K-State alumnus creates scholarship for students in STEM fields.
Making friends for life. Attending K-State basketball games during the time of Coach Tex Winter and Willie Murrell. Spring afternoons washing the car at Rocky Ford. Friday nights at Kite’s or the Dugout with friends. These are just a few of Rex Klaurens’ favorite memories from his time as a student at Kansas State University.
Klaurens, who graduated in 1965 with a degree in statistics, recently established the Glenn and Wilma Klaurens Memorial Scholarship for STEM.
“This scholarship is named for my parents,” Klaurens said. “I was the first in my family to graduate from K-State, but it was my parents’ emphasis on education as a way to a better, more interesting life, that propelled me to do so. They also sacrificed financially to help me attend.”
Klaurens hopes this scholarship will help K-State students majoring in STEM fields (engineering, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, geography, geology, math, physics or statistics) get a K-State education and hopefully one day, help future students.
“K-State took me, a farm kid from northwest Kansas, and opened my eyes to the possibilities of the world. I hope this scholarship helps other kids gain an education, but more importantly, become cognizant of their possibilities and potential,” Klaurens said. “I believe in ‘paying back’ and this is a small attempt to do so. I hope one of the recipients may be similarly inclined in a few decades.”
