From the Nominator

The strategic mission of our association is to reach, connect, and serve all members of our K-State community. However, we determined there were populations within our constituent groups that we were not reaching as effectively as others. This led to the identification of our LGBTQ+ community as a population we would like to reach and connect with more regularly. This goal took shape after several productive meetings with K-State’s Spectrum Center (formerly known as the LGBT Resource Center) and the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Alliance. Following these meetings, we hosted several successful events in 2024 and planned future events that will take place in 2025. These events include Drag Queen Bingo, Lavender Alumni Social in Kansas City, Post-Election Connection Social, Lavender Alumni Reception, and increasing LGBTQ+ representation on our Council for Alumni Belonging. To show our authenticity in genuinely connecting with the LGBTQ+ community, we selected locations and dignitaries known to our target audience. For instance, we booked local drag queens for our Drag Queen Bingo; we used space within the longest-running LGBTQ+ bar in Kansas City for our Lavender Alumni Social; and we partnered with the Spectrum Center for our Post-Election Connection Social. We wanted to make sure our actions and events had an intentional meaning behind them. The result of these thoughtful events and actions was an increase in our participation numbers from about 50 individuals in 2023 to 230 people in 2024. We will continue to build on these established relationships and events to further our mission.

From the Judges

Given all that is happening in the world right now, the committee applauds this focused and authentic initiative to expand programming and engagement among the LGBTQ+ community. We felt this was a wonderful way to bridge the student and alumni experience by providing meaningful and timely programmatic opportunites that could speak to both groups and promote a shared connection. The involvement of the campus and surrounding community (such as local event venues) also makes this distinctive, as it enabled the initiative to expand beyond the walls and sole responsibility of the alumni office. The increase in participation is significant and impressive, especially given the reasonable investment of staff time and resources needed to achieve it. The program could be replicated and scaled at other institutions relative to their own resources.