The Kansas State University Foundation has honored Lee and Barb Harris of Prairie Village, Kansas, with the 2025 Medal of Excellence in recognition of their outstanding service, leadership and financial contributions to Kansas State University.
Staunch supporters of excellence in the teaching profession, the Harrises have given generously of their time and resources for more than two decades to encourage student success in K-State’s College of Education. Each year, the couple help undergraduate students complete their degrees through two programs: the Tomorrow’s Teacher and Barbara C. Blatz scholarships. One-hundred-fifty-two students have felt the impact of these scholarships, which have awarded more than $1 million.
In 2025, the Harrises made a blended gift to expand the undergraduate scholarships and launch a first-of-its-kind fellowship for current Kansas teachers who create educational community service programs. The Today’s Teacher Fellowship provides funding for the service programs and supplements teacher incomes to reward their extensive work outside the classroom.
“Lee and Barb espouse excellence in all they do, and we are forever grateful that of all the areas they could have chosen to make a lasting difference, they chose education,” said Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education. “I believe they chose education because they have an innate understanding of the power of teachers, how they fuel curious minds, and how those well-educated students become contributors to business and industry in communities across Kansas.”
A 1975 graduate of K-State’s economics department, Lee serves as president and CEO of apartment development and ownership firm Cohen-Esrey — his career home of 50 years. Barb graduated from the Stormont-Vail School of Nursing in Topeka in 1977, adding a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1989 and a master’s from the University of Kansas in 1998. She retired in 2007 from Children’s Mercy Hospital after nearly 30 years as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Lee and Barb are both members of the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees, which Lee chaired from 2010-2011. He also sat on the organization’s board of directors, serving as chairman from 2008-2010, and offered his leadership as a seven-year member of the KSU Charitable Real Estate Foundation Board. The Harrises are members of the KSU Athletics National Leadership Circle, as well as lifetime members of the KSU Alumni Association.
Citing a desire to impact as many lives as possible, the Harrises chose to support aspiring educators who go on to inspire thousands of young minds throughout their careers.
“We are honored and humbled to receive the Medal of Excellence, though it’s certainly unexpected,” Lee said. “While we’d rather shine the spotlight on the brilliant young K-Staters who have chosen a virtuous career in education, we appreciate the opportunity to reiterate what a privilege it is to support them in that endeavor and express how proud we are of them and their accomplishments.”
The Harrises’ efforts to promote teaching skills and community service align with K-State’s role as a land-grant university, which drives its commitment to expanding access to education and opportunity.
“Our students are the heartbeat of our institution, and our promise to the world that a bright future lies ahead,” said Greg Willems, KSU Foundation president and CEO. “We’re incredibly grateful for forward-thinking donors like Lee and Barb Harris, who understand that everyone benefits when we equip the next generation of professionals with the ability to generate positive change.”
As Kansas State University’s strategic partner for philanthropy, the KSU Foundation inspires and guides philanthropy toward university priorities to boldly advance K-State.
