Be a part of 150 years of alumni history with a K-State Alumni Center paver
While a student’s time on the K-State campus may be relatively short, once you become
a K-Stater, you’re a K-Stater forever. And as a K-Stater, you’ll always have a home
away from home at the K-State Alumni Center whenever you return to Manhattan, Kansas.
Although the K-State Alumni Center was built in 2002, the K-State Alumni Association’s
history stretches back much further. In 2024, we’re celebrating 150 years of connecting Wildcats, sharing alumni stories, and preserving traditions.
One of the ways our K-State Alumni Center helps share these stories and traditions
is through the Paver program. Over the years, K-Staters have had opportunities to honor a special occasion or
pay tribute to a loved one through these dark gray slate pavers lining the Alumni
Center.
Each paver symbolizes a lasting tribute to a K-State legacy — and only a few slots
remain.
For Katy Fatula ’98, purchasing a paver was a way for her to express how much K-State
meant to herself, her husband and her daughters.
“It was about the time that the Alumni Center was being built," she recalls. "It was
a beautiful new structure, and we were now alumni and parents. My husband was turning
40, and I just decided that was a good way to honor him at that birthday, and a place
that was so dear and special to us — where we met and where we repeatedly visited.
A paver means to me leaving a little mark on a place that left a big mark on us.”
As we reflect on our 150th anniversary, here are some of the other stories we’ve collected
from alumni about what their pavers mean to them:
“K-State has been home to members of our family who attended campus for over 70 years,”
said Connie Pelton Kays ’81, ’84, ’88, who decided to use pavers as a special way
to commemorate the graduation of sons Reagan ’15 and Garrett ’16. “It has always felt
like home, even when we are miles away. Purchasing a paver at the Alumni Center seemed
to be one of the best ways to remember our great experiences at Kansas State.”
“My husband Larry and I have been avid fans of Kansas State University ever since
we graduated in 1965,” said Valerie Warren Goodpaster ’65. A stone paver provided
a way for her to express her love for her late husband, Larry ’65, ’66, and honor
their memories at K-State. “Larry was a high school football coach in San Diego for
many years, and in that role he recommended players to K-State. When the opportunity
was offered to purchase a paver, I thought that would be a fitting tribute to him.
I will continue to be a loyal alumna and carry on the tradition of being a supporter
of Kansas State University.”
"My wife Tracey ’82 and I feel like the pavers are an excellent way to not only support
the Alumni Association but also give future generations a permanent place to remember
our legacy at K-State," says Link Evans ’82, Alumni Association board of directors
member. "Our kids are fourth-generation K-State grads and it is special to have their
names beside their great-grandparent’s paver."
"Having a paver at the K-State Alumni Center was a decision I made because of the
great experience I not only had during my undergrad time at K-State, but after graduation
with staying engaged with K-State through the Dallas and Phoenix alumni clubs," says
Brian Bednar '83, who has served on the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees. “I make
visits back to the campus a couple times of the year and always enjoy touring campus
and seeing the amazing changes and improvements to the campus. I also have set up
an engineering scholarship for a student/s enrolling in the K-State Engineering program.
I truly enjoy staying engaged with K-State and continue to wear my purple pride attire!”
"I love K-State and my year as student body president in 1987 was very special," says
Kent R. Bradley '88, MD. "Entering on the west side it is fun to see all the names
of past student body presidents and SGA members who purchased pavers. They were service
oriented as students and it's no surprise they continue to support the purple. The
Alumni Center AND its staff are treasures worth supporting and this was just one more
'concrete' way to help."