The Center for Principled Business (CPB) at Kansas State University has received a transformative leadership-level gift to support the long-term sustainability of its mission.
This significant anonymous investment marks a milestone in the center’s growth and reflects a growing momentum among supporters who believe in the power of business as a force for good.
Established in 2020 within the College of Business, CPB was created to equip the next generation of leaders with the mindset, skillset and values to lead with integrity, solve complex problems, and create meaningful impact in their communities and industries. Since its founding, the center has launched hallmark initiatives that bring values-based leadership to life — through interdisciplinary collaboration, immersive experiences and real-world application.
With this new investment, the CPB is poised to scale its reach and deepen its impact. The commitment establishes the Principled Leaders Excellence Fund, a flexible, high-impact operations fund that will provide foundational support for four strategic pillars:
- Student scholarships: Remove financial barriers and expand access to immersive learning experiences that build principled leadership, critical thinking and real-world readiness.
- Programmatic support: Strengthen hallmark initiatives while providing the flexibility to explore and launch new programs aligned with CPB’s mission.
- Faculty excellence: Invest in the educators who design, lead and assess transformative learning — especially those fostering entrepreneurial thinking, collaboration and ethical decision-making.
- Operational infrastructure: Ensure the staffing, systems and strategic capacity needed to scale programs, deepen interdisciplinary partnerships and continuously elevate the student experience.
“Hands down, joining the Menard Scholars program and getting involved with the Center for Principled Business was one of the best decisions I’ve made in college. I quickly found a community of driven, encouraging friends from across the College of Business. The program connected me to professional development opportunities that strengthened my skills, expanded my network, and prepared me for the next step in my career. I’ve studied abroad with members of my cohort, learned from industry leaders, and built relationships and experiences that will last a lifetime.”— Alyssa Ansay, professional strategic selling, class of 2025
This moment represents more than a single gift — it is a call to action and a reaffirmation of the kind of education that shapes leaders to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. While the benefactor has chosen to remain anonymous, their intent is public: to inspire others to step forward and join this important work —and help fuel a growing network of students, educators and industry partners committed to advancing business for the common good.
“This leadership-level investment ensures we can continue developing principled leaders who will shape the future of business,” said Marcia Hornung, director of the center. “We are profoundly grateful for this confidence in our mission and energized by the momentum it creates as we look toward the opportunities ahead.”
As CPB enters this next chapter, the invitation is clear: Join us. Help us empower students to lead with character, create with purpose and act with principle — in business and beyond.
