Wildcat donors help thousands of K-State students. Sophie Schumacher is one example of how those philanthropic investments pay great dividends.
When Sophie Schumacher was choosing colleges, K-State wasn’t high on her list. She spent her early years in Manhattan and felt she’d “been there, done that.” But then she returned for a Women in Business summit when she was in high school.
“When I walked onto campus, I realized how gorgeous it is,” she said. “Meeting some of the staff and faculty was really inspiring, so I started looking at K-State again.”
Another key reason she came to K-State? Wildcat donors.
“I grew up in a single-income household,” she said. “Without the support of donors, I would not be at K-State.”
A smart investment
Her college career jumped off when she was selected for Menard Family Scholars, a year-long program for outstanding freshman business students. But that’s only one way donors invested in her success.
One of her campus jobs (she has two!) is with the Center for Principled Business, which is supported by philanthropic gifts. And she has received multiple scholarships, including one that is particularly meaningful: the Leanne and Steve Caret Business Scholarship. Leanne has become an inspiration to Schumacher through an executive mentor program in the College of Business Administration.
“At our first meeting, she said, ‘Don’t call me a mentor. I want you to call me your friend,’” Schumacher said. “It’s been wonderful to experience her generosity, both financially and with the time and advice she gives me.”
Paying off dividends
Schumacher is making the most of her three years at K-State (yep, she’s graduating early) by exploring the world and serving as president of Women in Business, which provides academic and networking opportunities for all students.
“I hadn’t really thought about running for president, but I had a lot of people egging me on,” she said. “I thought I might as well try.”
Surprisingly, her election night was “kind of sad” because — not surprisingly — she was competing in the Digital Marketing Championship in Texas and didn’t know she’d won because she was on a plane.
Another plane ride took her to Greece for an education abroad trip made possible through the Menard’s Scholar opportunity fund.
“It was like a dream. It was my first time out of the country,” Schumacher said. “We focused on business and society, and it gave me a global perspective on how business around the world works.”
No matter where she goes, when it comes to K-State, she can look back at her achievements and truly say “been there, done that.”
