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Kansas State fans stepped to the plate and hit a home run for the Wildcats in 2009-10, setting a record for total annual fund cash gifts at $14.47 million, Athletics Director John Currie announced today.

The fundraising total was an increase of more than 50 percent from 2008-09 and can be attributed in part to the launch of a revamped Ahearn Fund in December, which generated approximately 650 new members, Currie said. The previous record for giving was $10.4 million in the 2007-08 academic year.

In an effort to encourage support for the student-athlete experience and championship pursuits, K-State’s fundraising efforts were overhauled with a new emphasis on personal interaction and communication for Ahearn Fund donors of all levels. Membership in the Ahearn Fund increased by more than 10 percent in 2009-10 as a result of these initiatives.

"Grass-roots support through the Ahearn Fund is our largest single source of revenue at K-State and critical to our ability of providing our student-athletes with a world-class experience," Currie said. "We greatly appreciate the support and participation of K-Staters world-wide. I also want to commend our entire Ahearn Fund staff for their hard work in establishing relationships and improving communication with all of our Ahearn Fund members."

Associate Athletics Director for Development Chad Weiberg also commended the Wildcat Nation for its loyalty and support of K-State student-athletes and sees the progress made this year as an essential beginning to providing student-athletes with a world-class experience and the resources needed to produce championship athletic performances.

"The support of our donors this past year was outstanding and provided us with the momentum we needed in helping K-State maintain its competitive place in the Big 12," Weiberg said. "We still have areas that we must improve, but remain very excited about the direction we are heading and the passion that K-Staters continue to show."

Gifts to the Ahearn Fund, which start at $50, are used for scholarships, sports medicine, academic support, modernization of facilities and other services that directly benefit K-State student-athletes while also funding K-State’s margin of excellence through enhancements such as recruiting budgets and coaches salaries.

For more information on the Ahearn Fund, including a downloadable version of the membership guide, visit www.k-statesports.com<http://www.k-statesports.com>. For a personal visit with a member of the Ahearn Fund staff, please call (785) 532-7715.

With nine lettermen returning from the team that put together one of the greatest seasons in school history and boasting frequent Top 10 preseason predictions, K-State Athletics announced official ticket information for its highly anticipated 2010-11 season.

Season ticket renewal invoices and information brochures were mailed Monday to all 2009-10 men’s basketball season ticket holders, who will have until Tuesday, Aug. 31 to renew their seats.  Early-bird savings of $10 off the processing fee is available for those renewing their tickets online by Friday, Aug. 13 and paying in full utilizing eCheck.  Fans may also take advantage of two credit card payment plans, including a five-payment option (Aug. 16, Sept. 15, Oct. 15, Nov. 15 and Dec. 15) for those who renew by Aug. 13 and a four-payment choice for those who purchase by Aug. 31.   

New procedures have been established for those wishing to obtain tickets.  Fans who do not currently hold season tickets may complete a new season ticket application online at www.kstatesports.com or may contact the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221.CATS. 

New season-ticket requests will be assigned after the ticket office has processed renewals and seating upgrade requests from current season-ticket holders.  New season ticket requests will be handled utilizing the K-State Priority Points system based on the number of points accumulated by the Ahearn Fund pledge payment deadline of June 15, 2010.  All gifts to the Ahearn Fund and season ticket purchases earn Priority Points which determine the order in which season ticket and parking requests are allocated.  All requests are based on seat availability and specific locations are not guaranteed.  Ticket office representatives should begin contacting new season ticket applicants in mid-September with available seating options.    

A variety of ticket packages are available for the 2010-11 season.  Courtside and floor seating can be purchased at $645 and $595, respectively, while chairback seating prices range from $445 to $545.  Cat Cushion seating is available from $365 to $395 and bench seating is $345.  Faculty and staff seating can be purchased starting at $276 for bench, $316 for Cat Cushions and $356 for Chairbacks.  There are also a limited number of a Young Alumni packages priced at $200, which are available for all K-State undergraduate degree recipients in the past five years (August 2006 to August 2010.  An Ahearn Fund contribution is required for all premium, chairback and cushioned seating. 

Although not included in the season-ticket package, season-ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase priority seating for the highly-anticipated Dec. 21 game between K-State and UNLV at the Sprint Center in Kansas City.  Much like the Wildcats, expectations are high for Wildcat legend Lon Kruger and the Runnin’ Rebels, who could return all five starters from a squad which won 25 games in 2009-10.  There are a variety of ticket locations in the Sprint Center, including Courtside ($100), Sideline ($40) and End Zone ($30).

Kansas State is coming off one of its best seasons in school history in 2009-10, in which, the Wildcats tallied a school-record 29 wins and advanced to the Elite Eight for the 12th time in school history and the first time since 1988.  The squad will return two starters and nine lettermen in 2010-11, including The Sporting News’ third team All-American Jacob Pullen and All-Newcomer Team selection Curtis Kelly. 

Fans can purchase season tickets in a variety of ways, including toll free at (800) 221.CATS (2287), online at www.kstatesports.com and in-person at the Athletics Ticket Office located in Bramlage Coliseum.  

 Always a crowd favorite, Harley Day 2010 is slated for the season opening contest against UCLA on September 4^th at 2:30.  Registration for the annual pre-game ride in Bill Snyder Family Stadium will open on Monday, August 2^nd and will remain open until Wednesday, August 11^th. After registration closes, available rider slots will be filled according to Ahearn Fund Priority Points. In order to register for the loud and proud event, visit k-statesports.com during the fore mentioned registration period and click on the Harley-Davidson logo. Go Cats!

Harley Day Registration

Kansas State celebrated another outstanding athletics year on Monday night, as student-athletes from each of the school’s 16 varsity sports converged on Bramlage Coliseum for the inaugural Mark A. Chapman Powercat Choice Awards. 
           The ceremony, which replaced the Mark A. Chapman Recognition Ceremony for Student-Athletes, was reconfigured to resemble the ESPY Awards and expanded to include all the team and individual highlights from the past year both on the field and in the classroom.  All the performance-related awards were voted on by members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).  The voting was based on the accomplishments of sporting teams from Spring 2009 to Winter 2010.
“We would like to thank all the members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Powercat Choice Awards Steering Committee and department staff for all their hard work in making the show possible,” said Kristin Waller, director of Life Skills programs.  “It’s a great way to end the semester to honor the hard work of all 450 of our student-athletes.”    
             The 2009-10 men’s basketball team captured six awards during the evening, including Men’s Team of the Year, Show-Stopping Moment of the Year (win over Xavier), Coach of the Year (Frank Martin), Male Athlete of the Year (Jacob Pullen), Best Male Athlete in a Supporting Role (Jamar Samuels) and Most Inspirational Award (Chris Merriewether).  The squad won a school-record 29 games, including 11 in Big 12 play, and advanced to their first Elite Eight in more than 20 seasons.
The 2008-09 women’s rowing team earned honors as the top women’s squad after finishing second at the Big 12 Championships.  The 1st Varsity Eight also won the most heavily weighted race at the championship, defeating Texas by nearly 10 seconds. 
           All-American Loren Groves of the track and field team was selected as the Female Athlete of the Year, while teammate Tiara Walpool was named the Best Female Athlete in a Supporting Role.  Groves, a NCAA Woman of the Year finalist, won the NCAA Midwest Regional title in the hammer throw and finished seventh in the event at the 2009 NCAA Championship.  Walpool competed in a number of events for the Wildcats, including a Top 25 finish in the triple jump at the 2009 NCAA Championship.   
           In addition, Nick Martini (baseball) and Brittany Chambers (women’s basketball) were named the male and female Newcomers of the Year.  Martini, who set K-State freshman records for runs scored (54) and hits (78), was a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2009.  Chambers was the only freshman in the Big 12 to record 350 points, 180 rebounds and 80 assists in 2009-10.  She also was named to the Waco Tribune All-Big 12 Freshman Team. 
         Julianne Chisholm (women’s volleyball) won the Purple Pride Award, which is given to the student-athlete who demonstrates the most school spirit. 
Several individuals were honored for their academic excellence during the evening, highlighted by Jeron Mastrud (football) and Beverly Ramos (women’s cross country) earning the Kansas State Male and Female Scholar-Athlete Awards.  The honor recognizes the outstanding senior male and female student-athletes for the 2009-10 season.
       Brock Unruh (football) and Morgan Campbell (women’s equestrian) were this year’s recipients of the Bob and Lila Snell Award of Excellence and Effort, recognizing the outstanding male and female student-athletes who improved their academic standing through sustained effort and commitment to learning.
Luis Colon (men’s basketball) was honored with the Gina Sylvester Memorial Award.  The award recognizes an arts and sciences student who has progressed toward graduation and used the advising system to overcome challenges.  Victor Ojeleye (men’s basketball) was the recipient of the Veryl and Fern Switzer Campus Leadership Award.  The award recognizes a student-athlete who is involved in student organizations and multicultural affairs, demonstrates leadership on a team and on campus, and is active in community service.

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