New Cargill Grant Helps Introduce Diverse Students to Careers in Agriculture, Business and Engineering

Gordon: “Their generous gift of $1.2 million to renew funding for the Cargill Project Impact Diversity Partnership is a huge boost to our comprehensive diversity recruitment and retention programs at K-State, and a clear vote of confidence in the program. This is a strategic imperative for K-State, and we are deeply grateful to Cargill for the funding and leadership they have committed to Project Impact.”

5 Nov 2012 --- Cargill recently renewed its support of the Cargill Project Impact Diversity Partnership at Kansas State University (K-State), with a gift of $1.2 million. Through this program, K-State works to recruit and retain qualified, multicultural students in its agriculture, business administration and engineering colleges. The program was first introduced in 2008 through a Cargill contribution of $1 million.

Since its introduction, significant progress in the program has been made, including:

- A 68 percent increase at K-State in multicultural student enrollment in the target disciplines since 2008.
- An 87 percent overall first-to-second year retention rate for Cargill Project Impact scholars compared to 70 percent for all multicultural students. This exceeds K-State’s comprehensive student retention rate by 4 percent.

“For more than 20 years, Cargill has contributed time, talent and resources to K-State in support of academic programs, diversity initiatives, scholarships and facility improvements across campus,” said Myra Gordon, associate provost for diversity. “Their generous gift of $1.2 million to renew funding for the Cargill Project Impact Diversity Partnership is a huge boost to our comprehensive diversity recruitment and retention programs at K-State, and a clear vote of confidence in the program. This is a strategic imperative for K-State, and we are deeply grateful to Cargill for the funding and leadership they have committed to Project Impact.”

“Cargill is proud to continue supporting K-State’s Project Impact,” said Rick Calhoun, president of Cargill’s cargo carriers business. “We recognize how important this program is in building and strengthening the diversity at K-State. This is vital for the future of the students, the university and for businesses, like Cargill that value diversity.”

Philanthropic contributions to K-State are coordinated by the Kansas State University Foundation. The foundation staff works with university partners to build lifelong relationships with corporate partners, alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students through involvement and investment in the university.