Seasonal homeowner wins education award

Jon Wefald, who has a home on Bay Lake and is entering his 20th year as president of Kansas State University, recently was named the 2006 Chief Executive Leader of the Year by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District VI at the organization's regional conference in St. Louis.

Wefald was chancellor of the State University System in Minnesota from 1982-86 and was Minnesota commissioner of agriculture from 1971-77. He was a member of the faculty at Gustavus Adolphus from 1965-70.

The award recognizes the leadership of a chief executive officer in higher education who demonstrates the ability to create a vision and inspire others, said Amy Button Renz, president of the K-State Alumni Association. The recipient also establishes a positive image for the institution; increases the institution's stature in the community; encourages innovation and risk-taking among employees; and actively supports advancement.

K-State's enrollment had slid from 20,000 students to less than 16,000 before Wefald's inauguration.

The CASE District VI award is presented to the top college or university president from the eight-state region in the upper Midwest from Kansas to North Dakota and from Wyoming to Iowa. CASE is an organization for professionals working in college alumni relations, fund-raising, governmental relations, news and media relations and publications.