K-State Alumni Association honors Sixteen K-State students for excellence

Posted March 21, 2022

Student Awards

Each year the K-State Alumni Association recognizes graduating students with awards. In 2022, Sixteen graduating Kansas State University students have been recognized by the Alumni Association for outstanding achievements throughout their college careers.

Faculty and peers nominate students for the awards, and committees consisting of members of the Alumni Association board of directors and K-State students select the recipients.

“These students are role models for leadership, community service, inspiration and academics and exemplify the caliber of students at K-State,” said Tamie Redding, assistant director of student programs for the Alumni Association. “The Alumni Association is thrilled to celebrate these students by honoring them for their contributions to the Wildcat community.”

The Anderson Senior Award recognizes four graduating seniors for excellence in academics, leadership, inspiration and service. 

The recipients are: 

  • For academics: Luke Harpenau, Pittsburg, Kansas, bachelor’s candidate in microbiology
  • For inspiration: Vedant Kulkarni, India, bachelor’s candidate in management information systems
  • For leadership: Michael Dowd, Olathe, Kansas, bachelor’s candidate in animal sciences and industry
  • For service: Abby Goins, Oswego, Kansas, bachelor’s candidate in agricultural economics
     

The Graduate Student Award recognizes two outstanding graduate students for academics, service and leadership.

The recipients are: 

  • Priscila Guzman, Florida, Puerto Rico, doctoral candidate in biology, for leadership and service
  • Agniprobho Mazumder, India, doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, for academics
     

The International Leadership Award program recognizes four outstanding international graduating students for service and leadership within the international K-State and Manhattan communities.

The recipients are: 

  • Yslam Akmyradov, Turkmenistan, bachelor’s candidate in entrepreneurship and management
  • Priyasha Fernando, Sri Lanka, master’s candidate in civil engineering
  • Nirupama Kotian, India, doctoral candidate in biology
  • Vedant Kulkarni, India, bachelor’s candidate in management information systems
     

The K-State Alumni Association presents the inaugural LGBTQ+ Leadership Award celebrating two graduating students - one undergraduate and one graduate student who have shown outstanding leadership qualities and who actively promoted and advocated for engagement within and with the LGBTQ+ community on K-State's campus(es).

The recipients are: 

  • Katie Hutson, Westmoreland, Kansas, bachelor’s candidate in psychology
  • Sam Sharpe, San Rafael, California, doctoral candidate in biology
     

The Robinson Family Multicultural Leadership Awards recognize four outstanding, graduating students who are leaving a legacy of enhancing multicultural engagement at Kansas State University through their leadership.

The recipients are: 

  • Priscila Guzman, Florida, Puerto Rico, doctoral candidate in biology
  • Thai Lopez, El Paso, Texas, bachelor’s candidate in English
  • Isaac Smallwood, Bel Aire, Kansas, bachelor's candidate in social sciences and American ethnic studies
  • Johari Snell, Kansas City, Missouri, bachelor’s candidate in food sciences and industry and global food systems
     

The Tony Jurich Community Commitment and Leadership Award recognizes two students – one graduate and one undergraduate – who have demonstrated a commitment to community leadership and service through Jurich’s core leadership tenets.

The recipients are: 

  • Anna Biggins, Overland Park, Kansas, master’s candidate in public health
  • Cadence Ciesielski, Park City, Kansas, bachelor’s candidate in modern languages and philosophy
     

To find out more information about the Alumni Association Awards please go to k-state.com/awards.