The bride and groom wanted donations instead of pots and pans. Two K-State alumni share their unique story about giving back to K-State Proud.
The K-State Proud support never stops. Almost 20 years since its beginning, K-State Proud is going strong, and more students in need are being reached by the generosity of students and alumni alike.
Even if they have heard the name, many people don’t really know what the organization strives for. K-State Proud is a student-run program that keeps students facing financial hardships in school. Some of the challenges K-State Proud helps Wildcats overcome include unexpected medical bills, a financial crisis in their family and a stolen laptop.
An alumni couple, Casey and Sarah Dwyer (Swenson), share their path to giving back to K-State Proud — a cause they once knew nothing about but that would go on to shape their college experiences, their relationship and even their wedding day.
What were your initial thoughts about K-State Proud?
Sarah: I’d never heard of anything like K-State Proud before I was in college. I remember walking through the student union and meeting with student volunteers who were helping with the K-State Proud table, asking for donations. I was taken away by the whole concept.
Casey: One thing that makes K-State Proud unique is the student ownership; students have this incredible opportunity to leave their fingerprint on an organization that’s committed to doing good for the student body as a whole.
How has your education as a K-State Proud member carried over into life after college?
Sarah: Being a member of the K-State Proud campaign team helped me grow my leadership skills while working alongside my peers. I had not had any leadership experiences like it before; it was a good steppingstone to my future career as a teacher. This opportunity pushed me to learn how to connect with people outside my circle.
Casey: Proud had a very direct impact on my career. Together with student government, it jumpstarted my interest in web development and fundraising, ultimately leading to the work I’ve done with other non-profits.
What are your thoughts about K-State Proud after graduating?
Sarah: K-State Proud is a campaign I still want to donate to today, even 12 years after graduating, because I know the direct impact it has on student success. Sometimes when you donate or volunteer to a cause, you don’t necessarily see the direct impact. That is not the case with K-State Proud. The immediate influence is so tangible – you hear the stories of the Student Opportunity Award recipients and know that someone you walk by on campus could be there because you donated to K-State Proud.
Casey: It’s an organization that revolves around the well-being of people. Proud embodies the spirit of altruism found at K-State, and it’s great to see today’s volunteers continuing that mission, to support their fellow students.
What inspired you to ask for donations to K-State Proud instead of a traditional wedding registry?
Sarah: We felt like we could make an impact by encouraging the people we know and love to support something we know and love.
Casey: We had this special opportunity, with all of our closest family and friends in Manhattan, to share and support a local cause that we both believe in. During college, we were both involved in K-State Proud and wanted to continue contributing to its success.
Was this unique wedding registry a success?
Sarah: I feel like it put K-State Proud on the map and spread the word to people who would not have otherwise known about it. It was good exposure to a wide variety of family and friends from different circles.
Casey: People totally went for it. We had lots of our guests give to K-State Proud. In the grand scheme of things, we weren’t making a massive donation to K-State Proud, but we raised awareness of the campaign.
A decade later
The Dwyers are still committed to K-State Proud, even though it’s been 10 years since their wedding. They still wear their K-State Proud T-shirts, donate each year and continue to talk to others about the campaign. They are proud of how the program is growing steadily and continues to make an impact on K-State
“The longevity of K-State Proud is part of what makes it special,” said Casey. “The run it’s had so far has been exceptional and noteworthy. We hope it has many more years to go.”
Learn about and support K-State Proud (Give to K-State Proud – Kansas State University Foundation)
By Kate Ellwood