum experience in which to practice the leadership skills they are developing from class participation. It is exciting to hear about the opportunities the students have in their practicums to

establish credibility and enhance their leadership ability.”Ben Kohl, Ph.D. student in counseling and student development

Leadership in Practice

“I am so proud to work with a group of individuals who truly exemplify what it means to be knowledgeable, ethical, caring, and inclusive. I am confident that the skills taught in SLS courses will be remembered and used by my students after graduation. I am most grateful that I am able to offer my students real world experience that relates

not only to their daily lives, but to their future as well.”Sharon Breiner, Extension Assistant Introduction to Leadership Concepts

“After having spent several years actively engaged in the leadership of a small non-profit organization serving K-State, teaching in an adjunct role for the School of Leadership Studies has provided me with a great opportunity to reflect carefully on my practice of leadership and learn new, insightful lessons on leadership from some amazing students! In addition, I thoroughly enjoy working with colleagues so focused on developing young leaders to flourish in a diverse and changing world.”David A. Jones, Campus Pastor, Ecumenical Campus

Ministry Leadership in Practice

“Teaching in the School of Leadership Studies has been an inspiring journey for me. As I grow and am excited about what leadership does for people and their lives, I find that I share this enthusiasm and it is contagious. My students have demonstrated to me each semester that they are ready to take on new

things and be creative with their lives and choices.”Susan Gustavson Maxwell, Instructor of Bassoon,

Music Theory Leadership in Practice

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Building the FutureBridget Howland

Senior, Fairway, Kan.I am an intern at Sunflower CASA Project, Inc. in Manhattan. My internship has strengthened my desire to work in the nonprofit sector. It has given me the chance to truly impact the lives of children in need. I have developed volunteer recruitment strategies, wrote a grant for a volunteer recruitment advertising campaign, and planned volunteer recognition events. The work that I have done has prepared me for my career in the nonprofit sector.

Emily SalzmanSenior, Overland Park, Kan.While interning at Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan, I have been able to experience many learning opportunities. Through these experiences I have been able to learn more about the organization’s mission and see how

the organization is impacting the children and youth of Manhattan. One memorable experience that I have had was when I attended the Coach Frank Martin fundraiser at Kites Bar and Grill. During this event Coach Martin shared about his experience as a Boys Club member and the impact that Boys Club had on him and how he wants to give back to the club. He has been a large supporter of the Boys and Girls Club, and at this event he was able to inspire more donors to support the organization.

Caitlin ArnoldSenior, Manhattan, Kan.During the summer of 2008 I found another home during my internship at FareStart. From day one my co-workers made me feel like I belonged. Every day I would learn new things about the organization and with every

person I met and everything I learned a place in my heart was made for my friends at FareStart. Not only did I gain valuable work experience dealing with everything from sign making to donations, to thank you letters, I gained a whole new family and a passion to help end homelessness in our country. Seeing an organization strive to end a critical problem in our country reinforced my passion to work in a nonprofit and to have a career that will not only support myself but will also make a difference in the lives of so many other people. Having the opportunity to work with individuals who care about their jobs and have a huge passion for a cause made me excited to enter the workforce at a job where I cannot only work with others who feel the same way I do, but who will also be striving to make a difference in our world.

As progress continues on the new home for the

School of Leadership Studies, these students are having an impact through non-profit internships on and off campus, building better communities now

and for the future.

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Building the Future

Jayne LongSenior, Topeka, Kan.I am currently interning at the Flint Hills Community Clinic, a nonprofit medical clinic in Manhattan, offering free medical care to those without any kind of insur-ance or medical coverage. Every day that I am in the clinic, I learn new stories and meet new people, whether it be the countless volunteers that help keep the clinic going, from the administrators putting in countless hours and making numerous personal sacrifices to serve the mission of the clinic, or from the patients that are in need each evening during clinical hours. Many of the patients come to us as a last

resort, and in dire need of proper and practical medical care so that they can continue to work, parent, take care of loved ones or just get-by on a day to day basis. The service that I have been able to provide through my work at the clinic is so visible each time a patient is able to be served and had their medical needs met by the providers at the clinic. Being able to work with a population who has otherwise little resources to help themselves, and provide a basic need and right in health care is an experience that has reinforced my passion for working and serving in the nonprofit sector.

Richie WeertsJunior, Olathe, Kan.Growing up, my family was always involved in service. We always valued service and the non-profit sector. I have always viewed service as a personal connection, and relationship with an organization. However, after my internship with the K-State Volunteer Center of Manhattan I was able to gain a more national perspective on service. Being able to experience the non-profit sector as an employee has been eye opening. It has allowed me to learn more about myself and the Manhattan community.

Jessica HaymakerSenior, Olathe, Kan.I was able to travel to and live in New York City for a summer and intern at the United Way of New York City. While I was there, I noticed the diversity of nationalities, cultures and races that was valued at United Way, as well as every nonprofit with which we collaborated. I was surrounded by and had the privilege to work with individuals that each held such

great uniqueness. This commitment to the promotion and appreciation of diversity is one of the many reasons why I want to serve in the nonprofit sector.

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Becky Reichard also attended the International Leadership Association conference. She is pictured with students who she presented with in front of their presentation poster. The co-authors for the presentation were Greg Hall and Alexa Maturana-Lowe, both Claremont McKenna college students. They presented results of a three-year longitudinal study on the development of

global mindset.

Lynn BrickleySchool of Leadership Studies students Lori Wadell, Careem Gladney, Eric Schmidt, and Emily Aldredge, shown below, attended the International Leadership Association’s 10th anniversary conference in Los Angeles this past November, where they competed in the conference’s second annual student case competition. SLS faculty and staff Lynn Brickley, Mike Finnegan, Becky Reichard, and Todd Wells accompanied the

students. The students competed against teams of mixed graduate and undergraduate students, and placed third in the competition overall. Senior Careem Gladney reflected, “This experience really showed me first hand the strengths of the Leadership Studies program, just in how prepared we felt for the competition, and how well what we’ve learned applied to the content and themes of the competition, as well as the overall conference.” Gladney added, “It

was great to have this experience with the other students. We were four students from different backgrounds and different majors, and without Leadership Studies we might not have even know each other, let alone had the opportunity to work together as a team in this competition. I think this was just another great example of how the School of Leadership Studies really unites students.”

(From left to right) Eric Schmidt, Emily Aldredge, and Lori Wadell with former SLS faculty Todd Wells at the opening reception of the ILA Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency

Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Cali

look around the country. find k-state’s

Andrew Wefald, Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Leadership Studies, recently presented research at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology in Tampa, FL. The title of the presentation was, The prediction of work engagement with personality

variables.

FloridaCalimore

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Selected to present at the prestigious Jepson School of Leadership Summer Conference in Richmond, Va. this past May 2008, were Candi Hironaka, Todd Wells, and Grace Hwang. Here they are in front of the famous Arthur Ashe statue on Statue Row in downtown Richmond. Tennis great Ashe is the only African-American depicted. At the Jepson School Conference, our leadership faculty presented on “The Power of Personal Stories in Teaching Inclusive Leadership.” Their presentation was one

of 20 selected out of 300 entries worldwide.

school of leadership studies everywhere.

WashingtonCandi Hironaka presented at the Association of American Colleges and Universities Annual Meeting in Seattle in January 2009 with four other leadership scholars from around the country on “Leadership Studies, the Liberal Arts, and Engaged Students.” Candi is pictured with Ata Karim, former Sr. Assoc. Dir. with SLS, who is now at Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, Wash. Ata was there presenting with two of his colleagues.

Careem Gladney, senior in Finance, attended the annual Wiley College Ethical Leadership Conference in Marshall, Texas, in January 2009, as the first Leadership Studies student representing K-State at this conference. Careem is pictured with Ms. Wiley College, and another

Wiley student. Also presenting at this HBCU (Historically Black College and University, and home of the “Great Debaters” – see Denzel Washington’s movie) were Asst. Professor Grace Hwang, and leadership lecturer Suzanne Mayo-Theus.

Texas

Virginia

IndianaThe American Humanics Managment Institute “The Power of Stories” was held in Indianapolis in 2009, and was attended by 15 students who have a focus in non-profit leadership within the leadership studies minor. The students and staff are pictured here with with Robert Egger, founder of DC Central Kitchen, and Amy Button Renz, K-State Alumni Association President.

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Their Stories.

students’ experiences show us the many facets of leadership.

Name: Brent PinkallHometown: Great Bend, Kan.Experience: Taught English to more than 130 students and professors at Huazhong Normal University in Wuhan, China, for the summer.

During a three-day break from teaching English, I climbed Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in Anhui, China. We also took a break from teaching English at a university to travel to an elementary school in Wuhan, China, to play English-speaking games with children for Children’s Day, a Chinese holiday. The Olympic torch passed through the city on its way to the Olympic games, and two of my English students took me to watch the

Olympic torch pass through the city. Afterward, they brought the torch to my university, where I was allowed to hold it. I also visited sights around the country, including the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.

Name: Ann VirgoHometown: Overland Park, Kan.Experience: Served as the Vice President of Student Relations for the K-State Student Foundation, and was one of the students involved in the 2009 K-State PROUD Advisory Board, and also on the Campaign Planning Team.

As a student volunteer at the PROUD Volunteer/T-shirt Booth, I talked to students about the Campaign, which is in its thrid year. The PROUD Campaign supports Student Opportunity Awards that allow our fellow K-Staters the financial opportunity to attend our university! This year, in 2009, the campaign’s fundraising goal was $100,000 and even in these hard economic times, current K-State students, faculty, alumni, generous sponsors, family & friends all came together to raise a total of $107,457! Now THAT makes me K-State PROUD!

Name: Kari PhelanHometown: Omaha, Neb.Experience: Spent the summer in Jacksonville, Florida participating in the Navigators Summer Training Program and interning at Girls Incorporated.

Last summer I received the NextGen award to do an internship with Girls Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida. This was an amazing opportunity for me to get hands-on experience working in the non-profit sector, as well as a great overview of how a non-profit runs its operations. The most beneficial part of my internship was learning how to be flexible and able to do a wide variety of tasks. The CEO of Girls Inc. stressed how important this is in the non-profit sector where many people are filling multiple roles within their organizations. I had the opportunity to both learn about the behind the scenes operations of Girls Inc. as

well as work directly with the girls involved in their programs. This gave me a broad understanding of how all of the parts of the organization work together to accomplish the mission, “Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.”

Name: Rebecca SullivanHometown: Paola, Kan.Experience: Served as a National FFA Officer this past year (Spring 2007-Fall 2008).

This picture is from our national convention in Indianapolis. At convention we had 55,000 people present, making it the third largest convention in the nation this past year. At convention I chaired two sessions (about 3 hours each) as well as delivered a 20 minute keynote address regarding leadership. During my term, I also visited the FFJ (Future Farmers

of Japan) in January of this past year. I spent about two weeks there and had the chance to work with some of their high school students regarding agriculture. They also taught us how to play their traditional drums! It was a blast!

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Written by Ambassadors Laura Rice and Erin Parrott

This year has been an exciting year for both the School of Leadership Studies and the ambassadors who represent the school. We have been excited to see the building plans finalized and the construction begin. Our organization has also been grateful to have Susan Scott as our interim advisor. She commented on where we came from as an organization and gave us positive

reinforcement on where we are going as students, faculty, and a school.

Susan has been a wonderful asset to the leadership community and will be missed dearly by the ambassadors. However, we are glad to welcome a new member to our team, Trisha Gott, Program Assistant/Instructor as she will be our new advisor.

As ambassadors, it is our mission to recruit new students to the school. By doing so we

are thrilled to offer a scholarship to a student in the School of Leadership Studies. Another exciting event for the ambassadors is K-State Open House. Open House was held on April 18, 2009. This year, it was a 70’s themed day and was full of information, laughter and roller skates.

We are very excited about the new building, as it will bring us many new opportunities. The family of Leadership Studies is a tight knit family and the building

will only help reinforce this bond, by bringing us closer together. There are many aspects of the new building that are designed to keep faculty and students close together. We will soon be able to have our meetings in our new student conference room that will be a shining beacon at night. We are also eager to move into the office that is being offered to the ambassadors. This will improve our efficiency as leaders and recruiters.

Left: The group of School of Leadership Studies Ambassadors after a meeting in the Leadership Studies classroom. Right: A group of Leadership Studies Ambassadors participated in the K-State Relay for Life event.

leadership studies ambassadorscontinue to rePresent and lead

SLS January 2009 RetreatHighlights of the faculty and staff retreat included a discussion of the transition between directors, and Susan Scott presented the interim

director Mary Tolar, with a symbolic bracelet.

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Rebecca BushMaking the transition from

merely participating in events to organizing them is never easy, and the problem increases when choosing which charitable group is “most worthy” of your time. As a second-year class leader for Introduction to Leadership Concepts, I was eager to see what my students would select as their self-directed group service project last fall, but I had no idea how far their efforts would truly reach.

After I presented a list of typical service projects other groups had done in the past – all of which focused on the Manhattan area – one of my students, John, brought up his own idea. An Army ROTC student himself, John told

us about his dad, an Army colonel who was deployed to Baghdad at the time. Army chaplains there had developed a program that helped deliver school supplies like chalk, backpacks and paper – the most basic of needs – to local schools.

Almost as soon as the words were out of John’s mouth, other students were talking about what a great idea it was and the best way to gather supplies. As I listened to their eager planning, I quickly realized that passion was not going to be a problem for this project.

Group members decided to return to their hometowns to ask for donations. In addition to taking their project state-wide, students would have the chance to show off what they were doing in the School of Leadership Studies at K-State, just a few months after graduating from high school. Some students chose to work with a favorite teacher or class, while one girl from a small town targeted the entire school district. The month-long drive would end with a pick-up during

Thanksgiving break.When the final tally was in,

I could hardly believe it. All told, 10 freshmen had collected a total of more than 1,100 pounds of school supplies for Iraqi children!

We had initially each planned on donating a few dollars to pay for shipping costs, but even generous donations from students’ churches and schools did not add up to $2,100 – the amount needed to ship the supplies via air.

Thankfully, Mike Finnegan, the Intro class instructor, came in contact with Gary LaGrange, a retired Army colonel and founder of Help us Learn…Give us Hope, Inc. The nonprofit organization, based in Manhattan, sends school supplies to U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, who then distribute the supplies personally to build goodwill as well as educational foundations.

Mr. LaGrange arranged for our supplies to be shipped to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, which was in Baghdad and Mahmudiyah, Iraq at the time.

In his thank-you to my

students, Mr. LaGrange wrote, “Your supplies will be given to about 400 children. The average school size is 200 students, so you have supplied two schools...and that’s very special!”

Special – I couldn’t have chosen a better word myself. When John told me how many supplies had been collected, I felt my heart swell and my throat close up with emotion.

I am still so proud of my students for looking at this project as more than just a class requirement and using local connections to make a significant impact on a global scale.

This type of experience is exactly what has enhanced my time as a SLS student at K-State. My two semesters as a class leader both challenged me and rewarded me in ways I never would have thought possible prior to each semester. Most importantly, I am now seriously considering teaching as a career, and though my time as a class leader is through, I hope to pass my experiences on to my own university students in the future.

students + school supplies = success

Sharing StoriesMolly Hamm’s role in the

closing ceremony of the American Humanics Management Institute was speaking about her summer 2008 internship with The People Speak program of the United Nations Foundation in Washington, D.C. A primary focus of the internship was the preparation and execution of the first-ever Youth Leadership Summit on climate change for more than 150 students from around the world.

As part of the closing ceremony, Hamm shared the platform with national nonprofit executives and other award recipients being honored at the conference. More than 1,000 people attended the conference,

including college and university students, alumni, faculty and staff, and nonprofit executives and volunteers. The 2009 management institute was the largest in the event’s 36-year history.

The American Humanics institute is a capstone experience for those seeking national certification in nonprofit leadership and management from American Humanics, according to Olivia Collins, director of American Humanics at K-State. Hamm attended the event with 14 other students in the American Humanics/nonprofit leadership focus offered through the leadership studies minor from K-State’s School of Leadership Studies.

“Consider a raindrop. Each individual drop sits small and insignificant—it is only one. But when we put together a million drops of water, we make an ocean. When you have enough individuals, the group of many becomes an individual unit once again—a strong, powerful voice. While individually we may be one student, together we are a powerful voice for change. So what can we do? We are here. We know what the world needs, we have the desire

and commitment to make it happen, so go forward and tell your story.” Molly Hamm, pictured above with Wade Weber and Olivia Collins at the conference.

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Matthew Lindsey is the Executive Director of Kansas Campus Compact. Matthew is a Kansas native and came to KsCC from Washington, D.C. where he served as chief of staff at Freedman Consulting, LLC, a communications consulting firm working on hunger and poverty, national service, disaster preparedness, and other issues. Among his previous adventures, he has a day named after him in San Diego (August 25, 2005) and has published research on the future of rural electric cooperatives.

Matthew was selected as a Harry S. Truman Scholar in 2001 while a student at the University of Tulsa where he received degrees in Economics and Political Science. He also has a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Michael Smith is currently finishing his doctoral work in the Department of Psychology and is in his first year as a graduate research assistant with the School of Leadership Studies. Michael is currently working on research looking at global mindset immersion, transformational leadership, workplace engagement, and corporate entrepreneurship.

Michael received both his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and Psychology from K-State in 2005, and his M.S. in Psychology in 2007. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Rebecca J. Reichard is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Leadership Studies. After earning her doctorate in Business from the Gallup Leadership Institute at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and completing a fellowship with the U.S. Army Research Institute’s Leader Development Research Unit, she served as postdoctoral research fellow of leadership and organizational psychology at the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College. Rebecca’s research emphasizes leader development. Specifically, she is interested in identifying and leveraging the developmental precursors of leadership to accelerate leaders’ development.

John Carlin enjoys working with students and helping prepare them to be the change agents the world needs. Carlin teaches a masters level leadership seminar course and an undergraduate Practical Politics course. Both courses focus on the practical rather than theoretical aspects of leadership. Carlin with his wife Lynn, chair the Advancement Council for the School of Leadership Studies.

Though Carlin’s eight-year reign as Kansas governor ended in 1987, his political involvement is anything but dormant. Carlin serves on the Kansas Bioscience Authority, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Task Force and was chair for the National Commission on Industrialized Farm Animal Production. He earned a degree in dairy science from K-State.

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New Faculty and Staff at Leadership Studies

For more information on the faculty and staff of the School of Leadership Studies visit:

www.k-state.edu/leadership

K-State Volunteer Center of ManhattanchaMBer of coMMerce riBBon cutting

April 29, 2008Left to right: Susan Scott, Kim Frazier, Al Cochran, LeAnn

Meyer, Lynda Bachelor, Director of Volunteer Center, Richie Weerts, Kale Monk, Lucretia Helms, Mary Tolar

school of leadership studies faculty and staff

K-State notice of nondiscrimination: Kansas State University is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, ancestry, disability, military status, veteran status, or other non-merit reasons, in admissions, educational programs or activities and employment, including employment of dis-abled veterans and veterans of the Vietnam Era, as required by applicable laws and regulations. Responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, has been delegated to the Director of Affirmative Action, Kansas State University, 214 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-0124, (Phone) 785-532-6220; (TTY) 785-532-4807.

SLS Faculty and StaffAlicia Addison – Administrative AssistantLynda Bachelor – Volunteer Center CoordinatorLynn Brickley – Academic AdvisorJohn Carlin – Visiting Professor/Executive in ResidenceOlivia Collins – American Humanics Director/Assistant ProfessorGilbert Davila – Assistant ProfessorMike Finnegan – InstructorKim Frazier – AmeriCorps*VISTASteve Godecke – AmeriCorps*VISTA LeaderCandi Hironaka – Senior Associate Director for Student, Alumni and Community Relations/InstructorGrace Hwang – Assistant ProfessorMatt Lindsey – Kansas Campus Compact Executive DirectorDana Maxwell – Special Projects/Advancement CouncilIrma O’Dell – Senior Associate Director for Administration/Associate ProfessorSue Pray – Administrative OfficerBecky Reichard – Assistant ProfessorSusan Scott – Senior Advisor/Associate ProfessorBob Shoop – Senior Scholar/Professor of Educational Law & Director, Cargill Center for Ethical LeadershipMary Kay Siefers –Senior Associate Director for Academic Affairs/Assistant ProfessorMichael Smith – Graduate Research AssistantJulie Stithem – AmeriCorps*VISTAMonica Strathman – Business ManagerMary Hale Tolar – Interim Director/InstructorWade Weber – American Humanics Graduate Teaching AssistantAndy Wefald – Visiting Assistant Professor

KSU FoundationMike Smith – Vice President for Development

Adjunct FacultySharon Breiner – Dept. of Animal Sciences and IndustryTrish Gott – New Student ServicesDavid Jones – Ecumenical Campus MinistrySusan Maxwell – Department of MusicSuzanne Mayo-Theus – College of Human Ecology, grad. studentHeather Reed – Director of Student Life, Office of Student LifeDeb Richard – Golf Development SpecialistGayle Spencer – Assistant Dean of Student Life, OSAS

Student StaffOffice Coordinators: Brett Beier • Katie Friesen • Careem Gladney • Courtney Graham • Brandon Hall • Michael Hodge • Kayla Horsky • Phil LaFreniere • Victoria Mowery • Nathan Richards • Eric Schmidt • HB Thompson • Lori Wadell • Jessica WinklerProgram Coordinators: Molly Hamm • Meredith Lynch • LeAnn Meyer • Kale Monk • Sebastian O’Connor • Emily Price • Natalie Umberger • Richard Weerts • Katie Whitney • Natalie Wilgers • Danielle Wong

Contact UsSchool of Leadership Studies SLS - West Office 918 N. Manhattan Ave. 125 Foundation CenterManhattan, KS 66502 2323 Anderson Ave, Ste. 125http://www.k-state.edu/leadership Manhattan, KS 66502-2912(785) 532-6085

The Loop Editor Newsletter CoordinatorLauren Luhrs Candi Hironaka