The K-State Student Union returned from the Associated College Unions International (ACUI) Region II Conference at Missouri State University's Robert W. Plaster Student Union in Springfield, Missouri, with several staff members and student employees recognzied with honors and awards. 

Student Creative Services (SCS) employees Megan Murphy and Riley Scott entered and placed in the conference's graphics competition. In the student division, SCS designers Murphy and Scott earned first and second place in the Steal This Idea competiton for logo and brand Identity submissions. In addition, Murphy received first place in the poster category. Jeff White, Union graphics coordinator, also took home an award with his first-place finish in the professional miscellaneous category for his submission of the Big 12 Room redesign wrap.

The Shirley Bird Perry Award was presented to Audrey Taggart-Kagdis, assistant director of marketing. The award is the highest honor presented by Region II and recognizes a member of the region who has made a significant contrubition to the advancement of ACUI. Nominees are recognized for the quality of their work and sustained contribution to ACUI, rather than a single action.

Taggart-Kagdis has been a part of ACUI for 16 years and has made a lasting impact through her service and leadership both regionally and on the national level. She has served on the national rebranding task force, the strategic fundraising and corporate development task force, has been a conference chair, held more than 10 regional leadership roles and was the host chair for the 2023 Region II ACUI conference at Kansas State University. She is currently serving as the Region II Director. Taggart-Kagdis has received previous recognition from the association including the Outstanding Staff Achivement Award in 2013 and the William H. Smith Outstanding Professional Award in 2016. 

Along with being award winners, Scott and Taggart-Kagdis presented "Beyond Design: Generating Creative Student Engagement," an educational session detailing the restructure of Student Creative Services and how the team expanded the service model to reach students and recognized student organizations through authentic engagement.

About ACUI: ACUI’s mission is to support college union and student engagement professionals in their service to students and in the advancement of campus community. To learn more about ACUI, visit acui.org

About SCS: Student Creative Services provides comprehensive brand strategy, design and social media strategies to K-State student organizations, promoting professional excellence, creativity and collaboration among both clients and student staff.

The Union’s mission is to serve all, especially students, with facilities that provide services, programs, leadership experiences and educational opportunities which foster a sense of well-being, belonging and community.