After graduating with her degree in agribusiness from Kansas State University, Mindy McBee ’12 knew that Cargill was the perfect place to start her career — and she’s been there ever since. 

Currently serving as a strategic accounts sales leader for Cargill, McBee continues to promote those K-State/Cargill connections.

She serves on the K-State Steering Committee within Cargill, an alumni group that directs where company funds are donated on K-State’s campus. Most recently, she helped start the Cargill Fellows Program for students, which funds a scholarship for each selected student and provides a Cargill coach. The fellows are given the opportunity to participate in diversity and inclusion trainings, service projects and other opportunities.

In honor of her career accomplishments and continued support for K-State, McBee is being recognized with a 2020 DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD. The annual award honors K-State graduates who are younger than 35 and are using the scholarship, leadership and service experience they acquired at K-State to excel in their professions and contribute to their communities.

“Mindy’s dedication to her work has had a major impact on both the company and her colleagues’ well-being,” said her nominator, Elizabeth Patton, K-State senior in pre-law and philosophy and Blue Key member. “She is a change agent in any position she is placed in.”

At K-State asked McBee to share some of her thoughts on receiving the award, her time at K-State and her goals for the future:

What are your thoughts on receiving a Distinguished Young Alumni Award?

I am incredibly excited and honored to receive this award. This recognition coming from the Alumni Association is very special to me. The Alumni Association was a huge part of my campus life and experience. Receiving this award has been a great opportunity to pause and think about how much of an impact K-State really had on me. I am so thankful for my own personal experience at KSU, and particularly the faculty and friends of the university who helped set me on a track to be in a place to win this award today. Their leadership touched my life personally, and I love seeing it continue with students today. 

What are some of the things you learned during your time at K-State?

I do not even know where to start! A couple very vivid memories I would share would be meeting with the Alumni Association board of directors as Student Alumni Board president and feeling so inspired by each of their careers and impact on their communities. I learned to really dream big after spending time with them.

Another very vivid memory is Blue Key meetings; we would have one each week during my senior year. Sitting around the table with 15 other people I had “grown up” with at K-State and who I respected as some of the most impactful student leaders on campus was such a fun and rich learning experience. We planned events and programs that really had an impact on others, and I was always very proud of the work we were able to do.

Last, I will share that I learned to choose your path based on what feels right to you. Put yourself in an environment you can be your genuine self. I did that coming to the K-State family, and I am thankful I was able to find that same family feel in Cargill where I have spent my career so far. When I visited campus it was clear the feel and fit of K-State were perfect for me. I used the same approach when choosing companies and here we are!

How has your K-State experience impacted your career or made a difference in your life?

I’ve been reflecting on this question since receiving the DYA Award. K-State gave me some of my very best friends, a formal education and confidence in myself gained through my on-campus leadership experiences. K-State led me to Cargill, which ultimately led me to my husband! I give K-State a huge amount of credit for the life I have today. My time at K-State was incredibly full of life experiences, FUN, meeting great alumni and being a part of organizations that I really loved.

What are your career goals for the future?

My career goals are to make a lasting impact on agriculture, females in agriculture, and to give back to people and places that have helped shape me.

What advice would you offer to other young K-State alumni?

I would tell young alumni to focus on networking and goal setting. Make an effort to keep your college network, and challenge yourself to meet new people in your industry and community regularly. I would also say setting and maintaining lofty goals is critical. I really believe what you say to yourself comes true, so you better make it good!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE K-STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION’S DYA PROGRAM.

K-State’s land-grant mission is one that Sarah Sexton-Bowser ’08 has taken to heart. 

As managing director for K-State’s Center for Sorghum Improvement, she is dedicated to improving the lives of others through agriculture. 

Kansas is known as the grain basket of the world, and one of the crops in the basket is sorghum, more commonly known as milo. According to the Center, sorghum is a resilient crop that can address current challenges facing food and agricultural systems. The hearty plant has traits that protect against heat and drought stress, and it’s a staple in the livestock and ethanol industries.

In honor of her work within K-State and the agricultural community, Sexton-Bowser is being recognized with a 2020 Distinguished Young Alumni Award. The annual award honors K-State graduates who are younger than 35 and are using the scholarship, leadership and service experience they acquired at K-State to excel in their professions and contribute to their communities.

“Sarah has a passion to serve her community,” said her nominator, Kathleen Schultze ’12. “Her influence encompasses strengthening agribusiness partnerships to better address industry challenges as well as creating a lasting impact by investing in the leadership skills of local students. ... She has a strong commitment to rural vitality. Sarah works closely with local, state and national boards in order to address key topics in the agriculture industry.”

At K-State asked Sexton-Bowser to share some of her thoughts on receiving the award, her time at K-State and her goals for the future: 

What are your thoughts on receiving a Distinguished Young Alumni Award?

Graduating from, and being part of the K-State family is an honor. Receiving the Distinguished Young Alumni Award is a humbling honor. 

The early career phase is a continuation of the collegiate experience. The time period is filled with self-discovery, and rapid personal growth. I am grateful the K-State family takes time to recognize, and reflect on the experiences graduates have in their early career. 

What are some of the things you learned during your time at K-State?

College is a shaping experience. The classroom invited me to think with greater rigor, and to develop approaches useful for tackling challenges. Let me give a big shout-out to the K-State Agriculture Economics Department for doing a great job training students. 

In complement, the leadership experiences and exposure to involvement in issues that matter while a student at K-State developed skills that I use each day. My college peers are still in my network, and often are colleagues in working on challenges and opportunities. The integrated experiences of leadership and involvement are certainly what amplified my classroom experience. 

How has your K-State experience impacted your career or made a difference in your life?

My training as a K-Stater placed me in alignment to dive into career experiences. The foundation I left K-State with, prepared me for each turn in the road, and equipped me with the leadership abilities to be adaptive and responsive. 

As a graduate, my K-State experience is never far away. K-State graduates are making an impact across the globe.

What are your career goals for the future?

The land-grant mission of K-State compels me to serve the people and land of Kansas. I manage a crop investment and research platform for grain sorghum. My career goal is to continue to develop and create opportunities that strengthen the resilience of agriculture on the Great Plains. My role at K-State squarely places me in the nexus of collaborating with the best and brightest to make an impact. 

What advice would you offer to other young K-State alumni?

Experience, and then prioritize. As you continue your college experience, round out your experiences by selecting classes that stretch your knowledge, engaging in leadership experiences that are meaningful and foster your personal growth, and taking internships and career experiences that offer real-life experience. The opportunities at K-State are readily available; select opportunities that are uniquely suited to you. 

Learn more about the K-State Alumni Association’s DYA program.

When Sylvia ’71 and Roy ’70 Robinson look back at their experience as students at Kansas State University, they see it as a time of personal growth. They made connections, advocated for change and learned leadership skills. 

They’ve carried these early experiences as K-Staters with them throughout their lives, and they continue to be involved with the university, ensuring that the next generation of Wildcats has the same positive experience.

In recognition of their K-State legacy of service, the Robinsons were honored as the 2020 Volunteers of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or CASE, District VI. As an organization, CASE provides resources and networking opportunities for educational institutions involved in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and more.

“Sylvia and Roy Robinson are role models when it comes to volunteerism,’ said K-State President Richard B. Myers ’65. “They have significantly enriched Kansas State University and higher education through their thoughtful service and dedication to help others be successful. They are truly a team when it comes to their combined passion for supporting education and their alma mater.’

“I think we both were very surprised — we had no idea our name had been submitted,” Sylvia said of the award. “We both felt very honored.”

“All we do is just try to share with others,” Roy echoed. “To be honored was a pleasant surprise.”

A time of change

Sylvia said when she and Roy were students at K-State during a time of social unrest, both on campus and nationally, she was grateful that K-State provided opportunities for ordinary students to step up and be leaders, and to advocate for changes that would make campus and society a better place, with equality for all.

“For me, as a first-generation college student, going to K-State and being successful, it was a life-changing moment,” Sylvia said. “That degree alone began to open doors to me. It changed my life trajectory. It empowers you in ways you didn’t even know you could be.”

“My time at KSU changed my life,” Roy agreed. “It allowed me to move forward in life — to have a good life and to help others. You have to be at the table to make a difference.”

Giving back

Roy values the university leaders who took time to mentor him, and he has enjoyed recruiting more students to the university, even when he was a student himself.

One of Sylvia’s favorite experiences was serving on the K-State Alumni Association board of directors and as chair of the board. She was compelled by the Association’s efforts to reach out to people of diverse backgrounds and to make sure that everyone felt welcome and had a voice at the university.

The Robinsons were both recognized as K-State Alumni Fellows in 2005 and also endowed the Robinson Family Multicultural Leadership Awards program with the K-State Alumni Association. Each year, the awards program recognizes four outstanding graduating students who are leaving a legacy of enhancing multicultural engagement at K-State through their leadership.

Looking ahead

As K-State moves forward into the future, the Robinsons hope the university continues to embrace its land-grant tradition.

Roy said that K-State should be for all people, so that everyone has a chance to grow and develop a career.

“We have to stay true to the core mission, and not forget and leave behind those students who might benefit,” Sylvia agreed. 

Other recognition

The Robinsons were recognized at the CASE District VI conference in January. The university also received several other awards.

K-State creative teams set a school record and earned 43 awards from CASE District VI in 2020. Read more about all the awards received by the K-State Division of Communications and Marketing, the K-State Alumni Association and the KSU Foundation.

“It is always an honor to be recognized by our peers. This year is very special because along with our university, two incredible K-State graduates like Sylvia and Roy Robinson have been honored with such a prestigious award," said Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86, president and CEO of the K-State Alumni Association. “K-State is continually recognized by its peers for high-quality work that helps alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff stay connected and engaged. We are honored to collaborate with our campus partners to support and advance higher education and the Wildcat community.”

Photo captions:
1: Roy ’70 and Sylvia ’71 Robinson. (David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association)

2: Sylvia Robinson ’71, Herston Fails, Cynthia Fails ’02 and Roy Robinson ’70, pictured at the 2017 Robinson Family Multicultural Leadership Awards. (David Mayes ’96, K-State Alumni Association)

Salete “Sally” Newton has always loved cooking. She even started a food blog a little over a decade ago.

At the start, baking was only a minor part of her hobby, but about five years ago she decided to try baking macarons, a classic French cookie that is supposed to be tricky to produce.

“That more or less opened my horizons to baking all sorts of sweets,” Newton said. “They are my favorite thing to bake, and mousse cakes with mirror glazes probably a close second.”

Baking is both an art and a science, and it goes hand-in-hand with Newton’s role as a research professor in K-State’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. Now, Newton has been given an opportunity to bake on the national stage as a contestant on the reality TV cooking competition The Great American Baking Show.

“Having watched almost every season of The Great British Bake Off and all the American spin-offs, the idea of applying for it started to tempt me,” Newton said. “I never imagined it to become reality, though.”

Newton said the application form to be on the show was quite extensive and involved answering almost 100 questions; sending pictures of your best baking products; and providing detailed descriptions of the skills you have and those you might be lacking. Then potential contestants are asked to send a five-minute video stating why they feel they would be a good contestant.

“After submitting the form, it is a waiting game, and you go through stages,” Newton said. “A phone interview, then if you pass that, a Skype interview, and finally you fly to Los Angeles (or another city of their choice) to do a technical bake in front of the cameras, very similar to the technical challenges in the show.”

After learning she'd been selected, Newton spent five weeks in London with nine other contestants, where the show was filmed during the summer.

Nothing beats the thrill of seeing the famous white tent — where the competition takes place — for the first time, with the cameras rolling and the unreal feeling of “I am in the tent, the very tent I’ve seen on TV so many times,” Newton said. 

“The staff is amazing — the organization, what goes on behind the scenes, that was just amazing,” Newton said. “The biggest challenge is to keep calm when things go wrong, and they do go wrong for every baker. It is very stressful to bake with the constant interruptions for short interviews and filming details.”

Although Newton did not win the competition, the experience was still very much a worthwhile one.

“You will become a much better baker than before,” Newton said. “You are forced to go out of your comfort zone, and design recipes in areas of baking that maybe are not your strongest suit, and they have to be good enough to try to impress Paul Hollywood and Sherry Yard, the judges in the American show.”

Going forward, Newton will continue to bake lots of delectable treats in her own kitchen, such as the elegant Coconut Passionfruit Mousse Cake pictured here.

Find more of Newton’s recipes at her blog, Bewitching Kitchen: bewitchingkitchen.com, including the recipe for the cake pictured above! 

Just because you read something online, doesn’t mean it’s true. 

However, misinformation can sometimes look an awful lot like a real news story. How can you tell the difference, and how can we stop bad information from spreading so quickly? 

Associate professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Notre Dame, K-Stater Tim Weninger ’07, ’08 has been studying fake news masquerading as truth.

While the dissemination of misinformation is by no means a new problem, it has evolved due to the rapid growth of technology.

Weninger’s road to studying disinformation started at K-State, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computing and information science.

He remembers working with professor William H. Hsu on a data mining project that looked at extracting information from websites. In those days, the Web was just starting out, and many webpages were littered with banner ads and popups. Weninger’s goal was to extract the content of these webpages and show only interesting information to the user.

His fascination with online information continued to grow, and he received a doctorate in computer science at the University of Illinois a few years later.

During this time, the Web began a major transformation. As the Web grew larger and larger, there was simply too much information to show to any one user — it started to become overwhelming.

“Out of the thousands of articles, images and videos created every second, which ones should be shown to the user? This is a HUGE question,’ Weninger said of the evolution taking place. “Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Reddit found that they could use the ratings (likes, retweets and upvotes) of regular users to sort and rank content. Items which receive lots of likes and upvotes are shown to more users, where they can provide their own ratings. More ratings lead to more views, which can eventually snowball into super popular ‘viral’ content.’

While viral content isn’t bad in and of itself, Weninger began to wonder if these social rating systems could be manipulated to artificially promote malicious or fake content.

As part of a study, he made a bot that randomly liked unremarkable content posted to social media. (Note: A bot is a software program that performs repetitive tasks on the Internet.) This particular bot gave a single like on about 100,000 different posts.

“We found that posts we promoted received about twice as many likes and were 20% more likely to ‘go viral’ — and this is with just a single vote. So imagine if I had made two bots, or 100,” Weninger said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one who thought about this. Three years later, Russian operatives and other foreign entities ‘attacked’ the 2016 U.S. election through a coordinated social media manipulation campaign using the same techniques.”

Accountability, information and social media

In the meantime, Weninger joined the University of Notre Dame, where his research group studies social media and networks. He believed it was critical to national security and the national dialogue to figure out the how and the why of the problem of disinformation. He and his team performed dozens of experiments to look at human behavior on social media sites.

“One of the most interesting findings is that when people scroll through their newsfeed, they typically don’t click on anything,’ he said. “They just scroll and browse the headlines. On Reddit and Twitter, 74% of retweets and likes occur without the user ever clicking on the link.’

Weninger said that over the past few years, the problem of disinformation has grown from relative obscurity to a major geopolitical problem. Nations around the world are beginning to regulate what can and cannot be said online — which has significant free speech implications.

“While I don’t foresee similar regulation happening in the USA, there are certainly policy proposals that will change how social media is consumed in the future,” he said. “As for my research, I have become more and more concerned about media censorship and image manipulation.”

So, what can we as individuals do to help with the spread of disinformation?

“Be aware of the issues that arise from social media,” Weninger cautions. “When you share or like a post on social media, you are endorsing it; your name and credibility are on the line. So, before you share or retweet that post, give it a click, and pause for a moment. Your social likes and shares actually matter.”

In the meantime, Weninger will continue to study this phenomenon, drawing on his K-State education — which he credits for giving him the foundation he needed to succeed in his career.

“My time at Kansas State was wonderful,” he said. “Besides the top-notch education, my time on campus exposed me to fantastic and interesting people, many of whom are still some of my best friends. Kansas State gave me more opportunities than I deserved, and I am deeply grateful to the many individuals and organizations that contributed to my education.”

Photo credits:
1: Screenshot from University of Notre Dame video Fighting the Spread of Misinformation.

2: Profile photo courtesy of Tim Weninger.

Six Pride of Wildcat Land alumni established a scholarship to honor former band leader Phillip Hewett ’70 and support drum majors. 

For the first time in decades, Sue Williams ’79 returned to Manhattan for Homecoming. She reconnected with former
K-State bandmates from the 1970s and reminisced about those who impacted their lives at K-State, like Phillip Hewett.

From 1968 to 1982, Hewett was the director of the Pride of Wildcat Land marching band and grew the organization from 62 members to more than 300 members, the largest band in the Big Eight Conference at the time.

“After reconnecting, we realized that all six of us became successful over the years no doubt, in part, thanks to Mr. Hewett,” Williams said. “Each of us has personal stories we remember to this day of how he coached, mentored and taught us, which paved the way for each of us to become successful individuals.”

The reconnected friends learned that when Hewett passed, his family had started a scholarship in his memory but the scholarship never became endowed. They decided to change that.

“We didn’t think that was right, so we talked among ourselves and decided to give back and honor Mr. Hewett’s memory,” Williams said.

This scholarship provides $1,000 to three drum majors annually. Read more

K-State faculty member becomes National Geographic Explorer

To be an explorer does not mean you have to travel far and wide. For Debra Bolton ’11, the director of intercultural learning and academic success at Kansas State University, being an explorer means exploring the world from our backyards.

“I am the very first non-traveling explorer selected by National Geographic. I am an educational explorer, which had never been done before,” Bolton said. “My first grant was in 2017, so that I could introduce geographical inquiry concepts and geospatial analysis to females of color in the high school setting and promote geography awareness on public radio stations.”

Bolton received funding for a second cohort of what she calls “Girl Power Geospatial Analysis” from K-State’s Center for Engagement and Community Development.

Bolton became a National Geographic Explorer in 2017 as part of the program sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Since the beginning of the National Geographic Society, the program has funded and supported scientists, conservationists, educators and storytellers who are curious, committed and passionate about helping and understanding our planet.

In 2009, Michael Wesch ’97, professor of cultural anthropology, was also named a National Geographic Explorer, giving two K-State faculty members this distinction. Currently, Bolton is in her second round of funding from National Geographic Society, which pays expenses for presenting her NGS-funded projects at national conferences. Read more