Meet Christian Peña - Leading K-State into the Future
Major: Diversified Agriculture
Expected graduation year: Spring 2027
Hometown: Sublette, KS
Learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve. Many know the FFA motto, but Christian Peña is living it out during his time at K-State. Leadership and service are part of who he is. Peña started his college career as a Kansas FFA state officer and he’ll finish it as the 2026–2027 K-State student body president.
Peña’s campaign for student body president included some of his favorite memories from his time on campus so far. He spent several months surrounded by friends who are each talented in their own ways, crafting a vision for what they hope at K-State. That vision is rooted in a strong voice for students who are part of solutions to the greatest challenges the university faces.
“The mission is to leave it better than we found it, because the best day for K-State isn't right now. It's tomorrow,” said Peña.
In his freshman year, Peña was inspired by the success of the student body president and vice president at the time, and how they ran their campaign and connected with fellow K-Staters. This motivated him to get involved in various clubs around the College of Agriculture and throughout the university. He joined the Student Government Association and served as an agriculture senator, participated in the agricultural economics club and the agricultural education club. In each organization, he learned leadership skills, assisted in the community, networked with students from different disciplines and learned what makes K-State great.
As the first operational land-grant university in the country, Peña understands how integral innovation and continual improvement are to K-State’s identity. He’s excited about the university's commitment to the future by bringing in new staff, research projects and building initiatives that will strengthen the tradition on which the university was founded.
Learning to do. Doing to learn.
Peña is a junior majoring in the College of Agriculture’s newest major, diversified ag. He tried out a few majors before landing where he is, including a long stint as an agricultural education major, but ultimately realized that regardless of where his career goes, learning about agriculture broadly and understanding how to communicate concepts effectively would set him up for success.
What drew Peña to the diversified ag major, and the College of Agriculture in general, is the way learning goes beyond the classroom.
“As an ag student, hands-on activities are probably one of my favorite parts of the program. It’s not just a lecture where we sit three times a week. We also get to apply what we learn in a lab setting or through our in-class curriculum. Our professors are there to help us break down what we learn in class and apply it,” Peña said.
In addition to real-life applications, professors across the college are committed to helping students connect and build a network with professionals across various industries. Peña explains that having a professional network provides students with value, support and assistance as they transition into the professional world.
His academic and personal success is dedicated to the professors and mentors, such as Dr. Jonathan Ulmer, who were committed to his education and challenged him to step outside his comfort zone to achieve his goals. Peña encourages his peers to lean on the faculty and staff available to them, as they are deeply devoted to helping students become the best versions of themselves.
“It's not always about the times that we're succeeding, it's about when we're failing too,” Peña said. “We're learning through that process, and the people that continue to push us forward are also the ones who are holding us accountable to continue to be our best selves.”
Earning to live. Living to serve.
After graduation, Peña intends to return to his family's dirt construction and aggregate crushing operation. He may have had the opportunity to go straight to work after high school, but Peña believes in the power of his education. Now, he has new ideas to bring back to the family business that will add value to his community. For example, he intends to use his degree to lead training classes for young adults entering the construction workforce and teach them how to work with different age groups and types of people within the industry.
Returning to his hometown may always have been the plan for Peña, but the people, experiences and education at K-State have significantly impacted his future. He plans to apply the knowledge he has gained and the network he’s built to continue learning, doing, earning, living and serving for years to come.