Chuck and Denise Warta create a scholarship to give students access to the College of Agriculture and the world beyond.
“I never thought we’d have gone so many places,” Denise Warta said when asked how she had envisioned her future while a student at Kansas State University. Denise and husband, Chuck, have traveled the world — moved 13 times in 26 years — with his employer, Cargill. Chuck graduated with an agricultural economics degree in 1991, accepted a job as sales trainee with Cargill, and stepped into an adventure that led the Wartas around the world.
Raised in central Kansas and propelled by curiosity ignited while at K-State, Chuck and Denise raised their family across continents. Their lifestyle of charitable living reflects their family mission statement, “We take responsibility for ourselves, our health and our behavior. We respect and help each other, share what we have, use good manners and live by God’s ways.”
“One of the things we experienced as we’ve watched people whom we admire give back,” Chuck said, “is when you model, others follow.”
The Wartas’ scholarship benefits students in the College of Agriculture; a natural outcome of their early lives, K-State experiences and the life they have built together since.
“We planned on arranging a donor-advised fund to include gifts to K-State,” Chuck Warta said. “We had the inspiration; the match funds gave us the mechanism. This opportunity simplified the process so we’re able to begin our giving to K-State earlier than we expected.”
New gifts of $30,000 are matched with $30,000 from the seed fund, for a total gift of $60,000. $10,000 goes into an expendable fund, making $2,000 scholarships available to be awarded to students immediately. The remaining $50,000 goes into the endowment, ensuring future generations of Wildcats will receive scholarships as well.
“We hope students leave K-State with a different view of the world than when they entered — more global, more diverse and more inclusive,” Chuck said. “We hope they get out of their comfort zones and see the world; let the experience grow them.”
Chuck and Denise Warta have boldly committed to grow opportunities for generations of K-State family.
Learn more about how you can take advantage of matching opportunities through the K-State Family Scholarship Program at ksufoundation.org/family, or contact Sheila Walker, associate vice president of development via email or 785-775-2050.
This gift supports Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion to propel Kansas State University toward becoming a top 50 public research university by 2025.
