The estate of Otis and Wanda Gilliland of Wellington, Kansas, has given $1.6 million to Kansas State University. This gift has established a new match opportunity through the K-State Family Scholarship program, providing matching funds for 50 new scholarships to support students in the College of Business Administration.
Donors interested in creating a scholarship through this Gilliland matching fund, can do so with a new gift of $30,000, which will be matched with $30,000 from the Gillilands’ fund. Gifts can be made in lump sum or an annual pledge of $6,000 for five years. The total $60,000 gift will support immediate $2,000 scholarships for students over the first five years. The remaining $50,000 will go into the endowment, ensuring future generations of Wildcats will receive scholarships as well.
“The scholarships made possible from the Gilliland family’s gift will have a profound impact on our student body,” said Kevin Gwinner, Edgerley Family Dean of the College of Business Administration. “With these scholarships, we will attract more student leaders, further challenge high-achieving students, and fully engage those who desire our unique academic offerings and extra-curricular experiences that make our business graduates so highly demanded by employers. Because these scholarships will be endowed, the Gillilands’ generosity toward the business college will be felt for generations.”
Both Otis and Wanda Gilliland graduated from Kansas State University. Otis Gilliland earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering in 1948 and a bachelor’s in business administration from the College of Business Administration in 1949. Wanda Gilliland earned her bachelor’s degree in interior design in 1949 from the College of Health and Human Sciences. Otis worked as an engineer for Boeing Aircraft Company in Wichita before his retirement in 1985. Wanda passed away in 2013, and Otis passed July 2019.
If you are interested in participating in the K-State Family Scholarship Program, visit ksufoundation.org/family for more information or contact Brett Seidl, senior director of development, by email or phone at 785-775-2051.
As Kansas State University’s strategic partner for philanthropy, the KSU Foundation inspires and guides philanthropy toward university priorities to boldly advance K-State family. The foundation is leading Innovation and Inspiration: The Campaign for Kansas State University to raise $1.4 billion for student success, faculty development, facility enhancement and programmatic success.
