Medal of Excellence honorees Dave and Ellie Everitt help K-State evolve with the needs of today’s students
Dave ’75 and Ellie ’73 Everitt have never shied away from change. Life has taken them along a winding path, and at every turn, they’ve adapted and grown.
Aware that today’s graduates are entering a rapidly evolving employment landscape defined by unprecedented uncertainty, the Marco Island, Florida, couple have stepped forward to equip Kansas State University students with the skills needed to meet the challenge with confidence.
The Everitts’ support for student success spans more than half a century and continues to shape the K-State experience for all Wildcats — from theater majors to aspiring biochemists — making them fitting recipients of the university’s 2026 Medal of Excellence.
From performers to partners
Dave and Ellie Everitt’s story began at K-State in the early ’70s, with Ellie studying clothing and textiles and Dave industrial engineering. Their Greek houses — Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity — stood side by side, but the couple’s paths didn’t cross until the two organizations teamed up to spoof “Fiddler on the Roof” for a competition at McCain Auditorium.
“Ellie choreographed the dance scenes, while my skill set earned me the job of running the record player offstage,” Dave joked.
They married in 1973, and both began their careers with Deere & Company.
Ellie retired from the company in 2010 as an information specialist and has since devoted her time to community volunteer efforts. Dave’s retirement followed in 2012 after filling multiple roles across the company’s industrial and production engineering, mechanical services and sales divisions. At the time of his retirement, he was president of John Deere’s Global Tractor and Turf Products and Agriculture and Turf Division for North America, Asia, Australia, sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. Today he serves as an advisor for Fulcrum Global Capital and as a director for Allison Transmission Holdings, Brunswick Corporation and Corteva Agriscience.
Through it all, the Everitts remained devoted Wildcats, keeping K-State close at heart even when Deere relocated them to Germany.
Gifts that inspire greatness
Over their decades at Deere and beyond, the Everitts saw firsthand how quickly societal changes transform the business environment.
“The workforce has changed a lot since I first went into business,” Dave said. “We operate in teams — in collaboration — now more than ever, and our goal is to help K-State foster an academic experience that reflects that reality.”
That perspective shaped their giving philosophy, inspiring them to invest in initiatives that advance multidisciplinary connection, technological fluency and leadership development.
“Giving to universitywide projects gives us a chance to touch a lot of lives and create opportunities for more students to take advantage of,” Dave said. “It’s rewarding to know our efforts can make a difference for more than just one group.”
One of those broad-reaching projects is K-State Libraries’ first-floor renovation. The reimagined space expanded dedicated meeting areas and established the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab, where students can access a wide array of cutting-edge technologies and equipment. The renovation also established a home for the university’s Open Publishing Exchange, which drastically reduces textbook costs for students through the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative, among other services to support scholarly publishing.
“Libraries today are more than just a place to house books and reference materials,” Ellie said. “We were honored to help modernize the library to serve as a hub for student interaction and a place to help both K-State and its students stay current technologically.”
The couple’s regard for K-State and its students is also visible through the David and Ellie Everitt Endowment for the Leading Change Institutes, which teaches future leaders to tackle the complex global challenges of our era through the Staley School of Leadership. And with their support of the Berney Family Welcome Center — a particular point of pride for Ellie — the Everitts helped enhance the K-State experience for new and graduating students alike.
“This award is a testament to Dave and Ellie Everitt’s unwavering dedication to empowering students with the tools they need to pursue their dreams and make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields,” said Greg Willems, president and CEO of the KSU Foundation. “We look forward to seeing their generosity continue to shape and inspire future generations of Wildcats.”
Dave and Ellie’s impact as volunteers, mentors, philanthropic leaders and devoted Wildcat supporters has helped move K-State forward in ways that will benefit our community for years to come. We are proud to honor the Everitts with the university’s Medal of Excellence.
Richard Linton, Kansas State University president
Selected K-State gifts
- K-State Libraries
- Staley School of Leadership
- Berney Family Welcome Center
Recognition
- Carl R. Ice College of Engineering Hall of Fame
- 2018 John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (KSUF Board of Directors)
Service
- KSU Foundation Board of Trustees (2011-present)
- KSU Foundation Board of Directors (Dave)
- K-State Alumni Association
- Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Advisory Council-emeritus (Dave)
- Student activities, Kappa Alpha Theta (Ellie)
- Student activities, Tau Kappa Epsilon (Dave)