K-State students select 2022 Student Ambassadors
Two students have been chosen to represent Kansas State University as the 2022 Student Ambassadors.
Josh Diazdeleon, junior in elementary education, Liberal, Kansas, and Stacia Mendoza, junior in finance, Lenexa, Kansas, were announced as the ambassadors Oct. 30 during halftime of K-State’s Homecoming football game against the Texas Christian University.
Established by the K-State Alumni Association in 1977, the Student Ambassador program elects two students each year to represent the student body at Alumni Association events throughout the state and at university activities.
Diazdeleon and Mendoza will visit with prospective students and alumni; attend Student Alumni Board meetings and activities; assist with programming on campus such as the Alumni Fellows program, All-University Homecoming Committee and other special events; and assist the President's Office as needed.
They were elected during Homecoming Week by a student vote from a group of six semifinalists. The ambassadors serve a one-year term, and each receives the Kirk Family Student Ambassador Scholarship of $2,500, clothing from Manhattan clothing store Borck Brothers and an official K-State ring from Balfour and the Alumni Association.
Typically, ambassador candidates excel academically and are extensively involved in volunteer and philanthropic activities. Diazdeleon and Mendoza are role models for these qualities.
Diazdeleon plays trumpet for the K-State Marching Band and serves as a section leader. He is president of the Call Me MISTER program which helps men from marginalized communities pursue teaching degrees and volunteers in the Manhattan public schools. Also, Diazdeleon is a member of Student Governing Association, serving as a director of basic needs.
“In my eyes K-State is the place to be and wanting to go anywhere else seems unbelievable. However, not everyone feels this way and it's important to keep that in mind. I believe my biggest challenge is taking off my purple goggles to see everything else that lies within higher education sometimes,” Diazdeleon said.
Mendoza is president of Pi Sigma Epsilon, a professional fraternity for marketing and sales business. She also a member of Student Foundation, a committee member for the Manhattan Crossroads Project and a member of Student Governing Association, having served as director of student services and engagement. Additionally, Mendoza works for K-State Athletics as an undergraduate assistant in fan experience and ticket sales.
“K-State is like no other place I have ever experienced and I visited at least 20 universities. K-State has the resources of a large university, but the community of a small school. This means that you will find professors and peers who take time to help match your strengths to opportunities at K-State. Best of both worlds,” Mendoza said.
“Like their predecessors, Stacia and Josh have a strong love for our university,” said Alan Fankhauser, assistant director of alumni programs and adviser to the ambassadors. “The Alumni Association is excited to host them at our upcoming events for the year. We look forward to when they have the opportunity to meet more of the K-State family.”
For more information on the Student Ambassador program, visit k-state.com/studentambassadors.