Outstanding seniors for 2008 are . . . outstanding!

Friday, May 16th, 2008

Twenty one graduating seniors – whose activities range from athletic training for university teams to diabetics counseling – have been named Outstanding Seniors.

Faculty selected the awardees based on academic achievements, leadership, participation in service on campus and in the community, and professional potential. They are:

Tiffany Hands, communication sciences and disorders, Garden City, plans to pursue a master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders at K-State.

Jessica Ponnath, apparel design, Kansas City, Kan., designed a Web site about making environmentally responsible choices as part of her honors project.

Sarah Bishop, general family studies and human services, Leawood, plans to pursue a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

Claire Hemmendinger, hotel and restaurant management, Manhattan, coordinated the International Buddies program and chaired the 2008 Travel and Dining Auction, which raised scholarship money for the Hospitality Management Society.

Brian Ransom, nutritional sciences, Manhattan, also majored in biochemistry. He plans to become a research assistant in K-State’s biochemistry department after graduation.

Natasha Wright, dietetics, Medicine Lodge, volunteered as a nutrition and diabetes
presenter at schools, retirement centers and the Flint Hills Breadbasket.

Kara Schmidt, interior design, North Newton, assisted with the creation of iDesign that helps streamline networking and outreach for all interior design students. She will work for Callison Architects in Seattle.

Katherine Dillon, nutrition and exercise sciences, Overland Park, a member of K-State’s rowing team, was a Big 12 Scholar from 2006-08. She plans to attend medical school.

Lauren Luhrs, human ecology and mass communications, Overland Park, won a Putnam Scholarship, a Kassebaum Opportunity Scholarship and first place in an International Leadership Association student case study competition. She will join Payless Shoe Source in Topeka as a merchandise distribution analyst and plans to pursue a master’s in business administration.

Miyuki Shimizu, public health nutrition, Overland Park, also majored in dietetics. A multi-scholarship winner, she volunteered at the School for the Blind in Spartanburg, S.C., at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and in the college’s clinical nutrition practicum. She plans to attend graduate school.

Kendall Zimmerman, family studies and human services, Overland Park, was a member of the K-State rowing team. She plans to attend nursing school and become a midwife.

Morgan Wenger, early childhood education, Sabetha, will spend this summer at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for chronically and terminally ill children. She then plans to complete a child life internship and to become certified as a child life specialist.

Elise Egger, apparel marketing, Shawnee, had internships with Donna Karan New York and the Talent Unlimited agency in Kansas City, Mo.

Jill Fritzemeier, dietetics, Stafford, was active in the Phi Kappa Phi and Kappa Omicron Nu honoraries and was a multi-scholarship winner. She plans to complete a dietetics internship, take the registered dietitian exam then become a certified diabetics educator.

Valerie Hill, family life and community services, Topeka, volunteered with Youth for Christ, where she also served during an internship that helped teenage mothers. She will resume her work with the organization.

Renae Wenger, life span human development, Topeka, will be a case manager in Greensburg in the summer before pursuing a certificate in biblical counseling in Lafayette, Ind.

Julie Fisher, athletic training, Wichita, has had numerous training positions with
K-State cheerleading, tennis, football and the rowing crew. She plans to complete the national board exam for athletic training before entering medical school.

Amber Heerey, athletic training, Wichita, won a Putnam Scholarship and served as trainer for K-State athletic teams and recreation complex users. She took the national board exam for athletic training and was accepted into the doctoral program for physical therapy at Wichita State University.

Kayla Ralstin, family studies and consumer sciences education, Yates Center, was an ambassador for the college and a coach of the college’s annual Telefund. The multi-scholarship winner will teach at Crest High School in Colony.

Jessi Chadd, personal financial planning, Parker, Colo., served as president for Future Financial Planners. As president of Invest-A-Cats she helped raise money for student scholarships. She will work for KHC Wealth Management in Kansas City, Mo.

Haley Van Wagenen, interior design, Orange Park, Fla., was co-chair of the annual student design symposium for three years. She will work for the Washington, D.C., design firm of Skidmore Owings and Merrill.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 and is filed under Dean's Blog.