K-State Student-Athlete Development

The Student-Athlete Development program is dedicated to the holistic development and welfare of current and former student-athletes at K-State.

Professional Development
Leadership Development
Personal Development
Diversity and Inclusion
Community Service

MISSION

Equipping student-athletes for success in every aspect of their lives through intentional holistic programming and developing together as a FAMILY.

VALUES

Support - Collaborate - Engage

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Personal Development

Committed to providing educational workshops and resources to assist in the development of student-athletes as responsible young adults in their everyday life.

Budgeting
Establishing Credit
Planning Financially for Your Future
Sexual Violence Awareness
Prevention Education
Personal Branding

Professional Development

Committed to the preparation of current and former student-athletes by providing various programs and resources that will equip them with the skills and knowledge to be successful young adults in life.

1on1 Career Meetings
Monthly Resume Office Hours
Mock Interviews
Networking Nights
Grad School Prep
Internships

Personal and Professional Development Plan

FRESHMAN

Elevator Pitch
Etiquette Dinner
Budgeting
Individual Career Advising

SOPHOMORE

Core Values
Professional Fashion Show
Individual Career Advising

JUNIOR

Interview Preparation Workshop
Career Fair (Networking Event)
Establishing Credit
Individual Career Advising

SENIOR

Student-Athlete Transition
Career Fair (Networking Event)
Planning Financially for Your Future
Individual Career Advising

CATS IN THE COMMUNITY

Committed to creating meaningful partnerships within the community to provide intentional service opportunities that assists with developing student-athletes to become civically engaged young adults.

Cats for Cans

Over 200 K-State student athletes annually volunteer their time for the Cats for Cans food drive, which benefits the Flint Hills Breadbasket. The drive helps fight hunger in the Manhattan area. Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods or other non-perishable food items to a home football game. Since its inception in 2010, K-State student athletes have collected over 31,000 pounds of food and $55,000 in cash donations.

Cats in the Classroom

Cats in the classroom is a program partnership between K-State student athletes and elementary schools in the Manhattan community. K-State student athletes read, tutor and interact with students by assisting teachers with daily classroom activities, playing games on the playground, eating lunch or by simply listening to a child. Student athletes contribute as their daily schedules allow and help the children develop and understand the importance of education.

Adopt-a-Family

K-State student athletes partner with the Junior League of the Flint Hills each holiday season to help out Manhattan and surrounding communities by participating in the annual Adopt-a Family program. Students have the privilege of providing holiday gifts to families who would otherwise be without during the holiday season. Student athletes, under the direction of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, are responsible for shopping to complete the families’ holiday wish lists, wrapping, and delivering the gifts directly to their families.

Special Olympics Sports Clinic

Each spring K-State student athletes host an annual sports clinic for the athletes who are a part of the Kansas Special Olympics. Olympians travel from Manhattan, Junction City, Topeka, Wichita, Shawnee, Baileyville, and other surrounding areas. The clinic features sports stations involving each of the K-State sports teams. Olympians rotate from station to station and participate in the drills with their favorite K-State athletes. Student athletes conclude the afternoon with lunch, autographs, a visit from Willie the Wildcat, and a trip to the baseball game where an Olympian throws out the first pitch.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Committed to the enhancement of student-athletes leadership abilities within their teams, community and in life.

Leadership Academy
Student-Athlete Advisor Committee (SAAC)
Captains Roundtable
Team Building
Conferences

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Committed to creating and maintaining an environment that embraces and celebrates diversity, while intentionally promoting and practicing inclusion.

P.A.L.S. (Positioning Athletes for Lifelong Success)
Global Cats
Athlete Allies
FIRST Up
Women Leaders
Monthly Townhall Meetings
KSUnite
Black Student-Athlete Summit
NCAA Inclusion Forum