Underclassman of the Year

Every year, the Kansas Gamma chapter of Tau Beta Pi recognizes an outstanding underclassman for their scholastic excellence and involvement at Kansas State University and in their community. Below is the biography of this year's recipient of the Underclassman of the Year Award.

2022 Recipient  

Emma Worthington

Emma is a first year student studying Biological Systems Engineering. Emma has served as a Student Director with the Center for Civic Leadership, a non-profit based in Hays, KS. Through this role, Emma led and coordinated outreach and service programs operated by the non-profit. The first event she hosted, called "SWIPE Out Hunger", brought togehter over 100 volunteers from the Hays community and sent over 300,000 meals to Haiti. The event has led her to participate on the leadership team with the Food Recovery Network at K-State. Along with this, Emma is involved on-campus as an undergraduate researcher in the Bioprocessing and Separations Laboratory, is a member of the Recycled Materials Design Club and Engineers Without Borders, and serves as the secretary of Marlatt Hall Council. 

Emma is interested in a career focused on developing sustainable materials that replace current environmentally damanging materials such as plastics, cements, and fuels. After completing her undergraduate degree, Emma plans to complete a PhD program in biological engineering, with a plan to eventually move into the industry to help develop these new materials and facilitate commercial distribution.