K-State’s Staley School of Leadership announced that the Developing Scholars Program admitted 24 new students as part of its 2026-27 academic year cohort on Oct. 28.
The program, prioritizing first-generation and underrepresented students, offers structured research opportunities and faculty mentorship in all the fields of study K-State offers, alongside a stipend to fund research. It also offers opportunities to network with fellow students and researchers in the university. To be an eligible applicant, a student must have a 3.0 GPA and provide a letter of recommendation, resume, transcript and essay question response.
Bryant Tamayo, senior in mechanical engineering and a third-year in the program, said the program has offered him good opportunities both socially and professionally.
“I’ve had the opportunity to do two of the university-wide symposiums where we show off our research from the past year,” Tamayo said. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people and some really cool people from all different kinds of majors.”
Vivian Nguyen, junior in mechanical engineering and physics and a third-year in the program, said the program gives an opportunity for engagement with research and like-minded peers, especially to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
“When I first applied, the program was aimed toward first-generation or underrepresented students,” Nguyen said. “A lot of the scholars come from southwest Kansas where a lot of these resources are unknown. By entering Developing Scholars, you get immersed into research and … you find yourself in a cohort of people who may not be in your field but are aiming toward the same aspirations in life.”
Susan Rensing, director of the Developing Scholars Program, said the program helps K-State fulfill its mission as a land-grant university.
“Getting more students involved in undergraduate research is part of the K-State strategic plan,” Rensing said. “It’s also a big part of our mission as a land-grant institution. One of the unique things about the Developing Scholars Program is that we have long-standing partnerships with various community colleges throughout the state of Kansas, especially in the southwest. Transfer students from those community colleges have been a big part of our students over the years.”
Rensing said participating in the Developing Scholars Program has proven financial results for its participants in their professional careers.
“One of the things I just did in terms of analyzing our graduate career data is something that I’m calling the DSP difference,” Rensing said. “Students who graduate from the Developing Scholars Program on average earn $10,000 more as their starting salary just one semester after graduation than students who aren’t in the program.”
