The Leatherby family’s new fund helps business students accept meaningful internships without financial hardship standing in the way.
Internships serve as the vital bridge between classroom learning and career success, offering students the hands-on experience and professional networks needed to launch their careers. However, for many, significant financial barriers such as travel, housing and unpaid positions can make these opportunities impossible to accept.
That is precisely why the Dennis Leatherby Applied Learning Experiences Excellence Fund was established in 2026.
The fund honors the legacy of Dennis Leatherby ‘82, a former CFO of Tyson Foods. Dennis and his wife, Kathleen ‘83, are both graduates of the College of Business Administration where Dennis studied finance and accounting and Kathleen studied accounting. Dennis also gave back to the college through his service on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council.
After Dennis passed away unexpectedly in 2018, Kathleen and their daughters sought a way to support future generations. Their decision was rooted in both personal experience and years of watching Dennis lead by example. He was known to drive six hours to Kansas State University just to spend time with a student he was mentoring, then turn around and drive straight home. That kind of selfless investment in people was simply who Dennis was. As for Kathleen and her daughters, experiencing firsthand the financial hurdles of an unpaid internship in Washington, D.C., was inspiration to ensure other families didn’t have to turn down life-changing opportunities due to cost.
“Honoring Dennis’ legacy through financial support for internships and applied learning experiences is a meaningful way to continue the extraordinary way he invested in people,” Kathleen said. “Dennis was deeply relational and found genuine joy in helping others discover and reach their full potential. Whether mentoring students or professionals in formal programs or through everyday conversations, he never hesitated to make personal sacrifices for someone else’s growth.”
For Becca Palmeri, a marketing major from Seneca, Kansas, this fund was the difference between staying home and pursuing a dream. Becca landed a prestigious, yet unpaid, marketing internship with Pro Football Camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Despite her excitement, the costs of relocating and daily expenses were nearly a breaking point.
“Even my parents were advising me not to go, as it would have been a horrible financial decision,” Becca shared. “Receiving this scholarship was an incredible relief. It eased many of the financial concerns my parents and I had, allowing me to focus more on my goals and less on how we would make them possible.”
The stakes were equally high for Abby Rawson, a professional strategic sales major from Kansas City, Missouri. She secured a competitive aftermarket sales internship with Bell Textron Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas, based aerospace company that designs and supports vertical lift aircraft for military and commercial customers worldwide. The opportunity was everything she had worked toward, but the financial reality of relocating gave her pause.
“I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone, but I worried about managing rent for my apartment, tuition for summer classes and the significantly higher cost of temporary housing in a city hosting the World Cup, along with basic expenses like gas and groceries,” Abby said. “The financial strain felt difficult to justify, even for an opportunity I genuinely wanted.”
The scholarship changed everything. “Without this funding, I would have spent the summer under constant financial stress,” she shared. “Instead of choosing between financial strain and completing my required internship, I was able to pursue it fully and confidently.”
Through a thoughtful and competitive application process, the fund seeks out students like Abby and Becca — those with drive and ambition who simply need someone in their corner, ensuring that financial hardship never becomes the reason a door stays closed.
“I would like the Leatherby family to know that they have truly changed my life,” Becca said. “This scholarship has opened up so many doors for me and allowed me to experience new things without worrying so much. Concerns about my finances have always stressed my college experience, and this scholarship has truly made it so much easier.”
Abby echoed that gratitude.
“Because of the Leatherby’s generous support, I was able to take a meaningful step toward my future and truly find my place within this incredible industry,” she said. “Landing an internship in aviation sales has long been a dream of mine, and their kindness played an important role in helping me reach it.”
“Our hope is that these internships and applied learning experiences will provide more than just valuable work experience,” Kathleen said. “Our hope is that they also foster meaningful mentoring relationships, open doors through professional connections, and equip students with the confidence and experience they need to build successful careers. In doing so, they will carry forward Dennis’ passion for investing in people and helping others reach their full potential.”
The Dennis Leatherby Applied Learning Experiences Excellence Fund is more than a scholarship; it’s an investment in student potential. By helping students overcome the barriers to opportunity, the Leatherby family is carrying forward the spirit of a man who never once hesitated to go the extra mile — sometimes literally — for someone else’s future.
By Ruthie Gergeni, College of Business Administration
