Founded in 1863, K-State was one of America's first land-grant colleges. K-State ranks first nationally among state universities in its total of Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholars since 1986. K-State students have won more than $2 million in those competitions. Research conducted in the new $54 million Biosecurity Research Institute protects our nation's food supply, which is vital to America's national security interests. K-State produces about $3 billion in economic benefit for the state of Kansas each year. External research funding is $111 million. Research projects include food safety and security; animal health; stem cells and more.