Gifts honoring unforgettable individuals carry a lasting legacy
We all have someone who has touched our life in a special way — a family member, a valued mentor or even a beloved pet.
Across K-State, so many places, programs and scholarships bear someone’s name. But who are these celebrated individuals?
Meet four remarkable people — and one incredible cat — who’ll always be remembered.
One tough Kitty: By Beth Montelone
I adopted Ellery when he was seven weeks old, my first cat as an adult. He was the runt of a litter I went to look at after seeing a “free barn kittens” ad, but he was the one who interacted the most with me out of his larger littermates. He came home with me and that was it.
Please do not eat the clay: By Skyler and Kristi Harper (Parents)
“Please do not eat the clay” was the sign we saw in Jason’s pottery classroom at Manhattan Arts Center.
Though he was only 16, Jason was already teaching young kids and he was a natural even then. He was good at providing what his students needed, be it a reminder not to eat the clay or encouragement to stay in school. He even had a following of retirees who enjoyed taking his classes.
The bond of brothers: By Kassim Alkhatib and Sorkel Kadir (Parents) and Aveen and Cheen Alkhatib (Sisters)
We want every student to remember who Shwan and Weesam were as people. They were both incredibly loyal to their family and friends, and kind to all they met.
And they loved K-State. Even after graduating and while busy with medical school and residency in Kansas City, Weesam would come to Manhattan to attend the games with his siblings. Those games were more than just a game — they were a bonding experience.
Read the full story here.
Beyond words: By Penny Suleiman (Spouse)
Mike was often the odd one out.
As a boy in Tiberias, Palestine, he was a Presbyterian among Muslims, Catholics and the Greek Orthodox. In 1948, when Mike was 14, his family had to flee to Jordan because of the fighting over the formation of Israel. While in Amman, Mike attended the Bishop’s School, which was run by the British Anglican Church. He flunked all of his classes because they were in English, and he didn’t know the language. So he got a dictionary and taught himself.
