Rising Professional Award

The Rising Professional Award honors significant contributions made by a graduate in the early stages of his or her career. Recipients have demonstrated significant professional accomplishments in the areas of design, business, human behavior, teacher education, or health sciences.

Here is a list of our latest recipients.

Erika Smith-Marek '15
Erika Smith- Marek '15
Professor
National University
Pensacola, Florida
Sarah Truman '15
Sarah Truman '15
Optometrist
Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center
Leavenworth, Kansas
Amber Grisamore '09, '13
Amber Grisamore '09, '13
Food Safety Program Manager
Kansas Department of Agriculture
Manhattan, Kansas
Sam Emerson '14, '17
Sam Emerson '14,'17
Associate Professor
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Austin Stock '10
Austin Stock '10
General Manager
Kirkwood and Co.
Highland, Kansas
Mari Erb '18
Mari Erb '18
Director of Retirement Services & Operations
RPS Retirement Plan Advisors
Austin, Texas
Todd Crane '06
Todd Crane '06
Emergency Physician
Sound Physicians
Manhattan, Kansas
Roxanne Martens '11, '13
Roxanne Martens '11, '13
Director & Financial Advisor
CGN Advisors
Manhattan, Kansas
Madison Parker '19, '21
Madison Parker '19, '21
Administrator
Wheat State Manor
Whitewater, Kansas
Sarah Corn '08, '09
Sarah D. Corn '08, '09
Surgery Clerkship Director; Clinical Assistant Professor; Surgical Oncologist
University of Kansas School of Medicine & Wichita Department of Surgery
Andover, Kansas
Larissa Holt '12
Larissa Holt '12
Senior Sales Strategist & Executive Assistant
Buckle
Overland Park, Kansas
Sarah Kuborn '15, '18
Sarah Kuborn '15,'18
Assistant Professor
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Wally Walstrom '05, '07
Wally Walstrom '05, '07
Director of Sports Medicine
Hays Medical Center
Hays, Kansas
Krystal Collier '16
Krystal Collier '16
Stylist & Producer
KcStyles by Krystal
Los Angeles, Califorina
Sarah Asebedo '04, '11, '16
Sarah Asebedo '04, '11, '16
School Director & Associate Professor
Texas Tech Univeristy
Lubbock, Texas
Arianna Levin '15
Arianna Levin '15
Design Director
Adore Me
New York, New York
Katy Oestman '11
Katy Oestman '11
Principal
Daybreak Consulting, LLC
Las Vegas, Nevada
Jill Joyce '18
Jill Joyce '18
Assistant Professor & Interim Graduate Coordinator
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma

Past Recipients

2022: Kristen Buchman, Grace Burghart, Cole Foster, Sydney Hall, Joseph Lightner, Marc Lindstrom, Alyssa Mix, Tiffany Oppelt, Tonya Ricklefs, Brenna Shields, Derek Tharp, and Lauren Koepp Tines

2020: Ryan Baldwin, Brian Bollinger, Sara Bonnes, Lacey Boven, Klaire Brumbaugh, Brooke Cull, Monica Ebert, Staci Gann, Amy Guerich, Teagan Hamblin, Janet Holden, Clark Holdsworth, Clara Valadares Kientz, Corey Miller, Uyen Thuy Xuan Phan, Heath Rath, and Kelby Stehl

2019: C.J. Aducci, Jamie Bosse, Robert T. Davis III, Meghann Day, Cody Derby, Trent Jones, Mitchell Keating, Audrey Koehn, Katrina Marshall, Laura McCabe, Michael Minnis, Kale Monk, Monica Nelson, Kristen Brunkow O'Shea, Pratik Patel, Jake Quigley, and Kara Schmidt-Robben

  • 2017: Josh Mathiasmeier
  • 2016: Haley Van Wagenen
  • 2015: Emily Diederich & Andrea Oltjen
  • 2014: Kali Buchanan
  • 2013: Angie Hasemann
  • 2012: Josh Umbehr
  • 2011: Courtney Lair
  • 2010: Amy Chu
  • 2009: Tatyana El-Kour
  • 2008: Jamie LoCastro
  • 2007: Aaron Anderson
  • 2006: Vance Lahey
  • 2005: Kristin Van Scoy
  • 2004: Meredith de Vera
  • 2003: Angela Herbers
  • 2002: Robyn Stuewe
  • 2001: Traude Sander
  • 2000: Kevin L. Sauer
  • 1999: Judy Wagner
  • 1999: Tandy Rundus
  • 1999: Royalyn Rolfs
  • 1998: Hayley Matson
  • 1998: Kent Bradley
  • 1997: Brenda Sharpe
  • 1996: Heide Cashman