Heather Wagoner

2010 Recipient

Heather Wagoner joined K-State Salina in 2007 and is currently part of the marketing team.  She was the 2010- 2011 Outstanding Staff Member of the year.

Wagoner is a board member of the Salina Area Young Professional organization and advisor for Students in Free Enterprise. SIFE focuses on empowering individuals in the community by using business principles.

She earned a Master of Business Administration from Kansas Wesleyan University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University.

Kathy Sanders

2010 Recipient

Kathy has been working for Kansas State University at Salina since June of 2008.  She has worked as a work study in College Advancement and a Temp Admin Assistant.  She participates in the graduation committee, and was previously the Secretary and President for the Students in Free Enterprise club and a Dean’s Number One Team of Students member.

Jimmy Splichal

2010 Recipient

Jimmy Splichal has been a helicopter flight instructor at K-State Salina since 2000. He is also the aviation department's industrial internship advisor. He holds flight instructor certification in rotorcraft-helicopter, commercial pilot certification in rotocraft-helicopter, instrument rating in helicopter, private pilot certification in single engine airplane land, and is an advanced ground instructor. Of his nearly 7,000 flight hours, all but 27 are in a helicopter. He hasn’t flown an airplane since 1974.

He attended St. Mary of the Plains College and Wichita State University before being drafted to the United States Army. During his 23 years in the military, Splichal earned the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 and was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal. He earned a Master of Aeronautical Science, a B.S. in professional aeronautics, and an A.S. in aviation through Embry Riddle Aeronautical University while he was enlisted.

Splichal has been named Academic Advisor of the Year twice and has been nominated for Professor of the Year. He was named a Wakonse Fellow and has been involved in the University Aviation Association Scholarship Committee, the Course and Curriculum Committee, the First-Year Experience Seminar Committee, and the Honors Course Committee. He has chaired the Faculty Senate Bachelor Degree Completion Program of the Department of Continuing Education and the Scholarship Committee. He was previously the Aviation Department Unmanned Aerial Systems Coordinator, FAA Exam Proctor, 21st Century Grant Instructor, and Aviation Department Scholarship Coordinator.

He also has served on the Board of Directors for the Smoky Hill Museum and as past President for the Solomon Lions Club.

Splichal has worked part-time for Life Star of Kansas as a helicopter pilot and presented landing zone safety classes to fire departments, law enforcement, and emergency medical services providers. He also was an Emergency Medical Services helicopter pilot for Rocky Mountain Helicopters at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and an adjunct instructor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the Education Center on Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb.