Kansas State was founded and began teaching college-level classes six years before the University of Kansas. But Kansas State was originally intended to be primarily an agricultural and scientific college (consistent with the land-grant college mandate) and was not officially labeled a university until 1959, while KU has been labeled a "university" since its enabling legislation was enacted in November 1863. Therefore, Kansas State University is indisputably the state's first public institution of higher learning, but it may also be proper to say that the University of Kansas was the state's first public university. However, the oldest university in the state is Baker University, established as a private university in 1858.
When Kansas State opened, it became the second institution of higher learning to admit women and men equally in the United States. Enrollment for the first session totaled 52 students: 26 men and 26 women. Twelve years after opening, the university moved its main campus to its present site in Manhattan. The school also has campuses in Salina and Olathe. Salina has the College of Technology and Aviation. The Olathe Innovation Campus is the academic research presence within the Kansas Bioscience Park, where graduate students participate in research, bioenergy, animal health, plant science and food safety and security.
The early years of Kansas State witnessed debate over whether the college should provide a focused agricultural education or a liberal arts education. During this era, the tenor of the school shifted with the tenure of college presidents. K-State president George T. Fairchild (1879–1897) favored a classic liberal education. Fairchild was credited with saying, "Our college exists not so much to make men farmers as to make farmers men." During this era, Kansas State helped pioneer the academic teaching of home economics for women, becoming one of the first two colleges to offer the program of study. In 1874, the college also became the first in the United States to offer printing courses, which led to journalism courses being launched in 1910. The A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications, though no longer teaching printing, has the nation's longest continuously offered curriculum in mass communication.
K-State is home to several museums, including the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, the KSU Historic Costume and Textiles Museum, the K-State Insect Zoo, and the Chang, Chapman, and Kemper galleries, which feature faculty and student artwork. The university also offers an annual cycle of performance art at McCain Auditorium, including concerts, plays and dance.
Kansas State had an enrollment of about 22,200 students for the Fall 2018 semester.
Notable Kansas State Alumni: Distinguished Kansas State alumni include: Milton S. Eisenhower, former president of Kansas State, Penn State and John Hopkins universities and brother of Dwight D. Eisenhower; actress Kristie Alley; NFL on CBS and Utah Jazz television announcer Craig Bolerjack; actress Lucinda Dickey; former Chicago Daily News Editor-in-Chief Roy M. Fisher; radio voice of the Kansas City Chiefs Mitch Holthus; actor Gordon Jump; TV writer/producer and Emmy winner for The Simpsons, Steve Pepoon; television voice of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Steve Physioc; model, actress and Playboy centerfold Crystal Smith; Pete Souza, photojournalist and official White House photographer (1983–1989); chief White House photographer (2009–present)' actor and Emmy Award winner Eric Stonestreet; Jerry Wexler, a record producer who is enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; James Harbord, Major General during World War I and president and Chairman of the Board for RCA; Damon T Hininger, Chief Executive Officer of the Corrections Corporation of America; Jim Isch, officer at NCAA and interim executive director of the NCAA, 2009-2010; William A. Porter, founder of E-Trade; Warren Staley, President and CEO, Cargill, Inc.; Joseph Boakai, Vice President of Liberia, 2006 - present; Sam Brownback, U.S. Senator, Kansas (1996-2011 and 46th Governor of Kansas, 2011-present; John W. Carlin, 40th Governor of Kansas and Archivist of the U.S., 1995 - 2005; Marlin Fitzwater, Press Secretary under Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush; Jim Geringer, 30th Governor of Wyoming; Mike Hayden, 41st governor of Kansas; Fran B. Morrison, 31st Governor of Nebraska, 1961-1967; Richard Myers, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2001-2005; Bernard W. Rogers, NATO Supreme Allied Commander; Susanna M. Salter, Mayor of Argonia, Kansas, 1887, and the first female mayor in the United States; Ernie Barrett, former Boston Celtic, first-round pick in the 1951 NBA Draft and former Athletic Director at Kansas State; Michael Beasley, All-American and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, 2008, and second overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft; Rolando Blackmon, All-American (1981), former Dallas Maverick, first-round pick in the 1981 NBA Draft and a four-time NBA All-Star; Bob Boozer, two-time All-American (1958, 1959); first overall draft pick in the 1959 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals and an NBA All-Star; Bill Guthridge, former basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and National Coach of the Year, 1998; Gene Keady, former basketball coach at Purdue and a four-time National Coach of the Year, 1984, 1994, 1996, 2000; Lon Kruger, basketball coach at Oklahoma and former coach of the NBA Atlanta Hawks and two-time Big Eight Conference Player of the Year, 1973, 1974; Willie Murrell, who led KSU to the Final Four in 1964 and was an ABA basketball player; Nicole Ohlde, three-time All-American, 2002, 2003, 2004, and a first-round pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft. Mitch Richmond, All-American, 1988, and former NBA basketball player, six-time NBA All-Star NBA All-Star Game MVP and first-round pick in the 1988 NBA Draft; Juan "Pachin" Vicens, named "Best Basketball Player in the World" in 1959; Kendra Wecker, All-American and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, 2005, and first-round pick by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the 2005 WNBA Draft; Michael Bishop, a Davey O'Brien Award winner, second in voting for the 1998 Heisman Trophy and an All-American in 1998; Larry Brown, 1972 FL MVP and four-time NFL Pro Bowler; Ron Dickerson, head football coach for Temple University; Darrell Dickey, head football coach for the University of North Texas; Lynn Dickey, NFL quarterback and member of the Green Bay packers Hall of Fame; Josh Freeman, NFL quarterback and a first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft; Martin Gramatica, a Lou Groza Award winner a 1997 All-American and an NFL Pro Bowler; Steve Grogan, an NFL quarterback and a member of the New England Patriots Hall of Fame; Kirby Hocutt, Athletics Director at Texas Technical College; Jordy Nelson, a wide receiver for the Green Bay Pacers and a 2007 All-American; Terence Newman, a Jim Thorpe Award winner, a 2002 unanimous All-American and a first-rounder in the 2003 NFL Draft; Gary Patterson, head football coach at TCU; Darren Sproles, a 2003 All-American, an NFL running back for the Philadelphia Eagles and selected as one of the "50 Greatest San Diego Chargers."; Bob Stull, Athletics Director at UTEP; James Yeager, head football coach for Iowa State and the University of Colorado; Jim Colbert, finished second at NCAA Golf Championships, registered eight victories on the PGA Tour and 20 victories on the Champions tour and who is a golf television analyst; Erin Brockovich, an activist; Sean Lowe, a reality star (The Bachelorette, The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars); and Jim Rayburn, founder of Young Life.
Kansas State Traditions:
Here are some traditions observed by Kansas State students and alumni:
Color: The school color is Royal Purple, making Kansas State one of three schools (alongside Syracuse and Harvard) that have one official color. White and silver sometimes are used as complementary colors, with white mentioned with purple in the university's fight song, "Wildcat Victory."
Nickname: Through its first 19 seasons of athletic competition, Kansas State used "Aggies" as its nickname. Prior to the 1915 season, coach John "Chief" Bender gave his squad the nickname "Wildcats." Under coach Z.G. Clevenger in 1917, the team became known as the "Farmers." In 1920, coach Charles Bachman renamed the team "Wildcats."
Mascot: Willie, a student bedecked in a oversized Wildcat head, is Kansas State’s mascot. Willie Wildcats are selected yearly by a panel appointed by the cheerleading coach. The mascot is a central part of athletic contests, but also attends functions around the state as an ambassador. The identity of the student portraying Willie is kept secret. The cartoonish "Willie the Wildcat" logo is used only by the Kansas State Alumni Association.
Powercat Logo: The K-State athletics logo is a stylized Wildcat head in profile called the "Powercat." Manhattan native Tom Bookwalter, in cooperation with head coach Bill Snyder, created the logo.
Touchdown I-XI: In 1922, Charles Bachman asked some K-State alums to consider donating a Wildcat to the school to serve as a mascot. Alumni Herbert R. Groome and John E. McCoy answered the call and donated a bobcat named "Touchdown I" to the school. A real bobcat named Touchdown (I-XI), served as team mascot at games. "Touchdown" could be found at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan until the 1980s.
Slogans: Several chants and slogans are used. "Purple Pride" and "Eat 'Em Up, Eat 'Em Up K-S-U" are two. Another chant/slogan is "EMAW," which is an acronym for "Every Man a Wildcat."
Here are some traditions observed by Kansas State students and alumni:
Color: The school color is Royal Purple, making Kansas State one of three schools (alongside Syracuse and Harvard) that have one official color. White and silver sometimes are used as complementary colors, with white mentioned with purple in the university's fight song, "Wildcat Victory."
Nickname: Through its first 19 seasons of athletic competition, Kansas State used "Aggies" as its nickname. Prior to the 1915 season, coach John "Chief" Bender gave his squad the nickname "Wildcats." Under coach Z.G. Clevenger in 1917, the team became known as the "Farmers." In 1920, coach Charles Bachman renamed the team "Wildcats."
Mascot: Willie, a student bedecked in a oversized Wildcat head, is Kansas State’s mascot. Willie Wildcats are selected yearly by a panel appointed by the cheerleading coach. The mascot is a central part of athletic contests, but also attends functions around the state as an ambassador. The identity of the student portraying Willie is kept secret. The cartoonish "Willie the Wildcat" logo is used only by the Kansas State Alumni Association.
Powercat Logo: The K-State athletics logo is a stylized Wildcat head in profile called the "Powercat." Manhattan native Tom Bookwalter, in cooperation with head coach Bill Snyder, created the logo.
Touchdown I-XI: In 1922, Charles Bachman asked some K-State alums to consider donating a Wildcat to the school to serve as a mascot. Alumni Herbert R. Groome and John E. McCoy answered the call and donated a bobcat named "Touchdown I" to the school. A real bobcat named Touchdown (I-XI), served as team mascot at games. "Touchdown" could be found at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan until the 1980s.
Slogans: Several chants and slogans are used. "Purple Pride" and "Eat 'Em Up, Eat 'Em Up K-S-U" are two. Another chant/slogan is "EMAW," which is an acronym for "Every Man a Wildcat."
Kansas State Marching Band: The Kansas State Marching Band, also known as "The Pride of Wildcat Land" or just "The Pride," has more than 400 members, including woodwinds, brass, percussion, color guard, dancers and twirlers. Membership is open to all Kansas State students, regardless of major.In 1887, 15 student-musicians were organized into the first band at the Kansas State Agricultural College. The first involvement with athletics came when the band accompanied the baseball team to a game in 1899.
On October, 1928, John Philip Sousa was to make an appearance at K-State. He was requested to compose a Kansas State Agricultural College march. Sousa delivered the piano arrangement of Kansas Wildcat March to the Music Department in the spring of 1931. It is part of the band's pregame show at every football game.
Listen to and watch the Kansas State Marching Band here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2CTgeQ9cqw
School Songs: Alma Mater is the name of the school song. In 1888, when the university was still Kansas State Agricultural College, the song was submitted as part of a school-wide contest. The lyrics are: "I know a spot that I love full well, 'Tis not in forest nor yet in dell, ever it holds me with magic spell, I think of thee Alma Mater. KSU, we’ll carry the banner high, KSU long, long may thy colors fly. Loyal you to thee thy children will swell the cry. Hail, Hail, Hail Alma Mater."
Wildcat Victory is used as a fight song. Wildcat Victory also is used by many high schools as their fight song. The lyrics are: "Fight you K-State Wildcats. For Alma Mater fight-fight-fight. Glory in the combat for the purple and the white. Faithful to our colors, we will ever be, fighting ever fighting for a Wildcat Victory! Go State!"
Wabash Cannonball also is used to rouse K-State fans. The song became an integral part of Wildcat athletics in 1969, when the KSU Department of Music burned. Almost everything in the building was destroyed. The only things salvaged were a band director’s briefcase and its contents, which included music titled the Wabash Cannonball. With an upcoming football game and no music, that left only one thing to do. The band members played Wabash Cannonball loud and often.
Listen to Alma Mater: here
Listen to Wildcat Victory: here
Listen to Wabash Cannonball: here
Watch Wabash Cannonball: here
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