K-State Salina Awards & Recognition

K-State Salina faculty, staff and students make notable contributions to the campus, university, community and professional body. The following awards recognize the outstanding achievement of our employees, faculty, staff and students, in their teaching, scholarship and impact on the culture of K-State Salina.

K-State Salina is proud to recognize these individuals for their excellence and dedication.

Nominations for the K-State Salina campus faculty and staff awards for the 2025-2026 academic year are now closed.

Rex and Jean McArthur Family Faculty Award

The Rex and Jean McArthur Family Faculty Award honors a distinguished K-State Salina faculty member who demonstrates teaching excellence in the classroom and a commitment to research and innovation, as well as honorable service to the college, university, and community.

2026 Recipient

Chad Bailey

Instructor, Electronic and Computer Engineering Technology, Robotics and Automation Engineering Technology

Bailey led efforts to develop a proposal for a new bachelor's degree. His vision for the program is to bridge the gap between student exposure to the technology found in K-12 education and industry needs, and his innovative curriculum is designed to immerse students in practical learning from the very beginning, enabling them to build their own robots in their first semester

Marchbanks Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence

The Marchbanks Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence acknowledges a K-State Salina faculty member for their exemplary service to students, commitment in the classroom and overall excellence in teaching. Recipients promote excellence in education with a focus on the development of students’ talents and abilities.

2026 Recipient

John Dahl

Teaching Assistant Professor, Professional Pilot

Dahl serves as a steadfast advocate for students, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are met. He goes above and beyond to provide mentorship and support, not only to students but also to younger faculty members. That guidance has helped new instructors grow into confident educators who continue the tradition of excellence that defines the aviation program.

Delker Faculty Excellence Award

The Delker Faculty Excellence Award recognizes a K-State Salina faculty member for developing innovative courses and curricula. Recipients demonstrate a passion for improving student learning opportunities and innovation in academics.

2026 Recipient

Kathy Brockway

Professor & Graduate Faculty, Applied Business Technology, Business

Through purposeful experimentation, practice, and refinement, Brockway applies proven instructional strategies to produce high-quality learning materials that support student comprehension and retention and elevate the overall student experience.

Professional Staff of the Year Award

The Kansas State University Salina Professional Staff of the Year award recognizes excellence and outstanding effort by an unclassified professional staff member. Professional Staff of the Year recipients are acknowledged for their exemplary contributions to the mission and values of K-State Salina through their commitment to service, productivity, innovation, leadership, and/or belonging.

2026 Recipient

Kelli Witte

Academic Services Coordinator, Student Affairs

During numerous campus events, Witte has demonstrated exceptional leadership, coordination and a commitment to strengthening connections with internal and external clients. The recipient takes the initiative to plan, coordinate and organize to ensure that every team member feels included, engaged and motivated.

University Support Staff of the Year Award

The program provides an employee award and recognition system authorized by K.S.A. 75-37, 105. The program is designed to recognize an employee's contribution to the objectives of Kansas State University through excellence in performance and service.

2026 Recipient

Don Born

HVAC Technician, Facilities

Born is very diligent in the maintenance and repairs of over 300 units on campus. In the event of an issue, the Technician has the desire and skill to get it operational as soon as possible—anything from a band-aid to an overhaul. Not only making sure the units are running, but each room’s t-stats, filters, etc. are in working order.

Student Employee of the Year Award

The K-State Salina Student Employee of the Year award recognizes the invaluable services student employees perform for our campus. Recipients demonstrate reliability, initiative, and professionalism and leave a lasting imprint on those they serve.

2026 Recipient

Lupita Gonzalez

Senior in Marketing, Salina

K-State Salina’s TikTok presence would not function without Gonzalez's continued reliability. She plays a critical role in ensuring content is consistently created, filmed, edited and published. Her supervisors and teammates rely on her as a steady and trusted contributor whose work can always be counted on.