K-State Olathe

K-State Olathe's open house draws record attendance

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Open House decorations

Residents in the Greater Kansas City area showed they are proud to be rooted in purple at K-State Olathe's recent All-University Open House.

Purple runs deep in the Greater Kansas City area as nearly 1,000 people attended the All-University Open House at Kansas State University Olathe on Saturday, April 16. The event marks the largest attendance in the campus' history.

  • Willie tries his hand at making pancakes
  • Willie meets a young K-State fan.
  • Willie strikes a pose with a family at open house.
  • In a brain strengthening activity, participants practiced drawing portraits without looking at the board until the picture was completed.
  • Willie signs a young fan's hat.
  • No K-State event is complete without Purple Pride ice cream from the Call Hall Dairy Bar. K-State Olathe brought some of the sweet treat from the Manhattan campus.
  • Kids made their own mustache and bell shaped dog treats from healthy ingredients.
  • Willie poses for a picture with two enthusiastic fans.
  • Liquid nitrogen was used to make homemade ice cream.
  • Participants were able to dip their hands in some homemade slime.
  • Kids made their own mustache and bell shaped dog treats from healthy ingredients.
  • Willie meets an excited K-State fan.

Open house featured numerous booths and activities that spotlighted what it means to be a Wildcat at K-State Olathe. Exhibits included a workshop for kids to make healthy dog treats from household ingredients; consumer taste and aroma tests; a station in which attendees practiced making blind drawings of a family member — or Willie the Wildcat; a face painting booth for kids; a black light activity to spot germs on items from the grocery store; a station that used liquid nitrogen to make ice cream and slime; free food; a live broadcast by 810 Sports Radio, and an appearance by Willie.

In addition, the entire Wildcat family and K-State Research and Extension, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties and the Horticulture Research Center in Olathe, were highlighted at the event. Representatives from the K-State campuses, aforementioned Extension offices and many programs on site were present to meet with visitors and discuss resources and opportunities. Volunteers, Extension agents and staff, community members and K-State Olathe faculty, staff and students made the event a success.

"The event was such a positive experience and the comments from our guests were the best we could possibly imagine," said Ralph Richardson, dean and CEO of K-State Olathe. "K-State is all about family, and we were proud to see just how big our family really is in the Greater Kansas City area."

Visit K-State Olathe's Facebook page for a complete open house gallery and photos of visitors in iconic K-State scenes taken at the green screen booth.