MANHATTAN — Three couples have given a total of $22 million to the College of Engineering at Kansas State University, advancing opportunities for students and faculty and providing revolutionary, flexible funding for the college.

“The generosity, belief in our programs and commitment to engineering education expressed through these tremendous gifts cannot be overstated,” said Darren Dawson, dean of the College of Engineering. “This level of investment is transformative and further establishes our goal of being the top engineering program in the state. These gifts will expand our platforms and fulfill the expectations of the University Engineering Initiative Act to increase the number of engineering graduates in Kansas.”

Jim and Laura Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colorado, invested in naming the G.E. Johnson Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science in honor of Jim’s father, Gil E. Johnson. Gil Johnson founded Colorado Springs-based GE Johnson Construction, a general contracting firm, in 1967. A 1955 graduate of Kansas State University, Gil Johnson invested in College of Engineering students and faculty. Jim and Laura Johnson have carried on the family tradition of investing in the college and the success of its students and faculty.

Jim Johnson earned his degree in construction science from Kansas State University in 1984. He served on the Engineering Advisory Council, received the Professional Progress Award in 2003, is a member of the College of Engineering Hall of Fame and currently serves on the College of Engineering’s Innovation and Inspiration Campaign steering committee.

Ike and Letty Evans, Bluffton, South Carolina, contributed to name the Ike and Letty Evans Academic Success Center. The center offers workshops on study skills, time management, engineering careers and internships. Through the center, students can access peer-to-peer tutoring, test preparation, first-year instruction and diversity support programs such as Women in Engineering and the Multicultural Engineering Program.

Ike Evans graduated from Kansas State University in 1965 with a degree in electrical engineering. The Evanses invest in faculty and students in the college, and Ike Evans is a member of the College of Engineering Hall of Fame and served on the Engineering Advisory Council.

Tim and Sharon Taylor, The Woodlands, Texas, invested in the college by naming the Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering. This investment will empower the department to recruit and retain top faculty and the best students, and provide flexible funding for department leaders to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Tim Taylor received his degree in chemical engineering from Kansas State University in 1975. He served on the Engineering Advisory Council, received the Engineering Distinguished Service Award and was inducted into the College of Engineering Hall of Fame. He also serves on the College of Engineering’s Innovation and Inspiration Campaign steering committee.

“The Evanses, Johnsons and Taylors exemplify the generosity of the K-State family,” said Richard Myers, Kansas State University president. “Their investment in the success of College of Engineering faculty, students and programs not only elevates the college; their gifts bring prestige to the university and help propel K-State toward being nationally recognized as a Top 50 public research university.”

 

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More than 100 community members participated in Operation Clean Sweep, the Earth Day clean up in Junction City, on Saturday.

City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald noted that she worked with the mayor and police chief using a city dump truck to pick up items. “We spent the next three hours cleaning curbs and gutters so that dump truck, the whole back of it was filled to the top with leaves, sand and dirt, you name it.”

Fitzgerald called the volunteer turnout for the clean up tremendous despite the rain and mist on Saturday. She noted not nearly as many large items were picked up ( located ) as a year ago in the clean up.

 

A new honor remembering late United Way participants and leaders has been developed by the Junction City – Geary County United Way.

Executive Director Nicole Mahder said there is a plaque in the organization’s office in Junction City, “along with a photo of Aileen Cray and Jeanette Felix. Those are the first two names that were put on our wall. We’re hoping that it kind of turns into a United Way family tree perhaps. It’s just paying respect and honoring those that have come before us that have truly lived united, and know what it means to put the needs of others before their own.”

Cray and Felix have passed away, but will be remembered for their efforts in support of the United Way.

The Saint Xavier Catholic School Activities Committee will host an annual spring All-You-Can-Eat Taco Feed fundraiser on Friday ( April 27th ) from 5-7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 126 West 7th Street.

The cost will be $6 per person. The menu will include tacos and walking tacos ( tacos with chili and chips ), iced tea and water.

Proceeds will help fund the school’s extracurricular activities for students in grades 6-12.

ABILENE, Kan. (AP) — A former Dickinson County sheriff’s lieutenant pleaded guilty to felony theft for stealing evidence from the sheriff’s office.

Two other charges against 49-year-old Greg Swanson were dropped Thursday in exchange for his guilty plea. Swanson also must forfeit his law enforcement credentials for all U.S. states.

Prosecutors accused Swanson of stealing between $1,500 and $25,000 in cash that was seized as evidence between August 2012 and January 2017. He was ordered to pay $6,760 in restitution.

The plea agreement calls for Swanson to receive a suspended seven-month prison sentence and be on supervised probation for two years. He will be required to spend five days in jail.

Swanson began working for Dickinson County in January 2009, after 19 years at the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.

Army Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey said Friday that the updated goal will be 76,500. Six months into the recruiting year, the service has brought in just 28,000 new soldiers.

Dailey said the goal is to grow the Army to 483,500, as approved by Congress, and it’s up to the Army whether to use more recruiting or re-enlistment. He said that retaining current soldiers has been more successful this year than in the past, with 86 percent staying on, compared with 81 percent in previous years.

Army Secretary Mark Esper said there is a mismatch between the number of soldiers in the Army and the demand for more troops, and acknowledged that the “strong economy does make it challenging.” He said, however, that the Army will not sacrifice quality for quantity and that standards will not be lowered to meet recruiting goals.

The struggle to meet this year’s higher recruiting numbers — a significant increase over last year’s mission of 69,000 — was expected, mainly due to the favorable American economy and increased competition from private sector employers who are able to pay graduates more money.

Maj. Gen. Jeff Snow, head of the Army’s recruiting command, predicted late last year that the higher enlistment goal would be difficult to meet, considering economic factors and the military’s need for recruits to pass strict physical testing that many young people can’t complete.

“This mission is going to be a significant challenge for the command,” he told The Associated Press in December. Meeting the increased mission this year, Snow said, could force the Army to take in more recruits who would require waivers for marijuana use, low test scores or other more basic health issues.

Asked if the Army has approved more waivers so far this year, Esper and Dailey said they didn’t know totals. The Army has historically kept and provided detailed data on waivers.

“The numbers don’t tell the whole story,” Dailey said, adding that waivers require the Army to take a closer look at a recruit who may have had a legal problem when they were younger, smoked pot, or has had some type of heath problem. The issue could range from simple colorblindness to an arrest.

But in December, Snow said his goal for 2017 was to have fewer than 2 percent of the new recruits be considered “category four,” meaning they scored 31 or less, out of 99, on the aptitude test. Esper said Friday that he had directed that the Army not exceed the 2 percent limit, even though the Defense Department allows up to 4 percent.

Military leaders have increasingly warned of recruiting challenges, noting that lower unemployment, a strong economy and the declining quality of the youth market have steadily shrunk the number of young people considered eligible to be recruits.

Defense officials have also complained that despite the last 16 years of war in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, the American public is increasingly disconnected from the military, and they say many people have misperceptions about serving and often don’t personally know any service members.

This time of year is usually the toughest for military recruiters, since this is the period when high school seniors start getting acceptance letters from colleges.

HAYS, Kan. – Students from the north-central Kansas region were recognized at a recent Student Recognition Program in Salina for the scholarships they have been awarded from Fort Hays State University for the 2018-19 academic year.

Abilene High School

Seth Bowers, a 2018 Abilene High School graduate, received a $500 Academic Opportunity Award in applied technology. Bowers, son of Mike and Laura Bowers, Abilene, plans to major in applied technology. He is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Joe Chretien, associate professor of applied technology.
Tatum Ditto, a 2018 Abilene High School graduate, received a $1,000 Traditions Scholar Award and a $500 Academic Opportunity Award in leadership studies. Ditto, daughter of Darren and Kerry Ditto, Abilene, plans to major in organizational leadership. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Christie Brungardt, assistant professor of leadership studies.

Devin Feil, a 2018 Bennington High School graduate, received a $1,500 Hays City Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in health and human performance, and he won the drawing for a $400 FHSU Student Recognition Program Scholarship. Feil, son of Jason and Ann Feil, Salina, plans to major in health and human performance. He is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. John Zody, chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance.
Ryan Stanley, a 2018 Bennington High School graduate, received a $1,500 Hays City Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in business. Stanley, son of David and Sonja Stanley, Bennington, plans to major in business management. He is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Alan Deines, director of the Robbins Banking Institute at the university’s W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Kimberly Hoff, a 2018 Chapman High School graduate, received a $1,500 Hays City Scholar Award and a $500 Academic Opportunity Award in nursing. Hoff, daughter of Dennis and Scarlett Hoff, Junction City, plans to major in nursing. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Colleen Paramesh, assistant professor of nursing.

Audra Boerger, a 2018 Elyria Christian School graduate, received a $1,000 Traditions Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in business. Boerger, daughter of Rod and Cheryl Boerger, McPherson, plans to major in business management. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Alan Deines, director of the Robbins Banking Institute in the university’s W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Breanna Raulston, a 2018 Junction City High School graduate, received a $2,000 University Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in nursing. Raulston, daughter of Brian and Tonya Raulston, Junction City, plans to major in nursing. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Colleen Paramesh, assistant professor of nursing.

Jose De La Cruz-Martinez, a 2018 Minneapolis High School graduate, received $4,000 Access to Academic Oportunity Grant, a $2,000 University Scholar Award and a $500 Academic Opportunity Award in computer science. Delacruz-Martinez, son of Hilario De La Cruz and Martha Martinez, Minneapolis, plans to major in computer science. He is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Hong Zeng, professor of mathematics.

Calley Burr, a 2018 Sacred Heart High School graduate, received a $1,500 Hays City Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in education. Burr, daughter of Andy and Jennifer Burr, Salina, plans to major in elementary education. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Chris Jochum, chair of the Department of Teacher Education.
Jacob Faerber, a 2018 Sacred Heart High School graduate, received a $2,000 University Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in chemistry, and he won the drawing for a $600 FHSU University Bookstore Scholarship. Faerber, son of Bill and Lori Faerber, Salina, plans to major in chemistry. He is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Krisztina Bencze, assistant professor of chemistry.

Kaiden O’Dell, a 2018 Salina South High School graduate, received a $6,700 FHSU Honors College Scholarship and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in geosciences. O’Dell, son of Devin and Amy O’Dell, Salina, plans to major in geoscience. He is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Thomas Schafer, associate professor of geosciences.
Ana Ortega-Castruita, a 2018 Salina South High School graduate, received a $1,500 Hays City Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in social work. Ortega-Castruita, daughter of Jose and Rosa Ortega, Salina, plans to major in social work. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Jung Hee Lee, assistant professor of social work.
Alyssha Rosas-Escalante, a 2018 Salina South High School graduate, received a $1,500 Hays City Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in music. Rosas-Escalante, daughter of Miguel and Carmen Rosas, Salina, plans to major in music. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Peter Lillpopp, instructor of music and theatre.
Noel Williams, a 2018 Salina South High School graduate, received a $2,000 University Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in criminal justice. Williams, son of Noel and Celest Williams, Salina, plans to major in criminal justice. He is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Kweilin Lucas, instructor of criminal justice.

McKayla Berg, a 2018 Southeast of Saline High School graduate, received a $500 Academic Opportunity Award in business. Berg, daughter of Danny and Marsha Berg, Salina, plans to major in accounting. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Alan Deines, director of the Robbins Banking Institute in the university’s W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
Hannah Feldman, a 2018 Southeast of Saline High School graduate, received a $2,000 University Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in English. Feldman, daughter of James and Heidi Feldman, Gypsum, plans to major in English education. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Pauline Scott, professor of English.
Ethan Sprecker, a 2018 Southeast of Saline High School graduate, received a $500 Academic Opportunity Award in criminal justice and won the drawing for a laptop. Sprecker, son of Dustin and Jessica Sprecker, Gypsum, plans to major in criminal justice. He is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Kweilin Lucas, instructor of criminal justice.

Katrina Zorn, a 2018 Wilson High School graduate, received a $1,000 Traditions Scholar Award and a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in psychology. Zorn, daughter of Brad and Mary Zorn, Dorrance, plans to major in psychology. She is pictured with FHSU President Tisa Mason, right, and Dr. Trey Hill, interim chair of the Department of Psychology.