How our Student Alumni Board helps us connect past, present and future K-State students
By Ashley Pauls
K-State Alumni Association
“Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.” 💜
It’s a phrase we take to heart here at the K-State Alumni Association. A core part
of our mission is keeping alumni connected to their alma mater after they graduate…but
we also start connecting with K-Staters while they are students on campus.
Student Alumni Board was created in 1981 to involve students in Association activities. This enthusiastic
group of about 35 students helps us promote K-State and create a link between the
Alumni Association and past, present and future students. It also helps SAB members
gain valuable leadership skills they can use in the classroom and later on in their
careers.
“SAB helps students build a lifelong relationship with Kansas State University before
they ever become alumni,” said Karadan Kinsey ’25, an SAB adviser and the Association’s
assistant director of student programs. “The relationship with the Alumni Association
helps ensure that programs and traditions continue to resonate with each new generation
of Wildcats.
“Beyond the direct impact on programming, SAB develops future leaders. Members gain
experience in event planning, communication, philanthropy, relationship building and
professional development. These experiences create alumni who are more likely to remain
engaged with K-State long after graduation and continue contributing their time, support
and lifetime love for their alma mater.”
What does SAB do on campus?
Potential SAB members can apply to join the program each winter and undergo two rounds
of interviews. If selected, they attend an orientation meeting and then several training
sessions to learn more about their new responsibilities as SAB members.
Throughout the year, they assist with a variety of Association events and activities,
ranging from the Grad Bash celebrations in the spring and winter; the Distinguished
Young Alumni Award program; and more.
“Every event we do, whether that's For Sophomores Only, Wildcats Forever, Grad Bash
or Distinguished Young Alumni, connects K-Staters of all ages to the Alumni Association
and the K-State pride that binds us all,” said Taylor Niemann, SAB vice president
of recruitment. “We create programs and events that help keep K-Staters connected
to the university in a fun and engaging way.”
Why join SAB?
Brinlie Stevens, SAB vice president of external affairs, was inspired to join SAB
during freshman year after meeting some of the organization’s members.
“The students in SAB are some of the most motivated and hardworking students on campus,
and I knew I wanted to be part of an organization that would push me to become the
best version of myself,” Stevens said. “Additionally, I wanted to put myself in a
position to motivate and encourage students from rural backgrounds, like myself, to
attend K-State. The opportunity to connect with K-State’s amazing alumni is another
aspect of SAB that I find incredibly exciting, and I look forward to building those
relationships while representing the university.”
Getting involved on campus was an immediate goal of Niemann’s when arriving in Manhattan
as a freshman.
“As an out-of-stater, I didn't know many people coming to college and wanted to surround
myself with like-minded people who were also passionate about leadership and K-State,”
Niemann said. “As a third-generation K-Stater, I have always loved the university,
and my parents made it a priority to go to home football games and also to the Alumni
Association to see their friends who worked there, including Amy Button Renz ’76,
’86. I was always familiar with the Alumni Association and Student Alumni Board. My
parents and older brother were both in SAB as well, and they shared how this was the
best experience in college and how they met their best friends in SAB. I was also
in Quest Freshman Honorary, and being with many people from SAB made me want to follow
in their footsteps because they had been such great leaders and mentors to me.”
What does SAB bring to students?
Niemann has gained a number of useful skills from SAB, including becoming a better
communicator and learning how to work effectively with a team towards a common goal.
“Being a For Sophomores Only chair this past year was a great opportunity to learn
how to collaborate with both advisers and members to rework an existing event into
an event that would cater more towards the interests of the sophomores while also
being more interactive and fun for the SAB members,” Niemann said. “I learned how
to event plan and brainstorm new ideas that would be fun for multiple audiences. Being
surrounded by leaders in SAB has also motivated me to be more confident in myself
and my leadership skills.”
Stevens said one of the best parts of SAB is building long-lasting, meaningful relationships
with fellow board members, current students, future students and alumni.
“The Student Alumni Board is a highly diverse organization and has given me ample
opportunities to step outside my comfort zone as a leader,” Stevens said. “I have
met some of my best friends through SAB, and they push me every day to be the best
version of myself and motivate me to go after my goals.”