K-Staters Cody Hanna and Kennady King help create game day magic with their fireworks business
By Ashley Pauls
K-State Alumni Association
When it comes to K-State football game days, Cody Hanna ’22 and Kennady King ’21 have
enjoyed some of the best seats in the house.
They aren’t just watching the game in Bill Snyder Family Stadium — they’ve actually
had an opportunity to be a part of the action by creating fireworks shows for the
fans.
Hanna and King operate Victory Pyrotechnics and Special Effects, a Wichita, Kansas-based company that specializes in custom-designed fireworks displays.
In addition to K-State game days, their work has included the Wichita Riverfest finale
and other community displays across the state.
“Coming back to K-State to produce a pyrotechnics display was a full-circle moment,”
Hanna said. “As a student, I used to imagine what it would be like to be part of the
game day production, so getting to return with Victory and contribute to that energy
was surreal. Being on the field, seeing the crowd react, and knowing our team helped
create that moment was something I’ll never forget.”
“Honestly, it’s hard to put into words,” King said. “What makes it even better is
that so much of our team are K-Staters, too. We’re fans, we’re people who have stood
in those stands and felt that energy. So to now be on the field together, helping
create it, is just really special. It feels like we’re carrying forward the tradition
in our own way.”
A place to explore
Hanna came to K-State to major in operations and supply chain management but jokes
he “couldn’t stay away from the entrepreneurship courses.” He also connected with
King, who would eventually become his business partner at Victory Pyrotechnics.
When King arrived at K-State, she said she was ready to dive into campus life. She
joined the K-State Student Union Program Council as well as the Entrepreneurship Club.
She knew right away that entrepreneurship was the right career path for her, and she
credits K-State for giving her a supportive environment to explore what that might
look like.
“More than anything, K-State shaped me with discipline, grit and a willingness to
fail forward,” she said. “It was a safe place to take risks and learn without the
high stakes of adulthood hanging over us. Back then, we didn’t have the weight of
putting food on the table or keeping a roof over our heads, and that freedom gave
us the room to experiment and invest time and energy into Victory without fear. I
give the university so much credit for shaping who I am today and why the company
is successful.”
Hanna agrees. “K-State gave us the structure, mentorship and momentum to turn a side
hustle into a full-scale company,” he said.
Launching a business
Hanna said that his passion for pyrotechnics began when he saw the fireworks shows
at Disney World as a kid. “Not just because they were big and loud, but because of
how they made people feel.”
Then in high school, he took a youth entrepreneurship course that made him realize
he didn’t have to wait until “someday” to start following his dream.
“I started putting on small fireworks shows and learning everything I could about
the industry,” he said. “By the time I got to K-State, I was already deep into figuring
out how to make it something more.”
King said that when she met Hanna, his passion for fireworks was “contagious” and
she was impressed by his business model and vision for changing the industry.
“What intrigued me most was the marketing side,” she said. “I mean, when do you ever
know the company behind a fireworks show unless it’s Disney? There was something exciting
about the idea of creating a recognizable brand in an industry that, until then, was
largely invisible to the public.”
She found her own passion within Victory Pyrotechnics — managing logistics and coordinating
all the staff, equipment, safety, travel and timing it takes to put on a successful
fireworks show.
“It’s a puzzle, and I thrive on solving it,” she said.
A peek behind the scenes
For Victory Pyrotechnics, a fireworks production starts long before the day of the
event.
According to King, work starts months in advance with planning, site surveys, permits
and collaboration with venue management and safety officials.
“There’s so much that goes into a major show that most people never see,” she said.
“We’re looking at things like fallout zones, crowd safety, equipment placement, and
how to make the effects complement what’s already happening in the larger production.”
The next stage of preparation includes design and choreography, and then once the
team is onsite for the event, equipment is unloaded and tested, and thousands of cues
are wired into firing systems.
“We’re not just shooting fireworks,” King says. “We’re telling a story, and it takes
careful planning to make it feel seamless in the moment.”
Crafting magical moments
King said that it’s been a privilege to watch Victory Pyrotechnics grow and evolve
over time. She loves the daily aspects of teamwork, and also the bonding moments that
happen both within the company and with the venue staff where Victory is setting up
a show.
She said that K-State game days always hold a special place in her heart, and she’s
honored to be able to “elevate the fan experience.”
“One moment that sticks out is the 2023 game against Iowa State when it was like white-out
snowing,” she said. “It was a tough game (and the ’Cats lost) but it was still such
a surreal, fun environment to be in. The energy in that stadium, the snow falling,
the fireworks, it was unforgettable. And I’ll never forget my very first game day
on the field. After seeing it dozens of times from the stands as a student, suddenly
being down on the field, part of the crew making it happen, was surreal. It gave me
a whole new perspective and made me appreciate the magic of those moments even more.”
For Hanna, the best part of his job is when creativity and logistics come together
to create an unforgettable experience for the audience.
“Every show is different, and I love the challenge of making each one feel unique
— whether it’s firing pyro in a packed stadium or producing a show for a small-town
celebration. Sports productions are definitely some of my favorites — there’s nothing
like the energy of a K-State football game or a WSU basketball crowd when the effects
hit just right. But honestly, the shows we get to produce all over the state are just
as special. Being part of community events, fairs, and hometown celebrations reminds
me why we started Victory in the first place — to bring big moments to every kind
of audience.”