The Flint Hills Discovery Center kicked off their ten year anniversary celebration by recognizing their Friend of the Flint Hills. Susan Adams, Discovery Center director, says this year’s recipient was Bruce Snead. She says he has been involved in the community many years, including city commission and mayor as well as the current FHDC Foundation president. “His involvement with that south end development helped him locate the STAR bonds, the sales tax and revenue dollars, 50 million, which helped develop that whole south end, so, the Discovery Center, Blue Earth Plaza, the Manhattan Conference Center, and then all the hotels and…
Author: Kelsey Bigelow
The Meadowlark Foundation has announced three nursing scholarship recipients. Sarah Duggan, community relations director, says their scholarship program is in its fourth year. She says the last few years with the pandemic, everyone has seen the spike for the need of healthcare workers. “But even before that, the industry was noticing that we really need to work on investing in our people to support them in going through the nursing program, to further their careers, and then to have some great caregivers and support for people who live at places like Meadowlark.” The nursing scholarship awards are for current employees…
The National Bio and Agro Defense Facility in Manhattan was awarded for it’s efforts to be energy efficient and green. Dr. Ken Burton, NBAF Deputy Director, tells KMAN that they received recognition from the Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design group after all the efforts put forth by the USDA to keep the facility efficient and safe. NBAF was awarded the gold level honor. “What this means is that NBAF exceeded the expectations for sustainable development.” Dr. Burton says for many years NBAF facilities have only attained the silver level achievement. “NBAF is the first and only large-scale federal bio-containment…
Sunset Zoo is ready to take you on an Asian Expedition. After breaking ground in 2020, Sunset Zoo is holding their grand opening for Expedition Asia tomorrow. Melissa Kirkwood, Marketing and Development Officer, talks about what you can expect to see in the exhibit. “They are going to see three amazing species. They are going to get to see new homes for tigers, sloth bears, and amur leopards, all of which are highly endangered species and that’s one of the reasons we decided to focus on those species to create Expedition Asia.” She says their grand opening will also feature…
The state of Kansas is taking some time to recognize the importance of registering to vote. While many tend to just vote in the general election in November, Tim Shaffer, Director of the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy at Kansas State, says getting registered ahead of the primary elections and placing your vote for local elections is just as important. “But if you don’t participate in these processes and you aren’t showing up for these primary’s or in the election, or depending on when some of these things show up on ballots for these decisions, you really miss out…
Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art Director, Linda Duke, has announced her retirement. Duke has been the museum’s director since 2011 and has many notable accomplishments during her tenure. Under her leadership the development of virtual exhibitions and program offerings were created, cross discipline work was featured to demonstrate the value of the arts to all, recruitment of leaders to the museum’s Advisory Council, participation in the Art Bridges consortium of museums, as well as many others. Duke says her time as director has been a privilege and an honor. Her retirement is effective May 14. The university will announce…
After a rich history with Kansas State University and 20 years of serving as a faculty member the director of the AQ Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at K-State, Steve Smethers, will be honored at a retirement reception. Smethers earned his bachelor’s degree from K-State in 1975 and his masters in 1985. Between that time, he owned a radio station in Norton which led him to a research agenda grounded in community media and engagement. In 1992 he earned his doctorate and began teaching at Oklahoma State University where he spent ten years. In 2002 Smethers returned to…
The K-State College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a dedication event in honor of Dr. Steve and Colleen Hodes who have given a gift to name the deanship in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Steve graduated from Kansas State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979 and Colleen earned her physical education degree from K-State in 1978. Upon graduation from KSU, Steve was able to start his own private practice in New Jersey and it’s said that he made it look easy. Veterinary Medicine Dean, Dr. said the first time she met him was when he came back to talk…
No Stone Unturned will be holding their 14th annual Wildcats for No Stone Unturned fundraiser. Kelly Keogh, Executive Director, tells KMAN that No Stone Unturned is a therapeutic learning center that meets the needs and changes lives of children of their families who are battling intellectual disabilities of all ranges. She talks more about the center. “A foundation and pediatric therapeutic learning center for children with all types of challenges or special needs or disabilities,” Keogh says. “So, we have a collaborative care approach to the therapies that we do, which makes us very unique, but also really a haven…
The annual Grow Green Match Day is just around the corner. Vern Hendricks, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation President and CEO, says now that they have rounded out the CFAs, it is time to move to the next event. On Grow Green Match Day, donations made through the GMCF to nonprofits will receive a 50% match. “If you like the stories you heard on Monday night (during the CFAs), you can support those stories and many others with nearly 80 organizations that are participating in match day this year on April 22.” Hendricks says these nonprofit organizations are crucial to the…