I am extremely honored to be the 2020 recipient of the K-State Alumni Graduate Student Award for Leadership and Service. The little apple makes you want to work for your community. I am lucky to be a part of the K-State family and to have opportunity to have served as a student leader as president of the Graduate Student Council.
I am particularly proud of the increase in representation within the GSC during my presidency. From the start of this position I strived to find what others were passionate about and worked to give them a voice on key issues. From the nomination form:
“[Emily] increased the number of graduate students engaged in providing input to the Executive Committee by expanding the number of student representatives to enhance diversity and inclusion. For example, new positions on the Student Affairs Committee were added for Parent/Guardian Relations, Diversity Advocacy, Veterans Affairs, LGBTQA and Advocacy, and Housing. As president she served as co-chair of the Strategic Enrollment Management Student Advisory Committee to represent the graduate student voices.”
Many, many facebook lives were held to connect with my fellow students. The GSC even ‘trended’ in Kansas twice.
Emily Oertling 