After nearly five decades at K-State, Pat Bosco retired last year from his positions as vice president for student life and dean of students.
Bosco said he’s humbled and touched by the response from current students, alumni, family members and people from all over since he retired.
“It’s been quite a whirlwind experience,” Bosco said. “I’ve been humbled by the entire retirement ceremonies that were held this last spring and throughout the summer and still going on.”
The COVID-19 pandemic on top of retirement has had a definite impact on his lifestyle, but Bosco is taking it in stride.
“I just got through vacuuming part of our home, not my favorite chore,” Bosco said jokingly. “I’m the assistant coordinator of vacuuming. My wife is very particular about how she wants things done.
“We have our podcast ‘Boscology 101′ and we’re putting together the final pieces of the last two or three for the spring,” Bosco continued. “Watching [New York] Governor [Andrew] Cuomo and his daily briefings, the days are much different than what they used to be.”
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Bosco said seeing the success of students who come to K-State is what he misses most.
“You never really appreciate the impact of meeting a prospective student in high school or community college and having them come to our university, a university that I love, and go on and graduate,” he said. “Continue to provide voices for those who have no voice. Whether it’s in the state or in their local community, around the country or around the world. That’s probably the thing that’s most touching to me to reminisce and also celebrate the successes of others.”
When he reminisces about his time at K-State, Bosco said he feels he can’t thank everyone around him enough.
“As many times as I had the opportunity to thank the people around me, I always feel like I could do more,” Bosco said. “I was surrounded by some incredible student life administrators and current student leaders. They cared a great deal about student success at our university. So I always feel like I could never really thank them enough.”
Bosco specifically mentioned parents who volunteered and helped us raise money, the foundation and alumni staff.
“I’m just so blessed to have so many people help us be successful during my 50 years at the university,” he said.
Over the course of many years, Bosco’s presence left an impact on countless students.
“Dr. Bosco was someone that everyone on campus knew and was a friend to everyone, bringing a smile to your face every time you saw him on campus,” Nick Mckee-Rist, sophomore in engineering, said.
“I loved how he just really loved K-State and he really loves K-State students. With a genuine heart and he’s always genuinely wanting to help you and make you succeed,” Logan Whetzal, senior in graphic design, said.
Bosco said he feels for recent graduates in light of rising unemployment due to COVID-19.
“I feel for our recent graduates, more than any other cohort,” Bosco said. “These are individuals that really had the rug pulled out from underneath them in terms of the job search or moving on to professional schools.”
Bosco said K-State has had a tremendous success rate at placing graduates in the last several years.
“Ninety-five percent of our three or four thousand have jobs in a new field of study or going on in some kind of professional school,” Bosco said. “That’s a tribute to our faculty, our scholars and the student life professionals to help prepare our students within and outside the classroom for the world of work or professional schools.”
Bosco said he hopes students can just be patient, stay safe and take full advantage of the services that are available now at the university.
“Once the flood gate is open, K-Staters will be sought after like never before,” Bosco said.
