Kansas State University Athletics
19 Ways
K-State head baseball coach Pete Hughes installed 19 Ways when he came to Manhattan as a community service initiative designed to have a positive impact on the community on 19 different occasions. Hughes and his teams have connected and supported the community through signature events such as Shave for the Brave and the ALS Awareness Halloween Game.
Shave for the Brave culminated the program’s fundraising campaign for College Baseball vs. Cancer to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The Wildcats were four-time defending national fundraising champions, raising over $130,000 in that span. In 2020, K-State’s players and coaches raised $38,019 – nearly $10,000 more than any other college baseball program.
“I love it because it tells me I have the right guys in my clubhouse,” Hughes said. “Kids that care about the right things. Kids that aren’t entitled and feel truly privileged to have their health and get to play baseball at a great university. To be proactive and raise that amount of money in back-to-back-back years, speaks volumes.”
The 19 Ways program is named in honor of his late mother, Alice, whose favorite number was 19. For K-State student-athletes and staff, this is a platform to give back to the Manhattan community that gives such tremendous support throughout the course of the year.
Hughes developed the program while service as head coach at Virginia Tech in 2009 and continued the initiative at Oklahoma. Now, several teams across the country have adopted 19 Ways, including Notre Dame, Northern Illinois, Northeaster and Virginia Tech, among others.
“At Kansas State, our student-athletes will be privileged, not entitled,” Hughes said. “We will be extremely active in our great community and give back to the community that supports us so well. It is an honor to the selfless and charitable life that my mother led to now have her legacy attached to another program and community.”
Hughes encourages members of the community to send suggestions on how the K-State baseball program can help organizations or individuals in the Manhattan area. Please send requests and suggestions to K-State director of baseball operations Ryan Connolly at rconnolly@kstatesports.com.
Past 19 Ways Events and Organizations
Adopt-A-Family Wrapping Party // ALS Awareness // Alzheimer’s Association Car Show Awareness Event // Alzheimer’s Walk // Big Brothers Big Sisters Home Run Derby // Boys & Girls Club Summer School // Cats 4 Cans // FCA Baseball Skills Camp // Fight Like A Woman // Junior League of Flint // Hills Adopt-A-Family Christmas // Kansas State Center for Child Development // Katie’s Way // Manhattan Catbacker Clinic // Manhattan Emergency Shelter // Manhattan Just Tri It – Triathlon // Manhattan Senior Center // Mayor's Spirit of the Holidays Lighted Parade // Meadowlark Veterans Center // Military Clothing Drive // No Stone Unturned // Noak Strong 5K Walk // OU Children's Hospital // Purple Paws // SAAC Adopt-A-Family Christmas // Shave for the Brave // Silver Key and Boys & Girls Club Visit // Silver Keys Boys and Girls Club // Special Olympics // Speedy PD Parkinson’s 5K // Spooktacular at Sunset Zoo // Thanksgiving Dinner with Troops at Fort Riley // Toys for Manhattan Delivery // Turkey Trot // Walk to End Alzheimers // Wamego Schools Career Day
Adopt-A-Family Wrapping Party // ALS Awareness // Alzheimer’s Association Car Show Awareness Event // Alzheimer’s Walk // Big Brothers Big Sisters Home Run Derby // Boys & Girls Club Summer School // Cats 4 Cans // FCA Baseball Skills Camp // Fight Like A Woman // Junior League of Flint // Hills Adopt-A-Family Christmas // Kansas State Center for Child Development // Katie’s Way // Manhattan Catbacker Clinic // Manhattan Emergency Shelter // Manhattan Just Tri It – Triathlon // Manhattan Senior Center // Mayor's Spirit of the Holidays Lighted Parade // Meadowlark Veterans Center // Military Clothing Drive // No Stone Unturned // Noak Strong 5K Walk // OU Children's Hospital // Purple Paws // SAAC Adopt-A-Family Christmas // Shave for the Brave // Silver Key and Boys & Girls Club Visit // Silver Keys Boys and Girls Club // Special Olympics // Speedy PD Parkinson’s 5K // Spooktacular at Sunset Zoo // Thanksgiving Dinner with Troops at Fort Riley // Toys for Manhattan Delivery // Turkey Trot // Walk to End Alzheimers // Wamego Schools Career Day