Kansas State University

Join participants of the 2022 International Service Teams as they share about their experiences in Kenya, The Gambia, Guatemala, and Dominican Republic. All are welcome to come hear from the Teams, particularly those who may be interested in participating in the program.

Coffee hour will take place 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, in the lobby of the Leadership Studies Building. Please come and go as your schedule allows. Light refreshments will be provided.

International Service Teams is an interdisciplinary global service-learning program housed in the Staley School of Leadership. Prior to traveling to work alongside community partners this summer, students spent last spring preparing for their time in-country. The coffee hour concludes the six weeks students have spent reflecting and making meaning of their experiences.

For question, contact intlteam@ksu.edu.

The Staley School of Leadership invites students to apply for Food Security Scholars (FSS), a program for Kansas State University students who are interested in understanding food security systems and challenging the way we think about food insecurity, community need and how we provide food.

Students applying for FSS may come from any major or area of study at K-State, and may be undergraduate or graduate students.

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022.

The FSS mission is ‘Empowering scholars by fostering curiosity and community to make progress toward a food secure world.’ Members of the group will have opportunities to gain firsthand experience working with community partners and leaders around the topic of food.

Since the inaugural spring of 2020 cohort, the program has seen more than 40 scholars (including nine graduate students), representing 16 different areas of study.

“FSS has shown me how to love and serve within the community, using my individual interest in medicine and wellness to fuel my passion for food security,” said Evan Bergeron, student in human health biology and minoring in nutrition. “The opportunity to connect with community leaders and fellow students through mentorship and volunteering has made my experience at K-State incredibly impactful.”

The work of the Food Security Scholars is the key to creating opportunities for students to practice engaged learning – where students and community partners gain something from the relationship and work.

Learn more about Food Security Scholars.

Experience Matters: Student stories of leadership development and community change, is a blog series that highlights student learning through the experiential service and leadership programs at Kansas State University’s Staley School of Leadership Studies. Program alumni will share stories of leadership development, building civic capacity, and leading change. 

The Vikings and Tigers both emerged victorious from the fall 2022 Manhattan Parks and Rec season – not only on the field but off the field, as well. The victories are partly thanks to the positive impact made by students from Kansas State University’s Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows program.  

Snyder leadership Legacy Fellows is a program of the Staley School of Leadership for students entering into their final year at K-State. Students are selected to deepen their knowledge of leadership, connect with mentors to explore the transition from student to professional life, elevate their passion for service, and experience real-world opportunities to exercise leadership skills. The program is named in recognition of Coach Bill Snyder’s efforts to build leaders on and off the football field.  

The Staley School partners with Manhattan Parks and Rec each fall to allow Snyder Fellows to serve as youth sports coaches. Though not all Snyder Fellows are experts in their sport, they work in coaching teams to bring knowledge, experience, and leadership skills to local youth. We talked with three 2021-2022 Snyder Fellows — Derek Shaheen, Juan Bocanegra, and Taylor Gardner — to hear from them about their youth sports coaching experience.    Continue reading “Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows: Serving and learning with youth in the Manhattan community  “ →

Experience Matters: Student stories of leadership development and community change, is a blog series that highlights student learning through the experiential service and leadership programs at Kansas State University’s Staley School of Leadership Studies. Program alumni will share stories of leadership development, building civic capacity, and leading change.

In our first blog of the series, Gracyn Higley, a 2021 K-State graduate, describes her experience with Alternative Breaks. Through her participation in service learning programs she gained awareness of social issues and built her capacity to exercise leadership around the complex challenges facing communities.

April of my senior year in high school I had no idea where I was going to college. I had one month to make a decision so at least I had something for my “plans” to be announced as I crossed the stage at graduation. After talking with and old friend at K-State, I decided to spend the next four years growing in my leadership capacity, building new friendships, and developing a passion for service.

I faced a lot of trials and transition during my first year at K-State, but kept pushing myself to gain new experiences. This push was largely due to taking the LEAD 212: Introduction to leadership concepts. The class was exactly the nudge I needed to confidently try new things, including International Service Teams (IST), a program of the Staley School of Leadership Studies. I spent the summer with The Sandele Foundation in The Gambia. Upon my return to the U.S., I found that my views about many things had changed. A huge question I reflected on was, why serve and learn abroad rather than where you’re from? This question stuck with me and made me realize the importance of looking at service locally, in addition to globally. Continue reading “Alternative Breaks: Paving a path forward “ →